One last thorough clean before you move
Getting ready to sell, moving out of a rental or moving into a new place? Either way, the home needs a top-to-bottom cleaning. When buyers walk through, they should want to move in tomorrow. When you hand the keys back to a landlord, the place should be spotless. And when you move in, you want to know your new home is truly clean before you unpack. Moving is hectic enough. Let us take the cleaning off your list.
Spotless House Cleaning is a small, family-owned and insured cleaning service based in Milford, doing move-in and move-out cleaning for houses, apartments and condos across New Haven and Fairfield counties. Your clean is usually done by Maija herself, or by Maija and her mother, and Maija has 30 years of experience. We bring our own supplies and vacuum, so there's nothing to keep out of the moving boxes.
What a move-in or move-out cleaning includes
A move-in or move-out cleaning is a deep cleaning of an empty home. With the furniture gone, we can reach everything, including the spots that have been hidden for years. Here's our move-out cleaning checklist, room by room:
Every room
- Ceiling fans and light fixtures dusted
- Cobwebs cleared from ceiling corners
- Vent covers and air returns wiped
- Light switches and outlet covers wiped
- Doors, door frames and handles wiped down
- Baseboards wiped by hand
- Scuff marks and fingerprints spot-cleaned on walls
- Closet shelves, rods and floors
- Blinds dusted
- Floors vacuumed edge to edge, including where furniture stood
- Hard floors washed by hand
- Trash emptied
Kitchen
- Inside and outside every cabinet, cupboard and drawer
- Countertops and backsplash
- Sink and faucet scrubbed and polished
- Stovetop, burners and knobs degreased
- Range hood wiped
- Inside the microwave
- Outside of the refrigerator, dishwasher and oven
- Behind and under movable appliances
- Floor swept and mopped, edges included
Bathrooms
- Shower and tub scrubbed, soap scum and hard-water build-up removed
- Toilet cleaned inside and out, including the base
- Sinks, faucets and fixtures polished
- Mirrors cleaned
- Vanity drawers and medicine cabinet, inside and out
- Tile and grout scrubbed
- Exhaust fan cover wiped
- Floors washed by hand
Before you hand over the keys
- A final walk-through of every room
- Extra attention on anything you asked for at your estimate
- A home ready for buyers, the landlord or the next tenant
Need something specific done? Just ask at your free estimate, and we'll tailor the clean to fit. Get your free estimate →
Move-out cleaning vs. deep cleaning
A move-out clean is a deep cleaning done in an empty home. Here's how they compare:
| Move-in or move-out cleaning | Deep cleaning | |
|---|---|---|
| The home | Empty, or about to be | Lived in, with your furniture in place |
| Cabinets and drawers | Inside every one, since they're empty | Inside the kitchen cabinets and cupboards |
| Where furniture stood | Cleaned, now that everything's out | Under and behind furniture that can be moved |
| The goal | Ready for buyers, the landlord or your first night in | A fresh starting point for the home you live in |
| When | Once, around your moving date | Whenever the house needs a reset |
When to schedule your move-out cleaning
The best time is after the movers leave and before the final walk-through or the keys handoff, when the rooms are empty and nothing new gets tracked in. Moving in? Book the clean before your things arrive, so every closet and cabinet is clean before you unpack. Let us know your moving date as early as you can, and we'll fit the cleaning around your timeline. Up against a closing date or the end of your lease? We can work with a tight schedule. Depending on the size of the home, a move-out clean usually takes about 2 to 10 hours.
Moving soon? Maija will come by for a free, no-pressure estimate and tell you exactly what the clean would cost.
Get a free estimateCleaning a house before you sell it
Moving furniture uncovers dirt you never knew was there, and buyers notice. Maija cleans homes for sellers and can give you pointers on what to focus on before your listing photos and showings. A clean house looks better in photos, shows better in person and leaves buyers with a good last impression at the final walk-through.
For homeowners, renters, landlords and real estate agents
- Homeowners selling: a clean, fresh house for photos, showings and the final walk-through.
- Renters moving out: at the end of your lease, leave the apartment or house clean for your landlord and the next tenant.
- Moving in: start fresh in a home that's been cleaned top to bottom before your things arrive.
- Landlords and real estate agents: a clean between tenants or before a listing goes live. Call or text, and we'll talk through what the property needs.
How much does move-in or move-out cleaning cost?
The price depends on the size of the home and how much work it needs. We'll give you an exact price at a free estimate before we start. There's no minimum job size, so no apartment or condo is too small. See how our pricing works.
Move-in and move-out cleaning questions
When should I schedule a move-out cleaning?
After the movers leave and before the final walk-through or the keys handoff. With the rooms empty, we can reach everything, and nothing new gets tracked in afterward.
How long does a move-out cleaning take?
Usually about 2 to 10 hours, depending on the square footage. A small apartment or condo is on the short end, and a large house takes longer. Maija will give you a better idea at your free estimate.
Can you work with a tight moving schedule?
Yes, no problem. Moves rarely go exactly as planned, and we can work with a tight schedule around your closing date, lease end or moving truck. Call or text and tell us your dates.
Does the home need to be empty?
Ideally, yes. That's when we can clean inside every cabinet and closet and everywhere the furniture stood. If a few things are still there, just let Maija know at your estimate.
Do I need to be there during the cleaning?
No. Many clients aren't home while we clean. In the middle of a move, that leaves you free to handle everything else.
Do you clean apartments and condos?
Yes. We clean homes of every size, from apartments and condos to large houses, on the shoreline and inland. There's no minimum job size.
Are you insured?
Yes, Spotless House Cleaning is insured, and we're happy to give you referrals from our clients.
More answers are on our house cleaning FAQ page.
Move-in and move-out cleaning near you
We do move-in and move-out cleaning in homes across New Haven County, nearby towns in Fairfield and Middlesex counties, and Hartford County. Find your town:
Bethany Branford Bridgeport Cheshire Durham Fairfield Guilford Hamden Milford New Haven North Branford North Haven Orange Shelton Stratford Wallingford West Haven Woodbridge
Don't see yours? Check all the areas we serve, call or text 203-903-8688, or request a free estimate.