Move-In Cleaning New Home Checklist | Perfect Touch

Why 'Broom Clean' Is Not Actually Clean

Most purchase contracts in California require the seller to leave the home in 'broom clean' condition. What that means in practice is swept floors, no large debris, and nothing left behind. It does not mean sanitized. It does not mean the inside of the oven has been touched. It almost certainly does not mean the refrigerator has been wiped down or that the cabinet shelves are ready for your dishes.

I have walked into homes in Pasadena and Glendale that looked fine at a glance and were genuinely grimy once you opened a drawer or ran a finger along a baseboard. Old grease sits in kitchen exhaust fans. Dust packs into window tracks. The previous owner's cleaner, if one was hired at all, almost always skipped the tops of the kitchen cabinets, the inside of the dryer drum, and the bathroom caulk lines. You are about to live there. You want to start fresh, not inherit someone else's buildup.

Time the Clean Between Closing and Moving Day

The single best window to clean a home is after you have the keys and before the furniture arrives. Every surface is exposed. You can clean baseboards without moving a couch, scrub inside closets without working around hanging clothes, and mop every inch of the floor in one pass. Once the movers show up, that window closes for years.

If your closing and move-in are the same day, push back on it if you can. Even one night between the two makes a real difference. If you are taking over a lease in Monrovia or a unit near the Americana in Glendale where turnover is fast, tell the property manager you need access the day before your official move-in date. Most will work with you.

The Move-In Cleaning Checklist, Room by Room

Kitchen

• Inside the refrigerator: Pull the drawers and shelves, wash them separately, and wipe every interior wall. This is included in our move-in/move-out cleaning, and it matters because old spills grow mold fast in a closed box.
• Inside the oven: Baked-on grease from a previous owner is not your problem to cook through. A proper move-in clean includes the oven interior.
• Inside all cabinets and drawers: Wipe every shelf before you line it. Crumbs, old shelf liner residue, and grease film are common, especially in homes in Alhambra and San Gabriel where kitchens get heavy daily use.
• Exhaust fan and hood filter: These are almost always skipped and almost always need attention.
• Appliance exteriors, counters, and sink: Standard in every clean we do.

Bathrooms

• Scrub grout and caulk lines. In older Craftsman and Spanish Revival homes in Pasadena and South Pasadena, original tile grout can hold years of soap scum and mildew.
• Clean inside vanity cabinets and medicine cabinet shelves.
• Sanitize toilets fully, including under the rim and around the base.
• Check the exhaust fan cover for dust buildup.

Bedrooms and Closets

• Wipe down every closet shelf and rod. Dust settles on closet shelves and just sits there.
• Clean baseboards, light switches, and outlet covers. These are touched constantly and almost never cleaned during a standard turnover.
• If the home is in Altadena and survived the January 2025 Eaton Fire, have the closets checked for fine ash or smoke residue before you move clothing in. A thorough move-in clean covers surfaces, but if you smell smoke, mention it when you contact us so we can plan accordingly.

Throughout the Home

• Window tracks and sills: Fine dust off the San Gabriel Mountains collects in window tracks year-round, and Santa Ana wind season between October and January makes it worse. Window tracks are filthy in almost every home we clean in La Cañada Flintridge and Arcadia.
• Ceiling fans and light fixtures: Dust sits on fan blades and gets pushed around the room every time the fan runs.
• Walls and doors: Wipe scuff marks, fingerprints around door handles, and any sticky residue near light switches.
• Garage and laundry areas: Often skipped entirely. If the washer and dryer are staying, wipe the drum interiors and the machine exteriors.

What Drives the Cost of a Move-In Clean

The price depends on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the overall size of the home, and its condition. A move-in clean on a smaller leased unit in Glendale is a different job from a large estate in San Marino or Arcadia. We quote a flat rate by text once we know those details, so you know the full number before anything is booked.

Ready to Start Fresh?

Text us at (626) 469-7577 with the address, bedroom and bathroom count, and your closing date. We will send back an exact quote and get you on the schedule before moving day.