Why a checklist makes moving easier
Moving home is one of the most complicated jobs a family takes on. Between packing, transport and paperwork, cleaning often gets left until the last tired hour. That is when corners get missed.
Cleantel’s move-in move-out cleaning experts recommend writing a detailed checklist before your move. It keeps you organised, it shows exactly what is left to do, and it makes the final handover far less stressful.
Whether you’re leaving a flat in Sharjah or moving into a villa in Dubai, use the checklist below.
Step 1: Walk through the empty property
Start once all your belongings are out. Walk through every room, cupboard and balcony to make sure nothing is left behind. An empty space also shows dust lines, marks and stains that furniture used to hide.
Make a note of anything that needs extra attention, such as greasy cabinets, marked walls or stained carpets.
Step 2: The room-by-room cleaning checklist
Kitchen
• ☐ Empty and wipe inside every cabinet and drawer
• ☐ Deep clean countertops and the splashback
• ☐ Clean the oven, hob, extractor hood and fridge, inside and out
• ☐ Deep clean the wall tiles, then steam sanitize them
• ☐ Sanitize the sink, taps and high-touch handles
• ☐ Mop the floor, including under appliances you can move safely
Bathrooms
• ☐ Scrub and sanitize the toilet, sink, shower and bathtub
• ☐ Clean mirrors, glass screens and fittings
• ☐ Wipe inside vanity cabinets and drawers
• ☐ Remove soap scum and water marks from tiles
• ☐ Mop and sanitize the floor
Bedrooms and living areas
• ☐ Dust all surfaces, shelves, skirting boards and light switches
• ☐ Spot clean doors and door frames
• ☐ Clean the insides of wardrobes and built-in storage
• ☐ Vacuum and mop floors, including corners and edges
• ☐ Clean carpets, if the property has them
• ☐ Vacuum and sanitize curtains, if they stay with the property
Windows and balcony
• ☐ Clean interior windows, frames and sills
• ☐ For villas, clean exterior windows too
• ☐ Sweep and wash the balcony
Step 3: Sanitize the high-traffic areas
Dusting and mopping remove visible dirt. They don’t deal with the germs left behind by previous occupants. Cleantel sanitizes heavy-traffic surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms as part of every move-out clean.
This step matters even more when you move in. You don’t know how the last tenant cleaned, so sanitizing handles, switches, counters and bathroom fittings gives you a genuinely fresh start.
Step 4: Don’t forget the soft furnishings
Furnished properties come with mattresses, sofas and curtains that have been used by someone else. Older and used mattresses carry much higher levels of dust mites, dead skin, fungal spores and bacteria.
Before your first night, book:
- Mattress cleaning with medical-grade UV sanitization
- Curtain vacuuming and steam sanitization
- Carpet cleaning to lift settled dust and restore the pile
Not sure which carpet method suits your new home? Our guide to carpet steam cleaning vs shampooing explains the difference.
DIY or professional move-out cleaning?
You can handle a move-out clean yourself, but it takes time, the right products and plenty of energy at the end of a long move. When you add “hire a move-in move-out cleaning company” to your checklist, you hand the dirty work to people with the right tools.
| Factor | DIY cleaning | Cleantel professional clean |
| Equipment | Whatever you own | Full kit brought by the team |
| Time | Often a full day or more | Several hours, depending on size |
| Sanitization | Basic household products | Kitchen and bathroom surfaces sanitized |
| Quality check | None | Supervisor checks the work |
| If something is missed | You go back | Re-clean under our satisfaction guarantee |
How long does a move-out clean take?
A move-out clean can take several hours. The exact time depends on the size of the property and how clean it is to begin with. A studio flat in Sharjah needs far less time than a five-bedroom villa in Dubai.
Because of this, we recommend calling Cleantel early and planning the clean around your moving dates. Book it for after the movers leave, so the team can reach every surface.
Tips for a smooth moving-day clean
1. Book early: moving seasons get busy, so reserve your slot as soon as your dates are fixed.
2. Clear the space: remove all belongings and rubbish before the team arrives.
3. Move heavy furniture first: our team cleans under heavy items but won’t move them, to protect your floors.
4. Share special requests: tell us about stubborn stains or areas that need extra time.
5. Do a final walk-through: check the work with the team leader before handing over keys.
Settle in with regular cleaning
Once you’ve moved in, keep the new place fresh with regular home cleaning services. Read our comparison of hourly vs deep cleaning in Sharjah to choose the right plan. For a spotless kitchen from day one, see our kitchen cleaning service.
Book your move-in move-out clean
Cleantel has helped families and businesses across Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman since 1980. Our trained, insured and uniformed teams bring everything they need.
Contact Cleantel to book your move-in or move-out clean today.
Move-In Move-Out Cleaning FAQs
What is included in a move-out cleaning service in Dubai?
A move-out clean covers every part of the property. Cleantel deep cleans cabinets, drawers, countertops and appliances, dusts throughout, spot cleans doors, and sanitizes high-traffic kitchen and bathroom surfaces. You can add mattress, carpet or curtain cleaning if furnishings stay with the property.
How long does a move-in move-out clean take?
A move-out clean usually takes several hours. The exact time depends on the size of the property and how clean it is to begin with, so a studio flat needs far less time than a large villa. Call Cleantel early to plan the clean around your moving dates.
Should I clean a new apartment before moving in?
Yes. You don’t know how well the previous occupants cleaned, and germs linger on handles, switches and bathroom fittings. A move-in clean with sanitization gives you a fresh start. In furnished homes, also clean used mattresses, which carry far more dust mites and bacteria.
Do move-out cleaners clean windows and balconies?
Cleantel cleans interior windows for apartments, and both interior and exterior windows for villas. Balcony cleaning is available as an add-on for apartments and villas. Other exterior work isn’t included, as Cleantel’s teams specialise in interior cleaning across Dubai and Sharjah.