Why Clean Before the Furniture Arrives
An empty home is the only time you get easy access to every corner, cabinet interior, and skirting board without having to move furniture out of the way. Whether you're moving into a newly built home or one that's had previous occupants, a deep clean before your goods arrive means you start with a genuinely fresh space rather than cleaning around boxes and furniture later.
Kitchen
Start with the insides of cabinets and drawers — these often collect dust even in new homes from construction work, or grease and residue in previously occupied ones. Wipe down countertops, the inside and gasket of the refrigerator space, and behind where appliances will sit. Degrease the chimney and stove area if there was a previous occupant, and check the sink and taps for limescale buildup.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms need attention to tile grout, the areas around taps and drains, and exhaust fans, which tend to collect the most grime over time. Descale showerheads and taps, clean inside cabinets and under the sink, and check that drains are clear before you start using them daily. Mould or damp patches, if any, are far easier to treat now than once towels and toiletries are in place.
Bedrooms and Living Areas
Wipe down wardrobe interiors and shelves before placing clothes inside — a quick wipe now prevents dust settling on freshly unpacked clothing. Clean light fixtures, ceiling fans, and switchboards, which are usually left for later and then forgotten once furniture is in place. If the home has built-in storage or lofts, check and clean these before they become hard to access.
Floors, Windows and Storage
Mop floors at least twice — once to lift surface dust and construction residue, and a second time with a proper floor cleaner. Clean window tracks and grills, which collect dust that's easy to miss from a distance. Storage areas such as utility rooms, balconies, and any external storage should be swept and wiped down before you start storing items there.
Often-Missed Spots
A few areas are easy to skip in a general clean: door frames and hinges, the tops of cabinets and wardrobes, behind and under appliances once they're in place, and switchboard covers. Doing a final walk-through specifically looking for these spots, after the general clean, catches most of what gets missed on the first pass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I clean before or after the movers unload furniture?
Before, wherever possible. An empty home is significantly easier to clean thoroughly than one with furniture and boxes already in place.
Do new, never-occupied homes still need deep cleaning?
Yes — construction dust, cement residue and packaging material from fittings commonly need a proper clean even in a brand-new home before you move your belongings in.
How long does a full deep clean typically take?
This depends on the size of the home and its condition, but a room-by-room approach as outlined above helps ensure nothing gets skipped regardless of how much time is available.