The Checklist Every New Homeowner Needs for Their First Deep Clean

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions of your life. And yet most new homeowners move in, do a basic surface clean, and start unpacking — without ever properly deep-cleaning the property they've just purchased.

The previous owners cleaned to their standard, not yours. And "pre-sale presentation" cleaning — which is what most homes get before settlement — is designed to look good at inspection, not to meet a genuine hygiene standard. The inside of the oven, the grout, the inside of cupboards, the rangehood filter, the drain holes, the exhaust fans — none of these are touched in a cosmetic pre-sale clean.

This is the checklist for doing it properly. A new home deep-cleaned move-in cleaning service in Adelaide and move furniture in gives you access to surfaces and areas you'll never reach as easily again.

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Why Now Is the Best Time

An empty or near-empty home offers cleaning access that disappears the moment furniture and belongings arrive:

• Every cupboard interior is empty and cleanable
• Every floor is exposed — under where the fridge will go, under where the bed will go
• Walls and skirting boards are fully accessible
• You can find out what you've inherited — staining, pest evidence, mould — before your possessions obscure it

Do this clean before the removalist arrives if at all possible. Even one clear day in the empty house is transformative.

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The Complete New Homeowner Cleaning Checklist

Kitchen

Inside all cupboards and drawers ☐ Wipe every shelf — top, base and walls ☐ Wipe inside all drawers ☐ Check for evidence of pests (droppings, gnaw marks, old sticky traps) ☐ Remove and discard old shelf liner; replace if desired

Appliances ☐ Oven interior — full clean including racks, door glass (inside and out), cavity ceiling and walls ☐ Rangehood — exterior, underside, grease filter (remove, soak, clean or replace) ☐ Stovetop — grates, burner caps, stovetop surface ☐ Microwave — interior including ceiling, exterior ☐ Dishwasher — filter cleaned, door seal wiped, cleaning cycle run

Surfaces ☐ All benchtops ☐ Splashback including grout lines ☐ Sink basin, drain, taps (descale if needed) ☐ Under-sink cabinet interior (check for leaks, moisture, pest evidence)

High and overlooked surfaces ☐ Top of overhead cupboards ☐ Top of fridge alcove (walls, ceiling, floor) ☐ Rangehood overhead and surround walls

Floor ☐ Sweep and vacuum including under future appliance locations ☐ Mop thoroughly

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Bathrooms (Repeat for Each Bathroom)

Shower and bath ☐ Tiles scrubbed including grout ☐ Glass shower screen descaled (hard water staining is common — may need specific calcium remover) ☐ Shower base scrubbed ☐ Drain cleared ☐ Sealant checked — replace if mouldy or deteriorating ☐ Shower head descaled (remove and soak in vinegar)

Toilet ☐ Bowl scrubbed under rim ☐ Seat, lid (both sides), outer bowl, base ☐ Behind and at base of toilet ☐ Cistern wiped ☐ Flush button

Basin and vanity ☐ Basin scrubbed including overflow hole ☐ Taps descaled and polished ☐ Vanity top ☐ Mirror ☐ Inside vanity cupboard

Walls and ceiling ☐ Tile grout scrubbed for mould ☐ Exhaust fan cover removed and cleaned (check fan is functional) ☐ Ceiling checked and wiped if needed

Floor ☐ Mopped with disinfectant

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Bedrooms (Repeat for Each)

Storage ☐ Wardrobe interior — every shelf, hanging rails, floor, tracks ☐ Check for any previous occupant belongings left behind

Surfaces ☐ All surfaces wiped (windowsills, ledges, door frames) ☐ Ceiling fan blades wiped ☐ Light fittings dusted ☐ Skirting boards wiped the full length of the room

Windows ☐ Glass cleaned inside ☐ Frames wiped ☐ Sills wiped ☐ Tracks vacuumed and wiped

Floor ☐ Vacuumed thoroughly — corners, edges, under where furniture will go ☐ Mopped if hard floor

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Living Areas

Surfaces and fixtures ☐ All surfaces wiped ☐ Light switches and power points wiped (accumulated grime from previous occupants) ☐ Ceiling fan(s) wiped ☐ Light fittings dusted

Windows and doors ☐ All glass cleaned ☐ Sliding door tracks vacuumed and wiped ☐ Door handles wiped ☐ Fly screens checked and cleaned

Walls ☐ Marks and scuffs noted and photographed ☐ Light wipe of any visible soiling

Floor ☐ Vacuumed including all edges and corners ☐ Mopped

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Laundry

☐ Inside of washing machine (door seal, drum, detergent drawer) — run a cleaning cycle ☐ Dryer interior wiped, lint filter cleared ☐ Laundry trough scrubbed ☐ Shelving wiped ☐ Behind and under appliances (if accessible before installation) ☐ Floor

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Garage

☐ Sweep entire floor ☐ Pressure wash floor if stained ☐ Walls and ceiling — remove cobwebs ☐ Any built-in shelving wiped ☐ Check for oil stains and treat with degreaser

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External Areas

☐ Sweep all paved areas, paths, driveway ☐ Remove cobwebs from eaves and exterior light fittings ☐ Fly screens on external windows ☐ Gutters checked (visible debris? Engage a cleaner if needed before winter) ☐ Outdoor entertaining area swept and cleaned

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Systems and Safety Checks (Do This While You're At It)

These aren't cleaning tasks, but while you're going through the property methodically, check:

☐ Smoke alarms — test every one. Replace batteries. Replace any that don't function. ☐ Carbon monoxide detector — if you have gas appliances, install if not present ☐ Hot water system — check for leaks, note age and condition ☐ Under all sinks — check for drips or moisture indicating slow leaks ☐ Ceiling — any water stains indicating a roof leak? ☐ Exhaust fans — do they actually extract? (Hold a piece of tissue near the fan — it should be drawn toward it when running) ☐ Pest evidence — check roof space access, subfloor access if applicable, and garage for signs of rodents or termites

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Prioritising If You Can't Do Everything Before Moving In

If the removalist is arriving before you can complete the full clean, prioritise in this order:

1. Bathrooms — you need these functional and hygienic from day one
2. Kitchen — particularly inside cupboards where your food will be stored
3. Master bedroom — the space where you'll sleep first night
4. Main living area floors — these get foot traffic from day one

Everything else can be done progressively over the first few weeks as rooms are set up.

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DIY vs Professional First Clean

For a large home, or a home that clearly hasn't been well-maintained by the previous owners, a professional deep clean done before settlement day is genuinely valuable. The cost ($350–$700 for most Adelaide homes) is modest relative to the purchase price, and the result is a properly cleaned baseline that you then maintain — rather than inheriting someone else's buildup.

At PF Cleaning, we do regular new homeowner deep cleans across Adelaide. We can coordinate with your settlement date and go in before the furniture arrives. Contact us to book.

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Written by Victor Jacon — Master Cleaner & Home Detailing Specialist, Founder of PF Cleaning Adelaide.