[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/nyc-apartment-cleaning-checklist\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/nyc-apartment-cleaning-checklist\/","headline":"Complete NYC Apartment Cleaning Checklist for Moving Day","name":"Complete NYC Apartment Cleaning Checklist for Moving Day","description":"You\u2019ve decluttered, packed, and figured out all the logistics of the move. Everything is done, right? Wrong! If […]","datePublished":"2023-02-01","dateModified":"2025-10-08","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/author\/kevin\/#Person","name":"Great Moving (Kevin)","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/author\/kevin\/","identifier":5,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b4997c379c86a878ffe0e2cbc54f56f2298ff0763e895fa10c13c22bfb54a237?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b4997c379c86a878ffe0e2cbc54f56f2298ff0763e895fa10c13c22bfb54a237?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NYC Great Movers","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nycgreatmovers-logo-20250918.png","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nycgreatmovers-logo-20250918.png","width":600,"height":363}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Complete-NYC-Apartment-Cleaning-Checklist-for-Moving-Day.jpg","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Complete-NYC-Apartment-Cleaning-Checklist-for-Moving-Day.jpg","height":755,"width":1023},"url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/nyc-apartment-cleaning-checklist\/","about":["General"],"wordCount":1621,"keywords":["Apartment Cleaning","apartment cleaning checklist","cleaning checklist","cleaning steps","General Cleaning","Moving Day","moving involves packing","room cleaning","routine cleanings"],"articleBody":"You\u2019ve decluttered, packed, and figured out all the logistics of the move. Everything is done, right? Wrong! If you want any chance of getting your security deposit back from your NYC apartment, you will need to put in a good-faith effort to clean your apartment before you leave. Doing a deep clean is easiest once everything is already in boxes, so make sure everything except the cleaning supplies is all packed up a day before moving day. That way, you can really take your time and get your apartment as close to its original condition as possible.Not sure what to do? The apartment cleaning checklist below can take you through all the cleaning steps to ensure your apartment is \u2018broom-clean\u2019 before moving out. Luckily, NYC apartments tend to be on the smaller side, so it shouldn’t take you too long to go through every item on the list.General CleaningDust FirstStart with the ceiling and clear out any cobwebs, and don\u2019t neglect dusting things like your light fixtures and blinds. These can accumulate a surprising amount of dust, especially if you have pets. You don\u2019t need a fancy duster for this step. Use a broom to take down the cobwebs from the ceiling and a damp sock for your light fixtures and blinds. While you might not have noticed the accumulation of dust during your stay, you can bet your landlord will when they inspect the apartment after you leave. And it might even inspire you to dust your new apartment more when you see how black your paper towel gets with a single swipe!Wash Windows and MirrorsUse a window or glass cleaner if you have it. If you don\u2019t have any store-bought window cleaner, you can mix together one part distilled vinegar to ten parts warm water in a spray bottle. If that\u2019s not an option, you can also mix a few drops of dish soap with water in a bowl. You\u2019ll just have to make sure you use a microfiber cloth or similar to avoid leaving lint behind.Most apartments don\u2019t have too many windows and mirrors, so this should be a relatively short step. Don\u2019t skip it! NYC Apartment Cleaning Costs (DIY vs. Professional)Cleaning TypeStudio1-Bedroom2-BedroomNotesDIY Cleaning (supplies only)$25\u2013$40$40\u2013$60$60\u2013$100Includes cleaners, sponges, cloths, mop, and vacuum useProfessional Cleaning$120\u2013$180$180\u2013$250$250\u2013$400Deep cleaning of the kitchen, bathroom, and floorsCarpet\/Oven Special Cleaning$50\u2013$100$75\u2013$150$100\u2013$200Optional add-on services Clean Walls and BaseboardsWith the brush attachment on your vacuum, clean up any remaining dust or dirt on the baseboards. Use a damp microfiber cloth to clean up any stains. If the stain doesn\u2019t come out, cover it with a bit of paint.Speaking of paint, if you painted your walls, you will need to paint them back to their original color. Don\u2019t leave this to the last minute! Try to get this done a few days before your move-out date so the place doesn\u2019t have an overwhelming fresh paint smell when you leave. That might mean you have to move your packing timetable up. While painting, don\u2019t forget to put down a drop cloth to avoid paint splatter on the floor.Revert any changes you\u2019ve madeWith how small apartments are in NYC, you need to maximize all the space you can. For most people, that means utilizing vertical space. Adding extra cabinets and shelves is common for most renters. While you might think you\u2019re doing the next tenants a favor by leaving in your shelves, you should always remove anything from the walls if you want to make sure you get your security deposit back. Don\u2019t forget to caulk the holes and touch up the areas with a bit of paint.Besides the walls, you should also remove any light fixtures you\u2019ve changed back to the originals, remove any extra appliances such as mini fridges (unless they came with the apartment), take down any artwork, and so on. Your apartment should be completely empty when you move.Vacuum and MopOnce you\u2019ve done all the dusting, repairing, painting, etc., now is the time to vacuum and mop. With all the furniture removed, you can easily get all those dust bunnies and crumbs. Make sure to get the corners and move any appliances out of the way so you can clean behind these areas. You\u2019d be surprised by how much junk makes it way under the fridge and stove! If you have carpets, now might be a good time to hire someone to do a deep cleaning to remove any stains and odors.Room by RoomThe above steps are great for every room, but certain areas might require a bit more work than others. It can be overwhelming if you try to do everything in one day, so try to spread the work across multiple days if possible. For example, you can do the general cleaning first, and then do the more in-depth room cleaning on another day. The most important part is that you don\u2019t skip any rooms.BathroomDepending on how long you have lived in the apartment and how often you perform routine cleanings, your bathroom might take a while to get clean. Luckily, since most bathroom tends to be tiled or porcelain, there are plenty of cleaners available that can make it look like new. Clean your bathroom the day before you move, as you\u2019ll probably need to use this room right up until moving day. When cleaning, make sure to:Scrub off any soap scum from the tiles and showerBleach the grout to get rid of moldClean out the bathroom drawers and vanityScrub the toilet, sink, countertop, and floor Room-Specific Cleaning ChecklistRoom# of StepsStep-by-Step Cleaning TasksBathroom61. Scrub tiles and shower to remove soap scum2. Bleach grout to eliminate mold3. Clean toilet inside and out4. Scrub sink, countertop, and faucets5. Wipe and sanitize bathroom drawers, vanity, and shelves6. Mop the floor thoroughlyKitchen71. Wipe inside and outside of all cabinets, remove shelf liners2. Clean and sanitize countertops, focusing under appliances3. Scrub the refrigerator inside and out4. Deep clean oven and stove top, including burners5. Wipe down backsplash and walls6. Clean the exhaust fan or vent hood7. Mop and sanitize the floorBedroom \/ Living Room51. Dust all surfaces, including shelves, blinds, and light fixtures2. Vacuum carpets and rugs thoroughly, including corners3. Mop hard floors if applicable4. Clean closets, removing any added rods or shelves5. Wipe down walls, baseboards, and doors KitchenThe kitchen tends to be the place that collects mess since you\u2019re cooking and eating here. For most NYC apartment dwellers, the kitchen often doubles as an entertainment room and\/or office. It\u2019s no surprise that this area tends to need the most elbow grease. Try to clean out the kitchen a couple of days before your move. That might mean spending some money on takeout, but you don\u2019t want to wait until the last minute. Some areas to focus on in the kitchen include:Cabinets – remove any shelf liners and wipe the inside of every cabinet. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any food debris. Wipe down the outside of the cabinets, too!Refrigerator – scrub the inside and outside well. Many people don\u2019t bother cleaning their fridge often, so you might find you have a lot of spilled sauce and other grime. Clean everything up.Oven and stove top – give every inside and outside a good scrub. You can find oven-specific cleaners in your local hardware store. Use that to get out any baked-on debris inside the oven. Make sure to scrub all the corners and crevices, and don\u2019t forget to clean the burners.Exhaust fan – if you\u2019re lucky enough to have one, take the time to clean this area out. The exhaust fan loves to collect dust, and if you use oil in your cooking, the dust combined with the oil creates a sticky film. Spray the fan down with some soap and warm water.Counter tops – sanitize all countertops and pay special attention to where your appliances were, as those areas tend to collect stains.Bedroom\/living roomWhile you might spend the largest parts of your days here, chances are you won\u2019t have to veer too far from the general cleaning tips above. If these rooms came with preinstalled cabinets or shelves, make sure to dust and properly sanitize them. You should also pay close attention to the corners of your room when vacuuming, as these locations tend to collect dust. If you have a closet, don\u2019t forget to vacuum and mop in there as well! Remember to remove any extra shelves, coat hangers, or closet rods you might have added.Get Ready for Your MoveWhile the bulk of moving involves packing and actually getting your stuff from your old place to your new one, you really don\u2019t want to neglect cleaning your apartment. After all, you wouldn\u2019t want to move into a place that was dirty, either, would you? If you don\u2019t have time to clean yourself, you can always hire a professional to do the work for you.Speaking of professionals, don\u2019t forget to hire NYC movers! They\u2019ll take care of all the logistics of moving your things. Not only will you be stress-free, you\u2019ll also be pain-free in your new place as the movers will literally do all the heavy lifting. Once you\u2019ve moved all your boxes in, don\u2019t forget to give your new place a good cleaning before you start unpacking."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Complete NYC Apartment Cleaning Checklist for Moving Day","item":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/nyc-apartment-cleaning-checklist\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]