One of the worst feelings you can get when first walking into your new home is the feeling of disgust. The floors are dusty, the walls are black, the bathroom is grimy and filled with hair from the previous tenant, the kitchen has dried up food stuck to the floor, and your head is spinning from that noxious odour. Don’t panic. You can do several things to turn this current mess into a home where you can feel comfortable and relax.
Updated for 2026 — this guide reflects the latest moving tips and pricing for the Greater Vancouver area.
Table of Contents
- Preparation
- Clearing the Space
- Room-by-Room Deep Cleaning Guide
- Health and Safety Checks
- When to Hire Professional Cleaners
- Sweep, Sweep, Then Sweep Some More
- Spray, Wipe, Spray, Wipe
- Using Your Hands
- Garbage
- Look It Over
- Outdoor Areas Most People Forget to Clean
- Air Quality Improvements for Move-In Day
- Move In with Confidence Using Simple Moves
- Kitchen Deep Clean: Beyond the Basics
- Bathroom Sanitization Priorities
Preparation
Before you do any cleaning, you have to be physically and mentally prepared. Physical preparation includes putting on some clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and smelly. Wear comfortable shoes with good grip, and tie back long hair. Have your cleaning materials ready before you start so you are not running back and forth to the store mid-clean.
Cleaning Supplies Checklist
- All-purpose spray cleaner
- Glass and window cleaner
- Disinfectant spray or wipes
- Bleach or bathroom-specific cleaner
- Rags and microfibre cloths
- Paper towels
- A dull knife or scraper
- Broom and dustpan
- Mop and bucket
- Vacuum cleaner (if carpeted areas exist)
- Large trash bags
- Rubber gloves
- A step stool or ladder for high areas
Mental preparation includes telling yourself that cleaning now will give you the home you want. Put on some music or a podcast, and remind yourself that a few hours of effort will make a world of difference. Once you do these things, you will be ready to start cleaning your new home.
Clearing the Space
Before you get down and dirty, you have to get rid of the garbage that will get in your way of cleaning the messier and dirtier areas. Stuff like old newspapers left behind, a toothbrush found under the bathroom sink, or a broken clock left on the wall, all must go immediately. Walk through every room with a large trash bag and collect anything the previous tenants left behind. Check inside closets, cabinets, and drawers as well. With the removal of these wayward items, access to the rest of the house will be made more accessible.
Room-by-Room Deep Cleaning Guide
The most effective way to clean a used home is to tackle it room by room. This keeps you organized and ensures nothing gets missed. Start with the rooms that need the most work and finish with the areas that are already in decent shape.
Kitchen
The kitchen is often the dirtiest room in a used home. Begin by cleaning out all cabinets and drawers, wiping the interiors with disinfectant. Clean the inside of the oven, microwave, and refrigerator thoroughly. Use a degreaser on the stovetop, range hood, and surrounding walls where grease tends to accumulate. Scrub the sink with a bleach-based cleaner, and run hot water through the garbage disposal if there is one. Do not forget to pull out the stove and refrigerator to clean behind and underneath them, where crumbs and grime build up over the years.
Bathroom
Bathrooms require serious disinfecting. Scrub the toilet inside and out with a toilet-specific cleaner, paying attention to the base and behind the bowl. Clean the bathtub, shower walls, and shower door with a bleach-based cleaner to remove mildew and soap scum. Wipe down the vanity, mirror, and any shelving. Check the caulking around the tub and sink for mould. If it is black or peeling, consider recaulking to prevent future moisture issues. Clean the exhaust fan cover, as these collect dust and reduce airflow over time.
Bedrooms and Living Areas
Start from the top and work your way down. Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, and the tops of door frames. Wipe down window sills, baseboards, and closet shelves. If there is carpet, vacuum thoroughly and consider renting a carpet cleaner or hiring a professional for steam cleaning. For hardwood or laminate floors, sweep first and then mop with a product appropriate for the flooring type. Clean inside all closets and wipe down the rods and shelving before hanging your clothes.
Laundry Room
Run an empty cycle in the washing machine with hot water and a cup of white vinegar to clear out any residue from the previous owner. Wipe down the inside of the dryer drum. Clean the lint trap and, if possible, the dryer vent hose. Wipe down any shelving, counters, and the floor beneath the machines.
Health and Safety Checks
Beyond making the place look clean, you should also address a few safety items. Test all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace the batteries even if they seem to be working. Check that all door locks function properly and consider changing the locks for security since you never know how many copies of the old keys exist. Look under sinks and around toilets for signs of water damage or leaks. Inspect the furnace filter and replace it if dirty, and check windows for drafts or broken seals.
When to Hire Professional Cleaners
Sometimes a used home needs more than what a DIY effort can provide. If the previous tenants were smokers, the walls and carpets may have absorbed odours that require professional treatment. Severe mould, pest evidence, or biohazard situations are also best left to the professionals. Even if the home just needs a standard deep clean, hiring a cleaning crew can save you a full day of effort and let you focus on unpacking and settling in. At Simple Moves, we can coordinate your move-in so your belongings arrive right after the place has been cleaned, making the transition seamless.
Sweep, Sweep, Then Sweep Some More
If you could not guess, it is time to sweep. Often, used homes acquire an abundance of dust. You should clean this dust away immediately. If you go directly to the spray cleaner stage, you will end up with clumps of wet dust sprawled all over your floor. By sweeping at least two times, you can make spraying a lot easier.
Spray, Wipe, Spray, Wipe
When using a spray, make sure you have one window cleaner and one all-purpose cleaner. With the window cleaner, you can clean windows and glass to ensure that they will shine. With the all-purpose cleaner, you can scrub everything else. Make sure you spray and wipe multiple times. This will ensure you get rid of the slime and grime.
Using Your Hands
You can indeed use a mop to wet the floor or disperse cleaning liquids, but this does not mean you can get out of getting on your hands and knees. Using paper towels or rags, you can scrub the floors and walls much better than a mop. But using your hands does not end here. With a dull knife, you can scrape away all the dried food and gum wads left behind by the previous tenant.
Garbage
Take your large trash bag and use it for all the scraps, dust, used paper towels, grime, food, and everything else you need to throw away. Have extra bags on hand because one is rarely enough for a full home deep clean.
Look It Over
Once you do all of these things, look over what you have cleaned. You may see that it needs to be cleaned more and take back some towels and cleaners. But when you are finally happy with what you have done, just sit back, relax, and enjoy your new home. If you are planning a move and want to take the stress out of the process, contact Simple Moves for a free quote. We handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on making your new place feel like home.
Outdoor Areas Most People Forget to Clean
When you are focused on scrubbing the kitchen and bathroom, it is easy to overlook the exterior spaces that affect your daily comfort. The front porch or entryway collects dirt, cobwebs, and debris from previous occupants. A quick sweep and wipe of the front door, mailbox, and any light fixtures sets a welcoming tone from day one.
Check the garage floor for oil stains and sweep out accumulated dust before parking your vehicle or storing boxes. If the home has a deck or patio, a pressure wash can remove months of grime in under an hour. Inspect the gutters as well—clogged gutters cause water damage that can become a costly repair if left unaddressed through the rainy season.
Air Quality Improvements for Move-In Day
A used home may look clean but still harbour allergens in the air system. Replace the furnace filter before you turn on the heat—a standard filter costs under twenty dollars and takes five minutes to swap. If the home has window air-conditioning units, remove the front panel and vacuum the filter to clear accumulated dust and mould spores.
Open every window for at least thirty minutes on your first visit, even in cooler weather. Cross-ventilation flushes out stale air, residual paint fumes, or cleaning-product odours left by the previous owners. If you notice a persistent musty smell in any room, check for signs of water damage behind furniture or under sinks—catching mould early prevents larger problems down the road.
Move In with Confidence Using Simple Moves
While you focus on making the home spotless, let Simple Moves handle the heavy lifting. As a full-service moving company, we provide both the crew and the trucks, delivering your belongings safely so you can move straight into cleaning and settling in. Request a free quote or call (604) 398-4680.
Kitchen Deep Clean: Beyond the Basics
The kitchen in a previously occupied home deserves extra attention because it accumulates grease, food residue, and bacteria in places you might not immediately notice. Pull the refrigerator away from the wall and clean behind and underneath it—this area often collects years of dust, crumbs, and spills. Clean the interior of the fridge and freezer with a solution of baking soda and warm water, paying special attention to rubber door gaskets where mould tends to grow.
Run the dishwasher empty on the hottest cycle with a cup of white vinegar placed upright on the top rack. This clears mineral deposits, grease, and odours from the spray arms and drain. For the oven, use a commercial oven cleaner or a paste of baking soda and water left overnight, then wipe clean the following morning. Do not forget the range hood filter—most are removable and can be soaked in hot water with dish soap and baking soda to dissolve accumulated grease.
Bathroom Sanitization Priorities
Bathrooms in a used home should be sanitized thoroughly before you use them. Replace the toilet seat—they are inexpensive, easy to install, and provide peace of mind that no previous cleaning shortcut can match. Scrub the inside of the toilet bowl with a pumice stone to remove mineral rings, then disinfect all surfaces including the base, the handle, and the area behind the tank where cleaning is often neglected. Clean the exhaust fan cover by removing it and soaking it in warm soapy water—a clogged fan reduces ventilation and encourages mould growth in humid BC bathrooms.