Move In Cleaning in Miami: Starting Fresh in Your New Home

In Miami's rental market, where apartments turn over constantly and landlords rush to fill vacancies, the cleaning between tenants is often rushed too. A quick surface clean is not the same as the thorough sanitization you'd want before putting your dishes in those cabinets or walking barefoot on those floors.

‍

Why Move In Cleaning Matters

‍

Here's something nobody tells you when you sign a lease: "clean" is subjective. A landlord's definition of clean is "good enough for photos and a quick showing." Your definition of clean is probably closer to "I want to put my toothbrush in this bathroom without feeling weird about it." Those are very different standards.

‍

Even in brand new construction, you'd be surprised what gets left behind. Construction dust settles into every crevice. Workers track through unfinished spaces. The final cleaning before handoff is often superficial because the builder is rushing to close.

‍

For previously occupied homes, the gap between move out cleaning and what you'd actually want is even wider. The previous tenant might have done a decent job, or they might have grabbed their deposit and run. You don't know until you're living there, and by then your stuff is everywhere and deep cleaning becomes exponentially harder.

‍

Move in cleaning solves this by getting your new place properly clean while it's still empty and accessible.

‍

What Move In Cleaning Includes

‍

Move in cleaning goes beyond standard cleaning because you're not maintaining an already-clean space. You're establishing a baseline in a space that someone else has been living in.

‍

Kitchen

Inside all cabinets and drawers, cleaned and sanitized before your dishes and food go in. Inside the refrigerator, freezer, and any drawers or shelves. Inside the oven and microwave. Exterior of all appliances. Countertops and backsplash. Sink and faucet, including the grossness that accumulates around the base. Range hood and filter. Light fixtures. Cabinet faces. Baseboards. Floor thoroughly mopped, not just the visible areas but under cabinet edges and in corners.

‍

Bathrooms

Full scrub of shower, tub, and tile. Grout cleaning. Toilet completely sanitized inside, outside, behind, and around the base. Vanity and sink. Medicine cabinet interior. Mirror. Exhaust fan cover. Light fixtures. Baseboards. Floor mopped including behind toilet.

‍

All Other Rooms

Interior windows and sills. Baseboards throughout. Light switches and door handles sanitized. Closet shelves and floors. Light fixtures and ceiling fans. All floors vacuumed or mopped. The goal is that every surface you might touch or put belongings on has been properly cleaned before your stuff arrives.

‍

Move In vs. Move Out Cleaning: What's the Difference?

‍

These sound like the same thing, and honestly, the checklist is nearly identical. The difference is timing and perspective. Move out cleaning is about getting a security deposit back. The focus is on what the landlord will inspect.

‍

Move in cleaning is about your comfort and hygiene. The focus is on what you'll actually live with. In practice, move in cleaning often includes extra sanitization. You're not just removing visible dirt. You're eliminating whatever the previous occupants left behind, including things you can't see but definitely don't want. Cabinet interiors get sanitized, not just wiped. Bathrooms get disinfected, not just scrubbed. The approach assumes you want to start completely fresh, not just pass an inspection.

‍

When to Schedule Move In Cleaning

‍

Timing matters here, and getting it wrong creates headaches.

‍

The ideal scenario: you get access to your new place before your actual move-in date. Schedule the cleaning for that window. Cleaners come in, do their work, and you move into a freshly cleaned space the next day.

‍

If you're moving from one Miami apartment to another, this might mean overlapping your leases by a day or two. Paying an extra day's rent to have time for cleaning is usually worth it.

‍

If overlap isn't possible, schedule the cleaning for the morning of your move. Cleaners arrive early, finish before the movers show up, and you're not unpacking into a dirty space. This requires coordination but it's doable.

‍

What you don't want is to schedule cleaning after you've already started unpacking. Once boxes are stacked in corners and furniture is in place, cleaning becomes much harder and you'll never get the same result as cleaning an empty space.

‍

How Much Does Move In Cleaning Cost in Miami?

‍

Move in cleaning in Miami typically runs $250 to $400 for an apartment, $300 to $600 for a house. Pricing depends on square footage, number of bathrooms, and the property's condition.

‍

If the previous tenants left the place reasonably clean, you'll pay toward the lower end. If there's visible grime, heavy dust, or the property has been sitting vacant for a while, expect to pay more.

‍

Some people try to save money by doing move in cleaning themselves. This can work if you have the time and don't mind spending your first day in a new place scrubbing someone else's old bathroom. Most people have better things to do during an already stressful move.

‍

The cost of professional cleaning is also relative. If you're paying Miami rent, whether that's $2,500 in Edgewater or $3,500 in Brickell, the cleaning cost represents a small fraction of one month's rent for significantly improved quality of life.

‍

New Construction: Do You Still Need Move In Cleaning?

‍

Yes. Maybe even more than a resale or rental.

‍

New construction comes with construction dust, and that stuff is insidious. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, fine particulate matter from construction activities can remain airborne and settle on surfaces long after work is complete. Drywall dust, sawdust, and other particulates get into cabinets, closets, HVAC systems, and anywhere air circulates.

‍

Builders do a final clean before handoff, but they're not doing the detailed sanitization you'd want before living there. Cabinet interiors get a quick wipe, maybe. Inside the oven? Probably not. The HVAC vents that have been accumulating dust throughout construction? Definitely not.

‍

Post construction cleaning is actually a specialized service that goes beyond standard move in cleaning. If you're moving into new construction, ask whether the cleaning company has experience with post-construction work specifically.

‍

Miami Neighborhoods and Move In Cleaning Considerations

‍

Different neighborhoods present different situations.

‍

High-rise condos in Miami Beach or Brickell often have faster tenant turnover, meaning the cleaning between occupants is sometimes rushed. These buildings also have specific access requirements that professional cleaners know how to navigate. Older homes in Coral Gables might have original features like terrazzo floors or built-in cabinetry that need specific care. Not every cleaning company knows how to handle these materials properly.

‍

Properties near the water deal with salt air and humidity issues that affect cleaning needs. What looks clean might have underlying moisture or salt residue that should be addressed before you move in. Wherever you're moving in Miami, a cleaning company familiar with the local building stock will do better work than one that doesn't know the area.

‍

Making the Most of Your Move In Cleaning

‍

A few tips to get better results: Be there at the start if you can. Walk through with the cleaning team and point out anything specific you want addressed. That weird stain in the closet. The cabinet that smells musty. The window track that's clearly never been cleaned.

‍

Ask what products they're using, especially if you have sensitivities or preferences. Most professional services use commercial-grade products, but you can often request unscented or specific eco-friendly options. Do a walkthrough after they finish, before they leave. Check cabinet interiors, inside appliances, and bathroom details. It's much easier to address missed spots while the team is still there.

‍

Ready to Move Into a Clean Home?

‍

Moving is stressful enough without worrying whether your new place is actually clean. Professional move in cleaning lets you start fresh, knowing every surface has been properly cleaned and sanitized before your belongings arrive.

Schedule early, coordinate with your move date, and walk into your new Miami home ready to unpack rather than ready to scrub.

‍