Cleaning before move-in and move-out: how to rent out or move into an apartment without stress and hassle

Moving is always a massive undertaking, involving packing boxes, finding transportation, dealing with paperwork, and endless to-do lists. However, one of the most important and time-consuming tasks of any move is cleaning before moving in and out .

Whether you're moving out of a rental in Buenos Aires, preparing your own property for new tenants, or moving into a long-awaited new home, impeccable cleanliness is crucial. We'll explore why this cleaning requires special attention, what a thorough cleaning prep involves, and how a smart approach can save you stress, time, and money.

Why is cleaning preparation necessary when moving?

Moving is almost always stressful, and attempting to clean on your own under time pressure often leads to superficial results. A high-quality cleaning service during a transitional period addresses several critical issues at once:

1. Deposit refund guarantee upon departure

In Argentina, the transfer of a property to an owner or real estate agency ( Inmobiliaria ) is often accompanied by a detailed inspection. Owners and realtors carefully inspect every corner:

• Solidified grease on the kitchen hood or upper facades;

• Limescale and soap deposits in the shower stall and on faucets;

• Dust on baseboards, door frames, sockets and inside built-in cabinets.

Any of these details could result in a substantial deposit being withheld or a delay in its return. A comprehensive move-out cleaning ensures that the apartment will be handed over in immaculate condition, meets the agency's strict standards, and will not cause any complaints from the owner.

2. Absolute hygiene and disinfection upon arrival

Even if previous tenants or landlords claim to have cleaned the property, their perception of cleanliness may be completely different from yours. When moving into a new home, it's important to carry out more than just a superficial cleaning, but a thorough sanitisation:

• Cleaning and disinfection of storage areas (kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, chests of drawers);

• Removal of traces of life of previous residents and their pets;

• Thorough cleaning and disinfection of all plumbing and kitchen equipment.

A deep clean before moving in creates a safe and fresh atmosphere, allowing you to put away personal belongings and clothes on perfectly clean shelves from day one.

3. Saving physical strength and time

Packing, dismantling, and loading and unloading are incredibly taxing. Once the last box is loaded into the truck, there's simply no energy left for hours of mopping floors, washing windows, and cleaning the oven. Delegating this task to professionals allows you to focus on settling into your new place and celebrating your housewarming without feeling utterly exhausted.

What is included in a comprehensive cleaning before move-in and move-out?

When changing tenants, a no-compromise approach is required: even areas not touched during routine maintenance cleaning are cleaned. The primary focus is on high-traffic surfaces:

Kitchen and kitchen appliances

The kitchen is the most difficult area to clean before moving in or moving out, as ingrained grease and grime accumulate on surfaces during your stay:

• Facades and cabinets: Cleaning kitchen units from the outside and inside (including the tops of cabinets, where the main layer of dust and grease accumulates).

• Appliances: Deep clean oven, stove, hood (including filters), microwave and refrigerator inside and out.

• Work areas: Degreasing kitchen backsplashes, washing countertops, sinks and faucets, removing limescale.

Toilets and bathrooms

The bathroom requires uncompromising disinfection and removal of stubborn deposits:

• Plumbing: Complete disinfection of toilets, bidets, sinks and bathtubs.

• Tiles and grout: Cleaning tiles of soapstone and limescale, treating grout between tiles.

• Shower cabins and faucets: Removal of scale, polishing of chrome elements and glass partitions to a shine.

Living rooms, bedrooms and hallways

• Cleaning of all vertical and horizontal surfaces: Removing dust from walls, doors, door handles, switches, sockets and baseboards.

• Furniture and storage systems: Wet and dry cleaning of external and internal surfaces of built-in cabinets, wardrobes and chests of drawers.

• Textiles and floors: Thorough vacuuming of carpets and upholstered furniture, deep washing of all types of hard floor coverings (parquet, laminate, porcelain stoneware, tiles).

Windows, balconies and glazing

• Window units: Washing glass on both sides, cleaning frames, window seals, fittings and window sills.

• Balcony areas: Removing dust and dirt from balcony railings, washing floors and glazing, which is especially important for apartments in large cities.

Helpful tip: If you're moving into a rented apartment with furniture from the previous tenants (or preparing such an apartment for rent), it's highly recommended to combine a deep cleaning with an extractor dry cleaning of sofas and mattresses. This will completely remove accumulated dust mites, deep dirt, old stains, and odours.