How to clean appliances when you move out

To clean appliances when moving out, empty and unplug the fridge the night before so the freezer can defrost. In the morning, start the oven's self-clean cycle or put on a baking soda paste, then do the dishwasher, microwave, stovetop, washer and dryer while it works. Finish with the fridge interior, the outsides of everything, and the floor where each appliance stood.

What order should you clean appliances in?

1. The night before: the fridge and freezer. Eat down or give away the food, then empty it, unplug it and lay towels at the base to catch meltwater.
2. First thing: the oven. Self-clean cycles run for hours, and baking soda paste needs time to sit.
3. While the oven works: stovetop and hood, dishwasher, microwave, washer and dryer.
4. Then the fridge interior, once the freezer is fully thawed.
5. Last: every exterior and the floors in front of, and under, anything you can move.

How do you clean the fridge before moving out?

• Pull out every shelf and drawer and wash them in warm water with dish soap. Glass shelves straight from a cold fridge can crack in hot water, so let them warm up first.
• Wipe the inside with a tablespoon of baking soda in a quart of warm water. It cleans and deodorizes without leaving a chemical smell.
• Work the door gasket with an old toothbrush and the same mix. Food and mildew collect in the folds.
• Freezer: once the ice is gone, wipe it out and dry it fully.
• Underneath: pop off the front grille and vacuum the coils if they're at the bottom. Some fridges have a drip pan under there too. Pull it, wash it and slide it back.
• Behind: if you can roll the fridge out safely, vacuum the floor and the coils on the back. Mind the water line if it has an ice maker.
• Doors left open: if the fridge will sit unplugged, prop the doors open with a folded towel. A closed, unplugged fridge grows mildew.

Our full guide to cleaning a refrigerator has more detail.

How do you clean the oven before moving out?

Self-cleaning oven: take the racks out unless your manual says they can stay in, open a window, and run the cycle. It gets very hot and it can smoke, so stay home while it runs. When it's cooled, wipe out the ash with a damp cloth. Don't use spray oven cleaner inside a self-cleaning oven unless the manual allows it.

No self-clean: mix baking soda and water into a paste like frosting, spread it over the inside (not the heating elements), and leave it overnight if you can, or at least a few hours. Scrape it off with a plastic scraper, then spray a little white vinegar on what's left. It fizzes and loosens the rest. Wipe until no white film remains.

Racks: soak them in a bathtub of hot water and dish soap, with an old towel on the bottom of the tub to stop scratches. Scrub with a non-scratch pad after an hour or two.

Door glass: the same baking soda paste, wiped off with a damp cloth. Don't forget the drawer underneath. Pull it out and sweep the floor beneath it.

See our guide to cleaning your oven for stubborn spots.

How do you clean the stovetop and range hood?

• Gas: soak the grates and burner caps in hot soapy water. Wipe the stovetop, then scrub what's baked on with a baking soda paste.
• Electric coil: unplug the coils once cool, and soak the drip pans. Badly stained drip pans are cheap to replace and the new ones make the stove look cared for.
• Glass top: a cooktop cleaner and a razor scraper held nearly flat for baked-on spots. Never use an abrasive pad on glass.
• Knobs: many pull straight off. Wash them in the sink.
• Hood filter: pop it out and soak it in very hot water with dish soap and a handful of baking soda. Scrub, rinse and dry before it goes back. Wipe the underside of the hood too, where grease builds up.

How do you clean the dishwasher?

1. Pull out the bottom rack and remove the filter. Rinse it under hot water and scrub it with a soft brush.
2. Check the spray arm holes. Clear any that are blocked with a toothpick.
3. Wipe the door gasket and the edges of the door, where drips run and dry.
4. If your manual allows it, put a cup of white vinegar upright on the top rack and run a hot cycle, empty.
5. Wipe the front and the control panel.

How do you clean the microwave?

Heat a bowl of water with a slice of lemon or a splash of vinegar for three to five minutes, then leave the door shut for a few more. The steam softens everything. Wash the turntable in the sink, wipe the inside, then the door and the vent grille on the underside if it's over the stove.

How do you clean the washer and dryer?

• Front-loader: pull back the rubber door gasket and wipe the folds, where mildew grows. Pull out and wash the detergent drawer. Run an empty hot cycle with a washer cleaner or whatever your manual recommends. Leave the door open after.
• Top-loader: wipe under the lid and around the rim of the drum, and run an empty hot cycle.
• Dryer: wash the lint screen in soapy water and let it dry fully. Vacuum inside the lint screen slot with a crevice tool. Wipe the drum.
• Both: wipe the tops and fronts, and sweep the floor around and, if you can move them safely, behind them.

Small appliances like the toaster and coffee maker move with you, so they only need cleaning before they're packed. Built-ins stay.

What does a move-out cleaning service do with the appliances?

On the Move-In / Move-Out Cleaning, CleanStart, kitchen checklist: the outside of every appliance present, including the fridge, dishwasher, microwave and small appliances, the inside of the microwave, the stovetop, range exterior and hood exterior, and the countertops and sink. In the laundry area, the washer and dryer exteriors.

The inside of the fridge and the inside of the oven are add-ons. The fridge has to be emptied and defrosted, and the freezer isn't included. The oven's self-clean cycle is run first.

Moving heavy furniture or appliances isn't on any of our cleaning checklists. Working water, electricity and lighting are required.

Submitting the form sends a booking request. The appointment is confirmed after the details are reviewed and an available cleaning professional is matched, so book as soon as you know your move-out date.

See the full checklist at Move-In and Move-Out Cleaning.

FAQ

Do you have to clean appliances when you move out? Check your lease or sale agreement for the condition the home has to be left in. Even when it isn't written down, the fridge and oven are easy for a landlord, buyer or new tenant to open and check.

Should I leave the fridge on or off when I move out? Ask your landlord or agent. If it's left off, prop the doors open with a towel so the inside doesn't trap moisture and grow mildew.

How long does it take to clean kitchen appliances before moving out? Plan on a full day for a full kitchen, plus the night before to defrost the freezer. A self-cleaning oven cycle runs for a few hours on its own, so start it early and work on the other appliances while it runs.

Does a move-out cleaning include the inside of the fridge and oven? On Move-In and Move-Out Cleaning, the outside of every appliance present and the inside of the microwave are included. The inside of the fridge and oven are add-ons: the fridge has to be emptied and defrosted and the freezer isn't included, and the oven's self-clean cycle is run first.

Book a move-out cleaning

Book online at tinascleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (609) 831-4455, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.