You’ve got the keys to your new place on the Sunshine Coast. Boxes are stacked, the removalists are waiting, and the temptation is to start unpacking immediately. But before you load a single box through the front door, there’s a strong case for a thorough move-in clean first.

Even if the property looks clean, it probably isn’t. Not to the standard you’d want before setting up your kitchen and walking barefoot across the floors.

Why Move-In Cleaning Matters

If you’re moving into a rental, the previous tenant will have arranged a bond clean. Bond cleans are designed to meet the property manager’s checklist and get the bond back. They’re thorough on big-ticket items but not personalised. Inside cupboards may be wiped but not sanitised. Rangehood filters and light fittings often get a surface pass rather than a detailed clean.

Existing homes you’ve purchased typically sit empty during settlement. Dust accumulates, insects move in (Sunshine Coast cockroaches and spiders don’t wait for invitations), and any prior cleaning deteriorates.

New builds are often the worst. Construction dust is insidious — it gets into every cupboard, shelf, and vent during final stages. The builder’s clean focuses on making the home look presentable for handover, not on the fine layer of plaster dust and adhesive residue coating the inside of every cabinet. We’ve cleaned brand new homes in Buderim where the cupboards were white with dust inside despite looking fine with doors closed.

The Move-In Checklist

Kitchen (Start Here)

Hygiene matters most here, and it’s where you’ll unpack first.

• All cupboards and drawers. Vacuum out debris, wipe every surface with food-safe sanitiser. Attention to hinges and corners.
• Oven and cooktop. Even if previously cleaned, give it a once-over. Residual cleaning products create smells when you first heat the oven.
• Rangehood filters. Soak in hot water with degreaser. In new builds, filters often still have manufacturing oils.
• Dishwasher. Run empty with a cup of white vinegar on the top rack. Check the filter for debris.
• Fridge space. Wipe with baking soda solution before plugging in.

Bathrooms

• Sanitise everything. Toilet (inside, out, and behind), basin, shower, all taps. Use proper bathroom sanitiser.
• Shower screen. Check for hard water stains and soap scum — Sunshine Coast humidity contributes to quick buildup.
• Exhaust fans. Remove covers, clean fan blades. Dust and moisture combine to reduce airflow and harbour mould.
• Grout. Inspect for mould signs, especially in showers. Bicarb soda paste left for 10 minutes then scrubbed handles light mould well.

Throughout the Home

• Light switches and power points. Wipe every one — high-touch surfaces accumulate grime from previous occupants.
• Window sills and tracks. Vacuum tracks and wipe sills. Salt and dust accumulate in tracks quickly on the coast.
• Air conditioning filters. Pull filters from every split system and wash them. Clogged filters circulate dust and reduce efficiency. In Sunshine Coast homes where aircon runs most of the year, dirty filters are almost guaranteed.
• Built-in wardrobes. Vacuum shelves, wipe hanging rails, check back corners for mould in rooms with poor airflow.

Timing Your Move-In Clean

The ideal sequence: get keys, clean, then move furniture in. This gives unobstructed access to every room and corner. Working around boxes takes longer and costs more.

For purchases, settlement day is when you get keys. Having a cleaning team ready that afternoon or the next morning, before removalists arrive, is the most efficient approach. For rentals, it’s worth asking the property manager about early access — even a day makes a big difference.

The team at team400.ai built scheduling tools that service businesses like ours use to coordinate with clients’ moving timelines. Book your move-in clean alongside your removalists and have the whole transition properly sequenced — clean first, move in, then settle.

Professional or DIY?

You can absolutely do a move-in clean yourself. The checklist above covers everything you need. If you’ve got the time, products, and energy after everything else that goes into a move, it’s perfectly reasonable.

Professional cleaning makes sense when time is short (which it usually is during a move), the property is large, or you want assurance that everything’s done to a consistent standard. A typical 3-bedroom move-in clean takes a team of two about 3-4 hours. For 4-5 bedrooms, allow 4-5 hours. New builds with heavy construction dust take longer.

Whatever approach you choose, don’t skip it. Starting fresh in a genuinely clean home makes the Sunshine Coast welcome feel that much better.