Greener Checklist For Move Out House Cleaning

The time has finally come… It’s time to move to your new home and you’re full of excitement and anticipation. The last thing you want to do is clean your old house. All you wanna do is to move to your new home and get settled in.

One of the best parts of moving is getting a fresh start, a home that is all nice and clean. But you won’t be able to truly enjoy doing this without getting closure on your old home, and one way to do this is to clean thoroughly for the new owners.

Follow this checklist to properly clean your home before moving using green, natural techniques.

Packing

First things first. Make sure you’ve packed all of your belongings. Get everything off the walls, out of closets, everything from the yard and out from the attic. Don’t leave anything behind that’ll get in the way or be there for the new owner to have to deal with. Make sure all staples and nails are removed from all the walls.

Repaint

If you can’t get marks off the wall with a wet cloth it may be time to repaint. This will freshen the place up for the new owners. If you don’t want to paint, try a Magic Eraser to get scuff marks out.

Kitchen

You’ll need to clean out the fridge and cabinets. Pull everything out, scrub it with vinegar and water and pack all of your cold items into a cooler for the move.

Clean the oven by misting with a spray bottle, adding a quarter-inch layer of baking soda, and then wiping with a cloth a few hours later.

Clean your sinks with a toothbrush by squeezing lemon juice onto hard mineral deposits, then spray natural dishwashing liquid with warm water to clean the surface.

If there is an odor in the sink, clean the drain by pouring vinegar and baking soda down it overnight, then rinse with boiling water. Finally, take out all the garbage and dispose of it.

Bathrooms

Fill the bathtubs with water and pour in vinegar. Throw in a few lemons that have been cut in half. Let it sit for an hour and it will get up any gunk in there.

Rather than using bleach for your toilet, mix a half cup of vinegar and a spoonful of baking soda and let it sit in the toilet bowl for 30 minutes before scrubbing.

Mix baking soda and all-natural dish soap to remove soap scum from shower doors and clean hard water and rust stains on ceramic tile.

Make a spray cleaner for the bathroom vanity by mixing half a cup of all-natural dish soap, a cup of water, and half a cup of vinegar. Clean the tile floor by mopping with baking soda and lemon juice before a final rinse.

Dusting and Windows

Make sure you wipe off light fixtures and even unscrew the covers to dump out dead bugs. Anything that is staying in the home, like light fixtures, appliances and mirrors, should all be wiped down and polished.

For windows, clean with a mixture of a quarter cup of white distilled vinegar, 2 cups of water, and half a teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Spray this on and wipe with a microfiber cleaning cloth.

Floors

You can deep clean your carpets the green way with a carpet steam cleaner and a combination of salt, borax, and white vinegar. Mix a quarter cup of each and apply it to stains or soiled sections of the carpet. Allow it to sit for several hours and let it dry before vacuuming again.

Got stains? Try mixing one part vinegar and two parts water in a spray bottle. Spray the stain, then lay a damp rag on it and sit a hot laundry iron on top for a minute. If it doesn’t come up, keep doing this and chances are the stain will lift right out.

Outdoors

Don’t forget to care for the outside of your home, too. Sweep the entry way, mow the lawn, and spray down the driveway and steps with a power washer. Repaint the mailbox and address numbers if needed.

Or of course, if you’d rather not deal with it, our professional maid services can handle it for you!

Updated for 2026

Green cleaning has gone mainstream in 2026, and the products available today are more effective than ever. Many of the natural solutions listed above — vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice — remain the gold standard for eco-friendly cleaning, but you can now find plant-based commercial cleaners at virtually every store in NYC that match the cleaning power of their chemical counterparts.

When moving out of an NYC apartment, it is worth noting that many buildings now require eco-friendly cleaning products to be used in common areas and shared spaces. Check with your building management about any specific cleaning requirements before move-out day.

Synergy Maids offers a dedicated move-out cleaning service that uses green products at no extra charge. Our experienced teams know exactly what NYC landlords look for during final walk-throughs, helping you get your full deposit back while keeping things eco-friendly.