A new home is only ever this empty once. The hours between getting the keys and the first box arriving are the easiest cleaning opportunity you’ll ever have: every cabinet is open, every floor is bare, nothing has to be moved. Most people waste it because they’re exhausted and the place “looks fine.” It isn’t — vacant doesn’t mean clean. Here’s what to do with that window.
Priority one: the health items
Before anything cosmetic, sanitize the surfaces the previous occupants touched most and that your family will touch first. The CDC’s home cleaning and disinfecting guidance is a sensible baseline: clean first, then disinfect high-touch and high-moisture areas.
- Toilet, including the seat hinges and the base.
- Tub and shower, with a descaler for Lubbock hard-water film.
- Kitchen sink and faucet handles.
- Refrigerator interior, gaskets and drawers.
- Door handles, light switches, thermostat, cabinet pulls.
Kitchen
- Wipe inside every cabinet and drawer before you fill them. Vacuum crumbs from the corners first. Consider shelf liner.
- Oven: inside, racks and door glass. Run a self-clean cycle if it has one, with windows open.
- Range hood filter: degrease or replace.
- Dishwasher: run empty with a cleaner; check the filter for debris.
- Counters, backsplash and appliance exteriors.
Bathrooms
- Full scrub of tub, shower, grout and glass; replace the shower curtain liner.
- Vanity drawers and medicine cabinet inside and out.
- Exhaust fan cover.
- Replace the toilet seat if you’d rather not inherit one.
Bedrooms, closets and living areas
- Closet shelves and rods wiped; closet floors vacuumed — dust bunnies live here.
- Blinds, sills and window tracks (the dustiest spots in any Lubbock home).
- Ceiling fans and light fixtures, which you’ll never reach as easily again.
- Baseboards and door frames.
- Walls spot-cleaned; this is also the easiest time to paint.
Floors last
Vacuum thoroughly, then mop hard floors with a cleaner suited to the surface. If carpets are staying, a professional carpet clean before furniture arrives is dramatically easier and more effective than after.
Don’t forget
- Replace the HVAC filter and note the size for next time.
- Vacuum vents and returns.
- Clean inside the washer (run a cleaning cycle) and the dryer lint trap and vent.
- Wipe the inside of the garage door and sweep the garage.
- Change the locks or codes.
Products worth having on hand
Microfiber cloths, a good all-purpose cleaner, a disinfectant for bathrooms and the kitchen, a descaler for mineral build-up, and a degreaser for the kitchen. If you prefer gentler chemistry around kids and pets, look for products in the EPA Safer Choice program.
If the window is too short
If the movers are arriving tomorrow and you’re still signing paperwork today, a professional move-in clean does everything above in a few hours with a crew, so the house is genuinely sanitized on night one. Many customers pair it with a move-out clean at the old place and let one team handle both ends of the move.
Quick answers
Should I clean before or after painting?
Clean first so dust doesn’t end up in the paint, then do a light dust and floor clean after painting.
Is it worth cleaning a brand-new build?
Yes. Construction dust is everywhere — inside cabinets, in vents, on every ledge. New homes often need the most thorough first clean.
What’s the first thing to clean in a new home?
The bathroom and the refrigerator. They’re the two places you’ll need before the first night.
