Before the furniture arrives
An empty home is the easiest it will ever be to clean. You can reach every ceiling corner, wipe inside every built-in and see the whole floor. Work from high to low, so dust falls onto areas you have not cleaned yet: ceilings, fans and light covers first, then walls and doors, then the inside of built-ins, and the floors last. For the rest of the move, a new home move-in checklist can help you keep track.
New BTO flats: clean and inspect together
New HDB flats have a 1-year Defects Liability Period (DLP) from key collection. HDB asks owners to report items within 1 month of key collection and before renovation starts. Report online through the QR code in your Welcome Kit or on the kitchen wall notice, or at the Building Service Centre, which arranges a joint inspection (HDB's guide to defects in new flats).
Kitchen and bathrooms
In the kitchen, wipe inside every cabinet and drawer, degrease the hob and cooker hood, and wash the hood filters if they come off. Clean the sink, tap and strainer, scrub the tiles and grout, then finish with the floor trap and floor.
In the bathrooms, NEA advises cleaning from high to low (wall to floor) and from cleaner to dirtier areas, such as from the shower to the toilet bowl, so the shower screen and tiles come before the floor trap (NEA's guidelines for cleaning residences).
Prepare and apply each product according to the manufacturer's guidelines, give it the contact time stated, and wear the protective equipment its Safety Data Sheet prescribes. NEA also recommends ventilating the home during and after cleaning (NEA).
If renovation works have just finished, look at post-renovation cleaning, a separate service from a move-in clean.
Aircon, windows and hidden areas
Wash or vacuum the aircon filters before you use the units. Servicing is a separate job for an aircon company.
Vacuum the window tracks and grilles, then wipe them along with the frames and glass. Then reach the places that are hard to clean once you have moved in:
- Behind and above built-in wardrobes and kitchen cabinets.
- The household shelter: walls, shelves and floor.
- The outside of the DB box (distribution board). Wipe the cover only and do not open it.
Mosquito checks
While you clean, work through NEA's mozzie-free checklist: turn pails over and store them under shelter, loosen hardened soil in potted plants, keep corridor scupper drains clear, cover rarely used gully traps and cover bamboo pole holders after use. Do not place trays or containers under or on an aircon unit, as they can let mosquitoes breed (NEA's dengue prevention measures).
Published move-in and move-out cleaning rates
10 companies publish a move-in or move-out cleaning rate. 7 of them price per job, and their lowest published rates run from S$199 to S$400 per job, with S$370 per job in the middle. That middle figure is one company's real published rate, not an average. The rates cover a whole home, usually the smallest size each company prices, so check the scope on each company's page.
FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY
Published move-out cleaning rates
For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published move-out cleaning rates from 7 companies run from S$199 to S$400 per job (middle rate S$370), for a whole home, usually the smallest size the company prices. The middle figure is a real published rate, not an average. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a quote.
See 10 published move-out cleaning rates and sources
| Company | Service as listed | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Cleaning Service | End-of-tenancy cleaning, studio apartment (1 cleaner, 3-4 hours, floor area < 590 sq ft) | S$110 | singaporecleaningservice.com |
| True North Cleaning Pte Ltd | Post Tenancy / Move-in Out Deep Clean | From S$199 per job | truenorthcleaning.sg |
| Eunike Living | One-time move-out cleaning, apartment below 600 sqft | S$250 to S$300 | eunikeliving.com |
| Home Clean Home | Move In/Out Cleaning | From S$280 per job | homecleanhome.com.sg |
| Detail Freak | End of Lease/Move in Clean | From S$290 per job | detail-freak.com |
| Sureclean | Move in / move out cleaning | From S$370 per job | sureclean.com.sg |
| Helperoo Pte Ltd | Move in / Out Clean ( *) | From S$380 per job | helperoo.com.sg |
| Scrubbys | End of Tenancy Cleaning | From S$380 per job | scrubbys.sg |
| Goodview Cleaning Services | End of Tenancy Cleaning | S$400 to S$700 per job | goodviewcleaning.sg |
| Home Carely Cleaning Services | Handover cleaning, 2-bedroom, furnished | S$420 | homecarelycontract.sg |
The other 3 companies print their rates without a unit: one lists a studio at S$110, one lists S$250 to S$300 below 600 sqft, and one lists S$420 for a furnished 2-bedroom handover. For other services, see home cleaning prices.
To compare move-in, deep and post-renovation cleaning rates side by side, use the cleaning cost estimator.
The full move in cleaning checklist
Tick off each area as you clean it, and note anything in the check column that needs follow-up.
| Area | Clean | Check as you go |
|---|---|---|
| Whole home | Ceilings, fans, light covers, walls, doors | Doors close; lights and fans switch on |
| Bedrooms and living room | Inside wardrobes and built-ins, skirting, floors | Doors, drawers and hinges move smoothly |
| Kitchen | Cabinets, hob, hood filters, sink, strainer, tiles, floor trap | Sink and floor trap drain |
| Bathrooms | Shower screen, tiles, basin, vanity, toilet bowl, floor trap | Taps do not leak; water drains |
| Aircon and windows | Aircon filters, frames, glass, tracks, grilles | No trays or containers under or on aircon units |
| Hidden areas | Behind and above built-ins, household shelter, DB box cover | DB box cover wiped, never opened |
| Service yard and corridor | Floor, bamboo pole holders, pails | Pails turned over; scupper drains clear; gully traps covered |
Once you have settled in, a spring cleaning checklist can help you plan the next big clean.
NEXT STEP
See home cleaning companies with their published prices, the areas they say they cover and their sources.
Compare cleaning companiesDoing it yourself or booking a cleaner
Doing it yourself costs only supplies and time, and you inspect every corner as you go. New house cleaning on your own suits you if you have free days between key collection and moving day and are comfortable on a ladder.
Booking a company saves you the physical work, and some also list deep cleaning for homes that need more. Before you book, ask:
- Areas: which rooms the price covers, such as inside cabinets, windows and the household shelter, and whether the company serves your part of Singapore.
- Hours: whether the price is per job or per hour, and how long the job takes.
- Supplies: whether the cleaners bring their own products and equipment.
- Add-ons: which items cost extra.
Then compare cleaning companies and check each one's published scope.
Questions
How long before moving in should I clean?
Clean once any renovation is done and before the furniture arrives. In a new HDB flat, also do a first clean and inspection soon after key collection, because HDB asks owners to report defects within 1 month of key collection and before renovation.
Should I clean before or after renovation?
Both. A light clean before renovation lets you inspect a new flat and report defects to HDB before works start, so there is no question of whether a defect came from construction or renovation. After renovation, a thorough clean removes the dust from the works, just before you move in.
What should I check for defects in a new HDB flat?
Check the fittings, fixtures and finishes in every room as you clean, and note anything that needs rectification, with photos. Report items to HDB within 1 month of key collection and before renovation, online or at the Building Service Centre. HDB usually completes a repair in less than 2 weeks.
Do I need to service the aircon when moving into a resale flat?
It is sensible to have the aircon serviced before you use it, since you may not know how the units were looked after. You can wash the filters yourself during your move-in clean, but servicing is a separate job for an aircon company.
Is move-in cleaning different from move-out cleaning?
The work is much the same: an empty home cleaned from high to low, including cabinets, kitchen, bathrooms, windows and floors. A move-in clean prepares the home for you and is a chance to note defects. A move-out clean hands the home over clean. Ask each company what its scope covers.
What cleaning products should I use in a new home?
Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to prepare and apply each product and how long to leave it on. Wear the protective equipment its Safety Data Sheet prescribes, do not mix products, and ventilate the home during and after cleaning, as NEA recommends.
Prices come only from the sourced company rates in the HomezyPro directory, shown with each company and its source.
Practical guidance for planning a home job in Singapore. Company prices come from the HomezyPro directory, each linked to its source; rules and safety points link to the agency or manufacturer that sets them. This is not a site inspection, a quote or professional advice for your home.
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