Moving house is consistently ranked as one of life's most stressful experiences. Between packing boxes, coordinating removals, redirecting post, and updating your address with every company you have ever dealt with, cleaning is the last thing you want to think about. But it is also one of the most important — whether you are a tenant trying to protect your deposit or a buyer wanting a fresh start in your new home.
This guide covers both sides: cleaning the home you are leaving and preparing the one you are moving into. It is specific to the Solihull and South Birmingham area, with local tips on letting agents, property standards, and costs.
Part 1: Cleaning the Home You Are Leaving
For Tenants: The Deposit-Protection Clean
If you are renting, the quality of your end-of-tenancy clean directly impacts whether you get your deposit back. In the Solihull area, average deposits range from £600 to £1,500, so this is not a trivial amount.
What letting agents check:
Most agents in Solihull use a detailed inventory checklist. The most scrutinised areas are:
- Oven interior and hob: This is the number one item flagged at inspections. If you have cooked regularly, a professional oven clean is almost essential.
- Bathroom grout and silicone: Mould staining, limescale buildup, and discoloured sealant are common deduction items.
- Carpet stains: Significant stains that were not noted on the move-in inventory will result in deductions. Professional carpet cleaning may be required.
- Window interiors: Tracks, frames, and glass. Agents check these more thoroughly than you might expect.
- Kitchen appliances: Inside the fridge, microwave, and dishwasher if applicable.
- Walls and skirting boards: Scuff marks, handprints around light switches, and dirty skirting boards.
- Light fittings: Dust on lampshades, ceiling lights, and bulb covers.
The cleaning timeline:
- 2 weeks before: Book your professional end-of-tenancy clean. Good services fill up quickly, especially at the end of the month.
- 1 week before: Begin decluttering. The more items you remove, the easier the clean.
- 2-3 days before: Complete packing. The property should be as empty as possible for the clean.
- 1-2 days before: Professional clean takes place.
- Day of handover: Do a final walkthrough. Wipe any dust that has settled since the clean. Check windowsills and the tops of doors.
Our end-of-tenancy cleaning checklist:
Kitchen:
- All worktops cleaned and sanitised
- Hob degreased and polished
- Oven interior deep cleaned (including racks, door glass, and seals)
- Extractor fan and filters cleaned
- Sink, taps, and drainer descaled and polished
- All cabinet exteriors wiped
- Inside the fridge and freezer cleaned and dried
- Microwave interior and exterior
- Dishwasher interior cleaned, filter checked
- Splashback degreased
- Floor swept and mopped, edges detailed
- Bin area cleaned
Bathroom:
- Toilet cleaned inside and out, including base and behind
- Bath, shower tray, and shower screen descaled
- Tiles and grout cleaned
- Silicone sealant inspected (replacement recommended if mouldy)
- Mirror cleaned streak-free
- Basin and taps descaled and polished
- Extractor fan cover cleaned
- Floor mopped, edges detailed
Bedrooms and Living Areas:
- All surfaces dusted including tops of doors and frames
- Skirting boards wiped
- Light switches and door handles sanitised
- Radiators dusted (including behind and between fins)
- Window interiors, tracks, and sills cleaned
- Curtain rails and blind slats wiped
- Carpets vacuumed (professional carpet cleaning may be required separately)
- Hard floors mopped
For Homeowners: Selling and Leaving Well
If you are selling your home, you do not have the same deposit pressure, but leaving the property clean is courteous and can prevent disputes with the buyer. A thorough clean also makes a strong final impression.
Part 2: Cleaning the Home You Are Moving Into
Why You Should Clean Before Moving In
Even if the previous occupants cleaned before leaving, you should clean your new home before moving your furniture in. Reasons:
- Access: With empty rooms, you can reach every corner, behind where appliances will go, and under where furniture will sit. Once you have moved in, some areas become impossible to clean.
- Hygiene: You do not know how clean the previous occupants were. A thorough clean gives you a genuine fresh start.
- Peace of mind: Moving into a home you know is clean reduces stress during an already chaotic time.
The move-in cleaning checklist:
Before furniture arrives:
Kitchen:
- Run all taps and flush the system
- Clean inside all cabinets and drawers (crumbs and debris from previous occupants)
- Clean inside the oven, hob, and all appliances
- Wipe down all worktops with antibacterial cleaner
- Clean inside the fridge and freezer
- Run the dishwasher on empty with a cleaner tablet
Bathroom:
- Deep clean the toilet, paying special attention to under the rim
- Clean and descale the shower, bath, and taps
- Scrub the grout
- Clean the extractor fan
- Check and replace toilet seat if desired (they are inexpensive and it is more hygienic)
Throughout:
- Wipe all light switches and door handles
- Clean all windows inside
- Dust all surfaces, including tops of built-in wardrobes and shelving
- Vacuum and mop all floors
- Clean inside built-in cupboards
- Check and clean radiators
Solihull-specific tip: If you are moving into an older property in areas like Olton, Shirley, or Knowle, check for signs of damp in corners and around windows. Older Victorian and Edwardian properties are more prone to condensation issues, and catching mould early is much easier than dealing with an established problem.
Costs in the Solihull Area
Here is what you can expect to pay for professional moving cleans in 2026:
End-of-tenancy clean:
- 1-bed flat: from £189
- 2-bed house: from £229
- 3-bed house: from £279
- 4-bed house: from £349
- Add-ons: carpet cleaning (£30-50 per room), oven deep clean (£25)
Move-in clean:
- Similar pricing to end-of-tenancy, as the scope is comparable
- Often combined with oven cleaning and fridge cleaning add-ons
Combined deal: Some services offer a discount if you book both end-of-tenancy and move-in cleans together. At Scrubster, we offer 10% off the second booking when both are booked within the same month.
Booking Tips
- Book early: End-of-month dates fill up fast. Book at least 2 weeks in advance.
- Confirm access: If you are having the property cleaned while you are not there, arrange key access with your agent.
- Take photos: Before the clean for your records. After the clean for your inventory return.
- Communicate priorities: If the oven or carpets are your main concern, let the cleaning team know in advance.
- Check the guarantee: Any reputable service should offer a re-clean guarantee if the letting agent flags issues.