Move-In Cleaning for Condos in Singapore: Prepare Before You Unpack

Clean your new condo before your boxes arrive, not after. An empty unit takes far less time to clean, and you'll never get as good a chance to wipe inside every kitchen cabinet, rinse the aircon filters and scrub the balcony. The order that works is: sort out management logistics, do the move-in clean, then let the movers in.

Condos have a few things HDB flats don't, like management rules, lift bookings, balconies and sometimes bay windows, so here's a condo-specific plan.

Before cleaning day: check with management

Every condo is managed differently, and the management corporation (MCST) and managing agent set the house rules. Before you book anything, ask the management office about:

• Lift booking. Many condos require you to book a service lift for movers, often with a deposit and set hours. Some also need it for renovation contractors.
• Moving hours. Weekend and public holiday restrictions are common.
• Contractor or worker registration. Some condos ask you to register cleaners, movers or contractors in advance, or to have them sign in at the guardhouse.
• Access cards and parking. Find out where the cleaner and movers can park, and how they'll get past the lobby.
• Rubbish disposal. Bulky packaging and cardboard often have a designated area.

Getting these sorted early avoids a cleaner or moving truck stuck at the guardhouse on the day.

The condo move-in cleaning plan

1. Kitchen: cabinets first

Kitchen cabinets are the priority, because you'll be putting food, plates and cutlery into them within hours.

• Vacuum crumbs and dust from inside every cabinet and drawer, then wipe with a mild detergent
• Clean shelves in the fridge and freezer, and let it run empty for a few hours before stocking
• Degrease the hob and the outside of the cooker hood. If the previous occupant cooked often, the hood filters may need soaking. Our cooker hood cleaning guide explains how.
• Wipe the oven exterior, and check inside before you use it
• Clean the sink, tap and under-sink cabinet, checking for leaks as you go

2. Bathrooms

• Sanitise the toilet, including under the rim and seat hinges
• Descale taps, showerheads and the shower screen
• Check grout and silicone for mould, which is common in condo bathrooms without windows
• Clean the exhaust fan cover. In windowless bathrooms this fan is the only ventilation, so a clogged one leads straight to mould.

3. Aircon filters

Most condos come with wall-mounted split units in the bedrooms and living room. Flip open the front panel, slide out the filters, rinse them under the tap, and let them dry completely before putting them back. If the filters are black or the units smell musty when switched on, the internal coils may need professional servicing, which you should book with an aircon company. We cover the DIY part in our guide to aircon filter cleaning at home.

4. Balcony

Condo balconies collect dust, leaves, bird droppings and, near main roads, black grime.

• Sweep and then scrub the floor tiles
• Clear the floor drain, which matters for dengue prevention because standing water lets mosquitoes breed
• Wipe the glass or metal railings from the inside, without leaning over
• Wipe the sliding door tracks, where grit makes doors stick

See our balcony cleaning guide for more detail.

5. Bedrooms, wardrobes and windows

• Wipe out wardrobes and drawers before hanging clothes
• Clean window interiors, frames and tracks
• Wipe bay window ledges if you have them, as dust and mould gather in the corners
• Dust light fittings and the top of wardrobes

6. Floors last

Finish with the floors. Condos often have marble, timber or tiles in the living areas, so use the right product for each. Our guides to marble floor cleaning and floor cleaning cover what not to use on stone and timber.

New condo or resale condo?

The priorities shift slightly:

• New launch condos have construction dust inside cabinets, paint specks on glass, and protective film residue on fittings. Treat it more like a post-renovation clean. Our post-renovation cleaning guide covers it.
• Resale or previously rented condos have the previous occupant's grease, limescale and hair in the drains. Focus on kitchen degreasing, bathroom descaling and drains.

How long a condo move-in clean takes

Estimates for one cleaner in an empty unit:

A heavily used kitchen or a big balcony adds time.

Getting help with the clean

Cleaning Assistant does condo move-in cleans by the hour: $20 per hour for a first trial session and $26 per hour for on-demand bookings, with no contracts or agency fees. You provide the cleaning products and equipment, which is handy in a new home, since you'll need to buy them anyway and they'll stay with you afterwards. If you're also moving out of a rental, our guide to end-of-tenancy cleaning covers the other end, and the full move-out cleaning guide brings it together. Once you've moved in, our condo cleaning guide covers regular upkeep.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to tell condo management a cleaner is coming?

It depends on the condo. Some require visitor or contractor registration at the guardhouse, and others just need you to grant access. Check with the management office before cleaning day.

Should I clean before or after the movers?

Clean before the movers so cabinets, wardrobes and floors are ready. Then do a quick vacuum and mop afterwards for the grit and dust the move brings in.

Can the cleaner wash the outside of the condo windows?

Only the parts that can be reached safely from inside or from the balcony. Exterior windows on upper floors that aren't safely reachable need specialist high-rise contractors, which the condo usually arranges.

My aircon smells musty. Will rinsing the filters fix it?

It often helps, but if the smell persists the coils and drain inside the unit probably need professional servicing. That's a job for an aircon technician.

Collecting your condo keys soon? Book your move-in clean before the movers arrive, or WhatsApp +65 8166 0891 and we'll help you plan the hours.