Hello, hello!
If you have ever shown up to a move out cleaning without the right equipment, you already know how quickly a simple cleaning job can turn into a stressful one. One missing product can easily add 20 to 30 minutes to your cleaning, and in some cases, it can prevent you from delivering the quality your client expects.
We’ve completed thousands (without exaggeration) of move out cleans across the Lower Mainland, and over time we’ve figured out exactly what supplies make the biggest difference. Some of these are absolute necessities, while others are optional but can save you a lot of time when the situation calls for them.
Let’s go through our complete move out cleaning supply checklist, shall we?
A Good Step Stool Is One of the Most Important Tools You Can Own
This is probably one of the most overlooked items by new cleaners. Can you get away without it? Possibly, but it certainly makes your life more difficult.
Most apartments are completely empty during a move out clean. There are no chairs, no tables, and nothing you can safely stand on to reach high shelves, closet tops, light fixtures, or the tops of kitchen cabinets.
At Pixel Cleaners, we recommend carrying at least a 13-inch foldable step stool. These usually cost around $12 to $25 in the Lower Mainland and fold flat, making them easy to transport.
Even better is a 2-step folding stool, which typically costs between $20 and $50. The extra height makes cleaning much easier without constantly stretching.
If your vehicle has enough room, a lightweight ladder can even better for certain properties.
No matter what you choose, safety always comes first.
You have to be careful when standing on a stool. It is very easy to trip if you are not paying attention, especially when you’re reaching to clean windows or the tops of cabinets. Never lean too far to one side. It is always safer to climb down and reposition the stool than to risk a fall.
A Magic Eraser Can Make Walls Look Brand New
Wall spots are one of the most common things landlords and property managers notice during inspections.
Scuff marks from shoes, black marks from furniture, small handprints, random marks around light switches.
We recommend to always carry several Magic Erasers because they remove many of these marks with very little effort.
A pack usually costs around $3 to $10, and it can easily save you from spending much longer scrubbing walls with regular cleaners.
Just remember that Magic Erasers are slightly abrasive, so always test a small hidden area first if you’re unsure about the paint finish.
Easy-Off Oven Cleaner Is Worth Every Dollar
Ovens are often one of the dirtiest parts of a move out clean.
Many people try using only a regular degreaser, but baked-on grease can take forever to remove.
What we like at Pixel Cleaners is using Easy-Off Oven Cleaner.
It usually costs around $3 to $8, and in our experience it performs significantly better than using only a standard degreaser on heavily soiled ovens.
Spray it, allow it to work according to the instructions, then wipe everything down afterward.
We still recommend keeping a quality degreaser in your supplies because it works well on range hoods, kitchen cabinets, backsplashes, and other greasy surfaces.
A Glass Cleaner Is Essential
Windows, mirrors, shower glass, and glass doors all need a streak-free finish.
A quality glass cleaner usually costs $3 to $8, and it is one of those products you will use on almost every move out clean.
For the best results, pair it with clean microfiber cloths specifically reserved for glass.
Microfiber Cloths…Lots of Them
You can never have too many microfiber cloths.
We always separate cloths by purpose.
Some are only used for glass.
Some are used for general dusting.
Others are used for kitchens.
Others are reserved for bathrooms.
Keeping them separated helps prevent cross-contamination and gives much better results.
We also recommend carrying paper towels.
Although microfiber cloths are excellent, there are certain areas with very high bacteria concentrations, such as toilets or heavily soiled surfaces, where disposable paper towels simply make more sense.
Buying microfiber cloths in bulk usually saves quite a bit of money over time.
Gloves Protect More Than Just Your Hands
Cleaning chemicals can dry out your skin very quickly.
Disposable nitrile gloves or reusable cleaning gloves are both excellent choices.
Expect to spend around $5 to $12 for a box of disposable gloves.
Shoe Covers Help Make a Great First Impression
One of the easiest ways to make a professional impression is simply wearing shoe covers.
They cost very little but immediately show clients that you care about protecting their floors.
A box usually costs around $8 to $24.
A Good Vacuum Makes Cleaning Much Faster
A vacuum is one of the biggest investments you’ll make.
At Pixel Cleaners, we recommend using:
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- An upright vacuum
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- A backpack vacuum
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- Or at the very least, a vacuum that allows you to clean while standing comfortably
Avoid relying on tiny handheld vacuums for entire apartments.
Your vacuum should also include a crevice tool, which is the narrow attachment used for corners, baseboards, behind appliances, window tracks, and tight spaces.
Without this attachment, you’ll spend much more time trying to reach difficult areas.
Mop, Bucket, and Neutral Floor Cleaner
After vacuuming, you’ll need a reliable mop and bucket.
For most hard flooring, we recommend using a neutral floor cleaner because it cleans effectively without damaging finished floors.
Neutral floor cleaners are usually available for around $4 to $15.
Buying concentrated versions is often much more economical.
A Swiffer Can Reach Places You Cannot
Tall windows can be surprisingly difficult.
Even a ladder doesn’t always allow you to safely reach every corner.
One tool we really like at Pixel Cleaners is an extendable Swiffer.
With the right extension, you can safely clean high windows, walls, and ceiling corners without constantly climbing.
Again, safety always comes first.
Dusting Tools Save Time
Don’t forget about:
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- Ceiling light fixtures
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- Ceiling fans
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- Air vents
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- Closet shelves
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- Door frames
An extendable microfiber duster can clean these areas much faster than trying to reach them with a regular cloth. Additionally, scrubbing brush would also help, especially cleaning the exhaust fan in bathrooms.
Every Cleaner Should Carry a Plastic Scraper
Sometimes you’ll encounter:
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- Sticky food residue
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- Dried paint
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- Tape residue
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- Old labels
A small plastic scraper or plastic putty knife is incredibly useful.
These typically cost only a few dollars and can save a tremendous amount of time.
Plastic is generally safer than metal because it is much less likely to scratch surfaces.
Goo Gone Is Optional But Very Helpful
You don’t always need adhesive remover.
However, if a client mentions sticker residue, tape, labels, or adhesive left behind, bringing Goo Gone can save a lot of effort.
We consider this an optional product rather than something you need on every job.
Sponges and Scrubbing Pads
Every cleaning kit should include:
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- Regular sponges
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- Non-scratch scrubbing pads
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- Stainless steel scrubbers for extremely stubborn oven residue
Steel scrubbers should only be used on surfaces where they are safe, as they can scratch certain finishes.
In many cases, using Easy-Off first means you won’t need aggressive scrubbing at all.
Bathroom Chemicals That Actually Work
Bathrooms often require several different products.
At Pixel Cleaners, we usually carry:
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- Bleach for whitening heavily stained tubs and toilets
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- Mold and mildew remover
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- Bathroom cleaner for sinks, tubs, showers, and tiles
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- Glass cleaner for shower doors
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- Degreaser for stubborn buildup when needed
We have had good experiences with several Zep products over the years because they are affordable, effective, and easy to find in the Lower Mainland.
Always follow the label instructions and never mix bleach with other cleaning chemicals.
Stainless Steel Cleaner Is Optional But Looks Amazing
If the property has stainless steel appliances, a dedicated stainless steel cleaner can really improve the final appearance.
One product we like is Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner.
It leaves refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, and ovens looking polished without excessive effort.
It is definitely optional, but when you want to impress a client, it is a nice finishing touch.
Garbage Bags
Always carry multiple garbage bags.
You will likely need them for:
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- Cleaning waste
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- Dirty paper towels
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- Empty product containers
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- Debris left behind by previous tenants
Running out halfway through a move out clean is never fun.
Buy Your Supplies in Bulk
If you’re cleaning regularly, buying everything one bottle at a time gets expensive.
Whenever possible, purchase:
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- Microfiber cloths
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- Paper towels
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- Garbage bags
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- Gloves
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- Concentrated cleaning chemicals
Buying in bulk usually lowers your cost per job and means you’re much less likely to run out unexpectedly.
Our Complete Move Out Cleaning Supply Checklist
Here’s a quick checklist before heading to your next job:
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- 13-inch folding stool (if you don’t want to carry anything heavy) or 2-step stool (recommended) or Ladder (if practical)
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- Magic Erasers (this really helps with wall spots)
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- Easy-Off Oven Cleaner
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- Degreaser
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- Glass cleaner
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- Neutral floor cleaner
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- Bathroom cleaner
- Scrub Brush
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- Bleach
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- Mold and mildew remover
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- Shower, Tub & Tile Cleaner (this is 3 in 1 liquid)
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- Microfiber cloths
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- Paper towels
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- Gloves
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- Shoe covers (optional, if you don’t have it you can just take off your shoes)
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- Mask (recommended, as you don’t want to breathe in chemicals)
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- Upright or backpack vacuum
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- Crevice tool attachment
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- Mop and bucket
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- Extendable Swiffer
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- Extendable duster
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- Sponges
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- Non-scratch scrubbing pads
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- Stainless steel scrubber
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- Plastic scraper
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- Goo Gone (optional)
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- Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner (optional)
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- Garbage bags
Final Thoughts
The difference between an average move out clean and an excellent one often comes down to preparation.
What we like at Pixel Cleaners is keeping our cleaning kits fully stocked so our technicians are ready for almost any situation that comes up. Having the right supplies not only produces better results, but it also makes the work less stressful and much more efficient.
You don’t need to buy everything at once if you’re just getting started. Build your kit over time, buy supplies in bulk whenever it makes sense, and invest in quality tools that will last. Your future self and your clients will definitely appreciate it.