I was completely overwhelmed preparing for my in-laws' first visit from overseas. Their move in cleaning service was a lifesaver, making my entire apartment spotless and ready to impress, and I could finally relax and enjoy their stay.Move-in cleaning · Upper East Side
Move in cleaning service NYC
Start fresh in a home that's actually clean.
Our move in cleaning service gets your new NYC apartment truly clean before your boxes arrive. Inside cabinets, appliances, bathrooms, closets, and floors, across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Insured & bonded
COI for your building
Flat-rate online pricing
Before the boxes arrive
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
Why book a move in cleaning before you unpack?
Here's something most people learn the hard way: the "broom clean" condition your lease promises is not the same as clean. Landlords and brokers use that phrase to mean the last tenant's stuff is gone and the floor got a quick sweep. It does not mean anyone wiped inside the kitchen cabinets, scrubbed the tub, or cleaned the shelf in the closet where you're about to put your folded clothes.
We've cleaned hundreds of "move-in ready" apartments across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens since 2016, and almost every one had dust in the cabinets, grime behind the stove, and a bathroom that needed real attention. In pre-war buildings in neighborhoods like the Financial District and Flatbush, radiator dust and old paint residue settle on every ledge. In newer buildings, fine construction dust hides inside drawers and on top of door frames.
A move in cleaning service solves this at the one moment it's easiest to solve: while the apartment is still empty. No furniture to move, no rugs to work around, nothing blocking the closets. Once your boxes arrive, cleaning inside cabinets and along baseboards becomes ten times harder. That's why the smartest booking you can make during a move is the cleaning that happens the day before the movers.
We needed a deep clean before bringing our newborn home from the hospital, but we were both exhausted. The team's move in cleaning service was thorough and gentle, and we came home to a perfectly sanitized and dust-free nursery that gave us incredible peace of mind.Move-in cleaning · Park Slope
After a major renovation, my apartment was coated in construction dust and debris that felt impossible to tackle. The crew's move in cleaning service was a game changer, and they left every surface spotless, making the post-reno dust and cleanup completely stress-free.Post-renovation · Financial District
Room by room
What our move in cleaning service includes.
Every move in cleaning covers the full apartment, top to bottom. Because the home is empty, we clean the spots regular cleanings can't reach.
Kitchen
- Inside all cabinets and drawers
- Inside the refrigerator and freezer
- Inside the oven and stovetop
- Countertops and backsplash
- Sink scrubbed and sanitized
- Exterior of all appliances
Bathrooms
- Tub and shower scrubbed, grout attention
- Toilet cleaned inside and out
- Vanity, sink, and mirror
- Inside medicine cabinet and vanity drawers
- Tile walls wiped down
- Floors sanitized
Bedrooms & living areas
- Inside closets and shelving
- Baseboards, doors, and door frames
- Light switches and outlet covers
- Window sills and reachable ledges
- Radiators and vents dusted
- Floors vacuumed and mopped
Want the full breakdown? See our guide to what move in cleaning includes and the printable NYC move in cleaning checklist. If you're not sure how to get the apartment ready before we arrive, our short guide on how to prepare for a house cleaning covers it in two minutes.
Empty apartments Cleaned before the movers arrive
Know the difference
Move-in vs. move-out: which one do you need?
People mix these up all the time, and honestly the confusion makes sense. Both happen in empty apartments and both are deep cleanings. The difference is who the cleaning is for.
A move in cleaning is for you. It gets your new home genuinely clean before your belongings arrive, so you're not unpacking dishes into someone else's dusty cabinets. A move-out cleaning is for your landlord. It gets your old place to the condition your lease requires so your security deposit comes back in full.
Moving within the city? Many clients book both: a move-out clean at the old apartment and a move-in clean at the new one, sometimes on the same day. We coordinate the timing so both are done before your lease deadlines. Read more in our guide on move-in vs. move-out cleaning.
Fresh starts, reviewed
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
What clients say about their move-in day.
New leases, new babies, new roommates, and new chapters. Here's how the cleaning went for clients across all three boroughs.
My demanding work schedule left my place in a state and I was too overwhelmed to keep up. Their move in cleaning service not only restored my home but also eliminated all the allergy-triggering dust and pet dander that had been building up for months.Move-in cleaning · Astoria
I had guests arriving for a big birthday party at my home and I was panicking about the mess. Their excellent move in cleaning service made my apartment look like a showroom, and the team's attention to detail for mold and grime in the bathroom was incredible.Move-in cleaning · West Village
Moving out of my apartment, I was terrified of losing my security deposit due to the condition of the place. This move in cleaning service handled the end-of-lease cleaning perfectly, and the apartment was spotless, ensuring I got my full deposit back.End of lease · Williamsburg
I booked this service for my elderly parents who can no longer clean their home themselves. Their compassionate move in cleaning service left their space deeply sanitized and organized, which was such a relief to me and restored a lot of dignity to their living environment.Move-in cleaning · Soho
We were preparing for a big holiday hosting event and our apartment desperately needed a deep clean. The move in cleaning service scrubbed everything from the kitchen to the living room, and the end result was a sparkling, welcoming home for our entire family.Move-in cleaning · Long Island City
My partner just moved in, and we needed the entire place cleared and cleaned to make it feel like "ours." Their move in cleaning service handled all the dust and heavy lifting of the cleaning, leaving our space completely refreshed and ready for our new life together.Move-in cleaning · Tribeca
Post-reno specialists Fine dust removed from every surface
After the contractors leave
Post-renovation move in cleaning, done right.
If your new place was just renovated, congratulations, and also brace yourself. Construction dust is not normal dust. It's fine, chalky, and it settles everywhere: inside cabinet hinges, on top of door frames, behind radiators, and in the tracks of every window. Wipe it once and it seems to come right back.
Our teams handle post-renovation move-ins across NYC every week. We work top to bottom with the right tools, HEPA vacuuming before wet-wiping, so the dust is removed instead of pushed around. Ceilings edges, light fixtures, ledges, cabinet interiors, then floors last. See our appliance cleaning checklist and oven and refrigerator cleaning guide for what happens inside the kitchen.
One honest note: heavy debris removal, paint splatter scraping, and contractor trash hauling are not cleaning tasks. Have your contractor handle those first, then we make the space livable.
Simple, flat-rate pricing
How much does move in cleaning cost in NYC?
Move in cleaning is priced by the size of the home and its condition, with a flat rate you see before you book. No hourly meters running, no surprise add-ons at the door. A studio costs less than a three bedroom, and a lightly used apartment costs less than a post-renovation unit coated in dust.
The fastest way to get your exact price is online booking, which gives you an instant quote in about two minutes. For a full breakdown of what drives the price, see our move in cleaning cost guide, the pricing overview, or our page on cleaning cost by apartment size. Curious how quotes work in general? We explain the whole thing in how cleaning quotes work.
One tip from nine years of NYC moves: book your cleaning for the day after you get keys and the day before the movers come. The apartment is empty, we can reach everything, and you unpack into a clean home. If your timeline is tighter than that, ask about our same-day cleaning service.
4.9
Average client rating
2016
Serving NYC since
3
Boroughs covered
24/7
Booking available
The results
Recent cleanings across the city.
Homes turned over and ready for move-in day in the Financial District, Flatbush, Fort Hamilton, Gowanus, and Gravesend.
Booking is easy
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
How move-in day works with Help Maid.
1. Get your instant quote
Pick your apartment size and add-ons at online booking and see your flat price right away. Choose a date and arrival window that fits your lease timeline. Most clients book for the gap between getting keys and the movers arriving.
2. Handle access your way
You don't need to be there. We pick up keys from doormen, use lockbox codes, and follow super instructions every day. If your building needs a COI, tell us when you book and we'll send it before the appointment. More on this in do you need to be home for a cleaning and cleaning in doorman buildings.
3. Move into a clean home
The team works top to bottom through the full move-in checklist, cabinets and appliances first, floors last. You get a home that's ready for boxes, furniture, and your first night. If anything was missed, call or text within 24 hours and we come back under our satisfaction guarantee.
Keep it clean after the move
A lot of move-in clients like the result enough to stay with us. Weekly, biweekly, and monthly recurring cleaning costs less per visit than one-time service, and you usually get the same team each time. Our guide on choosing a recurring cleaning schedule helps you pick the right rhythm for your home.
After returning from a long trip, my apartment felt stale and the dust buildup was unbearable. This move in cleaning service was quick and efficient, and they did a phenomenal job sanitizing the entire unit, making it feel fresh and clean again.Move-in cleaning · Crown Heights
A family member just left the hospital, and their apartment was not in a fit state for recovery. The team's move in cleaning service helped with a comprehensive deep clean, and my relative returned to a comfortable, sparkling, and sanitized space to heal.Move-in cleaning · Murray Hill
I was coordinating a college student's apartment clean before the parents visited, and it was a disaster zone. The move in cleaning service they provided was amazing; they tackled everything from the grout to the carpets and the whole apartment looked brand new.Move-in cleaning · Greenpoint
I was dealing with a pest issue that required a deep clean after treatment, and I didn't know where to start. The team's move in cleaning service was detailed and thorough, leaving my home sanitized and eliminating all the problem areas.Move-in cleaning · Upper West Side
We were setting up a nursery for our baby and needed the space cleared and cleaned first. The move in cleaning service was top-notch, eliminating all the dust and creating a safe, spotless, and beautifully prepared room for our little one.Nursery prep · Chelsea
We were hosting a bridal shower at our apartment and the place needed a miraculous transformation. Their move in cleaning service had the whole house sparkling from top to bottom, and all my guests commented on how beautiful the space looked.Move-in cleaning · Jackson Heights
Common questions
Move in cleaning questions, answered.
What does a move in cleaning service in NYC include?
The full empty apartment: inside cabinets and drawers, inside the refrigerator and oven, closets and shelving, bathrooms scrubbed and sanitized, baseboards, doors, light switches, and floors vacuumed and mopped. See the full list in what move in cleaning includes.
How much does move in cleaning cost in NYC?
It depends on the size and condition of the home. Get an instant flat-rate quote through online booking, or read the move in cleaning cost guide for typical ranges. The price you see when booking is the price you pay.
Should the apartment be empty for a move in cleaning?
Empty is best. It lets the team reach inside cabinets, closets, and along every baseboard. If your furniture already arrived, we can still clean, but booking before the movers gives the best result.
Can you clean after a renovation before I move in?
Yes. Post-renovation move in cleaning is one of our most requested services. We remove fine construction dust from every surface with HEPA vacuuming and wet-wiping, then finish with a full floor cleaning. Heavy debris and paint scraping should be handled by your contractor first.
Do you offer same-day move in cleaning?
Often, yes. Lease dates move fast in New York, so we keep room in the schedule for same-day and next-day cleanings. Check availability through same-day cleaning or call or text (212) 203-0084.
Do I need to be home during the cleaning?
No. Most move-in clients aren't there. We handle doorman key pickups, lockbox codes, and super handoffs daily, and we can send a COI if your building requires one. More details in do you need to be home for a cleaning.
What if I'm not happy with the cleaning?
Call or text (212) 203-0084 within 24 hours. Under our satisfaction guarantee, we return and re-clean any areas you're not satisfied with.
New keys, clean start
Unpack into a home that's already clean.
Get an instant flat-rate quote online, or call or text us anytime.
