When you move in or out of an apartment in Medellín, cleaning is about more than tidiness: it affects your security deposit, your first impression, and how comfortable you feel from day one. This checklist covers exactly what to clean, whether you're handing back the keys or unpacking in a new home.
Why Moving-Day Cleaning Is Different
Regular cleaning keeps a home tidy week to week. Moving cleaning is deeper: it needs to undo months (or years) of everyday living, prepare a space for a new tenant, or make a new place feel truly yours before the boxes arrive. Landlords and property managers in Medellín increasingly expect a professional-level clean before returning a security deposit.
Move-Out Cleaning Checklist
- Degrease and wipe down the kitchen: stovetop, extractor hood, inside the oven and refrigerator
- Descale and disinfect bathrooms: toilet, shower, sink, tiles and grout
- Wipe down baseboards, door frames, switches, and light fixtures
- Empty and wipe the inside of every cabinet, drawer, and closet
- Clean windows and window tracks
- Sweep, mop, and vacuum every room, including under furniture if still present
- Check walls for marks and clean or note them before the final walkthrough
Move-In Cleaning Checklist
Even an apartment that "looks clean" can carry dust and residue from the previous move-out and any pending maintenance work. Cleaning before you unpack means you settle into a genuinely fresh space.
- Disinfect kitchen counters, cabinets, and the inside of the refrigerator before storing food
- Wipe down all cabinets and drawers before filling them
- Deep clean bathrooms before first use
- Mop and vacuum all floors before furniture is placed
- Wipe down light switches, door handles, and remote controls (high-touch surfaces)
Medellín's Climate and Why It Matters
Medellín's humidity and frequent rain mean dust, mildew, and mold can build up faster than in drier climates, especially in bathrooms, closets, and rooms with less ventilation. Apartments near construction zones, common in fast-growing areas like El Poblado and Laureles, also accumulate fine dust on surfaces and in air vents. A move-related cleaning is the right moment to address both.
DIY or Professional Deep Cleaning?
A thorough move-out or move-in clean for a mid-size apartment typically takes one person 6 to 10 hours to do properly, on top of the physical work of packing or unpacking. A professional team completes the same deep clean in 4 to 6 hours with the right equipment and products, freeing up your moving day for everything else.
How Much Does It Cost?
Deep Cleaning in Medellín starts at $150,000 COP and scales with the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. See the full pricing catalog for exact rates by home size.