How to Clean Inside the Oven, Fridge and Dishwasher Before You Move Out

That Cleaning Girl · Move-In / Move-Out

Appliances are where a move-out clean is won or lost. They are the first things people open, and grease or old spills inside them are hard to miss. If you want the bigger picture of what gets looked at, read What Landlords and Property Managers Check at a Move-Out Inspection first. Here we go appliance by appliance with the methods we actually use.

Start these early in the day. Most of the work on an oven or freezer is waiting for something to soften or thaw, so you can clean the rest of the kitchen while it sits.

The oven: soak, wait, scrub

Pull the racks first and put them in a bathtub or a big bin with hot water and dish soap or a degreaser. Lay an old towel under them so they do not scratch the tub. Leave them while you work on the oven itself.

• Scrape loose burnt bits off the bottom with a plastic scraper.
• Spread a paste of baking soda and water over the inside, avoiding heating elements, and let it sit for several hours or overnight if you can.
• Wipe the paste off with a damp cloth, then spray a little vinegar to fizz away the residue.
• Clean the door glass with the same paste and a razor scraper held flat for stubborn spots.
• Empty and wipe the storage or broiler drawer under the oven.

If you use a commercial oven cleaner, open windows, wear gloves and follow the label. Many self-cleaning ovens should not have harsh cleaners used inside, so check the manual for yours.

Stovetop and range hood

Burner grates and drip pans can soak in the sink with degreaser while you wipe the cooktop. On glass tops, use a cooktop cleaner and a razor scraper held flat for burnt rings. Pull the knobs off if they come off and clean behind them. Then look up: the range hood filter usually pops out and can soak in hot soapy water or a degreaser. Wipe the underside of the hood, where grease and dust form a sticky film.

The fridge and freezer

Empty everything, then unplug or turn the fridge off if you are defrosting. Take out shelves and drawers and wash them in warm, soapy water. Let glass shelves warm to room temperature before rinsing with hot water, or they can crack.

• Wipe the inside walls, ceiling and floor of the fridge.
• Clean the door shelves and the rubber seal, which hides crumbs in its folds.
• Defrost the freezer onto towels and wipe it dry.
• Wipe the top, sides, front and handles.
• If you can safely slide it out, sweep and mop behind and under it.

If the power will be off after you leave, leave the doors cracked so it does not grow mildew.

The dishwasher

Most dishwashers have a filter at the bottom that pulls out or twists off. Rinse it in the sink and scrub with an old toothbrush. Wipe the door edges and the rubber gasket, where food gunk collects. Check the spray arms for clogged holes. A run with a cup of vinegar on the top rack can help with smells and hard water film. Finish by polishing the front and the control panel.

Microwave and small spots

Heat a bowl of water with a splash of vinegar or a lemon slice for a few minutes, let it steam, then wipe the softened splatters. Take out the turntable and wash it. If your microwave hangs over the stove, its underside and vent filter are often greasy too. Do not forget the gaps beside the stove, where crumbs and spills fall and stay. A long, thin brush or a butter knife wrapped in a damp cloth reaches down into that gap. Toasters, coffee makers and other small appliances are yours, so pack them, but wipe the counter where they sat. They usually leave a ring of crumbs and a sticky outline.

Washer and dryer

If the washer and dryer stay with the house, they need attention too. Wipe the washer drum and the rubber door seal on front loaders, which can trap lint and mildew. Clean the detergent drawer. On the dryer, empty the lint trap, wipe the housing and the drum, and sweep behind the machines if you can move them safely.

Plan the order so the waiting works for you

Here is a simple order: racks soaking and oven paste on first thing, freezer defrosting next, then cabinets and counters while those sit. Come back to the oven and fridge mid-day, and finish with the dishwasher and microwave. By the time you are mopping, every appliance is done. For help with the rest of the move, see our move-in and move-out cleaning page.