Keys at 10 a.m., movers at 2 p.m. That narrow gap is often all you get for apartment cleaning before moving in to a Prague flat. If you have just arrived in Czechia, there is another complication: a landlord's idea of “clean for handover” may not match your idea of “ready to live in.” Document the flat first, separate dirt from defects, and only then start cleaning.
That order matters when every hour between the handover and the first delivery is already spoken for.
What to check as soon as you get the keys
Keep the mop packed for the first half hour. Photograph the kitchen, bathroom, appliances, floors, windows, and cupboard interiors. Take wide shots as well as close-ups, keep the original timestamps, and send the relevant files to the landlord or property manager that day.
For a rental, compare what you see with the handover report, usually called a předávací protokol. “Normal wear” is too vague for a damp patch, a dead oven, or parquet lifting near the balcony door. Record the room, fault, and agreed next step in the document you sign.
Split cleaning jobs from maintenance problems. Grease, dust, and limescale belong on the cleaning list. A loose tap, active leak, recurring black marks, or a dead bathroom fan need the owner or developer. Photograph mould before treating it so you keep evidence of the handover condition.
For a longer handover process, read What to do when the apartment is dirty at handover.
I once watched a new tenant in Vinohrady scrub a dark strip behind the fridge. After a few minutes, the “dirt” felt cold and wet. It was damp plaster. He stopped, took photos, and called the building manager. The cleaning could wait; the leak could not.
What to clean while the apartment is empty
An empty flat gives you access you will lose when the furniture arrives. Start with lights, curtain rails, ventilation grilles, door frames, and the tops of kitchen units. In older Prague apartments, tall doors and mouldings can hold years of dust. In a panelák, check the bathroom and kitchen vents.
Vacuum every cupboard, drawer, and built-in wardrobe, then wipe them with a product suited to the material. Leave the doors open until dry. Old odours often sit inside closed storage rather than the living room.
Reach behind freestanding appliances if they can be moved safely, but do not dismantle fitted units. Clean the oven, extractor, fridge seals, and dishwasher filter when they are included in the rental. The appliance manual beats a universal internet trick.
In the bathroom, tackle tiles, grout, traps, the shower screen, and the floor behind the toilet. Disinfect high-touch points such as handles, switches, the flush button, and taps. Never mix cleaning products; follow the contact time on the label.
Leave floors until drilling, repairs, and high-level wiping are over. Mopping too early buys about ten tidy minutes before dust and shoe marks return. Use very little water on parquet, wood, and laminate. If you are unsure which finish was used, test the cleaner in a hidden spot first.
A practical new apartment cleaning checklist for an empty flat looks like this:
For a room-by-room companion, use the General cleaning checklist after key handover.
- lights, high ledges, grilles, door frames, and radiators;
- cupboard, drawer, and wardrobe interiors;
- oven, extractor, fridge, and dishwasher if included in the agreed scope;
- bathroom traps, grout, screen, and the floor behind the toilet;
- handles, switches, taps, and other high-touch points;
- floors, last of all.
What not to change in a Czech rental without permission
Some jobs look like cleaning but are small repairs. Peeling silicone, a dull painted sill, or old cupboard liner may seem removable. If the surface underneath comes away, nobody will agree on who caused the damage.
Without written approval, do not remove silicone, paint, adhesive film, or fixed fittings. Send the owner a photo and one clear question: “Should we clean this area only, or do you want the silicone replaced?” Save the reply.
Ask what the surfaces are made of. Prague homes may have sealed parquet, oiled timber, natural stone, or matte black taps. Acidic limescale remover is not safe for every finish. An abrasive sponge can leave a permanent mark that no expat apartment cleaning service can polish away.
Report mould, leaking water, and failed ventilation before cosmetic cleaning. A small surface mark may be treatable once the owner agrees, but damp that returns needs its cause fixed. Tenants should contact the owner or manager. Buyers in new developments should use the developer's defect process.
Owners of newly completed flats can also follow Cleaning a new-build apartment after developer handover.
How to book move-in cleaning in Prague
Square metres do not tell a cleaning company enough. For move in cleaning Prague, share the layout, condition, and timing. A 55 m² flat after painting is a different job from the same flat after an ordinary tenant move-out.
Your enquiry should include:
- the address or at least the district and floor;
- layout, approximate area, and whether the flat is empty;
- key collection time and the movers' arrival time;
- whether water, hot water, and electricity are working;
- the condition of the kitchen, bathroom, windows, and floors;
- what must be finished now and what can wait.
“Deep cleaning” is not a fixed package. Confirm windows, oven, fridge, cupboard interiors, balcony, blinds, and waste removal one by one; some providers price them separately. If you book in English, ask for a written list of included tasks before the movers are waiting downstairs.
Photos produce a better quote than a long description. Send one wide view per room plus the worst details, and mention lift access and parking. A credible estimate reflects condition and access, not only floor area.
When the handover-to-movers window is only a few hours, set priorities. Start with the bathroom, kitchen storage, fridge, and high-touch points. Then clean the floors in rooms that will take beds and boxes. Windows may survive another week. The dirty cupboard under the sink is much harder to face once it is full.
Final check before the boxes arrive
The job is not finished with the last pass of the mop. Step outside for a minute and return. Can you smell damp, chemicals, a drain, or an old fridge? Check traps, ventilation, and appliance seals. A dry paper towel beneath the sink reveals residual moisture quickly.
Let cupboards, floors, and any cleaned carpet dry fully. Cardboard on a damp floor creates the mark you were trying to prevent. Make one clean, dry landing zone near the entrance for the first boxes, bedding, and overnight essentials. Keep tools and outdoor shoes elsewhere.
Compare the finished flat with your handover photos. Maintenance faults stay on the landlord conversation even when the room looks much better after cleaning. A clean surface does not repair a leaking trap or a damp wall.
Short on time between the keys and the moving van? Čistýkout is a Prague-based option for arranging the work. Send a no-obligation cleaning enquiry with photos and your timing so the scope, communication language, and must-finish areas can be agreed before the first box arrives.
