It's tempting to start unpacking the moment the keys are in hand, but a handful of things are genuinely easier to clean before furniture and boxes fill the space.

Closets and cabinets, before they're full

Wiping down empty shelves and drawer interiors takes a few minutes; doing the same thing after they're packed with belongings takes considerably longer and often just doesn't happen.

Light fixtures and ceiling fans

These accumulate dust from the previous occupants (and sometimes from the moving process itself) and are far easier to reach with nothing yet blocking access to that side of the room.

Behind where large furniture will go

Whatever spot a couch, bed, or bookshelf is about to occupy is about to become very hard to clean for months or years. It only takes a minute to wipe down before the furniture is in place.

Air vents and filters

Vents in an unfamiliar home may not have been cleaned or checked in a while, and starting fresh here can make a noticeable difference in air quality from day one.

None of this has to happen in one day — but doing it before the space fills up saves a lot of awkward furniture-moving later.