In an ideal world, you’d be able to move into a new home as soon as you’ve signed papers and exchanged keys. But we don’t live in one, do we? In reality, before settling in, inspecting the place for dirt is the first step to go through. If we’re completely honest, there’s a high chance that previous owners left some nasty gunk that requires dealing with. Still, even if you happen to be the first resident, you’ll probably have to tidy up a bit, too. You know, with the construction taking place there recently and all. But now is not the time to panic! With our deep-cleaning checklist, you can turn your house from messy to spotless before you know it!
How Important Is It to Deep-Clean Before Moving In?
Extremely important! Your new place is like a blank canvas. Completely empty and ready for you to paint it any way you like. But imagine if that canvas was dirty. Wouldn’t that impact the way your artwork looks? If you genuinely want your painting, a.k.a. house, to shine, then cleaning it is the way to achieve that. Plus, by dealing with the mess early on, you make it easier to keep up with regular maintenance.
A home is simplest to tidy up like a pro without furniture in it blocking the way. There’s more room to maneuver around already existing compartments. There’s also no need to worry about moving things left and right over and over again. In a way, the whole process is less demanding, both physically and mentally.
In a nutshell, by following a deep-cleaning checklist, you ensure you’ll be relocating to a home free of dust and allergens, making it hard to breathe. You’ll also be getting rid of the harmful bacteria capable of wreaking havoc on your health.
What Tools Will I Need?
A quality vacuum cleaner is an essential part of your arsenal of tools. Apart from it, you’ll also need a variety of cleaning agents designed for different surfaces. You’ll need a set of sponges, both abrasive and non-abrasive, stain-removers, along with some microfiber cloths, mops, and brushes. You might need a bucket, too. For your own safety, gloves are a must. If you end up using harsh chemicals during the cleaning process, a mask is also a necessity. Trust me; you don’t want to breathe in the fumes.
Whenever possible, opt for natural products rather than those containing toxic components. Baking soda, combined with, let’s say, vinegar, is an excellent example of a harmless cleaning solution. Being a natural deodorizer, baking soda alone is capable of neutralizing smells of various origins. Just let it sit for a bit, and the odors will be completely gone soon enough!
After you’ve thoroughly cleansed the house you’re about to move into, you’ll need to find a place to store all the tools you’ve used. Depending on the size of your new home, you might need additional space for everything, especially the bulkier items such as a vacuum cleaner. Luckily, these days, the internet’s full of clever organization tips, so you shouldn’t have such a hard time researching your storage solutions.
Avoid using cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals. If possible, choose those with natural ingredients instead.
How to Approach the Cleaning Process?
Now that we’ve explained the whys and whats of tidying up before relocation, it’s time to get a closer look into the deep-cleaning checklist. But first, let’s get a few tips and tricks out of the way!
Turn to Investigating
Don’t start cleaning before you’ve investigated the whole space for dirt! Just because you hadn’t seen something straight away, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any filthy spots hiding in plain sight. Remember to look everywhere: behind the appliances, cabinets, and beds if there are any. Write down your findings so that you don’t forget what areas need attention.
Devise a Plan
Once you’ve figured out what parts of the house you must tidy up, you might find yourself unsure of where to start. That’s why you must come up with a cleaning plan before you’ve started doing it. A good rule of thumb is to begin with the bathroom since it’s the room you’ll need to use first. As a matter of fact, you’ll need to use it even before you’ve settled in, during the cleaning process. After you’ve dealt with the bathroom, move on to the kitchen and then to the other rooms.
It’s a good idea to begin by cleaning the dirtiest parts of these rooms first and continue with dusting and vacuuming. Floors should be the last thing you sanitize!
Deep-cleaning Checklist
Without further ado, we present you with the steps on how to thoroughly clean every nook and cranny of your new property.
Bathroom
- Clean your bathroom like an expert by starting with the toilet seat disinfection. If it’s old, ruined, or grosses you out, consider replacing it with a new one.
- Sanitize frequently touched areas such as a tap, a sink, a bathtub, or a shower.
- Give the cabinets and a mirror a proper wipe down.
- Use a steam cleaner to clean out the build-up of dirt in-between tiles.
- Remove mold, if there is any, by making a paste of two parts baking soda, one part water, and one part vinegar. Apply it to the area and allow it to sit until it dries. Once it’s dry, scrub it away with a scrub brush and rinse with water.
- Lastly, mop the floors and let them air dry.
Sanitizing the toilet bowl and seat is high on our deep-cleaning checklist. If impossible to thoroughly disinfect, however, replacing these is also an option.
Kitchen
- Clean the appliances both outside and inside. This includes your refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, and more.
- Wipe the cabinets and add lining to them to protect them from damage.
- Clean the handles, switches, and cords.
- Sanitize the tap, sink, and counters.
- Clean behind and under movable appliances.
- Vacuum the whole place, and then mop the kitchen floor for the ultimate clean look and feel.
Living Room, Bedroom & Other Rooms
- Give the windows a thorough wipe.
- Steam clean the furniture upholstery (skip this part if there isn’t any furniture to clean).
- Wipe the light fixtures and switches, along with door and window handles.
- Clean the floors using a vacuum first, then a mop.
Wipe down the windows using a damp cloth and a glass cleaner.
And there you have it! A deep-cleaning checklist that will help you start fresh and anew in your new home. Once you’ve dealt with the initial clean-up, it’s essential to keep up with regular maintenance to ensure the place remains spotless. Not only will frequent cleaning impact the visual appearance of your house, but it will also impact your health. In the best way possible!
