The moving process does not include only packing and choosing a moving company to transport all your household items to your new home. After renting or buying a new home, it is time to clean it. It is also part of the moving process. Cleaning your new home is not the most fun part, but it is necessary. When everything is clean and organized, you can relax and enjoy it after moving. But, where to start, how to clean a new home? If you are moving for the first time, it may be intimidating, but it is not. Actually, it is easier to clean an empty home. We have tips and tricks that will help you clean your new home like a pro.
Simple tips for cleaning your new home
Usually, people spend their day after the move cleaning and decorating a new home. Cleaning your new home can take a lot of time, but on the other hand, it may take you just a couple of hours. It mostly depends on the size of your new home. These tips will help you clean your home easy, fast, and simple. Don’t waste your precious time and start ASAP. After cleaning is over you can make yourself a cup of tea or coffee and relax.
Equipment and supplies you will need for cleaning
First of all, you will need equipment and supplies for cleaning. If you will clean after moving, then pack an essential box with all these items. This is a box that you will open first after moving in. Items that you will need are:
- Rubber gloves to protect your hands, especially if working with acids
- Sponges and cloths
- Scrubbers
- Paper towels
- Duster
- Broom
- A plastic bucket
- Cleaning product (for a toilet, floors, wooden furniture, windows, etc)
- Vacuum
- Mop
- If you have carpets, cleaning your new home should be done with a professional deep cleaner (vacuum)
- Step ladder
Start from ceilings
Always clean high before you clean low, because dust will end up on the floors anyway. No matter which room you clean, start with ceiling fans, lighting, shelves on the walls, windows, etc. For cleaning your ceiling lamps and fans, you will need a step ladder.
Clean the bathroom first
You should start with a bathroom first and to disinfect all bathroom surfaces. During the home cleaning, you will need a bathroom, that’s why you should start from there. You will need a sponge and antibacterial spray. It is recommended to replace toilet seats instead of cleaning them, they are not too expensive.
- Dust the ceiling
- Clean vents, fans
- Wash windows
- Clean all the cabinets and closets, inside and out too
- Scrub the shower and a toilet
- Clean the bathroom sink and mirrors
- Clean toilet paper holder, light switches, door handles, and other small parts
You will use the bathroom during cleaning, so start there
Cleaning your kitchen
Cleaning is not easy, so you will get hungry and tired or you want to make a coffee for yourself. So, after cleaning a bathroom, go to the kitchen. Where to start and what to clean first.
- You probably packed food in your moving boxes. So you should clean the fridge first, inside and out. Remove shelves and drawers and wash them with soap and warm water. This way, you can put all your food in the fridge immediately and prevent spoiling.
- Clean the walls, they can be sticky, especially around the stove.
- Clean the cabinets with a mild cleaner.
- When cleaning counters, pay attention to cracks and clean them too.
- Clean a stove, microwave, and all the appliances.
- Scrub the kitchen sink with bleach (use rubber gloves).
Scrub and wash the entire kitchen
Cleaning the rest of the house
Now clean the living room, bedrooms, etc. You can clean item by item or room by room. Items people usually forget to clean are tops of doors, light switches, and inside of a closet.
Leave floors for the end
Floors should be cleaned at the end. Wood, tile, and linoleum floors can be cleaned with a vacuum and then finish up by mopping. There are special cleaning products for wood, tiles and linoleum floors. If you have carpets in your new home, then a steam cleaner for deep cleaning. You can hire a company for carpets cleaning if you don’t own a steam cleaner, especially if you moving into a smaller apartment, then it is cheaper to hire someone than to buy a vacuum.
You should finish the cleaning by cleaning the floors
Putting your furniture in your new home
It is easier to clean a home when the furniture is not there yet. You will do it faster and better. So, before you transport your household goods to your new address, if you are able, go there and wash the windows, floors, kitchen cabinets, bathroom, and do some little repairs if needed. Besides cleaning, you should change the door locks, because you don’t know who has the keys.
That is why you should clean your furniture and other items before packing them. It is not necessary, but you will unpack and settle down after the move faster. Always plan in advance when moving and you will be organized and save a lot of time (and nerves too).
Clean before unpacking
Hiring a professional cleaning company
If you are not able to clean a new before moving in (for example, if it is long-distance move), then hire professional cleaners. Also, you can hire a company if you don’t have time for cleaning your new home. The moving process takes a lot of time. Packing, unpacking, searching for a new home, searching for a moving company, if moving with kids, choosing a new school and preparing them for relocation, changing the home address in documents, transferring utilities, etc. With all these tasks to finish, cleaning is probably not on the top of the list. That’s why hiring cleaning services is one of the best options.