Most homes on the sales or rental market are typically clean-looking when viewed. However, you’ll still want to clean and disinfect certain areas before you begin to unpack your things. Chances are lots of germs, bacteria, or other undesirables are lurking.
Give yourself a sparkling clean welcome to your new home; the following are essential areas to prioritize cleaning before you unpack after your residential move.
Supplies to Bring
Before you begin, gather all of the items you’ll need so you aren’t running out to the store or not thoroughly cleaning the areas you want. Critical supplies you’ll need to include are rags, paper towels, scrub brushes, sponges, toilet scrubber, broom, mop, vacuum, soaps, disinfectants, and any other cleaning products you use.
Bathroom
You’ll rarely find anyone who says they love cleaning bathrooms, but it’s an essential chore—especially when moving into a new home. Since this will likely be one of the first areas of your house that you will use, get this task out of the way first, especially since germs love bathrooms.
- Replace toilet seat
- Scrub toilet
- Disinfect the sink, showerhead, bath area, and any faucets
- Wash floors
- Wipe down high touchpoints, including light switches
- Clean mirrors
Remember, when it’s finished, be sure every nook and cranny has been disinfected, including storage areas. Also, a thorough cleaning ensures you identify potential moldy areas that need addressing ASAP.
Kitchen
The kitchen has numerous areas you will need to deep clean and sanitize. Start with the refrigerator, if the previous home occupants have left that since it’s empty and easier to clean before you start filling it. Next, scrub the stove, oven, dishwasher, and built-in microwave.
Other essential tasks include washing walls, disinfecting light switches and outlets, and wiping down cabinets and handles/pulls. If you have windows in your kitchen, give them a good wipe-down. Finish cleaning the kitchen by disinfecting the sink and countertops.
Bedrooms
You’ll need a place to sleep when you move in, so be sure it’s clean before making your bed. Wipe down light switches, vacuum or sweep the floor, and wipe down windowsills (remember to check for condensation). Clean the closets and ensure they’re free of dust and other grimy buildups.
Carpets and Floors
If possible, have your floors cleaned before you move in, especially if you have carpets. Or, if you have verification from your real estate agent, landlord, or previous occupants that they did it, you can forego this step. If not, arrange to have the carpets steam cleaned by hiring a professional or taking the DIY route.
Other Key Areas
Go through your home and disinfect all doorknobs and critical areas. Wipe down light fixtures and ceiling fans to remove dust or grime. If your new home has a laundry area, sterilize the washing machine and wipe down the dryer. Disinfect any counters or cabinets.
Pro-tip:
- Check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Test each smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector in the house.
- Replace the batteries to ensure that they are fresh and in good shape.
Moving Made Easy
Having a sparkling clean home provides a great start to the next chapter in your life.
Hiring a professional mover to relocate your belongings to help with packing and unpacking can also help get your transition off to a great start. For a free quote, contact us today! We’re happy to answer any questions you have about the moving process.