How to Clean the House Properly Before Moving In

Moving into a new house involves various different tasks: househunting, selling a home, packing, moving, and filling out mountains of paperwork, just to name a few. However, one job that many people forget about is how to clean the house before the big move-in. A deep clean before unpacking guarantees that you are starting life in your new home in a healthy way. It also allows you to get those tough cleaning jobs done without all the furniture and knick-knacks in the way. It may not be the most fun job you’ll experience, but it will help you feel at home right away (and make the unpacking process a lot smoother).

What If I’m Renting?

If you are moving into an apartment, your landlord most likely cleaned before you moved in (or they will have made the previous tenants do so). However, it is still recommended that you do the pre-move deep clean. Your landlord’s standards are not necessarily the same as yours, and it’s good to be extra sure that everything is spick and span. Don’t fancy the work? A property management company can help you connect with a local crew of apartment cleaners.

Equipment Used to the Clean the House

  The first thing you need to do is make sure you either keep cleaning supplies separate from the rest of your packing or know exactly which box you put them in. The last thing you want is to sort through dozens of boxes before finding everything you need. You can also take this opportunity to refresh your cleaning supplies. Get rid of any products past their expiration dates and clear out any rags, cloths, sponges, or brushes that are looking excessively worn. When buying new products, look for options that are environmentally friendly and don’t contain toxic chemicals that could be harmful to your family.  

Clean the House by Cleaning You Air Quality

One of the main areas you should focus on is air quality. The air inside our homes is often more polluted than the air in major metropolitan areas, and addressing this problem essentially comes down to cleaning and home maintenance. Start off on the right foot and learn to keep your home’s air clean from the second you move into it. Start with thorough vacuuming to get rid of dust, pet dander, and any other harmful pollutants. Consider investing in a vacuum with a HEPA filter if you don’t have one. Keep windows open during and after cleaning with chemical products, and ventilate the house at least once a day after that. You may also want to invest in a high-quality air purifier. There are, of course, some pollutants that have little to do with cleaning. According to American Home Shield, some of the most common pollutants in the home include tobacco smoke, radon, and toxic chemicals. You can avoid these by forbidding smoking in the house, testing for radon, and making sure any paints and solvents you use are non-toxic. No matter how often you vacuum and open the windows, you’ll also need to pay attention to your air filter if you want the cleanest air possible. Use a vent filter that fits your return correctly. Check the MERV rating to make sure you are filtering out the most unwanted particles. A higher MERV rating means better protection.

Nooks and Crannies

There are easy-to-forget, hard-to-reach spots that you should be giving your attention to before moving in. This includes things above eye level, such as crown molding and ceiling fans, as well as appliances, white goods, and any cleaning jobs the previous owners may have left behind.

Before You Move…

  Don’t forget that applying these suggestions in your former home is also important, particularly for homeowners. A dirty, dated property can have a negative impact on its appraisal value. So, spend some time cleaning and decluttering the space, as well as spending some time sprucing up your curb appeal (cleaning up the yard, doing repairs, etc). And once you’ve given the space a thorough cleaning, stage it so that it can attract buyers who are serious about putting down money to purchase the property. If spending a day cleaning the house sounds like a terrible time, why not try and make it fun? Involve the whole family (or bring in some helpful friends), blast some music, and you’ll be done before you know it. You can then move on to unpacking your stuff and, finally, settling into your new house. You’ll be glad you spent the time to make everything clean and fresh, especially when it comes to the ongoing maintenance of your home. Once you settle into your new home, you may be ready to make big changes, like ripping up carpet, removing drapes, replacing cabinets or fixtures, or even updating the floors. Big jobs like these mean you’ll need a dumpster, so turn to Waste Removal USA to find the perfect size for your project.