Moving home can be a stressful exercise, but it also comes with a great amount of excitement especially if this has been a long time coming. A cleaning checklist is absolutely necessary when it’s time to move, purely so that you don’t miss an area or task that dampens the excitement of your new abode or leaves the next residents moving into your old home disappointed. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and want to get a handle on your upcoming move, let’s break it down and cover those top jobs that need to be on the checklist.
Clean smarter not harder
In these modern times with modern appliances readily available, there is no excuse to be working with inferior cleaning products. Your old faithful mop might get the job down in a few hours, but a quality steam mop might have you finished in under an hour. There are just so many things you need to get done when moving house so don’t give yourself an unnecessary disadvantage and upgrade your tools. Not only will they last longer, but they will have you cleaning smarter and not harder, with more time spent on the next task at hand.
Clean the items that are coming with you
Your cleaning responsibilities don’t end with sorting out the house you are leaving, as you want the things that are coming with you to be clean also and save you having to start another cleaning mission as soon as you unpack the last box. This is a step you don’t want to rush, and it’s actually an opportunity to shampoo your rugs, condition your leather furniture and give your fridge a deep internal clean. Your belongings are not invincible, and by giving them frequent care you will be able to hold on to them much longer.
Disinfect as part of your clean
It’s safe to say that the whole world is going to view disinfecting in a new light given what has unfolded all over the world, and it’s a great habit to get into when moving into a new house. Just because your new bathroom appears sparkling clean, doesn’t actually mean that it has been disinfected. You can either invest in alcohol-based disinfectants or get some disinfectant wipes for each room of the house and start with those rooms we are most vulnerable in – like the bathroom and the kitchen area. From there, you can attack handles and other surfaces that are frequently used. You are also going to set a good example to those around you about what standard of cleanliness is required.
Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it is clean
When you move into a new home, you need to be cleaning those areas that are harder to reach or perhaps out of view altogether. What are we talking about? Think about inside the oven, inside your dishwasher under the shelves, on the top of your fan blades and even clean the debris from your air conditioner. These places, no matter how shielded they may be, are actually going to impact the level of cleanliness in your home so be sure to cast an investigative eye over the rest of your home to find those other nooks and crannies.
On the way in and out
Is your car clean enough to transport your belongings to your new home, and will there be mud and other mess that might be traipsed through the house during the move? Professional movers will typically bring special fabrics to lay over such areas to avoid it coming inside, and it also makes the move easier when you can push your couch from one end of the living room to another without the fear of scratching the floors or tearing carpet. If you are doing the move on your own, tear up come scrappy clothes or towels and use them to cover the outdoor mess and give you more freedom in moving your things around.
There is a lot to think about when it comes to moving house, so be sure to break up these tasks into manageable bites so that you are not too overwhelmed. If you have any control over the moving timeline, always leave yourself more time than you think you will need as you will thank yourself later on.