So, you’re about to move houses. Although an exciting experience, moving is always stressful. Thankfully, you have movers to help you make the process go as smoothly as possible.
However, you still have to worry about cleaning out your old home before you move, adding further stress to the situation. You may be preparing your old home for its new residents. Or if you rent, returning it to the state you started renting it out in so you can get your deposit back. Whatever the reason, cleaning your old home before you move is inevitable.
To help make this chore a little bit easier for you, here are seven strategies on how to clean out a house before moving:
1. Declutter Your Home Before Moving
The best thing you can do for yourself and everyone else involved in your move is to declutter your house before moving. This gives you the perfect opportunity to purge the items that are stashed away in cupboards and storage rooms that you haven’t used in years.
The best part? This means less packing for you and less unpacking when you get to your new home!
2. Purchase Your Needed Cleaning Supplies
Another way to clean out a house before moving is to purchase necessary cleaning supplies. The last thing you want to do when it comes time to get down to the nitty-gritty is realize you are missing a cleaning spray or a proper bucket to ring out your mop in. That’s why we suggest making a list of everything you think you’ll need for your deep clean. Once you have a comprehensive list that you have gone over a few times, head to the store and purchase the items.
Next, get them all out right before you start cleaning. You can even place everything into one of those cleaning supply caddies so you can bring it around the house with you. Having everything at your disposal when you need it will ensure you don’t waste time running back and forth from your cleaning supply cupboard. Organization is key here!
3. Clean Task-by-Task Rather Than by Room
Many people clean their homes by going from room-to-room. That seems to make the most sense but there’s actually a much faster and more efficient way to do it. This is by going through your cleaning task-by-task. This means vacuuming and mopping the whole house, wiping down all of the surfaces in your home, etc.
Try it out and you may be pleased to find how much time you’ve saved!
4. Tackle “Dry” Cleaning Tasks First
Now that you’re set up for success, it’s time to get down to work. Start by performing the “dry” cleaning tasks first. These include activities like vacuuming or sweeping and dusting. With all of the dust bunnies, dirt, crumbs, and dog hair out of the way, you can effectively wash your floors.
It’s during this stage that you’ll want to wipe down your surfaces, like countertops and stovetops. Use an all-purpose stray or Lysol wipes to get this job completed.
If you want to go the extra mile, remove germs from door handles, cupboard doors, and light switches.
5. Clean the Floors and Rooms
Once the dry cleaning is completed, move onto the other “wet” tasks. These include cleaning the floors, bathrooms, kitchen sink, and so on. With all of the dirt out of the way, you can focus on the grim and leave your old home sparkling!
6. Wash the Windows
We bet your windows could do with a good cleaning. With a lot of the other work out of the way, now is a great time to tackle them.
To do this, use a quality glass cleaner to wash all the windows, patio doors (if made of glass), and other glass surfaces in your old home. While washing the windows it’s also the best time to wipe down your windowsills and any blinds you may be leaving behind. We’re sure your landlord or new homeowners will appreciate you putting the time into this task.
7. Touch Up the Walls
If you hung photos or any other wall décor, you’ll have to touch up the walls before leaving. Make sure to remove any nails, screws, and hooks. Next, seal them with caulking, sand the spots down, then slap some paint over the areas and they’ll look brand new.
If you notice other dust or dirt spots throughout your home, a good tip is to use a magic eraser to remove them. This product works wonders and can make any scuffed-up wall look clean again.
Here is a great opportunity to also clean the baseboards and doors. Once you start cleaning, you’ll really start to notice how much dirt and scuff marks have accumulated on your walls over time (especially if you have young children or pets). Following these tips should make it a little bit easier to clean out your house before moving.
