While this is by no means a complete list of everything you should clean in a new home before you move in, it does include some of the most important items and spaces to try and get clean. If your new home is really dirty, don’t forget that you can always hire a cleaning company to spend the day there sprucing it up and sanitizing everything.
If you’re going it alone, here are the most important things to clean:
Kitchen fixtures and appliances
Kitchens should always be hygienically clean, and if you don’t know the previous inhabitants level of cleanliness, most things in it should be made hygienically clean, such as:
- Cabinets
- Refrigerator
- Stove
- All other appliances
Outlets and switches
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, more of us are aware of just how grubby outlets and switches can get, and if not cleaned regularly, how they can help transfer harmful bacteria from one person to another. Use an old toothbrush and rubbing alcohol to clean all outlets and switches.
Vents and exhaust fans in bathrooms
These are virtually guaranteed to be grubby, as many homeowners fail to clean them at all, let alone before they vacate the property. Failure to clean them before you move in, however, will simply result in dust and other irritants being circulated throughout your home. You can use the extension hose on your vacuum to get rid of any loose dust and cobwebs, then wipe off anything remaining with a damp microfiber cloth.
Ignoring vents and fans can lead to your family suffering from sinus and other respiratory issues, especially in young children.
Light fixtures
Armed with an extendable duster or cloth attached to the end of a long handled broom, clean all light fixtures and where possible (and if safe to do so) remove any glass covers and wash them with warm, soapy water before drying them off thoroughly and replacing them.
Windows, mirrors and other glass items
While glass may not look particularly dirty, you can bet there are plenty of germs lurking on the surfaces of windows and mirrors in your new home, so take the time to wash them all with your favorite product.
Ceiling fan blades
Ceiling fans can be shockingly grubby, especially if you climb up on some steps and take a closer look at them! Use a cloth or place an old sock over your hand and run it over the blades to remove excess dust and grime that may be sitting up there, waiting to be circulated throughout your home when the fans are switched on.
Garage
Even if you don’t plan to spend much time in your garage, it pays to get it nice and clean in case you do decide to start using it, and as garages are often used for storing junk, there’s a good chance it will be really dirty under any shelving and in the corners.
The easiest and quickest way to ensure that your new home is hygienically clean before you move in, is to hire a cleaning company that offers a move-in cleaning service. That way, you can be confident that there are no traces of the previous occupants, and you can start settling in free from the risk of germs and dust.
