Originally contributed by Cherie Mclaughlin of www.couchbasedbiz.com. Updated and reviewed by The Cleaning Lady for current cleaning and safety guidance.
Introduction
Moving into a new home is exciting on many levels, as it marks a new chapter in your life. And while it provides a blank canvas for you to furnish and decorate as you please, it’s also important to take advantage of the empty space by giving it a deep clean before you move in. While this process often takes time, I’ll break it down in seven steps that can make the experience feel less stressful and more manageable.
Things you need to do to deep clean your new home:
Consider Hiring a Cleaning Service
First of all, the easiest way to handle all the deep cleaning before you move in is to hire someone else to do it. If your new home is an apartment, the landlord has probably already arranged for it to be cleaned. That said, having your own professional cleaning service to come in and deep clean is still a good idea because you will know that someone you trust has thoroughly cleaned every inch of the living space. In some instances, you can try to barter for cleaning services.
Ensure Clean Air
If you’re doing your own cleaning, the first step is to make sure the air you will be breathing is clean. Indoor air quality is often overlooked. But over time, outdoor pollutants, volatile compounds in furniture and paint, cleaning products, smoke, and more can make the air in your home unsafe. Following the cleaning steps in this article will go a long way in improving the air quality, but it also helps to regularly change your air filters and purchase a good air purifier (Shop the best Amazon air purifiers).
Clean Up Top
When you begin the actual cleaning process, you want to start at the top. That is, dust and wipe chandeliers, ceiling fan blades, overhead light fixtures, and any other high places. Work your way down from there since you can clean up any dust and debris that fall as you go. These tips for deep cleaning your living room will help.
Clean Your Appliances
If the home includes appliances, clean each one according to its manufacturer’s instructions. Replace the HVAC filter if needed. If ducts appear contaminated or damaged, have them inspected instead of reaching into the system yourself. Run the washing machine’s approved cleaning cycle and, if appropriate for your model, use OxiClean Washing Machine Cleaner on Amazon. Clean the refrigerator inside and out, then dry all surfaces before using the appliances.
Do the Kitchen
Next, move on to the kitchen. The top-down strategy applies here as well. Clean the corners of the ceiling and cabinet tops. Then tackle the appliances (e.g., microwave, sink, oven, stovetop, dishwasher, etc.), countertops, and cabinets (inside and out).
Do the Bathrooms
After the kitchen, move on to the bathrooms. Begin by cleaning the bathroom with a product suitable for each surface. The CDC says routine cleaning with soap or detergent removes most germs; disinfecting is generally most useful when someone is sick or at higher risk. If you disinfect, clean first, follow the product label and required contact time, ventilate the room and never mix cleaning chemicals. Replace the toilet seat only if it is cracked or damaged (shop the best toilet seats on Amazon).
Do the Rest
The final step is to tackle the rest of the home, including windows, walls, baseboards and hard-to-see nooks and crannies. Keep liquid out of switches and outlets, and never spray cleaner directly into an electrical opening. Finish with the floors: use a quality vacuum, then damp-mop only surfaces whose manufacturer allows it. Use steam only when the flooring manufacturer explicitly approves it. Shop the best Steam Cleaners Mops on Amazon.
Use These Tricks in Your Old Home As Well
If you’re cleaning the home you’re leaving, use my complete move out cleaning checklist to work room by room, document the condition, and prepare for the final walkthrough. Cleaning alone cannot guarantee a security-deposit refund because the lease, property condition, and local rules also matter. If you’re trying to sell your home, thoroughly cleaning the property or hiring a company to do it for you can actually help improve its appraisal value. What’s more, a good cleaning and a little staging can make it more appealing to buyers.
Moving should be more exciting than it is stressful. If you follow tips like the ones in this article, then the cleaning process won’t seem overwhelming. Just break it down and do it one step at a time, and you’ll be creating a clean and healthy environment that you can make your own.
Cherie Mclaughlin is the founder of www.couchbasedbiz.com, a website dedicated to creating and maintaining a successful work-from-home business.
Photo credit: Pexels
About The Cleaning Lady
I’m The Cleaning Lady, a professional house cleaner with 20 years of hands-on experience. I share practical cleaning, organizing and product advice for people who want a cleaner home without spending all day on it. I’ve worked with people of all ages and abilities, including clients managing mobility challenges, mental health conditions and neurodivergence. Those experiences shaped my realistic, judgment-free approach to housework. My goal is to help you clean more safely and efficiently with methods and tools that work. My motto is “Clean smarter, not harder!”
