When you move into a new home, you definitely want to get the cleaning supplies out. This is especially important if you're moving into a place that's been lived in. Even if it looks clean, there can always be dust, dirt, and allergens in the nooks and crannies. A deep cleaning will help to eliminate all of that.
Make a List, then Divide and Conquer
Begin by listing all the rooms in your house. Include your garage, the basement, and attic. You might even add a general "outdoor" category for tackling additional projects. When you have your house more or less divided by space, start listing what needs to be done in each of those spaces. Before you know it, you'll have a comprehensive list of everything you need to do to get your house nice and clean.
Deep cleaning pro-tips
Start at the Top
The best way to avoid a lot of trouble when cleaning your house is by understanding the truth about gravity. Paying attention to starting at one end and working down will help any dust or light you're moving land on the floor beneath rather than one that's already been cleaned.
Bathrooms and Kitchen
Deep cleaning your bathrooms and kitchen is not an easy task. From getting rid of dirt and dust to touching up areas where grout needs updating or fixing. Those areas are as much about disinfecting as it is about clean surfaces. Here's a checklist for cleaning that should help you get the job done:
- Replace unnecessary items that accumulate bacteria, such as the toilet seat, toothbrush cups, sponges, sink strainers, dish dryers, etc.
- Apply a grout cleaner early on surfaces and give this time to soak in
- Give the walls, doors, and fixtures an excellent clean using an all-purpose cleaner
- Scrub the bath, toilet & sink
- Wipe everything again with a clean cloth
- Vacuum the floor to get rid of any loose dirt and dust before mopping
Don't Forget the Garage, Basement, or Attic
Out of sight can sometimes be out of mind, and it's easy to dismiss areas like garages, basements, and attics when you're deep-cleaning ... but don't make that mistake. When you're ready to start cleaning out your garage, basement, or attic, ensure these rooms contain no valuable items. Vacuum up all of the dust and forgotten things in this space before painting it because if there are stains on top, they will just get worse when wet!
Spruce Up Your Floors
Different flooring types require different methods, and you may have more than one in your house. Steam-clean your carpeting and tile floors. Wood floors can usually use decent waxing.
Clean Your Screens and Windows
Cleaning screens and windows can be a pain, which is probably why it doesn't get done very often. But it makes a difference in the quality of light that pours through those windows, and it's well worth addressing at least once a year. Remove screens, wipe them down, dry them, and ensure you're washing the inside and outside. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe the windows to minimize streaks - it also helps to wash windows on an overcast day, as bright sunlight can cause the cleaner to dry too quickly, leaving streaks.
Don't Forget the Light Fixtures
Windows aren't the only factors influencing the quality of light in your house. Your light fixtures might be dusty or dirty, and you wouldn't even notice because they're so far above your head. Make sure you're removing and cleaning light fixtures in each room, drying them thoroughly before replacing them.
Organize
Deep cleaning is a great way to organize your things and ensure they're all in the right places. If you have stray boxes hiding in closets or cupboards, now's the time to finish getting rid of them so you can start keeping our home looking good. Find out how much storage space you have; maybe you need to reorganize closets or drawers to make more room.
Declutter
When you have a lot of stuff - books, clothes, pots and pans, etc - cleaning around all of it becomes a challenge. The first step in any room should be a sweep to assess what you currently use and then whaat you haven't touched in a while. Anything that falls into the latter category should be considered for disposal or donated. It may feel painful at the moment to part from your things, but keeping your house looking neat and clean will be so much easier if you can power through the hard part and let go. Get serious about decluttering now so your home will look cleaner and more presentable forever.
Thinking about buying or selling? Contact me
