Cleaning your home before moving in

IN SHORT

How to clean a house or apartment before moving in:

• Gather cleaning products, gloves, sponges, brooms, hoovers, cloths, etc.

• Start with the toilet and change the seat

• Clean the bathroom right down to the drains

• Polish the oven, cooker hood, fridge, hob and kitchen splashback

• Clean windows and walls with white vinegar and water, don’t forget sockets and switches

• Clean the floors with a steam cleaner and shampoo the carpet

You’ve just completed the final inventory of fixtures and you’re getting ready to move into your new apartment or house.

You’re probably looking forward to making it all cosy, but you shouldn’t rush!

Instead, take a few hours or a whole day to clean your new home while it’s still empty.

For one thing, it will be much easier and quicker without the furniture.

And furthermore, a thorough clean will make it easier for you to plan ahead and perhaps make a few adjustments depending on the location of sockets, the size of specific rooms, etc.

To help you get through this ordeal, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide to cleaning your house or apartment effectively before moving in.

Before you begin, make sure you have at least the following items on hand:

• Two pairs of household gloves

• A hoover and empty bags

• A standard broom

• A brush

• A bucket

• A hoover

• Several sponges

• Cotton or microfibre cloths

• Detergents

• A used toothbrush

• A bin bag

When it comes to detergents, we strongly recommend that you make take yourself using natural ingredients.

Dozens of recipes are available for free online, so you can save money and preserve your health and the environment.

Furthermore, these ingredients are very similar from one product to another, so you won’t have to clutter up your cupboards with dozens of different bottles. That’s great if you’re short on space.

If you’re moving into a furnished apartment or have had to move house in a hurry, take a moment to gather all furniture and objects in the middle of your rooms.

And if you still want to clean your new place in the best possible conditions, consider temporarily renting a storage unit nearby.

Let’s get down to business.

These rooms are heavily used, which means they need to be cleaned FIRST.

They’ll also be the ones that require the most work, but hygiene is paramount.

Start with the hardest task – cleaning the toilet – so you can put it behind you.

Disinfect the entire seat with your DIY detergent.

And don’t forget to install a new one by the way.

Keep going with the bathroom.

Using a descaling agent, focus first on the washbasin and bath/shower.

Don’t leave anything out: basin, taps, seals, hose and shower head.

Also check that nothing (hair, soap, etc.) is blocking the drains below the stopper.

Finally, use your cleaning product to disinfect the tiles.

Cleaning a kitchen is no easy task, as it’s teeming with items and countless nooks and crannies.

But a clean kitchen is a must for anyone who likes to cook.

So remember to scrub:

• The oven(s) (use the self-cleaning function if necessary)

• The oven hood

• The fridge and freezer

• The hob(s)

• The worktop

• The splashback

Clean windows not only give you a feeling of well-being, but also give you a few extra lumens and save on electricity.

For this task, you’ll need your best mixture of lemon juice and white vinegar. In some extreme case, opt for crumpled newspaper – simple yet very effective.

For the walls, first remove any nail with pliers.

Then use a microfibre cloth and white vinegar to clean out the various marks and disinfect all surfaces. You might need some spackle as well to fill in holes.

Of course, don’t forget sockets, switches and handles (a haven for bacteria), as well as radiators, door and window frames.

Once everything else is clean and shiny, you can start focusing on the floors by vacuuming thoroughly (including skirting boards, cupboards, etc.).

Next, opt for a standard mop if your floors are not too dirty. Otherwise, turn to a steam cleaner, which can often work miracles.

For tiled floors, pay special attention to the grout, which naturally collect dirt and become discoloured over time.

Finally, if your future home has a carpet, make sure to clean it to eliminate mites and dust (to prevent allergies especially).

The most effective solution would be to lease a professional carpet cleaning machine.

Your new home has been occupied by one or more people with different habits to your own, so it may have an odour that doesn’t suit you.

To purify a house or apartment before moving in, air the interior thoroughly and burn some Armenian paper, for instance.

You can also place cinnamon sticks or lavender sachets in your cupboards to scent the contents.

And if you haven’t already done so, take a moment to sort through your belongings. This will allow you to make a fresh start and create in a home that truly suits you.

Happy moving with HOMEBOX! :)