How to do a Thorough Deep Clean Before Moving In

No matter how clean your new home may look, you will still want to carry out a deep clean before you set up all of your furniture. Knowing that everything is pristine helps you to feel more settled as you start out on the next chapter of your life. 

It's a good idea to arrange to clean before your furniture arrives if possible. If you are not able to do this, ask the removals company to place the furniture in one space which you can clean last. You can then move the furniture into position as each area of your new home is cleaned. 

Always clean from top to bottom

When you start out on the cleaning process, it's important that you begin at the top of the room and work your way downwards. This is because grime, dust, and cobwebs from around the top of the walls and the ceiling will naturally fall downwards as you wipe. The last thing you want is for all of the dirt to drop down onto a floor that you have just cleaned. 

Start with the kitchen and bathroom 

The kitchen and bathroom are likely to be the two rooms that you will have the most need for, as soon as you move in. They are also the two places that are likely to be in most need of a deep clean. 

Cleaning the kitchen

Assuming that you are moving into a home that has fitted appliances, you need to make sure that they are completely free from grease, grime, and germs before you start to use them.

• Defrost the fridge and freezer if necessary. Once this is done, use a regular kitchen cleaner and a clean cloth to wipe over all the surfaces, before you switch the appliance back on and start using it. 
• Take a look at the condition of the hob and oven. If there is a lot of grease present, you may need to use a heavy-duty cleaner for the hob and apply oven cleaner inside the oven. 
• Make sure that all of the kitchen cabinets are cleaned inside and out; including the tops of any wall cabinets. This is probably not a job that you will do on a regular basis, so it's a good idea to start with completely fresh surfaces in your new home. 
• Use chlorine-free bleach to scrub the sink and draining area. 

Cleaning the bathroom 

You are probably always pretty thorough when cleaning the bathroom, but in a new home it's even more important. You do not know who has been using the bathroom before you. 

• Use a bathroom cleaning product and a clean cloth to wipe all surfaces, then finish off by using an anti-bacterial spray. 
• Invest in a new toilet seat. 
• Make sure you clean all areas of the toilet, including under the rim and all around the bowl. 
• Sanitise light switches, door handles, and taps. 

Clean places that you will not clean again for a while

Once the kitchen and bathroom are completely clean, you can make a start on the rest of the house. It's a good idea to begin by making sure that you clean areas that may not be freshened up again for a while, such as an attic, the basement, inside cupboards, behind radiators, and along picture rails. As you clean, remember the ‘start at the top of the room rule’! 

Remove dirt and germs from surfaces in your new home 

When you have finished cleaning all of the hidden-away areas of your new home, you need to pay special attention to the surfaces that you come into contact with every day. You want to get rid of any trace of the previous occupants from these surfaces. Use a multi-purpose cleaner and a clean cloth to wipe over doors, work surfaces, and handles. Light switches are often among the dirtiest places on a property, so you need to make sure these are clean. Remember to be careful when cleaning a light switch and to never spray liquid of any kind directly onto the switch. 

Once you have cleaned a room, you can start moving furniture to where it needs to be. When all of the cleanings is finished, and your furniture is in place, you can start to settle into your new space.