Moving into a new house is very exciting. You get the chance to start fresh and turn your whole life around. However, before you get to those exciting bits, you must first settle in. That usually means unpacking and making some adjustments to make this new house feel like home. However, there is something you must do even before that – clean. We know that nobody likes cleaning. Nonetheless, it is an essential step to take before moving in if you want your new home to be a safe and comfy place for you and your family. But, how do you start cleaning the entire house? Which room should you clean first? Do not worry – we have created a move-in house cleaning checklist that will help you get going.
1. Children’s Rooms
If you are moving into a new house with your children, it is essential to clean their rooms first. Clean them before you unpack anything. Make sure that this area of the home is clean enough so that your children can play in it while you tackle other cleaning projects around the house. Start by thoroughly cleaning any pieces of furniture in there – pay special attention to the beds. Remove the dust and then vacuum. If you have a steam cleaner, be sure to use that too! Do not forget to clean the windows and to wash the curtains as well. Once you make sure that your child’s room is immaculate, you can have them unpack some of their toys, books, clothes, etc. There are many chores for children by age, so there is no reason not to include them in the process, no matter how old they are.
2. Bathroom
The next room you should thoroughly clean when moving into a new house is the bathroom. If necessary, devote an entire day to this. Bathrooms are places where dirt, bacteria, grime, etc., tend to thrive the most. And you do not know who the previous owners have been nor how clean they used to be. Thus, prepare your chemicals and start cleaning. Avoid natural cleaners like baking soda and vinegar this time. Bathrooms need more potent chemicals in order to be properly cleaned and disinfected. So, get separate, specialized cleaners for the toilet, sink, tub, mold, grout, tiles, windows, etc. Yes, these are many different products, but they are the only ones that will clean your bathroom properly!
3. Kitchen
The kitchen is where you will be handling your food, so it is of key importance to clean it before you start unpacking your groceries and cooking. Start by cleaning all the cabinets and drawers. Then, clean and disinfect all the appliances – pay special attention to the oven as it may need a lot of work. Disinfect the countertops as well as the sink and tap. Then, finally, vacuum everything and mop the floors. Do not forget to clean your kitchen items too before you place them in your recently cleaned kitchen! Wash everything – pots, pans, plates, glasses, mugs, cutlery, etc. These have been inside the moving boxes for too long, so it might be a good idea to clean them before using them.
4. Living and Dining Room
Many people postpone cleaning these two rooms as these are the areas they either want to redecorate or renovate. But they will still walk through them, and they will still spread the dirt from them through the entire house. So, it goes without saying that they need tidying up too! Luckily, these two rooms are the easiest to clean, especially if you do not have much furniture there. All you need to do is vacuum and mop the floors, wash the windows and curtains, and disinfect the knobs, handles, and light switches. Then, when you find an affordable way to cozy it up and renovate on a budget, you just have to worry about cleaning the furniture and doing some touch-ups, and your living room will be ready. However, keep in mind that if you use the furniture from the previous owners, it would be good to have it deep cleaned first.
5. Your Bedroom
The last but certainly not least important room on our move-in house cleaning checklist is the bedroom. Your bedroom is your sanctuary, and the cleanliness of this room is connected to your mental health, believe it or not. If it looks chaotic, you won’t feel organized! Do not postpone cleaning this room. Give it some love as soon as you have the time. Thoroughly clean the bed first as you will need to sleep somewhere. Then, remove the dust in the closets and drawers, clean under the bed and around all the furniture pieces, vacuum and mop the floors, wash the windows, and disinfect all the surfaces. Do all of this before you bring your clothes and personal items inside. Cleaning a cluttered room would be a nightmare!
Conclusion
Cleaning your house is a lot of work; there is no denying it. But, the more you postpone it, the harder it will get. And, as previously mentioned, you do not know how clean the previous owners have been, so you likely want all surfaces cleaned and sanitized. Take a deep breath and tackle one room at a time. Following our move-in house cleaning checklist from above might be helpful, so give it a go. But, before you put on your cleaning gloves, make sure to have all your cleaning products ready. Do not try to cut corners on them – you need to have good-quality supplies if you want to your new home to be move-in ready. Leave natural cleaners for some other time when your house needs just a gentle clean.
