Getting ready to move? The entire process can be overwhelming and anxiety-provoking. It can feel like there’s a million things to do, from the small administrative tasks like updating your driver’s license (to your new home address), packing all your belongings, and of course, finding the right moving company to help you make the trek. Before you move all of your belongings into your new home, your new residence will be empty. Having said that, this might be the only opportunity you get to conduct a move-in clean that reaches every corner of your home.
We’ve conducted plenty of move-in cleans for customers in Ontario, Canada, and wanted to share some tips that readers may find helpful.
Key takeaways
- Learn why move-in cleans actually matter.
- Plan and make sure you have all of the supplies required to conduct your move-in clean.
- Where you should start when you conduct a move-in clean (step-by-step guide).
- Move-in cleaning checklist to help make your life easier.
- Should you DIY or hire a professional cleaning company?
Why move-in cleaning matters
Move-in cleans are a rare opportunity to have an empty home, stripped of all furniture and belongings. You’re going to have access to every corner, making this a great opportunity to conduct a deep clean before you move all of your belongings. Over long periods of time, dirt and grime build up, which produce germs and smells that impact your quality of life once settled in. Move-in cleans are a great opportunity to ensure these areas are disinfected, cleaned, and smelling great.
Cleaning supplies required for your move-in clean
- Broom
- Dust pan
- Mop and bucket
- Vacuum
- Microfiber clothes
- Paper towels
- Garbage bags
- Multi-purpose cleaner (look for bottles that explicitly say they are suitable for appliances and different hard surfaces like walls, counters, desks, and floors)
- Disinfectant (necessary for bathroom and kitchen surfaces)
- Glass and window cleaner (commonly a spray-and-wipe solution used for mirrors, glass, perspex, and windows)
- Heavy-duty detergent or degreaser
- Oven cleaner
- Stainless steel cleaner (for stainless steel kitchen appliances)
- Toilet and shower cleaner (buy as a separate or all-in-one solution to remove mold,
- mildew, and grime)
- Dishwashing liquid (used to clean plates, stovetops, refrigerators, and more)
- Soft and hard sponges
- Toilet bowl sponge
- Mr Clean Magic Eraser. Great for sinks (not mandatory but recommended).
- Gloves
What to clean first when you move in (a step-by-step order)
Start with the kitchen
This is where grime build-up can be the most difficult to remove. Spray the oven with oven cleaner the night before and let it sit. If you don’t have the option of spraying the night before, make your way over to the kitchen and spray down the oven first thing so the solution can work its magic. Pull out all the appliances and clean behind them. This might be the first time in years they’ve been cleaned from behind. While the oven cleaner is working, you can start cleaning the inside/outside of the appliances (fridge, microwave, dishwasher). Starting from the top, clean walls, cabinets (inside/out), and baseboards. Once all tasks have been completed, mop and make your way out to the next section of the house, the bedrooms.
Bedrooms
Continuing with bedrooms, spot treat the walls and wipe them down if necessary. Depending on the wall and paint type, you can test Mr. Clean Magic Eraser in a small area. If effective and safe, continue using. Using a microfibre cloth, you can wipe down the baseboards of any dust. If grime exists, use a spray to break the grime and wipe down with a cloth. Once finished, you can vacuum or sweep any large debris, followed by a mopping of the area before you exit.
Bathrooms
- We’ve seen some of the toughest grime and dirt in bathrooms, go figure. Start by wiping down any window sills, baseboards, and trim.
- Collect all of the loose debris by sweeping or vacuuming. Use microfibre clothes to clean vents and light fixtures.
- For the shower and tub, spray down with bathroom cleaner like Lysol disinfectant. For hard water stains, CLR can be effective.
- The toilet bowl needs to be sprayed down with toilet bowl bathroom cleaner. Let’s sit. Scrub and wipe down.
- Spray the mirrors with “no smudge” mirror cleaner and wipe thoroughly with paper towels.
- Countertops should be sprayed with disinfectant and all-purpose cleaner. Once the cleaner has sat and had a chance to work, scrub and wipe.
- Mop the floor thoroughly on your way out.
Living Areas
- Dust and wipe table-top surfaces
- Sweep and mop floors
- Vacuum carpets
- Clean mirrors
- Dust furniture
- Clean glass on patio door & front door
- Clean baseboards
- Wipe window sills
- Clean window frames
- Wipe door frames
- Clean and wipe vents
- Wiping fans
Move-in/move-out cleaning checklist
How to decide between DIY and hiring a professional
Conducting a move-in clean on your new home can be physically demanding, yet very rewarding once you’ve seen the transformation take place. Depending on the size of your home, it might be a task you can take on; however, some move-in cleans can take a considerable amount of time. If you’re on tight timelines or moving into a larger home, you might want to consider getting some help. The larger the home, the more cleaning power required. To give some perspective, a 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom home that’s 1,300 square feet takes 2 of our cleaners about 5-6 hours to clean. This is a good yardstick to make a comparative measure. If you’re not a cleaning expert, add a few hours as a buffer to the estimate.
Moving homes can be stressful, mostly because of the tight timelines involved and the coordination of various resources to accomplish your end goal. If you’re planning and want to take some of the burden off your shoulders, you should consider a professional cleaning company like Sparkle and Scrub Cleaners. We offer house cleaners in Brantford, Ontario, and cleaning services in Hamilton. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help with your moving cleaning needs.
We hope you found this blog post on How to Deep Clean Your New Home Before Moving In useful. Be sure to check out our post on Hiring a Professional Cleaning Company for a Home for more great tips!
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