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Moving Out: Everything That Needs Cleaning

Moving Out: Everything That Needs Cleaning
July 18, 2022

Whether you just bought a house, found a new job, or are moving in with a partner, moving to a new home is stressful. 

Moving out cleaning tips

There are many things to worry about, including everything from packing, costs, and finding a van or truck to making sure you get your security deposit back. 

However, one thing you’ll have to tackle on the day that everything is cleared out is ensuring your old home is clean enough to meet the new occupants’ standards of clean. 

In this article, we look at moving out and everything that needs cleaning before you hand over the keys.

Leave Nothing Behind 

It can be tempting to leave things behind that you’ve decided you don’t need, such as old kettles, a faulty vacuum, clothes, and even actual garbage. However, this is not cool in the world of moving. 

Your landlord or new homeowners can charge you to remove the items and it could lead to legal issues, especially if you sold your home. 

Be sure that you declutter as you pack so you can dispose of anything broken, and give away the things you no longer need. Just like a visit to the park or forest, when you’re done, you should leave nothing behind.

Clean and Vacuum the Floors

You take the floors for granted when you live in a home. You tend to clean the areas you can see and leave the dust bunnies to live undisturbed beneath the furniture. 

As the boxes and furniture are moved out from each room, follow behind with a vacuum or broom to clean up the mess. 

Get into every corner with your broom or vacuum, and for hard floors, use a mop to get the floors sparkling clean. Don’t forget the baseboards!

Tackle Carpet Stains

You might notice stains on the floor or carpet once the furniture is removed. 

Use a carpet stain remover to do your best to remove the spots. For floors, use an all-purpose cleaner that is safe for the type of floor you are cleaning. 

Keep in mind that small stains are expected, but major ones like pet accidents could lead to charges from your landlord. 

Clean Every Surface 

Every surface of the home has to be cleaned, including:

  • Kitchen and bathroom counters
  • Fireplace mantles
  • Windowpanes and ledges
  • Light switches and walls
  • Built-in shelves

First, dust using a microfiber cloth, and then use an all-purpose surface cleaner to remove dirt. For kitchen and bathroom surfaces, use a disinfectant cleaner to kill germs.

Make sure you use the appropriate cleaning products for delicate surfaces like marble or stone counters. 

Make Windows Shine 

Dirty windows are pretty noticeable once the window treatments come down. Use a window cleaner and paper towels to remove dirt and grime that can make the room look dingy. 

Sparkling windows will let in light and create a cheerful space for the next tenants or homeowners. Wipe up any drips that land on the floor or window ledge as you clean. 

Clean Kitchen Appliances

Clean all of your kitchen appliances, including the following:

  • Fridge: First, make sure you remove all food from the fridge and dispose of the food past its due date. Then, use a good kitchen cleaner and clean cloth to wipe down all the shelves and walls.

    Remove the drawers and shake out all the crumbs; then, wash them with warm water and dish detergent.

    Wipe down the outside from top to bottom, including the very top surface where dust and grease tend to build up. 
  • Stove and oven: Wipe down the stove, and if you have an electric stove with burners, add some clean foil trays to make it look extra clean.

    If it is a self-cleaning oven, turn it on the night before moving day and let it do its stuff. If not, use an oven cleaner the night before to remove the greasy, caked-on food.
  • Microwave: If the home comes with a microwave, place a bowl with freshly sliced lemons and run it on high for about 10 minutes.

    This releases steam that will help work on the caked-on mess. Wipe it clean, and then wash the plate with warm water and dish detergent.
  • Laundry: If you have a washer/dryer, wipe the exterior surfaces to remove dust and lint. Remove the lint from the dryer.

    For front-loading washing machines, throw in a machine cleaner like Affresh, following the instructions on the package. 
  • Dishwasher: Run the dishwasher through a cycle using a dishwasher cleaning product.  

Dust and Vacuum Closets 

As you pack your clothes, take this opportunity to dust and vacuum the closets. 

They can be overlooked but tend to have things like dust bunnies and dusty shelves that have been left uncleaned since you moved in. 

Clean Kitchen Cupboards and Counters

Kitchen cupboard doors and shelves can get very dirty. Clean the doors with a good grease-cutting cleaner, and wipe out the shelves to remove crumbs. 

Drawers are also notorious crumb collectors in the kitchen. Shake them out and wipe them down. Do a once-over check of your kitchen counters and surfaces, and ensure any stains, splatters, or build-up has been removed. 

Remove Cobwebs

Take a broom and run it along the spot where the ceiling meets the wall. This is the best way to remove cobwebs and avoid the new occupants thinking the place might be haunted. 

Scrub the Bathroom Thoroughly

We don’t think we need to explain why the bathroom needs to be scrubbed and disinfected. A great idea is to rent a steam cleaner to really do a deep clean of this very germy room. 

You can also clean grout using a toothbrush and abrasive bathroom cleaner. Every single corner needs to be thoroughly cleaned with a good bathroom cleaner, and you can finish it all off with a spritz of vinegar to kill mould and mildew. 

Do a Final Mopping and Vacuuming  

Once the movers are gone, and everyone is done, do a final mopping and/or vacuuming to erase all signs of footprints and dirt that all the activity might have tracked in. 

Last Check

Give the entire place a once-over check for anything that looks like it needs cleaning. 

Of course, you might not be as sensitive to the mess as the new occupants will be, but at least you’ll know that you did your best. 

A move-out quality clean can be hard to achieve, especially if you have a picky landlord. The best way to ensure everything is done right is to use professional moving-out cleaning services to do the work for you. 

This way, you can reduce your stress and have peace of mind that you’ve stuck to your lease or sales agreement.

 For more information about Maid4Condos’ moving-out cleaning services, click here. You can call us at 647-822-0601, or contact us online.

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