Cleaning Your New Home

The best time to clean your home is when there are no items in your way, allowing you to get to every square inch of your home. It’s not common for sellers to do a deep clean before moving out, so take advantage of this empty space to get your new home clean the way you want it.

Kitchen

It’s possible for the previous owners cooking smells still linger long after they’re gone, you spend most of your time in the kitchen, especially when hosting guest, so it’s smart to tackle the kitchen first. A lot of the times the kitchen appliances don’t get cleaned inside and out, so this is your best opportunity while the house is empty. Other areas that rarely get cleaned on a regular basis is the cabinet fronts, another good area to clean before you move all your stuff into your new home.

Appliances

This is where you may need to use a heavy-duty cleaner, which may include appliance cleaner, such as a wax or paste, and baking soda and water, along with sponges or a heavy-duty cloth. Starting with the stove, remove all elements and clean this area using your heavier cleaner. If you’re using a brush, make sure you use a brush that won’t scratch the surface. Soak the metal trays and racks in a sink full of hot, soapy water while you clean the rest of the stove.Next, take a look inside the oven, and if need be, apply an oven-cleaner. Most take approximately 20 minutes to work. This gives you time to do the rest of the stove.

Make sure you clean under the hood and use a grease-remover if you find the regular cleaner isn’t getting off the tough stuff. Lay down a sheet of brown paper just to collect any drips that might fall.

Once you’ve cleaned the top and front of the stove, remove it from the wall and clean beneath it, and if possible, clean the sides, too, along with the front panel and temperature dials.

Now, tackle the refrigerator. Hopefully, it’s been cleaned out, but even if it has, it’s always a good idea to clean it well, including removing the drawers and bins and washing them out.

Wash the inside walls and shelves, removing anything that can be removed and washing it separately in the sink or bathtub. Check the freezer. If the fridge has been unplugged, wipe down the inside or clean it thoroughly if it needs it. Unplug the fridge if it hasn’t been and letting it warm up before cleaning it. This will make it easier to clean. Also, use a soft cloth as anything harsher will scratch the surface.

Move the fridge out from the wall and clean behind it, then on top and its sides, too. Dust and dirt also gathers on handles and along the plastic sealing that encases the doors.

Kitchen Cabinets and Counters

Use a mild cleaner to clean the inside of cabinets, especially if they’re painted or lined. If they aren’t lined, consider using a liner to ensure that the insides are ready for your dishes. Lining paper can be purchased at any home store. Clean the top of cabinets, and cabinet doors. If the surface is wood, use a wood cleaner or a mild soap. For grease-stains, use baking soda and water. Make a paste and apply it, letting it sit for a few minutes. Also clean handles and inside drawers.

Counters usually require less work, just make sure you clean between cracks using a putty knife to remove any debris. Clean back-splashes with a mild cleaner or baking soda and water.

Sink

Use a chlorine-free bleach to clean the sink by putting some in a spray-bottle and adding water to it. Spray the sink well and let it soak for a while. Then rinse thoroughly. Also, bleach the plugs by placing them in a small amount of bleach-water and letting them sit for a few minutes. Rinse well. Sink odors can be removed by mixing baking soda and water together, then pouring it down the drain.

Cleaning Walls

Walls tend to be a larger job, unless the previous owners had recently (and I mean, very recently) painted the interior, you don’t necessarily have to clean them. If it’s a house that has been occupied by small children, look for fingerprints closer to the floor and around light switches and corners. Liquid stick cleaners from companies such as Tide work well to remove some of the more stubborn stains. Another great solution for sticky spots, one which requires very little elbow grease, is to apply a small amount of fabric softener to a sponge then rub it on the area. Whatever has stuck to the wall will disappear. This works really well for removing wallpaper or paper borders, too.

Step-By-Step Cleaning – Walls

• Remove all dust and cobwebs, especially in corners and around heating vents.
• Grab a sponge, or as I prefer, a sponge-mop to reach those hard to reach areas, and fill a bucket with warm, soapy water. You can use a mild detergent or dish soap. Detergent works well for any hard-to-remove stains.
• Wash the walls making sure that any dirt or cobwebs that linger behind are wiped away.
• Wipe the molding and baseboards.
• Clean the light switch plates and along any door frames.

Cleaning Floors

Whenever we move into a new home that has carpet, we usually hire a professional cleaner to steam clean them prior to our move date. If that isn’t possible, or the previous occupants claimed they had the carpets cleaned, then your new home probably just needs a thorough vacuum. Make sure you ask the previous owners if they had any pets; if they did, you may want to protect against possible fleas, especially if you have pets of your own. For wood floors or faux wood, sweep the floor well, making sure to clean under heating vents and under appliances. Use a mild soap to clean its surface; wood soaps, such as Murphy’s, work well to remove dirt and give it a polished shine.clean your home