The top six spots people forget to clean before moving
Moving to a new home is one of the most exciting milestones in your life. But before you start unpacking boxes at the new place, you may need to complete a thorough cleaning of your old home. After doing countless moving cleans, we’ve compiled a list of the most often missed spots so that you can leave the next owners with a clean slate. And if your new home wasn’t left as spotless as you’d like, you’ll want to double check these areas in your new place before you start settling in.
1| Dusting
Ok so dusting isn’t exactly a specific spot in your house, but it’s one of the most important (and easiest!) things you can do to ensure a clean home. Here’s a list of places to make sure you dust:
Light fixtures:
These collect SO much dust and when the fixture and bulb itself are clean, the light looks brighter and makes the entire room sparkle. Not to mention the bulbs will have a longer life when they’re clean as dust can cause them to overheat and blow.
Ceiling fans:
If you can’t see it, it’s not dirty, right? Wrong! The blades of your ceiling fan build up with a ton of dust and all they really need is to be wiped down.
Wooden blinds:
While this can be a painstaking process, it makes a big difference. No one wants to see dirt and dust particles floating around as the sunlight streams through your windows.
Top of the shower head and behind the toilet:
These are probably some of those spots you would never think to clean, but once you know, you’ll never miss them again!
2| Cabinets
When cleaning your cabinets, be sure to get both the inside and outside of all of them including those in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and even garage. Use a gentle cleaning solution of mild soap and water. Be sure to keep any water off of the hinges so they don’t rust and give all surfaces a wipe down to get rid of any residue. And remember to leave the doors open for a few hours to allow the inside to dry out; you definitely don’t want any mildew building up inside your cabinets.
3| Interior of Appliances
The inside of the oven is one of the most often forgotten spots we see. You can use a store bought cleaner, a paste made from water and baking soda, or even your oven’s self-cleaning feature. Just don’t forget about the warming drawer underneath too.
There’s nothing worse than moving into a new home with a disgusting smelly refrigerator. To make sure you’re not leaving the new owners with last month’s Chinese take out smells, remove all shelves and drawers so you can properly wash, sanitize, and deodorize. Don’t forget to wipe away any dust on top and give the exterior one last polish.
*You may be tempted to pull your refrigerator out and clean behind it, but please use EXTREME caution if you decide to do this. Floors are easily scratched and you may accidentally pinch a water line that could cause flooding. The last thing you want to do right before you move is replace kitchen floors and the ceiling of the room below!
4| Intake Fans
Even if you think you’ve done a thorough job of cleaning your refrigerator, you probably forgot about (or maybe didn’t know about) the intake fan on the bottom. Simply pop off the plastic grill and vacuum the fan, especially if you’re a pet owner. This spot fills up with pet hair and actually needs to be cleaned regularly, not just when you’re moving.
Just like your refrigerator, you use your stove nearly every day, right? Well all that grease gets sucked up into an intake fan underneath your microwave and can really build up over time. Be sure to wipe this down and while you’re at it, give the whole underside of the microwave a good scrub.
Last but not least, your bathroom probably has an intake fan that needs some attention as well. With an entire family showering daily, a lot of dirt and dust gets lodged in the fan.
5| Baseboards
Baseboards get a bad rap as being one of the most hated chores, but it’s really easy to get them shining! Simply wipe down with a damp rag and you’re done. Just be sure to complete this task when everything is moved out so you don’t skip spots blocked by furniture.
6| Door Knobs, Light Switches, and Outlet Covers
This last one is small, but as we say, all in the details. Make sure to wipe down and sterilize all door knobs, light switches, and outlet covers throughout the home by spraying rubbing alcohol or even regular household cleaner onto a paper towel (NOT the light switch itself!). Wipe it away and use a q-tip to get into those small areas. Knobs, switches, and covers are exposed to a lot of germs throughout the day and deserve a good cleaning.
We know your to-do list when moving is a mile long, but focusing on these six areas when you’re leaving your old home or moving into a new one can make all the difference. If you’d rather focus on packing, then leave the cleaning to the professionals and give us a call.
(603) 574-4878
www.maidforyounh.com
Maid for You specializes in house cleaning and maid services in the Concord, New Hampshire area including the communities of Penacook, Pembroke, Hopkinton, and Canterbury.
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