Giving your new home, a good clean is important even if the previous owners seem to have done the job well. That’s because you can never be too sure when it comes to your health and that of your loved ones!
If you’re going to move soon and are not quite sure of getting the job done on your own, you’ve come to the right place. Read on for some tips that will help you get started.
Eliminate Mold
Check your new house for signs of mold before you move in so that you can take the appropriate steps to eliminate it. Here are some areas of your new house that you should check without fail:
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Floors and carpets
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Kitchen and bathroom sinks
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Kitchen and bathroom cabinets
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Shower recesses, baths, toilets, and drains
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Tile grout
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Wardrobes
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Exterior walls, garage, yard, and basement
If you spot mold in one or more of these places, get a thorough check of the entire house by a professional. Don’t worry about the cost; you first need to know the extent of the infestation.
A large infestation can be handled best by professionals, but if your house has a small infestation and you’re on a budget, you needn’t employ professionals. Mold can be eliminated effectively by using common household ingredients like vinegar and baking soda. At most, you’ll only need to purchase or get some freebies for wipes and mild cleaners.
Say Goodbye to Pests
If you find mice, rats, cockroaches, termites, or other pests inside your new house, show them the door before you move in with your belongings. You certainly don’t want to make saying goodbye to these unwanted guests more troublesome later on nor do you want them to destroy your stuff.
As with mold, you can try DIY tactics to eliminate pests if the problem isn’t a big one, but a professional pest exterminator will certainly be required for serious infestations. If going the DIY way, deal with poison carefully and be mindful of safety precautions.
Get Rid of Dust
Grab a long-handled brush or broom and set about sweeping all flat surfaces. This includes walls and ceilings too. Look for stains on walls and wipe them clean with a mild detergent.
Wipe clean table tops, shelves, cupboards, drawers, and wardrobes with a soft cloth or cleaning wipe. Wipe down windows and window sills and go over all nooks and crannies carefully. Don’t forget to vacuum vents and change filters where required.
Clean Carpets, Drapes, and Upholstery
Carpets, drapes, and upholstered furniture can hold dirt, insects, dead skin cells, pet dander, and germs which can make you sick. So it will do you and your loved ones a lot of good to clean these surfaces carefully before you shift.
Firstly, check carpets, curtains or blinds, and upholstered fabrics for stains. If you see stains, spot treat them carefully. Remember, some fabrics can get damaged easily so always test fabric cleaners on an inconspicuous area before treating stains.
Once you’re done spot treating stains, vacuum these surfaces, preferably with a vacuum cleaner fitted with HEPA filters. Do consider steam cleaning- you can rent out steam cleaners for a day or for a few hours and get the job done effectively.
Focus on the Kitchen and Bathroom
These areas are bound to have the most germs so it wouldn’t hurt to give them a deep clean even if you’ve checked them for mold once already. Clean tiles, grout, and counter-tops using anti-bacterial solutions.
If you’re moving into a fully-equipped house, be sure to clean kitchen appliances such as dishwashers, stoves, ovens, etc. Do clean the refrigerator inside and out to get rid of dirt and odors.
Consider changing the toilet seat or clean it and the bowl with a disinfectant. Also clean the bath, shower area, and shower curtain.
Make the House Smell Fresh
Eliminating dirt, mold, and pests are sure to get rid of odors from your new house. In addition to this, open up the windows to let fresh air in. Turn on fans and exhaust fans to let air circulate and keep humidity levels down.
Place ground coffee or baking soda in a wide-mouthed container and leave it around the house to absorb odors. To keep the house smelling nice, use scented candles or sprays of your choice. To go all natural, bring a saucepan full of water to a boil and add cinnamon sticks and some lemon zest to it. You can make your own air freshener by mixing lime juice and water in equal parts, and adding some baking soda to the solution.
Conclusion
Cleaning your home will not only eliminate germs and odors, it will also help you spot problems like mold or mildew and eliminate them. Most problems can worsen if you don’t take care of them before you move in, and you certainly don’t want that to happen in your new home.
With the tips given here, you now know how to go about cleaning your new home. So get started with planning everything to a T so that you’re ready to clean when the time comes!