A new home is a clean slate, it allows you to potentially lose any old habits of clutter and untidiness especially if you’re moving into a property with more storage space. Most of us don’t have the extra funds to afford a professional cleaning service to blast through our property so here are some relatively easy & helpful tips for you to get your home to sparkle.
It’s also important to note if you’re doing any painting or renovation on your home do that first to save you repeating a job.
1. Enlist Some Helpers
When it comes to ‘spring cleaning’ everyone can play a role, even the kids! (which they will no doubt be unhappy to hear) but fortunately the more help you have the quicker and easier the job will be. Plus most people can be easily tempted by the prospect of a takeaway.
2. If You Fail To Prepare, Prepare To Fail!
Creating a lengthy shopping list with all the potential cleaning supplies you’ll need will mean you’ll skip frequent returns to the supermarket to purchase things you’ve forgotten. Essential products like sponges, cloths, detergent, dusters, and of course refreshments for the cleaning crew so they can perform at their very best.
3. Put The First Things First
Cleaning the most important rooms first can help you gain momentum & really allows you to visualise life in your new property, it also means if you hit any hitches or people drop out from helping the rooms that matter most to you will be ready. We’d recommend starting with the bathroom (because someone will inevitably need the loo), kitchen, living room, and bedrooms as these are the areas you’ll likely be spending the most time in these rooms.
4. One Room At A Time
Spreading out across the house & working on different rooms can seem like the best approach but what you gain in speed you’ll likely lose in thoroughness as working as a team one room at a time allows you to power through and prevents you from being overwhelmed. Also combined with hack three it means it’ll be less likely that you end up with rooms that are half done.
5. Dust Is A Must
Dusting is the first step in home cleaning, then the next step is to vacuum to get the smaller debris and get into tight corners (getting access to a handheld vacuum can help greatly). Next, is the easy part using a mop or cloth to clean up the floors and any marks on the surfaces. Then drying can be done with an old towel or T-shirt, something you won’t mind throwing away afterward.
6. Take It From The Top
Working from the top downwards allows you to ensure you don’t miss spots. Clean the tops of cupboards, light fittings, and curtain rods. Next, move on to the walls then the floor. Working from the floor up just means you’ll have to wash the walls and floor twice.
7. Hang Your Curtains ASAP
Empty houses can attract unwanted eyes, even so much as nosey neighbors. So it’s a good idea to hang your curtains up early on this helps your home look lived in and can also help keep a cooler temperature on the albeit rare British hot summer day. It’s also key to wash & dry your curtains before you start cleaning and hang them up at the end of the day.
8. Tackle Soap Scum
Shop-bought multi-purpose cleaners will do the job in most circumstances in your bathroom and shower. Soap scum however can be tough to tackle. Empty and wash a spray bottle and fill it with equal parts vinegar, dish soap, and water. Spray the scum and leave for half an hour the scrub off with a sponge or cloth.
9. Remember The Toilet
No one enjoys cleaning the toilet but it’s a crucial job. Giving your cistern a thorough clean before you move in is a great idea! Pour vinegar into the cistern’s water to just underneath the upper rim, let it soak for 12 hours and then flush it a few times and fully drain the cistern by shutting off the input valve. Next scrub inside thoroughly. Finally flush it a few times and you are right as rain!
10. The Unmissable Areas
There are some commonly forgotten areas that help you get the completed deep clean feeling!
- Behind the toilet
- The stovetop
- Window & door frames
- Under & behind the oven
- The tops of doors
- Lightswitches and doorknobs
- The tops of built-in cupboards
11. Get Your Appliances In First
Moving important appliances in first will help minimise damage if there are any issues, breaks, or leaks. It also allows for less interrupted cleaning if there is a mess. Larger appliances often bring dirt and dust with them that has been lodged over their years of use, this can leave a mess all over your floors so best to keep things like rugs in their boxes until after the appliances come in.