Statistics show that an average American is likely to move out about 11 times in their lifetime. Of course, moving out is stressful, even without worrying about cleaning your old or new spaces. But thinking about the cleaning tasks can make it too troublesome for some.
Luckily, there are special tips and tricks to help you prepare for a move-out cleaning. So, keep reading to learn more about them.
How to Prepare for a Move-Out Cleaning
Whether you’re renting a new place or selling your old house, moving out involves a lot of planning. This includes gathering all your stuff and leaving your old space in an acceptable state. If you’re renting, you should ensure everything is in the same condition you received it to avoid legal issues.
Because you’ll be focusing on preparing your new space and buying stuff, you might be overwhelmed by doing the move-out cleaning. Here are some tips to help you.
Remove Your Belongings
Before moving, remove everything that belongs to you and sort your belongings into boxes. These boxes will show things you want to move to your new place, things you want to give away, and stuff you might sell.
Label the boxes to deal with them later. Hiring a professional move-in cleaning service will help you sort and organize your belongings.
Vacuum Everything
Don’t forget to vacuum everything. This includes the floors, stairs, and even closets. Hard-to-reach areas shouldn’t be ignored.
Dust and Wipe Surfaces
Use a gentle all-purpose cleaner and a microfiber cloth to dust and wipe all the hard surfaces in the house. This includes kitchen countertops, kitchen cabinets, bathroom countertops, door handles, bookshelves, and windowpanes.
Deep Clean the Kitchen and Bathroom
Your kitchen and bathroom need special attention, so don’t forget to clean inside cabinets, scrub sinks, clean the bathtub, scrub and mop the floors, and disinfect the toilet. You should also clean mirrors and windows using special cleaning products that don’t leave marks or streaks.
Clean Appliances
If you’re leaving the appliances at your old place, use an all-purpose kitchen cleaner to remove all the greasy stains. Don’t forget to wipe the outside and inside of the oven, microwave oven, and fridge. Use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to remove the bad odors and leave everything clean.
Clean the Closets
After removing all your clothing items, clean the inside of the closets. Make sure that you haven’t left anything behind.
Remove Nails
You might have used nails to hang wall art or pictures, but you need to remove these. You should also repair holes in the walls before moving out. Finally, don’t forget to fix any scratches using paint.
Mop the Floors
After cleaning everything, you should disinfect and mop the floors to leave the house as good as new.
Wrap Up
When it’s time for a change, moving out can be an exciting but overwhelming task. These cleaning tips will help you leave your old space in excellent condition, so you can move on to a new space with a fresh perspective.