Have everything packed and ready to go? Now you’ve just got to get to your new place and settle in. But wait! You haven’t done any of your move-out cleaning yet. So there are a few things you probably need to go back and check before you leave.
If you put a security deposit down on your place, you’ll need to do a thorough move-out cleaning before turning in your keys and getting some(or all) of your money back.
The kitchen
Cabinets
Go around and make sure everything is out of your drawers and cabinets. Clean them all out, remove any liners you have in there, and give them a good wipe down. Be sure to look for any caked-on stains or debris and don’t leave anything behind.
Counters
Clean your counters with an all-natural(or green) surface cleaner. Grab an empty spray bottle and fill it with water. Add a few drops of lemon essential oil and a teaspoon of vinegar. Now spray all of the counters and wipe them down removing any or all stuck-on food.
Stovetop/Oven
Scrub off any stuck-on food(use a scrub brush or a putty knife) before spraying the surface with your homemade counter cleaner. Sprinkle a little bit of baking soda on the surface of the stove or the door of the oven and let it sit overnight before wiping it away and seeing a brand new appliance.
Refrigerator/Freezer
After you’ve cleaned out your fridge and taken out all of the food go ahead and unplug it before cleaning it out completely. Spray the inside with your vinegar solution and wipe it down using a microfiber cleaning cloth.
Sink
Rinse out the sink using hot water. Spray it down with your vinegar solution. Sprinkle some baking soda down the drain and garbage disposal followed by one cup of vinegar. Now go ahead and give your sink a good scrub while you let the baking soda sit for a few minutes. And then you can rinse the sink again with hot water.
Floors
Everyone room on your move-out cleaning checklist should finish with you cleaning the floors. The floors are the very last thing you should do in each room before heading to the next. And they should only be done after you’ve got everything completely moved out of that space.
To clean your kitchen floors, you can use an all-natural floor cleaner or you can use the same vinegar solution we’ve been using all along(if you have laminate or tile floors). Using a microfiber mop, go ahead and mop the floors from the inside of the room to the outside of the room.
The bathrooms
Shower/Tub
Create a paste-like solution using baking soda and water and apply it to the surface of your tub or shower. Scrub the solution into the surface with a sponge and spray vinegar on it so that it fizzes. Then go ahead and scrub it a little more before rinsing out the tub o shower with hot water.
Counter/Vanity
If you have any countertops or a vanity in your bathroom be sure to clean out the drawers in them (like we did in the kitchen) and give them a nice wipe down using our all-natural cleaning solution. Dust off any framing on these structures and wipe down the mirrors before calling them complete.
Toilet
Get some toilet cleaner and let it sit in the inside of the bowl. Now taking a spray bottle and a solution of vinegar, two drops of lemon essential oil, and a drop of tea tree oil spray the outside of the toilet. Give it a good wipe down using a microfiber cloth. Make sure you even wipe down the bottom of the bowl and the back of the toilet to ensure that no debris is left behind.
Mirror
Don’t forget about the mirror. Wipe down the outside of the mirror with a cleaning rag to clean up and dust. Spray the mirror with window cleaner, wipe it down and you’re good to go.
Sink
Just like the kitchen sink, rinse it out with hot water, spray it with your solution and sprinkle it with baking soda. Give the sink a good scrub with either a scrub brush or a cleaning cloth before rinsing it out again using hot water.
Floors
To clean your bathroom floors, you can use an all-natural floor cleaner or you can use the same vinegar solution we’ve been using all along(if you have laminate or tile floors). If you have wood floors you’ll want to use a cleaner made for wood floors. Take a microfiber mop, go ahead and mop the floors from the inside of the room to the outside of the room.
General living spaces/Bedrooms
Light fixtures
Make sure you check all ceiling fans and permanent light fixtures for debris or dust. These should be the first things that you clean in each room since they’re dusty. Clean these fixtures before cleaning the surfaces (countertops, appliances) and floors.
Baseboards
Every room should be checked for baseboards that need to be cleaned. Be sure to go around and clean these before you clean the floors and after you dust in each room.
Walls
You don’t need to get out the surface cleaner and scrub your walls clean but you do need to make sure there are no visible marks on them. Go around and look for holes in the wall or marks that need to be covered up. Get rid of any dust and cover up any marks with touch-up paint.
Floors
To clean the rest of the floors, you can use an all-natural floor cleaner or you can use the same vinegar solution we’ve been using all along(if you have laminate or tile floors). If you have wood floors you’ll want to use a cleaner made for wood floors. Take a microfiber mop, go ahead and mop the floors from the inside of the room to the outside of the room.
Hiring a cleaning service for your move
Need help with your move-out cleaning? Maybe you don’t have time to do your move-out cleaning or maybe it’s just too difficult for you to accomplish on your own. No matter what your situation is, we’re here to help. Contact us today for a free estimate and see how our professional house cleaners can help you.
Spring Cleaning Checklist: Days 1-5
Spring cleaning differs from regular or routine cleaning in the sense that it can take a lot longer. Most people designate a week or two to spring cleaning so they can clean, declutter, and do their yearly chores all at the same time. So if you don’t know where to begin with your spring cleaning, don’t worry you’re not alone!
Over the next couple of weeks, we are going to walk you through each week of Spring cleaning. The checklist we have created will walk you through each day of cleaning and decluttering your home. It will help you stay motivated, inspired, and the best part is that you can use it for other seasons too.
Day 1: Dusting
Open your windows and let the fresh air blow through the house(trust me, once you get going you’re going to wish you had opened them in the first place)
Dust, sweep, and vacuum up any dust mites and cobwebs in the corners.
Dust any knick-knacks, books, and shelves
Launder any drapes, couch covers, rugs, and any other upholstery as instructed in the label
Day 2: Donating
Clean all mirrors including bathroom and bedroom mirrors
