Sep
19
2017
The Ultimate Cleaning Checklist for Moving Into a New Home
When buying a new home, one of the first things you’ll need to do on moving day is give your new home a good clean from top to bottom. It’s best to do this before the furniture and boxes arrive so you can have the entire house spick and span before soft furnishings start to take up the space.
If your home is to be renovated, it’s also best to do any measuring while the soft furnishings are not present. If your home is pre-renovated, it’s recommended that you do a spot-check for any defects or building errors that will need to be fixed before you move in. Here are recommendations on areas to check for defects.
Once this has been done, you’re ready to start cleaning – but where exactly do you start? Here’s a handy checklist of what you need to get yourself off to a great (and clean) start in your new home.
The best way to handle this cleaning job is to handle each room systematically, one by one. This not only ensures everything is done, but also the best way to organise your days preparing the home for you to live in. Otherwise, it’s very easy to forget which area you’ve cleaned and what still needs a wipe down.
The kitchen
Most people will start their cleaning in the kitchen. Not only is it often the most used room in the house, it’s also where most of the nasties tend to be and where you will prepare your food in the future, so ensuring this area is spotless is crucial for keeping your family healthy.
If you have bought a new condo in Singapore and all appliances have been provided, give them a thorough clean. This includes the fridge, stove, microwave and kitchen hood. If your home has been built to order (BTO), then appliances are not generally provided.
You’ll then need to tackle the kitchen cabinets and counters. Of course, the counters are pretty self-explanatory, but it’s wise to methodically go through each kitchen cabinet with some bio-home all-purpose cleaner and a sponge and wipe down all the surfaces. Don’t forget underneath the shelves as well.
Next, make a beeline for the sink. Grab a bio-home kitchen cleaner, spray the whole sink and let it sit for a little while before wiping it down.
Of course, don’t forget the floor. This may require you getting down on the floor yourself with a scrubbing brush and a bio-home floor cleaner.
And then, of course, there are also the little things. It’s important not to forget to clean the door handles and knobs, the taps, and run the dishwasher on a cleaning cycle to give it a freshen up.
The bathrooms
With bathrooms, you need to clean methodically by going around the room and making sure you cover all surfaces. Start with the sink. Give it a good clean and use anti-mould spray if you need to. If you prefer to use natural products, bio-home’s multi-surface cleaner is a great option for bathroom cleaning. Make sure you scrub the taps as well.
For shower screens, grab some newspaper and glass cleaner and scrub away. The newspaper works wonders to ensure there are no streaks on the glass. Alternatively, if it’s a shower curtain, it may be a good idea to purchase a new one to install.
And of course, no one likes the job, but it’s important to give your new toilet a good clean with bio-home multi surface cleaner. Also don’t forget to wipe down the flush button!
Bedrooms and living areas
Chances are that the bedrooms and living areas will just need a good sweep, mop and vacuum. If you’ve been told the previous owners had the floors cleaned prior to you moving in, still give the place a once over, as it provides that extra peace of mind and gives you an extra clean canvas for organising your furniture. If you don’t know whether the carpets have been properly cleaned, it may be worth hiring a professional. They’ll clean the floors thoroughly so there will be no nasties hanging around.
It’s also a good idea to dust any surfaces that are built in, remembering to do this from top to bottom so any dust that may fall will still get swept up as you move down. Also don’t forget to wipe down the ceiling fans and any air vents, as these places are prime locations for dust to settle.
A checklist of essentials
Of course, moving house is not just about making sure the place is clean. It’s also about making sure you have everything you need, especially for your first night sleeping there.
Here’s a checklist of things to have with you. A good idea is to pack the essentials into one or two boxes that you can simply open and unpack. That way, if those are the only boxes you get to have access to, you’ll still have everything you need.
Living
- Bed linen for all beds (kids and pets included)
- Baby supplies
- Towels
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Toilet paper
- Pyjamas and a couple of spare outfits
Practical
- Toilet paper
- Toiletries
- Hand soap
- First aid kit and any medications
- Important documents
- Tools including a torch
- Scissors and maybe a few pens/pencils
- Chargers for phones and laptops
- Permanent marker
Kitchen
- Glasses
- Plates
- Paper towels
- Breakfast food
- Snacks
- Garbage bags
Cleaning
- Basic supplies – all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, floor cleaner
- Rubber gloves
- Broom
- Mop and bucket
- Sponges
- Toilet brushes
- Dust pan
Making sure your new home is clean from the start
There’s nothing like the feeling of moving into a new home, and giving your new house a good clean before you start to unpack is a great way to begin settling in. bio-home’s range of natural cleaners use natural ingredients to powerfully clean all surfaces, including the kitchen and floor. Using bio-home products for the first clean of your new home will get rid of any leftover harmful residue from chemical cleaners used in your home in the past, and keep your home smelling fresh and clean for your first days there.
