Introduction
Moving into a new home can be an exciting yet daunting experience. As a new homeowner, keeping your home clean may seem like a monumental task. Where do you even begin? Have no fear – this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about deep cleaning a new home from top to bottom. From scrubbing floors to sanitizing appliances, we’ll cover it all. With some elbow grease and the right cleaning products, you’ll have your new house looking spick and span in no time. Let’s get started!
Do a Deep Clean of All Rooms
When moving into a new home, it’s important to do a deep clean of every single room before unpacking and settling in. This allows you to remove any dirt, dust, or grime left behind by the previous owners.
Start with the Kitchen
The kitchen tends to be one of the dirtiest rooms in a home. Give all countertops, cabinets, drawers, and appliances a thorough wipe down. Use a powerful degreaser on any especially greasy areas. Don’t forget to clean the walls, floors, light fixtures, and windows as well.
Make sure to sanitize the inside of the refrigerator, oven, microwave, and dishwasher. Run empty cycles with vinegar or bleach to disinfect. Scrub out the sink and clean any tile grout with a toothbrush.
Move to the Bathrooms
Bathrooms harbor lots of bacteria and mold. Use disinfecting cleaners on all surfaces – don’t forget the shower curtain, toilet, and hidden corners. Replace any vinyl or cloth shower linings left behind. Clean all mirrors and windows to let fresh light in.
Finish with Bedrooms, Living Spaces, and More
Vacuum all carpets and mop hard floors. Wipe down baseboards, ceiling fans, light fixtures, and any shelving or storage spaces. Clean all smudges off walls and windows. Dust ceiling corners for cobwebs.
Deep Clean Floors and Carpets
Floors take a lot of wear and tear. Make them look brand new with a thorough deep clean.
Hard Floors
Sweep and mop all hard floors with a powerful cleaner. For extra dirty grout, use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Rinse well and allow to fully dry before unpacking furniture or appliances.
Carpets
Shampoo carpets with a carpet cleaner rental or hire a professional carpet cleaning service. This will remove set-in dirt, stains, and ground-in grime from foot traffic. Open windows and use fans to speed drying.
Tile and Grout
Mix baking soda and dish soap into a paste and spread onto grout lines. Let sit 15 minutes then scrub clean. For tougher stains, use an oxygen bleach cleaner. Rinse thoroughly.
Sanitize and Disinfect All Appliances
The previous homeowners likely used all appliances extensively. Give them a sanitizing refresh.
- Wash the interior and exterior of the refrigerator and freezer. Don’t forget gaskets and drawers.
- Use a heavy duty cleaner on stove tops, inside the oven, and around any vents. Remove and wash grates, burners, and drip pans separately.
- Descale and disinfect the coffee maker and microwave. Run vinegar through the coffee maker.
- Microwave a bowl of vinegar to loosen grime inside the microwave.
- Thoroughly scrub the dishwasher filter and interior. Run empty with bleach or vinegar.
- Clean washing machine detergent drawer and gaskets with an old toothbrush. Run empty on hottest cycle.
Deep Clean Walls, Window Treatments, and Light Fixtures
Home surfaces accumulate dust, stains, and odors over time. Tackle them for a cleaner, fresher indoor environment.
Walls and Ceilings
Wash walls with all-purpose cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Use a drywall cleaner on tougher stains. Vacuum cobwebs from all ceiling corners.
Windows and Doors
Wash inside and out with glass cleaner. Don’t forget sills and screens. Weatherstrip doors to seal out drafts.
Window Treatments
Take down and launder curtains and blinds. Rehang or replace if needed. Clean dust and dirt from window tracks.
Lamps and Light Fixtures
Disassemble and wash lamp shades. Clean bulb sockets and fixtures with a small brush. Use glass cleaner on any glass elements.
Maintain Your Clean Home
Congratulations, your home is sparkling clean from top to bottom! Maintain that fresh feel with these tips:
- Establish weekly and monthly cleaning routines.
- Clean up spills and messes immediately.
- Vacuum carpets and mop floors weekly.
- Dust furniture, baseboards, and fans weekly.
- Change HVAC filters monthly.
- Wash bedding and towels weekly in hot water.
- Take out trash and recycling regularly.
- Declutter often and donate unused items.
With consistent maintenance cleaning and your initial deep clean, you can enjoy your new home’s bright and polished feel for years to come. Happy cleaning!
