How to Deep Clean Your Home Before Your Move

Due to the recent coronavirus outbreak, many of us are finding ourselves spending a lot more time indoors and at home. We hope you are doing everything you can to practice social distancing and prevent the spread of the virus. If you find yourself stuck at home, why not use this time to try to catch up on projects and goals? If you are preparing for an upcoming move, you can use this time to deep clean your home. This is a great way to prepare for moving, and it can also help disinfect your home so it is cleaner and safer while you practice social distancing. Here are some tips to help you deep clean your home. You can stop the spread of germs AND prepare for moving day at the same time!

Before you start on this project, you’ll need the following supplies:

• microfiber cloth or cleaning rag
• 1:1 mixture of water and vinegar in a spray bottle (add essential oils for added scent) OR your favorite brand of disinfecting surface cleaner
• toothbrush
• baking soda
• bathroom cleaner (1 part vinegar mixed with 1 part Dawn dish soap) in a spray bottle OR your favorite brand of disinfecting bathroom/shower cleaner
• paper towels 
• toilet cleaner with bleach
• baking soda
• broom
• brush with stiff bristles
• gloves to protect your hands
• mop
• sponges
• vacuum cleaner with extension accessories
• window and glass cleaner
  

Bathrooms

• Always clean from top to bottom so any dust or grime that falls down will not fall onto a newly cleaned surface.
• Remove everything from the countertops and any shelving that you may have.  This will make it much easier to clean.
• Dust and wipe down light fixtures with a microfiber cloth.
• Open the windows and wipe down the inside of the window sills and tracks. Spray it down with a vinegar/water mixture and use a toothbrush to get into the corners and grooves.
• Clean windows and mirrors.
• Clean countertops and shelving with a 1:1 mixture of water and vinegar and a microfiber cloth.  Dust and/or wipe down items from the countertops and shelves as you replace them.
• Clean the shower and bathtub with a 1:1 mixture of blue Dawn dishwashing detergent and vinegar (or any disinfecting agent). Spray or scrub with bathroom cleaner, rinse, and wipe with a microfiber cloth.
• Clean the toilet using a cleaner that has bleach. Wipe down all surfaces of the toilet with a disinfecting agent.
• Clean the sink using a bathroom cleaner. Wipe down all faucets and handles. Use a toothbrush if necessary to clean around the bottom of the faucet. 
• Vacuum or mop the floors. If you have tile, you can spray disinfecting agents on the floor!

Kitchen

• Wipe down cabinets. With a damp rag, gently clean off any dust or dirt on the inside and outside of the cabinet doors, as well as all sides of the cabinets themselves — including the top. For grease-splatter, dip your cloth in undiluted vinegar to rub off the grease, then rinse the rag in warm water to wipe off the vinegar.
• Vacuum out the refrigerator coils and vent. Use the vacuum’s hose or brush extension to remove all the dirt and dust from the fridge coil and vent, or rent an air compressor to blow it out.
• Scrub down the stovetop and vent.
• Disinfect the sink. If you cook with raw meat in your home, chances are the kitchen sink is the germiest spot in the whole house
• Wipe down the countertops. 

Bedrooms

• Wash all bedding.
• Dust baseboards, windows, ceiling fans, and any other neglected area where dust builds up easily.
• Vacuum! Move all furniture while vacuuming so as not to leave dirty patches.
• Flip your mattress. 
• Declutter. Get rid of anything you don’t use or need.
• Wipe down shelves and inside drawers in your bedroom and closet.

By following these tips, your house will be much cleaner for your upcoming move and safer for your family to live in. At Family Moving & Storage, we are here to support our community through these challenging times. Let us know how best we can help you and your family!