How to Clean Out a House Before Moving

Cleaning out a house before moving isn’t the most exciting of jobs, though it remains an essential one. This isn’t just a simple quick clean up either, you’ll need to do a deep clean which covers all the nooks and crannies of your property.

If you’re moving out of a rental property, you’ll need to ensure you clean the house in such a way that you’ll get your security deposit back. If you’re selling your property, the new owners will expect their new home to be in top condition when they move in.

Here, we’ll offer some hints and tips to ensure cleaning out your house before a move is as seamless as possible.

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Don’t leave it until the last minute

Packing up for moving house is a tough job and will take up a lot of your time. This is also likely to make your house messier. Having said that though, it’s important not to leave the cleaning until once everything is packed.

It’s worthwhile cleaning as you go. This makes the job a lot more manageable and means you won’t have a mad rush to ensure your property is up to standard before moving day.

Get your cleaning supplies ready in advance

Having the right cleaning supplies on-hand is imperative to a smooth household clean. Remember, to do a deep clean right, you’re going to need specific cleaning supplies for each job. Here are a few we recommend having at the ready:

• Rubber gloves
• Brushes
• Sponges
• Dusters
• Mop & bucket
• Dustpan and broom
• Multi-surface cleaning spray
• Glass cleaner
• Limescale remover
• Furniture polish
• Oven cleaner

Be sure to buy these in advance, the last thing you want to be doing is running out to the shops mid-job because you don’t have the right cleaning product.

Clean one room at a time

Cleaning a whole house can seem like a huge job. It’s far more manageable if you break this down room by room. This will also help you clean as you go. You’ll be able to pack a room up, clean it and then keep it for essential use only.

We recommend starting with the rooms that won’t be used all that often, for instance a loft or conservatory could be among the first to be cleaned.

Every room will require a different level of attention and will have its own unique jobs that need doing. Below, we’ll go through room by room with a checklist to help you get ready for moving out.

Cleaning your kitchen

Your kitchen may well be the most difficult room in the house to clean. This is because of the amount you use it, the toughness of any dirt and the time investment needed for jobs like cleaning your oven or fridge.

Be sure to remove any items or food from your kitchen and start your freezer’s defrost cycle. Most removal companies won’t take a freezer that hasn’t finished defrosting yet.

Here are some important tasks to complete in the kitchen:

• Empty all cupboards and shelves and clean inside with hot soapy water
• Deep clean your fridge, including all hard-to-reach areas
• Use a multi-surface spray and disinfectant to clean all kitchen counters (remember to clean behind any counters too if you can reach them)
• Clean all appliances, including removing crumbs from your toaster and scrubbing your microwave
• Clean your taps, sink area and draining board
• Wipe down all cupboard doors and skirting boards
• Give your oven a deep clean – don’t forget the hob, oven door and extractor fan
• Clean the windows
• Sweep and mop the floor

Cleaning your living room

A lot of dust and grime can build up in your living room over time, this is often due to the amount you use it. Once you start removing furniture, you may be surprised by how much dirt is hiding beneath.

Here’s what you’ll need to do when cleaning the living room:

• Dust down any surfaces and clean any furniture that needs to be removed
• Pack down or dismantle your furniture ready for moving
• Dust skirting boards and any hard to reach places
• Give your carpet a good clean – a steam cleaner might be a good option here
• Vacuum and dust your curtains
• Clean the windows
• Give the room a final vacuum before you go to clear any dirt that’s found its way back onto the floor

Cleaning bedrooms

It’s important to clean bedrooms once all personal items and furniture have been removed. This will make the job easier and will cut down the length of time needed.

How to clean bedrooms in your house:

• Wipe down and clean any cupboards, bookcases or flat surfaces
• Dust any skirting boards and hard to reach places
• Vacuum and clean any curtains
• Clean the carpet – again, a steam cleaner may be handy here
• Make sure you pay close attention to areas like behind wardrobes and under your bed

Cleaning the bathrooms

A lot of dirt and bacteria can be found in bathrooms, so be sure to use disinfectant and specific bathroom cleaner when doing these rooms.

Things to clean in your bathroom:

• Clean out any plugs and drains – remove any hair or dirt that has been built up here
• Use a limescale remover on your shower, bath and sink (including the shower head and taps). Usually, you’ll need to leave this to soak for a few minutes, so be sure to read the label of whatever product you’re using to see the maximum effect
• Clean your toilet thoroughly with bleach, including the lid, seat, cistern, outside of your toilet and any tiles around it
• Clean all mirrors and windows
• Clean any drawers or medicine cabinets
• Sweep and mop the floor

Cleaning outside of your property

It’s important to remember that it’s not just the inside of your property that will need a good clean, you’ll also need to clean your garden, any sheds you may have and also the garage if you have one.

Here are some jobs to do outside of your property:

• Declutter, clean and remove any cobwebs from your shed
• Declutter, clean and remove any cobwebs from your garage
• Sweep away any dry leaves in your garden
• Clean the decking or patio – a pressure washer can make this job a lot easier
• Scrub up any gates or fences you have
• Mow the lawn
• Remove any weeds
• Remove any decorative or unwanted items

Consider hiring a professional cleaner

If you’re concerned about the size of the job you have on your hands, you may wish to consider hiring a professional cleaner. This will, of course, incur a cost to yourself but some choose this option to have the peace of mind needed before a move. A good idea will be to book the cleaner for a few days before your moving day so they have plenty of time to spend on the job while your house is packed up.

Do you need help with your move?

If you’re planning for your move, you’re likely considering the need for a removals company. Find a competitive quote from reliable moving services here.

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Last Updated: November 20th, 2024