How to Clean an Apartment Before Moving In – A Comprehensive Guide

Wouldn’t you just love to enter your residence and see it sparkle? Impeccable living space is easily achievable with these simple tricks. They come in particularly handy to those who wonder how to clean an apartment before moving in. Now, being well-organized and thorough is imperative. And, if you learn a hack or two, you’ll also be very quick and unquestionably efficient. Jump into your comfortable clothes, choose a few tunes that will keep you in the right mood, and get down the business with this comprehensive guide. We’ll enlist all the supplies and products you’ll need. And we will cover each step you should take. Are you ready?

Should You Clean an Apartment Before Moving in?

First thing’s first, let’s get rid of the dilemma. Or, should we say, a giant, stained, pink elephant in the room that’s in desperate need of deep cleaning? The short answer is – most certainly yes. However, cleaning a new apartment isn’t just necessary. It can even be fun. Firstly, you have some bare walls that cry for creativity. Secondly, you’ve thrown away, sold, or gave away your clutter before you hired long-distance movers and transported your stuff into the new home. Now, all your rooms are empty, which makes them easy peasy to wash, scrub, and wipe. Surely, some sanitizing and polishing products made it into your new apartment checklist. Grab them before you start to unpack after the move and do your magic.

What Do You Need to Clean an Apartment?

Let’s get everything sparkly. Here’s what you must obtain:

• Run to the store and buy some baking soda,
• Get some disinfectant wipes and spray while you’re there,
• Some surfaces can be cleaned with distilled white vinegar, so you will want to have some,
• Purchase some furniture polish,
• Buy enough of the glass cleaner for fragile items and windows,
• While you’re at it, you should get a carpet spot cleaner too,
• Paper towels are always necessary,
• Get the rubber gloves to protect yourself,
• Purchase a few sponges,
• Buy a toilet bowl brush,
• Pile up some garbage bags,
• You should have a vacuum or a steam vacuum,
• Every household needs a broom and a dustpan,
• Get a steam mop.

In addition to it, you should have some microfiber cloths and old wash rags. It is best to get a lot of these because you will be using them on multiple surfaces.

Items Cross Country Movers Won’t Move

While decluttering, donating things, and deciding what to keep when moving, there’s one thing that you mustn’t slip from your mind. There are some possessions and products that long-distance movers can’t load on a moving truck:

• Hazardous materials like bleach, ammonia, nail polish remover, or other chemicals,
• Flammable products such as gasoline, paint, or propane tanks,
• Perishable food,
• Houseplants,
• Fireworks and other explosives.

So, before you add any of these to your inventory list, be well aware that the cross-country moving company whose long-distance moving services you’ve acquired simply can’t deal with them. When you arrive in your brand-new home, you will have to take a trip to the local store and purchase some of the essential products that will keep your household washed and unstained.

Cleaning the Apartment Before Moving In

When you rent an apartment you will be bound to get it properly cleaned, scrubbed, and polished. These are the stages you should go through:

• Firstly, you should get prepared,
• Make a plan and do one room at a time,
• Start from the top: ceiling fans, shelves, doors and their frames, cabinets, artwork, etc,
• Deal with the floors after,
• Leave disinfection for last.

How Do You Disinfect an Apartment Before Moving in?

If you are relocating during Coronavirus you are probably more concerned about hygiene than ever. Although the first thing that usually comes to mind when you think of disinfection is your bathroom, scientists have proved you wrong. The area that’s most germ-prone is, in fact, the kitchen. Still, that doesn’t mean you should neglect other rooms. Every surface you touch has been touched countless times before your arrival. That includes light switches, doorknobs, and more. As we previously mentioned, disinfection comes after you remove all dust, dirt, and debris. And the drill is simple – start from the top, work your way to the doors, and give it a final touch with the flooring and carpets.

And if you can’t find your motivation, here’s a video that will inspire you.

Tackling the Interior: From Ceiling to the Walls and Doors

Dust will fall from the top surfaces as you get them cleaned. And because of that, you should avoid brushing up the floors twice. The most efficient way is to work every room from top to bottom. Dust off grimy surfaces with a dry microfiber rag or a vacuum. If you must deal with greasy dirt, apply a dusting spray you’ve got from the store. Or, better yet, grab a DIY mix of vinegar and water.

Be Careful With the Floors

When you’re done with door frames, cabinets, lampshades, and everything else, look down. Your floor also needs to be brushed up. However, keep in mind that each surface demands a different approach and products.

Sweeping and washing carpets:
When you move into the new place, it is best to get your carpets cleaned by a professional service. Still, if you’ve chosen to do it yourself, follow these steps:

• Use a spray cleaner.
• Vacuum carefully all surfaces covered with carpets. Move in different directions to cover everything. Don’t forget to vacuum under furniture.
• You can disinfect by using a steam mop carpet attachment to get rid of all the germs.

Hardwood floor:
A hardwood floor is rather tough. Still, you should avoid using products that leave a residue. Be careful not to scratch or crack the wood in the process. Here’s how to do it:

• Get the debris up first by using a broom or a vacuum.
• Save mopping for last. You will want to get a gentle product that’s highly recommended for your kind of flooring.
• Lastly, you must avoid steam and products that contain certain substances like ammonia, vinegar, polish, wax, or oil-based soaps.

Getting a tile, laminate, or vinyl floor cleaned:

• Sweep or vacuum before you proceed,
• Get a steam mop or cleaner made especially for tile,
• Grab a scrub brush or an old toothbrush and make a paste from baking soda mixed with water.

Get Your Kitchen Spick and Span

Ever since the scientific explanation from a few paragraphs ago, you desperately want to undertake some serious scrubbing. You have safely packed glasses in order to keep them from breaking. You have done an amazing job with packing dishes and other fragile items for the move. Now, before you unpack them all with equal precaution, you will have to prepare the kitchen for them.

First of all, it is vital to learn that some sanitizers aren’t safe for surfaces that come in contact with food. And because of that, you must be sure to get products made for the kitchen. Your other option is natural products like baking soda and vinegar. You can start by wiping your countertops, drawers, and cabinets. Then, move on to other parts of this area.

Take Care of the Stove, Oven Racks, and Microwave

It’s no wonder that appliances need special attention. Here are a couple of details to know:

• Baking soda is excellent for stubborn stains made by grease spilled from pots and pans. First, remove burner caps from your stove and soak them in soapy water. Scrub the stovetop with a cleaner. Don’t forget to tackle the knobs and back panel.
• When you get to the oven, remove the racks and wash them with dish soap. Apply oven cleaner or baking soda to rub persistent food stains. Ultimately, rinse it a bit with clean water.
• Put a cup of heated water inside your microwave and cook it for one minute. After that, you should let the steam remain inside for a couple more minutes. When it’s done, dry it out with a cloth.

Tackle the Inside of the Refrigerator

If you didn’t utilize the proven relocation hacks to move your refrigerator with you, take your time to properly deal with the one you’ve encountered upon your arrival. The best way to start is by turning off the power, shifting the refrigerator, and refreshing the floor under it. Take out the drawers and shelves from your fridge. Wash the inside carefully with soapy water. Mix baking soda with mildly heated water to cleanse the shelves and drawers thoroughly.

Make Sure the Bathroom is Gleaming

This is the room where most people start their days, and it is always packed with important things. Many bathroom products are on everyone’s list of moving essentials. You wouldn’t actually like to spend a day without having a toothbrush, right? So, you’ve got the picture. The bathroom is significant, despite being the smallest room in the house. And it needs meticulous preparation and extra hygiene. To keep it safe and gorgeous, you should:

• Scrub the bathtub and shower,
• Wipe down countertops, sinks, and faucets,
• Wash the shower curtain,
• Brush up cabinets inside and outside,
• Get mirrors and shower doors cleaned with glass cleaner or vinegar,
• Disinfect the toilet by wiping under the seat and around it,
• Wash the towels and bath mat.

Don’t Forget About the Shower Drain

Many people don’t stop to think about dealing with a shower drain until it gets completely clogged. That is precisely why checking it out and dropping a bit of homemade unclogging products is in order. You have no idea how the previous tenants treated the bathtub. Start fresh and avoid problems.

Once again, you can reach out for the old reliable baking soda remedy. It will fix the plumbing issues before they occur. Still, if something is seriously jammed in the pipes, you will have to reach for other tools.

Spotless Living Room and Bedroom

Whether you moved for love or chose to live on your own, these two areas should be impeccable. These chambers are the ones people tend to spend a lot of time in.

When packing clothes, you will do it carefully and pack your shoes separately to avoid getting anything dirty, dusty, wrinkled, or damaged. Well, once you get inside your new home, some of the dust and dirt will wait there for you. A carpet can hold more than 200,000 bacteria. If you’re not willing to risk your health, do this:

• Wipe down and polish all wooden furniture,
• Vacuum sofas and chairs,
• Add all linens to your laundry list,
• Apply glass cleaner or vinegar and newspaper for the windows.

Follow the Ultimate Guide on How to Clean an Apartment Before Moving In

Once you have been through the move-out cleaning, the task you have in front of you after the move-in is a piece of cake. Follow this comprehensive checklist step by step and you will have no troubles in your brand-new residence.

Once you reach your destination and roll up your sleeves to get everything cleaned and unpacked, don’t forget to tip movers and leave a review. Helping others pick the best cross country moving services will only take one moment and you will substantially ease someone’s relocation, car shipping or help them getting the packing service they seek.