You’re moving into a home, and you couldn’t be more excited – and you should be! Although it comes with many stressors, moving can be an opportunity for positive change and is the beginning of a beautiful new chapter.
However, before settling in, you’ll want to make sure your home is a clean and healthy environment for you and your family. You don’t know how well the home has been maintained or how clean the people who lived in the house before you were, and it never hurts to be extra careful when it comes to preparing your new living space.
Check out the recommendations below to get your home fresh, clean, and move-in ready in no time.
1. Pest Control
When a house sits empty, pests are likely to gather inside and around the home, even for a short period. Wasp nests, roaches, ants, and spiders could be lurking in the attic, basement, and corners, making themselves at home.
Unfortunately, uncleanliness or poor maintenance from the prior owners could have attracted many pests. Or maybe it is simply a pest-prone area.
Regardless, have a pest control service, like greenhome-pest.com, inspect and treat the home for all pests. Then, have them follow up periodically to ensure your home is pest-free to prevent any pests from getting on your belongings when you move in and avoid the spread of any infestations.
You’ll rest easy knowing your home is much cleaner without any insects or critters contaminating your space.
2. Change the Locks
Of course, a priority after moving in is changing all the locks on your house. Change the locks on the exterior doors on the first day you move in.
Also, check on additional entry points like fence gates, sliding glass doors, and windows to assess and familiarize yourself with your new home. If applicable, reset the garage door code.
3. Carpet Cleaning
Dirt, dust, and debris from the prior homeowner, home showings, and movers are trapped in your carpets. A standard dry vacuum can not reach the bottom of the carpet or realize all the ground in dirt.
Professional carpet and floor cleaning are recommended every 1 to 2 years, especially in a home with kids and pets. When you move into your home, you’re unaware of the last time the carpet was deeply cleaned and, therefore, it is likely dirtier than it appears.
Dirty carpetsrelease dust into the air with each step. Deeply cleaned carpets will also improve the air quality of your home. And leave a plush, soft, healthy carpet for your family to live and play on.
If professional carpet cleaning is billed per square foot and, on average, costs $25-$70 per room. If professional cleaning is not within your moving budget, you can also rent a wet vacuum.
4. Air Duct Cleaning
Air duct cleaning is the process of cleaning and disinfecting all the ducts in a heating and air conditioning system. It is recommended to be completed in your home every 2 to 3 years.
Clean air ducts help your HVAC system work better and more efficiently. It also removes allergens and unpleasant odors. Professional cleaning is available and a convenient, quick alternative to cleaning them yourself.
In addition to cleaning the air ducts, change all the air filters in your home. Air filters should be changed every 3 to 6 months, depending on the quality of the air filter.
5. Flush Appliances
Cleaning out large appliances is often overlooked and forgotten, especially if you’re using appliances that the prior owner left. Below are the ways to clean and flush out the large appliances you move in:
- Dishwasher: Start by cleaning out the filter at the bottom of the dishwasher and flushing off all debris from it. Then, run a cycle with the dishwasher empty, including a glass of white vinegar on the top shelf and a dusting of baking soda on the bottom.
- Refrigerator: Change out the water filter of the refrigerator and give the inside a thorough cleaning.
- Oven: Remove any debris in the oven and run a cleaning cycle.
- Washing Machine: Most washing machines have a filter drain on the bottom that can be clogged if not cleaned out periodically. Also,clean out the basin, detergent trays, washer parts, and agitator to remove build-up and prevent must.
Summary
A clean home will help everyon transition to the new living space easier and make the house feel more like home. We guarantee that these tips will help keep your household healthy, safe, and comfortable. The earlier you start your deep clean of the space, the more relaxed you’ll feel right away.