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Blog July 6, 2021

How to Clean an Apartment Before Moving in

Posted in Moving Day Tips
Jane Davis

Apart from being a freelance writer and moving expert, Jane is also an art and museum lover.

You are wondering how to clean an apartment before moving in? You should make sure that everything has been thoroughly cleaned before approaching the final date of your interstate moving. There are many things you need to do, so check out these useful tips for cleaning a new apartment before moving state to state.

It’s Better to Clear Your Apartment Room by Room – Start With Cleaning the Kitchen

When you are getting organized to move, it’s easy to lose focus and forget about cleaning the new house. To avoid this, you should start cleaning your future place room by room. How do you clean before moving in? Start with the kitchen and bathroom and then move to the bedrooms.

Cleaning Kitchen on Time

The kitchen is one of the places where you have a lot to do, so you need to start immediately to avoid additional moving stress. Before removing and unpacking everything, clear out the pantries and cabinets. Wipe the fridge and apply the refrigerator cleaning spray on all of the appliance’s internal surfaces, including the walls, non-removable shelves, and inside the door. Clean the oven with a mixture of baking soda and water. Sanitize the drain, sink, disposal, and countertop surface – once again, you can use baking soda for the stains.

Now it’s Time for the Bathroom

For the bathroom, you need to polish the mirror with a glass cleaner and a piece of cloth. Sanitize the toilet with a bleach-based cleaner. Scrub the bath or shower with vinegar and baking soda to remove water stains. Don’t forget to vacuum and wipe down all the surfaces.

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Clear the Bedroom

Dust the blades of your fan or scrub off any ceiling light fixtures if you have them – dust all of the surfaces after that. Use a window cleaner to wash the windows and mirrors. The blinds should be wiped as well, and if the previous tenant left the curtains, don’t forget to wash them. If you want to clean the curtains without taking them down, here is the best way to do it.

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Tips on How to Clean an Apartment Before Moving in

How do you deep clean an apartment before moving in? Cleaning an apartment before moving in doesn’t have to be so hard and take so long. Here are some moving hacks and tips on what you need to do to make your life easier and avoid relocation depression.

Don’t Forget to Wash the Appliances

If other tenants have used it, disinfect the dishwasher. Start by running a cycle with just a cup of vinegar, and use the hot water setting. After that, put a cup of baking soda on the bottom rack, then run a second hot cycle. Also, clean the microwave inside and out.

Remove All the Germs

The preceding occupants have touched every surface you encounter in your new apartment countless times. You should disinfect everything from countertops, buttons, switches, and anything with a handle.

woman cleaning new apartment Clear all the surfaces in your new place and remove the germs

What Do You Need to Clean an Apartment?

Prepare the right equipment before you start to tackle cleaning a new apartment from the top down. We created a list of helpful things you will surely need. You can go for natural options like baking soda and vinegar if you don’t like to use detergents with many chemicals. Here are some supplies you should buy:

  • All-purpose cleaner,
  • Bleach,
  • Oven cleaner,
  • Window and glass cleaner,
  • Carpet cleaner,
  • Stainless steel cleaner,
  • Baking soda,
  • Vinegar,
  • Sponge,
  • Garbage bag,
  • Broom,
  • Vacuum.
woman vacuuming new apartment It is best to start from the top down to avoid repeating everything twice

Things Most Renters Forget to Clean

You think you’ve cleaned everything, your house glows with cleanliness, but you may have forgotten some things you don’t usually have a habit of sweeping or at least not that often. See what renters often forget to check when they move into the apartment.

Don’t Avoid Clearing Cobwebs from the Ceiling and Dust the Vent

You might have skipped cleaning the ceiling before, but now you should remember to do this. To help pull the cobwebs off, use a broom or vacuum or run a wet painting roller over the ceiling. The roller is not going to knock down bits of the cobwebs like a broom will. Also, you shouldn’t forget to dust the bathroom fan. Use a ladder and a can of air to brush off the fan if you can’t reach the circuit breaker. Remove the cover and dust the interior for a more detailed clean.

Check the Smoke Detector

The battery presumably needs to be checked if your smoke alarm is beeping. However, if it isn’t, you should make sure that all smoke detectors have functioning batteries, and if not, you should replace them. Most come with a test button that shows battery life. If the signal is low or doesn’t exist, that indicates it’s time to buy new batteries.

smoke detector in new apartment Remember to check the batteries on your smoke detector

Should you clean an apartment before moving in?

It is better to do it before than after because of the clean surfaces. How can I clean my apartment fast, you might wonder. If you need assistance, maybe it is worth contacting professional cleaners to help you wash everything before you move in and provide you a stress free moving experience. Your family and friends could recommend someone, or you can do an online search. Remember to check the reviews and comments. If you are moving to another state alone, you should consider hiring a cross country moving company besides cleaning services. Cross country movers can provide you with moving services such as packing or auto transport. Moreover, they can help you if you don’t know how to pack electronics for moving or give you packing tips for moving in a hurry for packaging fragile items if you are engaged in the last minute moving. You can just relax and think about more pleasant things like making friends in a new city or how to meet new neighbors, while long distance movers do all the work.

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