Moved in a New Apartment – Follow These Cleaning Tips
By: Abdullah Haroon
If you are not moving in for the first time, then you would have a fair idea of what things to look at. Though you would have performed deep cleaning before moving out from the previous apartment, unfortunately, your job is not done yet. Though you would not have to exhaust as much energy as before but taking some precautionary measures and doing the basics would help you a great deal in kicking off your life there.
Let us discuss them one by one.
Kitchen:
The kitchen comes on the top when planning your cleaning. Cooking creates a lot of mess and even though we keep cleaning it on daily basis still it requires a massive cleaning before leaving out.
Follow the Following Instruction when getting your Hands on the Kitchen:
- Start from the refrigerator. Displace it ahead a bit and vacuum the dust behind it. Remove everything placed in it and clean it inside and out. Chances are your refrigerator will be empty for the first time now so make the best out of the opportunity.
- Then, spare some time for the oven. You shall scrub the oven racks well.
- Scrub well your sink and then wash it with a water solution of lemon.
- Now do the dusting of cabinets. Make sure to remove dust from the top.
Floors:
You shall consider blowing out the dusty corners. Hire services for a steam cleaning for the floor if you can afford it.
Bathroom:
The bathroom is another place that requires a deep cleansing. You shall use the available products in the superstore to wash them. Do not forget to clean the mirror.
Some General Tips:
1. Counter Check the Cleaning:
As a general practice, you inspect a home before moving in. Though landlords do the repairing work before inviting over a new tenant sometimes, things are left out and promised to be done upon inspection. It is your time to make sure that the promised work is executed or not in the home. If not, send a written notice to the landlord and ask her to do the maintenance work as agreed before moving in.
Read Also: Vacant Apartment Cleaning Checklist for a Landlord
2. Replace the Locks:
First and foremost, you want to feel completely safe in the new apartment or there is no point in calling it home. And there is no way to make sure if previously keys were lost and who has them now? So it is good to spend some money on it. Call in an expert and make him replace the lockers. You would feel super safe then.
3. Renew Air Filters:
Sometimes, landlords replace the air filters when preparing the apartment for the new tenant but not every landlord is so diligent. The better way is to ask the landlord first if he has changed the air filters or not. And if you get the negative signal, it is far better to replace them because it is highly likely they have had their shelf life.
4. Pest Control:
You do not have much idea about the living condition in a new apartment. Therefore calling in an examiner and ask him to plug in holes and place pets control devices or ask him the instructions you shall follow to control pests.
5. Make Sure Safety Hazards:
As a process of moving in, along with cleaning, you need to take the safety hazards seriously. Ask your landlord if there happened any accident in the past or if everything is made fine during repairing. Make sure the extinguisher is in place and the electrical wiring is earthed thoroughly.
6. Deep Clean your House:
You must be very exhausted by this cleaning now as you had already performed it in the previous apartment when moving out. It would be great if the previous tenant in your current apartment has done equally good work.
However, even if it is done, it is better to give it one round by yourself. Do a deep cleaning of every room, especially of the kitchen and bathroom.
7. Chang the Toilet Seats:
Upon a glimpse, you would get the idea if the seat covers are changed or not? If it is agreed before moving in, then ask your landlord to change them and if you did not bring it to the landlord’s notice earlier, then you should do it by yourself now.
8. From Top to Bottom, Work towards the Door:
For a completely fresh vibe, follow this order when cleaning. Start your cleaning operation from the top such as ceiling, fans, vent, windows, and reach to the floor. Make sure to visit the corners. And then gradually work towards the door so you once every inch is completely cleaned.
9. Renew Water Filters:
If you moved into a new apartment with a water filter already installed under the kitchen sink, check if it might need a replacement filter.
This also applies to whole house water filtration, although such systems are rare in apartments.
Disinfect Doorknobs:
Well, the basic idea is to disinfect everything which is usually touched by a person. Doorknobs or handles are the most common things including the bathtub as well.
In the wake of COVID-19, it is more than important to disinfect every trace of the person leaving the house.
Final Words:
Though, when you move in you are likely to find an apartment in a better condition. Apparently, you would not find much work to do but it is always better to do it once by yourself to be super sure about everything.