Don’t Forget To Clean Before You Move Out!
When you finish moving all of your furniture and belongings into your new home, you probably won’t feel like going back to your previous residence to clean it. However, leaving it dirty could result in forfeiture of your security deposit – assuming it’s a rental. And if it wasn’t a rental, leaving it cluttered with dirt and debris will inevitably make it more difficult to sell.
Check each room of your old home and remove any nails, screws, or mounting kits stuck in the walls. If you decorated with paintings, framed photos, or any other type of wall art, chances are some of these items will be left behind.
Bring a Philips-head screwdriver, a hammer, and a step ladder to remove them. Most picture-hanging nails should come out with minimal effort, but some of the larger screws and mounting kits may require the use of a screwdriver.
Depending on the condition of your walls after removing your picture-hanging hooks and accessories, you may want to cover up the holes. The easiest solution to this problem is to fill in the holes with spackling paste. This stuff is made of gypsum plaster, containing a combination of calcium sulfate and glue. Spackling can be used to fill holes, cracks, and other forms of minor damage in drywall, wood and even plaster.
You might be surprised to see just how much dirt and debris is left behind on your floors after you finish moving. Areas underneath furniture and major appliances are usually the dirtiest simply because they are rarely (if ever) moved. Using a broom, dustpan and vacuum cleaner, clean the floors in your old home. If the kitchen floors are exceptionally dirty, you may want to mop them as well.
Now comes the fun part: scrubbing down the bathrooms and kitchen counters. Fill up a spray bottle with half white vinegar, half water, and spray it on your counters. Some people prefer to use bleach, but vinegar is a safer choice that’s equally as effective. And don’t worry about its pungent odor, as this dissipates within minutes of exposure to the air. Continue scrubbing down your bathroom and kitchen until it’s clean, at which point you begin to wrap things up at your old residence.
Perform a final walkthrough of your old residence to ensure it’s clean. If the blinds or fan blades are dusty, knock them with a feather dusty. Also, double-check the kitchen cabinets, closets, basement and attic. Assuming it’s clean, you can throw away the remaining trash and head out the door.
Our team of moving professionals are here to help. We specialize in making your move as stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move. Get a free online moving quote today.
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