Move-Out Cleaning – How to Clean Your Old Home Without Professional Services

Why Do People Choose a DIY Approach Instead of Getting Professional Service?

Most people do everyday or even deep cleaning by themselves, so why would it be a problem when it’s time to move? A cross-country move is a complex task, with energy and time-consuming actions like scrubbing, mopping, and rinsing being just one part of it. People who have last-minute relocation or those simply exhausted from everything that needs to be done often decide to get professional service and leave this taunting job to the pros.

But how much does it cost to deep clean a place? According to FIXR, the national average cost for this service is around $300. However, it can go anywhere from $60 to $1,800, depending on the service you choose and the size of your home. Those who plan to move out of state on budget and try to save on moving costs are often unwilling to pay for something they can do themselves.

While getting cross-country moving services is often necessary in order to move efficiently and safely, cleaning services are not needed to that extent. Ultimately, the decision falls on the person who moves. That being said, if you decide you’re up for the challenge, use our tips and make your soon-to-be old palace sparkle.

Why Is Tidying Up Essential?

No law states that your place must be tidied up before you leave it for good. So why is it important? First of all, it’s common courtesy to leave space polished for a new owner or tenant. Secondly, you will have more benefits if you decide to do it than if you neglect it. Polished homes will attract more potential buyers and can be estimated for a higher price, which is vital if you wish to sell your house. On the other hand, if you’re a tenant, you must ensure that the lease was honored completely, which usually implies leaving the place in perfect condition. Therefore, tidying it up is a must, whether you do it yourself or opt for getting professional service.

Preparation Time – Creating a House Move Out Cleaning Checklist and Gathering Supplies

If you choose to tide up by yourself when getting organized to move, you must count on the time needed for doing everything. When still in the preparation phase, ensure you create a comprehensive relocation-to-do list, with all cleaning-related tasks that await you and a strategy you’ll use. The more detailed and systematic your plan gets, the quicker and more successful will the whole process end.

Of course, you can’t tide up the place without the right supplies for that job, so gathering supplies also becomes part of the preparation. But which ones should you get? Consider the items from the following checklist:

• A multi-surface cleaner that will help you disinfect,
• Lime remover, degreaser, and bleach for kitchen and bathroom,
• Rubber gloves that will help protect your skin,
• Sponges and cloths,
• Vacuum cleaner (and a broom and a dustpan for a relocation day),
• A mop and a bucket for polishing the floors.

Keep in mind that you can use more natural products if you’re against strong chemicals. There are a lot of places where you can buy them, but they can also be homemade. Take a look at the video below and find some interesting recipes for natural yet effective products:

What to Do With Supplies After You Finish Polishing Your Home?

When you plan to move to a new state, note that there would be a list of items movers won’t move. Some of your deep cleaning products are considered hazardous materials, meaning they will be a part of it.

So, what to do with the products that are not fully used? You can either opt for taking them with you or leaving them behind. Because of the danger they may cause, the second option is way better. However, keep in mind that you can’t just throw it away anywhere. Either give them to your friends, family, or neighbors or dispose of them by following regulations about hazardous waste.

Preparing Your Belongings Is Also a Part of Move Out House Cleaning

When hiring a long-distance moving company and getting prepared for movers, you need to focus on cleansing, not just different surfaces but your household items, as well. You don’t want to transport dirt and dust with the rest of your belongings. If you wish to move electronics, you have to dust them, and if you want to pack plates, they have to be cleaned and dried.

Preparing your belongings and packing them is necessary to free your space, so it should be done before polishing the rest of the place begins. The logic behind it is simple – the fewer belongings you have on the way, the better cleansing job you’ll do. However, it can’t apply when you decide to get packing services. In that case, tidying up must start before packing if you plan on getting everything done on time.

Cleaning Techniques to Make Your Home Sparkly

Vacuuming, scrubbing, sweeping, wiping, and dusting – all of it must be done when you want to leave an apartment or a house in perfect condition. You don’t want to risk your deposit just because you didn’t tide up the place.

So you don’t go around running like a headless chicken, you need some kind of strategy that will help you cleanse every corner of your place. You can opt for horizontal or vertical techniques, but it’s actually the best if you choose to combine them. Go through one room at a time, starting from the top and slowly progressing to the bottom.

Clean From the Ceiling to the Floors

You should always begin at the highest point no matter which room you’re working in. Otherwise, you’ll just dirty up those surfaces you’ve already worked on. Here is the checklist you should follow (in precisely that order):

• Start with ceilings and chandeliers – remove dust and cobwebs.
• Continue with windows – avoid rough materials that can damage the glass. You can use a sponge mop for higher windows, while soft microfiber cloth can be used on all other glass surfaces.
• Scrub the walls – all dust must be wiped off them. However, you also have to cover stains and fill holes from nails and hooks if you want your deposit back.
• Wipe the doors – it’s one of the most common things people forget to wash.
• Dust and wipe your belongings – free the space by packing and displacing your belongings in the room with all other packed items.
• Vacuum and clean the floors – the products you use must be suitable for different floor types, so they don’t get damaged.

Room by Room System Will Work the Best

The top-to-bottom technique should be used for each room, but which room should be first? Rooms you utilize the least should be cleaned first. Storage spaces, such as attics and garages, should be first, while rooms you use the most should come last. Try not to work on more than one room simultaneously, no matter how tempting it gets.

Be prepared for the amount of work that comes with tidying up kitchen and bathroom space. For example, note that all appliances must be cleansed thoroughly – otherwise, they can even damage the rest of your items during the transportation process. Kitchen appliances that are in contact with water (fridges and washing machines, for example) should not only be cleaned but also dried. If you fail to do so, you’ll risk getting mold on household items. You also have to deal with grease stains on the oven.

As for the bathroom, scrub the bathroom elements and tiles as best as possible, but pay extra attention to limescale and mold – because of the water and humid atmosphere, a bathroom is a perfect place for their development. Don’t forget to check the area under the sink and ensure the shower drain isn’t clogged.

Plan For Final Touches After Long-Distance Movers Leave

Your job doesn’t end even after all of your items are loaded into the truck. Best case scenario – you only have to go through each room to see that everything is clean. However, it’s more likely that some more cleansing will need to be done. With cross-country movers going in and out of your place, count on an additional broom and mop work.

The situation can be a little more complicated when relocating in winter, with all the water and dirt being spread around the place. To prevent the relocation day from turning into a complete mess, ensure you have old rugs and clothes laid out close to the entry, so everyone can wipe their boots before going in. The same thing applies if you happen to move in the rain.

Don’t Forget About Another House Cleaning After Moving Out

Your soon-to-be old place won’t be the last one you need to cleanse during the relocation – going through the new place is one of the necessary things to do after the move. Try doing it before unpacking, because then you’ll have no items on your way, and stick to the techniques described above. Let disinfection be your primary goal, especially if you’re renting the place. Cleansing the apartment before moving in is needed now more than ever as relocating during coronavirus is part of our reality.

Cleaning a Car Should Also Be On Your Checklist

Houses are not the only assets demanding your attention. If you opt to hire an auto transport company aside from getting long-distance moving services, your car needs to be clean properly, too. It also demands a certain amount of vacuuming, wiping, and washing so your vehicle can be nice and polished.

When working with a car shipping company, getting a picture of your vehicle before auto transport is always desirable, so you know the exact condition you’re handing it over. Therefore, you should make an effort to wash it and cleanse it the best you can so that the actual state of the vehicle can be shown.

Should You Clean by Yourself, or Should You Get Professional Services?

When relocating to a new state, both of these options have their pros and cons. If you don’t have enough free hours or are too occupied with other, more important relocation tasks, getting a professional service can be a good choice. However, if that’s not the case, and you’re concerned about the cost of an interstate move, then you should pick the second option. Whatever you decide, ensure you plan a move to another city accordingly.