Factors to Consider When Cleaning Your New Home
You’ve done the homework, picked the right home in the right neighborhood, and have gone through everything else in the home-buying process. However, your work is not done. Before you move into your perfect new home, you need to make sure it’s as clean as possible. There is no better time to deep clean and make your home a relaxing place than before you move in. It is a lot to think about, and it takes a lot of work, but taking it step by step and looking forward to the reward of a clean home will help keep you from becoming overwhelmed. Here are some factors to consider during the process.
You’ve done the homework, picked the right home in the right neighborhood, and have gone through everything else in the home-buying process. However, your work is not done. Before you move into your perfect new home, you need to make sure it’s as clean as possible. There is no better time to deep clean and make your home a relaxing place than before you move in. It is a lot to think about, and it takes a lot of work, but taking it step by step and looking forward to the reward of a clean home will help keep you from becoming overwhelmed. Here are some factors to consider during the process.
Air Quality
Indoor air quality is often neglected by homeowners, but it is an essential part of a healthy home. There are several possible culprits of poor air quality, such as tobacco smoke, outdoor pollution, volatile compounds in manufactured furniture, and fumes from cleaning
and pest control products—just to name a few. The first thing you should do to ensure your household and guests breathe clean air in your home is to make it a non-smoking environment—no matter what. Also, be sure your home has good
ventilation and air circulation by opening the windows periodically. Furthermore, reduce the chances of water damage by fixing leaks as soon as you spot them, run the exhaust fan during showers, and consider buying a dehumidifier if needed. Another
way to improve the air quality in your home is to make sure you are replacing your air filters regularly. Doing so will help ensure your home has cleaner air and lower energy costs, and it can also extend the life of your HVAC system. Replacing
air filters sounds simple enough, but too many people go far too long without getting it done—sometimes even more than a year! If you think it will be difficult to keep up with replacing your air filters, consider signing up for an air filter subscription service. These services can be a great investment for your home and
your health.
Allergens
Reducing allergens is another key step in cleaning your home before you move in. You want to make sure you combat any pet dander, dust mites, pollen, and other allergens that abound and irritate those family members who are allergic. Deep clean your home by thoroughly
dusting and vacuuming every room. If you have window treatments, such as blinds or drapes, be sure to clean them by using a vacuum attachment and/or microfiber cloth to get all the hard-to-see areas. Minimizing bathroom moisture makes a difference in preventing mold buildup; wipe down the walls and floors after each shower,
and leave the bathroom door and shower curtain open so the room can air out.
Hidden Pollutants
It’s important to be proactive when it comes to the pollutants you can’t sense. Sometimes mold is visible, but it doesn’t have to be visible to be dangerous. Taking precautions to keep humidity and moisture at a minimum throughout the home is a good way to prevent it from
spreading and causing health problems. Radon—a
naturally occurring gas—is another potentially dangerous pollutant. Having your new home tested before you move in—and regularly thereafter— is essential for keeping such pollutants from getting out of control.
Deep Cleaning
When you deep clean your new home to minimize the effects of allergens and pollutants, it helps to go from top to bottom. For instance, vacuum and dust the top of your light fixtures, shelves, and other high places, and work your way down from there. Then, take it
room by room (e.g., the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms). After you’ve cleaned all the rooms, tackle the rest of your home, such as hallways,
staircases, basements, and so on. Furthermore, if you are using appliances from a previous homeowner, you want to make sure you thoroughly clean each of those as well.
Take advantage of a blank slate with your new home and give it a good cleaning. Remember to evaluate the air quality in the home and take any necessary steps to improve it. Consider allergens as you clean—both before you move in and regularly thereafter.
Get your home tested for dangerous hidden pollutants and take any needed measures to eliminate them. Finally, start at the high places and work your way down as you clean, going from room to room until your new home is spotless and move-in ready!
