When you move into a new house you can expect the previous owners or tenants to have done a thorough clean, right? Wrong! Often there will be unknown horrors of dirt and grease that can be a nightmare to clean once you have all your furniture in place. Cleaning thoroughly before you move in saves you time and effort later.

Cleaning the kitchen

The stove is the cause of many odours, both inside and behind it. Soak the metal trays and racks in a sink full of hot, soapy water while you clean the rest of the stove. Use a commercial over cleaner: it take about 20 minutes to act. Clean under the range hood – lay down paper to catch the falling grease spots. Once the stove’s clean, pull it out from the wall and clean beneath it and along the sides.

Carpet cleaning and rejuvenating

Hire a professional cleaner to steam clean the carpet. If that isn’t possible, or the previous occupants claimed they had the carpets cleaned, then your new home probably just needs a thorough vacuum. Make sure you ask the previous owners if they had any pets; if the answer’s yes, you may want to protect against possible fleas, especially if you have pets of your own. Rug cleaning may also be necessary, as well as window-dressings.

Bathroom stains and odours

Sometimes the all purpose cleaner and shower cleaner just won’t cut it. For stains, rust, and other tough spots to clean, baking soda is surprisingly helpful. It has incredibly absorbent qualities, especially for odours. If any residue is left over once you’ve used commercial cleaners, just sprinkle baking soda on it and then use your sponge to scrub it in. After rinsing, the problem spot should be gone. For a thorough drain clean, pour a half cup of baking soda down the drain and follow it with 1 cup of white vinegar. Pour it down the sink in the bathroom and let this solution sit in the drain for a few minutes before rinsing it with hot water.

Don’t forget to clean the air

For new houses, consider buying or borrowing a large HEPA air filter and installing it in the empty house as soon as you have access. Keep it running for a few days after your early clean-up to capture the remaining airborne dust.

Things to do before you move in

• Change the toilet seat – you’ll feel cleaner!
• Change the locks – you’ll feel safer!
• Fumigate against pests and rodents (including fleas)
• Steam clean carpets and rugs for that brand new feel

Professional cleaning services will do a more thorough job than you can do on your own, and may be a better choice if your time is short. You can hire professional cleaning services to deep-clean upholstery, carpeting and floors; repolish composite countertops; disinfect, remove mildew, move heavy appliances, and clean hard-to-reach windows.