Image by pascalhelmer from Pixabay
You’ve spent months scouring home listings and viewing houses. Once you found your dream home, you signed the contracts and successfully closed. Congratulations! It’s time to get started on this next exciting chapter of your life.
While you’re probably eager to move your belongings into your new home, it’s a good idea to pause for a moment and plan to give your new house a deep cleaning. Here are five areas you’ll want to focus on before you start hauling in your possessions.
Bathrooms are a priority because you’ll want to eliminate any potential germs lurking about. Even if everything looks clean, you can’t know for sure if it’s only been surface-cleaned, so you’ll want to give it your own deep cleaning. This way you can ensure any bacteria or other icky germs aren’t lingering. Focus on the toilet, sink, and tub. Don’t forget the toilet seat—ideally, install a new one.
Tip: Change the shower curtain and liner or, if you’re keeping the existing curtain because it matches the décor, give it a good machine wash.
Kitchens are another room where germs tend to linger. To start, clean the interiors of the oven and refrigerator. Next, use disinfectant to wash down the sink, faucet, counters, cabinets and all appliance exteriors. Don’t forget any handles and knobs.
Once you’ve got the kitchen clean, cover the cabinet and pantry shelves with new liner. Not only will it help protect your dishes and other wares, but it’ll give these spaces a fresh clean look and feel when you place your items in it.
If you aren’t immediately replacing carpets, give them a deep cleaning with a rug cleaner. If you don’t own or have access to one, you can rent one from a grocery or hardware store. Wash any hardwood floors. To avoid harsh chemicals, you can use water and white vinegar, they’ll eliminate most bacteria and remove most dirt and grime.
Give the bathroom and kitchen floors additional attention by thoroughly washing these floor surfaces with a disinfecting cleaner. Be sure not to miss any nooks and crannies. Clean tile, vinyl or linoleum with a bacteria-killing cleaner and don’t forget any grout—a baking soda paste works nicely.
It’s hard to know when air filters were last changed. It’s always a good idea to replace them, just to be on the safe side. Mark the filters with the date, so you know when it’s time to swap them out again.
Tip: Don’t forget the vent filter above the stove if you have one.
Door knobs are easy to overlook but they are a prime area for lingering germs. Go through your home and disinfect doorknobs, cabinet pulls and drawer handles. Don’t forget the handles on sliding glass or shower doors.
Tip: Use disinfectant wipes on doorknobs if you’re short on time
Once you’ve given your house a deep cleaning, you can confidently move your possessions into your home with a fresh, clean start.
Having provided award-winning service to my clients for the past 26 years, few other REALTORS are trusted like I am. My clients trust my advice, and they know that I will always look out for their best long-term interests. You can expect, and you will receive, personal service that is second to none. When you hire me as your Agent, you will work exclusively with me. I will personally answer your calls and respond to your messages. My promise to you is that I will not hand you off to another member of my team.
I have called Southwest Michigan home for 40 years. My mother's family ran a local locksmith service, and my father served as the Chief Investigator for the County's Prosecutor and Director of Security for the Whirlpool Corporation office for many years. I love all that this area offers, and I enjoy serving the buyers and sellers who are moving in or out of
Southwest Michigan.
My wife and I have two children, and we would not want to raise them anywhere else. Between the award-winning schools and the plethora of youth activities available in Southwest Michigan, it's a great place to call home. We enjoy spending time with friends at the beach, boating, golfing, hunting, skiing in the North, and fishing.
I give back to the community that has been so good to us. Currently, I serve on the Lakeshore Public Schools Foundation Board (LEF), as Past President of the St. Joe Kickers Sports Club, and as a Rotarian in the Stevensville-Lakeshore Rotary
Club. We donate throughout the year to various local organizations, schools, Fine Arts Programs, and youth sports groups.
I want to leverage my experience and knowledge to benefit you. I have sold over 700 properties and earned the respect of my fellow REALTORS, who have voted me "REALTOR of the Year." I am confident I can earn your trust as well.
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