How to Pre-Clean Your New Home (Plus Time-Saving Cleaning Tips Anyone Can Use!)

1. Make Smart Use of Your Vacuum

Your vacuum is your most important pre-cleaning weapon. After you’ve taken care of carpets and floors, put it to work in hard to reach places suggests Briana Norde, president of Caliber Cleaning, Inc.

Take the hose of a vacuum and run it through cabinet corners to eliminate any food debris that could lead to mold. You can also use the hose to vacuum heat vents.

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2. Remove 'Carpet Squares' From Past Furniture

Before you carry that heavy sofa inside, get rid of carpet impressions from the last homeowner’s furniture. The maids at Molly Maid, a residential cleaning company, say the solution is as easy as a walk to the kitchen.

Count the number of impressions you need to erase and head to your freezer. Grab an ice cube or two per impression and place the cubes in each impression. As they melt, the carpet fibers will loosen and stand. Let the areas dry overnight, vacuum, and your carpet will be as good as new.

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3. Dust the Right Way

Dust settles down, so it’s important to get your dusting technique right so you don’t have to do anything twice. Michael Kawula, a supplier of products to cleaning services, recommends left to right and top to bottom to catch all the debris and save time.

Use this method to decide what to clean first, too. Start with ceilings and walls and work your way down to windows and floors.

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4.  Know How to Clean Your Walls

It’s likely you’ll only wash the walls once right when you move in and never again. You can wash walls with a solution of water and vinegar, which is safe on most surfaces, according to the experts at MyMove.com.

Pay attention to the corners, where dirt and cobwebs collect. If there are stains or other marks, mymove.com experts recommend whipping out Mr.Clean’s Magic Eraser, which will wipe them right off.

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5. Can't Replace Your Appliances? Update Them Instead

Replacing old appliances is an expensive proposition. Instead, consider giving them a facelift.

For starters, take your old refrigerator, stove, or washing machine to an automotive painter to have it painted a different color, suggests Apartment Therapy. You could also replace the doors and fronts by contacting the manufacturer.

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6. Prep Your Oven

For a natural alternative to an oven cleaner, use a paste of baking soda and vinegar to clean the inside of the oven. Scrub the oven racks with steel wool for a thorough clean.

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7. Take Advantage of Your Bathtub

Use this water-holding spaces to pre-soak items you plan to clean, suggests Briana Norde, president of Caliber Cleaning, Inc.

Fill a sink or bathtub with hot, soapy water and place all of your metal heat vent covers, hood vent covers, and ceiling vent covers inside. Let them soak, then scrub, rinse, and lay out on a towel to dry.

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8. Know How to Remove Scuff Marks on Floors

If you see dirt and grime on a no-wax or tile floor, mix a half-cup of baking soda in a bucket of warm water to mop and rinse clean for a sparkling floor.

For really tough scuffs, use baking soda on a damp sponge to wipe away marks.

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9. Protect Against Common Allergens

“Allergy season lasts all year long for people who suffer from common household allergens,” said Dr. James Sublett, chair of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Indoor Environment Committee.

“When environmental changes aren’t made indoors, the home becomes a breeding ground for symptoms, rather than a place to escape allergens.” A few tips to reduce symptoms: encase pillows, mattresses, and upholstered furniture with dust-proof covers, vacuum weekly, and invest in an air purifier.

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10. Replace Air Filters

No matter what season you’re moving in, it’s important to change your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) filters to ensure optimum efficiency and air flow.

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11. Remove All Signs of Fido

If your previous homeowner had pets, chances are you’ll have to put in some extra work to remove pet dander. Cleaning carpets and floors with a thorough vacuum job is essential.

If you’re allergic, consider replacing carpeting with hardwood or solid surface flooring before moving furniture in.

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12. Choose Paint Wisely

Repainting can make a home feel fresh and new, especially if you aren’t happy with the previous owner’s color choices. Joe Kowalski, a paint expert at Glidden, offers a few suggestions: For bedrooms, consider an eggshell finish on walls to make rooms appear brighter. Refreshing doors and trim can also make a huge difference too!

For exteriors, make sure the trim is in satin or semi-gloss since it can take more abuse from opening and closing doors and windows. For interior walls, make patching and filling holes a priority. Be sure to get patching plaster, putty knife, sandpaper, and a tack cloth to properly fill, smooth, and clean the area.

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13. Check For Mold

Because the previous homeowners have done some cleaning, you’re probably not thinking about mold …but you should be. "A common problem we find in new homes is mold,” warns Robert Weitz, a certified microbial investigator and principal at RTK Environmental Group. Lumber may sit outside for weeks or even months, 

getting wet from rain and humidity. Mold loves to grow on wood, Weitz explains, and then that wood may be used to build a new home. “Before you know it, the mold colony grows and then is spread through the air in the HVAC system. It can be a very damaging problem," he said. Weitz suggests testing your home before you move in so you can clean it before you get settled. 

If the moldy area is small - less than 10 square feet - you can probably handle the job yourself. Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water before letting dry completely, Weitz said. Be sure to use goggles and gloves and close off the area from the rest of your home as much as possible, including covering ventilation ducts. Open the windows, too.

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14. Get Your Garden Ready

You may be focused on the inside of the house, but what’s outside makes the first impression. Remove any fallen trees and make sure to rake, mulch, and weed as necessary. Don’t forget to plant flowers, too. Chris Lambton, host of HGTV’s “Going Yard” recommends...

planting fall annuals like mums and pansies that offer a ton of color and will last in cooler conditions. He said it’s also a good time to plant shrubs and evergreens so that the roots have enough time to establish before winter arrives and the ground freezes.

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