How to get your new home spick-and-span

The “to-do” list when moving is long, but cleaning your new home, preferably before furniture arrives, is a must for most people. 

Try and tackle the dust and grime before you unpack all your stuff. Picture: Realestate.com

Here’s a handy how-to guide, with advice from expert cleaners.

Adriana Aziz, operations manager at Maid For You, a Sydney-based home cleaning company, says it’s always preferable to move into a sparkling clean home – whether it’s a new build or established.

“Homes which have been vacant for any period of time can accumulate dust and other nasties, such as excessive pollen and other particle build-up, that can not only be hazardous to the respiratory system, but also irritate eyes and exacerbate health conditions, like asthma,” she says.

Aziz says it’s best to clean a property when empty, to ensure all nooks and crannies are reached.

“Furnished homes can obscure dirtiness,” she says.

Movers can hire professional cleaners or tackle the task themselves.

Rowena Jongejan, owner of Queensland cleaning business Family Clean, says the biggest benefit of hiring a professional is efficiency.

“We clean for a living, so we know all the tips and tricks in the book. Hiring a good professional cleaner also means you can expect a very high standard,” she says.

Jongejan says professional cleaners “do it all in a day and get it out of the way”, working “top-down” and focusing on wet areas, like the kitchen and bathroom, before moving onto living areas, then bedrooms.

When it comes to DIY, be strategic, she says.

“For folk trying to tackle it themselves, do the kitchen first, because odds are you have the most junk to unload here, then the bathroom, because you have to shower, then bedrooms – if there isn’t time, sleep on your mattress if you need to – then do the rest the next day,” Jongejan says.

Aziz says walls and floors also need special attention.

“When moving in, it’s a good idea to first wipe down the walls, then use a cleaning solution – we highly recommend Sugar Soap – to spot clean any outstanding marks.”

After the walls are washed down, mop, after a quick vacuum. “Before you start, you need to ascertain what the best chemical is for the floor type,” Aziz says.

“Wood floors, linoleum and stone floors should be cleaned using the manufacturers’ recommended cleaning solution, otherwise you’ll leave the surface streaky and unpleasant looking.

“For these floor types, it’s not recommended to use vinegar or any ammonia-based solution. Most of the time, a few drops of dishwashing liquid will suffice.”

Using the right products also makes a difference, Aziz says.

“For bathrooms, Ajax Professional Bathroom Power Cleaner is awesome for cleaning surfaces and getting rid of both hard and soft soap scum.”

For toilets, try Easy Off Bam Power Cleaner Toilet Bleach and Hygiene liquid toilet bowl cleaner. Windex is a great ammonia-free window cleaner, offering value for money, plus it’s easy to use and dispose of.

For floors, Power Force Protect ‘n’ Clean Hospital Grade Disinfectant is a “cheap, effective anti-bacterial,” Aziz says.

“Ajax Spray and Wipe is a great all-purpose surface spray.”