Let’s face it - for all the joy that moving house brings, undergoing the ‘moving out clean’ is one of those more challenging moments, particularly for those moving out of rental properties. Setting its own multitude of complications, cleaning day tends to be a collection of moments wondering if that coffee stain has always been on the carpet (it hasn’t) and discovering exactly how many dust bunnies have been holding secret meetings behind your washing machine. The final hurdle to be jumped before crossing the relocation finish line, the move out clean is the task of all tasks to be tackled.
But rest assured, once it’s done, you are set to be on your way to your new home with nothing but excitement ahead! So, roll up those sleeves, pull on the rubber gloves, stick on a killer playlist, and follow this complete moving-out cleaning checklist for the ultimate farewell to your home.
Step 1: Preparation
Before you can get stuck in, there are a few preparation points to cover. First and foremost, you must ensure all furniture is out of the way. Understandably, organising furniture collection can be tricky and online buyers can be particularly flaky but if you leave furniture in your home whilst undertaking the cleaning process you will only slow yourself down. Like trying to light a fire in the middle of a rainstorm, you’re going to use a lot of energy, getting not very far. Therefore, if you wait until your home is completely clear of furniture and boxes before you start, then you will be able to get all those hard to reach spots better.
Also, whilst clearing out the last of unwanted furniture and any other remnants lingering in the miscellaneous pile it’s a good time to check that you have all your supplies necessary for moving. What you will need for your moving out clean:
- A dustpan and brush
- Antibacterial spray
- Oven degreaser
- Glass Cleaner
- Microfibre Cloths / Sponges/ Towels
- Gloves
- Mop + Bucket
- Floor Cleaner
- Sugar Soap
- Step ladder
- Mould spray
You could get carried away by adding a whole other host of products to your cleaning rotation, but to save money and reduce waste these are the main products that you will need before committing to a full clean.
Step 2: The Kitchen
With everything prepped, supplies bought and the playlist blaring at full volume (sorry neighbours) it’s time to start the cleaning. So, why not begin with the biggest job of all - the kitchen? Due to its frequent use and stubborn spots, the kitchen tends to be the biggest job in the house. With things like fridges, pots and pans out of the way you should uncover hidden spots of dirt and dust that need to be tackled along with all the obvious points. The areas that need to be covered in your kitchen are as follows:
- Wipe down all external surfaces with antibacterial
- Degrease and clean the oven to its original state when moved in
- Clean dust from inside drawers and cupboards
- Degrease range hood
- Scrub grease and grime from the stovetop
- Clean sink including the drain, tap and backsplash
- Clean out fridge where required
- Wipe down walls
- Vacuum and mop floors
Step 3: The Bathroom
The second toughest job of them all is cleaning the bathroom. With many hard to reach areas and even tougher marks to get rid of, your move-out cleaning of the bathroom takes some real elbow grease to restore to its former glory. Brace yourself for battle with the bathroom's worst offenders - mould, soap scum, and those annoying watermarks. Also, make sure to crack open those windows and give yourself a breather between rounds (those heavy-duty cleaners pack a punch!). Finally, remember: once you've tackled these tough guys, you're basically a cleaning champion, and the rest will be smooth sailing!
What to complete in the bathroom:
- Bleach clean toilet and surface sanitised
- Remove mould from Bathtub/ shower
- Wipe down bath/ shower including shower head
- Sanitise drains
- Clean all glass
- Sanitise the sink + check for mould build-up
- Clean cupboards and shelves
- Vacuum and mop floors
- Wipe down walls
Step 4: Living Spaces & Bedrooms
Thankfully, with the kitchens and bathrooms complete you’ve saved the easiest till last, which means that the majority of your scrubbing should be done with. When it comes to your living spaces, the toughest battle is eradicating dust and making sure everything feels fresh. Therefore, to finish off your internal moving out clean, you must complete the following:
- Wipe down all surfaces
- Wipe switches and plug sockets (switch them off first!)
- Make sure cobwebs and dust are removed from air vents
- Clean all windows
- Clean carpets/ vacuum and mop wooden floors
- Ensure cupboards and shelves are dust-free
- Clean light fixtures
- Dust skirting boards
- Wipe/ dust/ vacuum blinds or curtains
- Wash walls and doors (Do this throughout the house)
Step 5: Balcony/ Garden
Last but certainly not least, it’s always a good idea to make sure that your garden or balcony area is well-presented and clean. Depending on how your outdoor space is kept generally, this shouldn’t be too much of a mammoth task and is more like simple maintenance. To tidy up your garden or balcony you should do the following:
- Cut grass and remove weeds
- Wipe down external windows
- Sweep and mop floors
- Remove cobwebs or insects like cockroaches etc.
- Wipe down balcony railings
Final thoughts
By following this moving-out cleaning checklist your old home is set to be sparkling even brighter than when you first got the keys (probably even more so)! Better yet, that security deposit should also find its way back to your wallet as a sweet reward for all your hard work!
If you are soon to be moving house and would like some assistance in making it as smooth as possible, trust Holloway Removals and Storage to create a stress-free relocation for you. Expert local removalists in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Holloway have the knowledge and equipment to handle your move with care and ease which means you can focus on cleaning whilst they take care of the rest.
