Lifestyle

The Ultimate Cleanout And Clean-Up Checklist

The ultimate cleaning checklist

Packing up and moving on? Now is the time to let go of the clutter and embrace the fine art of consolidating and culling your possessions. Once you’ve completed the cull it’s time to clean things up to ensure you get that all-important rental bond back

The cleanout

  • De-cluttering means less to pack. Evaluate each room in your new home to get a clear understanding of what you want in each space. If you take photos of rooms and storage spaces it’ll give you some perspective on how much you need to cull.
  • Move everything into three piles: purge, pack and donate. As you’re sifting through your possessions, ask yourself a few questions. When did I last use this? Do I really need it? How easy is it to replace?
  • Check your ‘purge’ and ‘donate’ piles to see if there’s anything you could sell. Online auction sites and classifieds like Gumtree and eBay are full of people hunting for bargains.
  • Donate everything else that is still in good condition to charity.
     
Cleaning up before you move house infographic

The clean-up

Kitchen

  • Empty all cabinets and drawers and wipe them clean.
  • If you’re leaving behind a dishwasher, empty the filter and run a cycle with an appropriate cleaning solution to get rid of all residual food.
  • Use some serious steel wool to scrub the oven, inside and out. Remove the shelving, drip pans and burners and scrub clean.
  • Clean the exhaust fan.
  • Disinfect countertops.
  • Turn taps off and wipe the sink clean of all soap residue.

Bathroom

  • Rinse and remove soap scum from the bathtub, screen, and shower recess.
  • Use bleach to scrub wall tiles and grouting.
  • Empty vanity drawers and wipe clean.
  • Clean the toilet.
  • Wipe off the sink, countertop and mirror.
  • Check the exhaust fan and vacuum away any visible dust.
  • Wash or replace the shower curtain.
  • Top cleaning tip: Keep all of your cleaning supplies in one bucket so you can easily move from room to room without backtracking.

Living areas and bedrooms

  • Remove any nails or screws left in the walls.
  • Dust skirting boards, window ledges and ceiling fixtures.
  • Polish door knobs and wipe down doors.
  • Wipe outlets and light switches to remove dust.
  • Clean the windows inside and out.
  • Vacuum carpets or organise a professional steam clean.
  • Mop wooden floor boards.

Outside

  • Pull out any weeds and mow the grass.
  • Clean any stains on decking or stairs.
  • Tidy up any existing garden furniture or hoses.
  • Finally, say goodbye and lock the door behind you. Done and dusted!
  • Top cleaning tip: Give yourself a full day after the removalists have left to complete your cleaning.

Now that you have de-cluttered your home, check out our moving house checklist to get you prepared for the big day, including connecting the electricity or gas at your new home. Good luck