If you’ve just moved into a new apartment, you may need to give it a thorough cleansing before you move in your belongings. It can feel overwhelming, but a deep clean is essential to making your home clean and fresh for the rest of your time in it.
Start by clearing away clutter and putting your things where they belong. This will make your apartment look much cleaner and feel more organized when you begin to vacuum and deep clean later.
Start with the Clutter
Clutter is not only a physical problem, but it can have a negative impact on your mental health. It can make you feel overwhelmed by the amount of stuff in your home, office, or car. It can also keep you from completing important tasks or inviting people over, which can negatively affect your social life and overall quality of life.
The first step in cleaning your apartment is to get rid of all the clutter you don’t need. This can be anything from clothes and shoes to kitchen items, bathroom supplies, and more.
One of the most effective ways to tackle clutter is to set up a designated donation box. This way, you can easily toss unwanted items when you come across them.
Another easy decluttering strategy is to create a list of things you want to purge. This can be a great way to motivate yourself to get started and help you stay focused throughout the process.
Once you have your list of things to get rid of, go through each item and decide if it should be kept or donated. This will save you a lot of time in the future and prevent the clutter from building up again.
Finally, take the time to put items back in their proper places after using them. This will help you maintain a clutter-free apartment in the long run, which will keep you feeling more at ease.
Getting your apartment clean isn’t always easy, but it can be done! Just remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you’ll likely have to do a little bit of work every day in order to reach your goal.
Vacuum the Floors
Vacuuming your floors is an important part of maintaining a clean home. Not only does it remove dirt and debris, but it also helps reduce the amount of dust mite waste that collects in nooks and crannies.
The best vacuums can pick up pet hair and other types of debris, even in tight spaces. They have attachments that allow you to clean the edges of walls and furniture, which are often overlooked in regular vacuuming.
Before you vacuum, take the time to remove any large clumps of dirt or debris from the floor. That way, it’s easier for the cleaner to grab all of the smaller flakes as you go.
Most upright vacuums come with both hardwood and carpeting settings, which means you can adjust the height of the beater bar to avoid scuffing or damaging your flooring. This feature is especially useful for preventing damage to sealed or finished hardwood floors.
You can also use a dusting brush or a flat floor head attachment without a spinning brush to help remove fine dirt and grit from hard surface floors. These can be a better alternative to mopping, which can cause damage to hardwoods, luxury vinyl plank or tile, laminate, vinyl, ceramic tile and concrete.
If you have hardwood flooring, make sure that your vacuum has a hose that doesn’t get in the way of the beater bars. It should be no more than an eighth of an inch above the flooring so that it doesn’t scratch or mark it.
You can also use a crevice tool to remove dirt and grime from corners and other hard-to-reach areas. This will keep your floors looking good longer and save you from having to use a mop.
Clean the Bathroom
If you’re moving into an apartment that has a bathroom, it’s important to take the time to cleanse and disinfect the space. It’s not only to keep it smelling fresh, but also to protect yourself and your belongings from germs and bacteria.
The bathroom can be a breeding ground for mold and mildew, so it’s important to remove any lingering moisture. It can also be a place for germs and grime to build up, so it’s best to scrub the sink and tub as well as wipe down the walls.
While you’re cleaning, don’t forget to disinfect and sanitize faucet handles and light switches. They’ve probably been touched thousands of times by previous tenants, so it’s important to get them completely clean and sanitized.
Next, wipe down the shower and tub walls to remove any soap scum or water stains. You can also use a glass cleaner to remove any marks from the mirror.
Before you finish cleaning the bathroom, sanitize all surfaces with an antibacterial disinfectant spray. This will help keep your apartment smelling fresh and clean from the start.
Once you’ve finished disinfecting, wipe down the floor with a damp rag to remove any debris or lingering dust. It’s also a good idea to give the tub and shower a final sweep with a vacuum.
The bathroom is a high-traffic area in your new apartment, so it’s important to give it the proper care. It can be tempting to leave it in a mess, but a clean and fresh space will make you feel more comfortable and confident when you walk into the room for the first time. If you don’t have the time or energy to tackle it yourself, there are plenty of professional cleaning services available, too.
Clean the Windows & Mirrors
Cleaning your windows and mirrors can be a frustrating part of household maintenance. They often get dirty or smeared with residue, making it difficult to wipe them clean. But if you’re prepared to take a little extra time, you can keep them looking fresh.
To keep your windows and mirrors gleaming, start by cleaning the frame. This will avoid drips of cleaner onto the window panes and reduce the risk of streaks.
Use a mild detergent on wooden frames or specialist cleaner on uPVC. Lynsey also recommends using a steam gun to remove stubborn stains from the surface of your mirrors.
When you’re finished, wipe the rims of your windows and mirrors to catch any excess water. You can also use a microfiber cloth to finish the job.
The most effective way to clean the glass in your windows and mirrors is to use a spray cleaner made with distilled water and vinegar. This solution is simple and nontoxic, so it’s a great alternative to store-bought chemical products.
You can make a quick spray solution by mixing equal parts of distilled water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. You can also combine this solution in a bucket if you have larger windows or exterior walls to clean.
Another great tip for cleaning the glass in your windows and mirrors is using a cotton swab. This tool is the perfect size to get into hard-to-reach corners and remove smudges, and it’s inexpensive.
Alternatively, you can try using old t-shirts or paper coffee filters instead of paper towels to clean the glass in your windows and mirrors. This will save you money and keep your lint and ink stains at bay.
Get a Garbage Bag
You’ll want to get a garbage bag for all the things you’re going to throw out during the cleansing process. After all, there are a lot of different types of waste to dispose of, and it can be hard to know exactly what you’re getting rid of.
If you’re not sure what you should be throwing away, it can be helpful to take a look at your local waste management system to see if there are any specific rules for what items don’t belong in your dumpster. These might include a list of no-go items such as old tires, electronics, and motor oil.
When you’re ready to use your garbage bags, make sure that they’re labeled correctly. This can save you a ton of time and energy later on in the apartment cleaning process.
While you’re at it, be sure to also check your trash cans for food juices that might leak out into the bottom of your trash cans, which can rot and smell up your apartment. A few newspapers or sawdust placed in the bottom of your garbage cans can absorb this moisture and help clean up the area easier.
Then, you’ll have the peace of mind that everything will be taken care of when the garbage is hauled out to the dumpster. Having a clear plan will allow you to eliminate odors quickly and effectively so that you can get on with your cleaning.
Now that you’ve learned how to cleanse your new apartment, you can be able to focus on the more fun parts of apartment life! Keep these tips in mind and your apartment will be a place that you’re excited to return to each day!