Move-In Cleaning

I dread and am thrilled about the idea of cleaning the previous owners' funk out of the house. Dread --because it's a large task. Thrilled --because it means I'm in my home sweet home! {Side Note: Just in case the previous owner ever happens across this blog post, I'll say it now she's one of the cleanest homemakers I have ever seen. That house probably doesn't have a speck of dust. Even the cans in the cabinets were all facing front and beyond orderly. I'm not really worried about infectious diseases or finding something totally gross.} We're going to give the house a once over make sure everything is super clean before we descend upon it with paint, new furniture and all our belongings (both old stuff and fabulously new wedding presents).

Here's how I'm aiming to tackle all this in just a few short days. I used Real Simple's many cleaning check lists to guide me and started laying everything out in a spreadsheet of course. Here's what I've come up with...


Cleaning Check List:
1. Clean all fixtures in each room.

Master Bath

Shower

Toilet

Sink

Cabinets

Half Bath

Toilet

Sink

Cabinets

Kitchen

Fridge

Run Dishwasher

Oven

Stove

Vent Hood

Cabinets

Basement (Laundry)

Toilet (Yes, there is a random free-standing blue toilet in our basement. Yay us.)

Sink

Cabinets

Workbench

Cellar Room Shelves

2. Clean all the vertical surfaces in every room in the house.

Walls

Windows

Doors

Door Knobs

Outlet Covers

Switch Plate Covers

Baseboards

3. Clean the floors.

Hardwood (We have hardwood floors almost everywhere. Excitedaboutit.)

Linoleum -Kitchen (I'm already seeing those pesky projects creeping up.)

Carpet -Attic

Concrete -Basement

4. Install shelf liner.

Master Bath

Half Bath

Kitchen

Basement

Master Bedroom (Closet)

Guest Rooms (Closets)

Supplies Check List:

Bleach

Scrubbing Bubbles

Glass Cleaner

Dishwasher Detergent

Dish Soap

All Purpose Spray Cleaner

Tub & Tile Spray

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Magic Eraser

Hardwood Floor Cleaner

Cleaning Rags

Paper Towels

Vacuum

Mop

Broom & Dust Pan

Bucket

Sponges

Shelf Liner  

Okay, friends. Now tell me what I'm missing! What are you favorite cleaning supplies and do you have any tips for cleaning a new (to you) house?


Stephanie