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A Cleaning Checklist for Your New Home
Moving season is in full swing, and if you’ve recently made a move to a new space, you’re likely starting to think through your new home checklist. Before you unpack, make time to give your new place a good scrub. Doing some deep cleaning, whether you’re settling into a new house, apartment, condo, or dorm room, helps to make your new place feel like your new place.
Not sure where to start? Here’s a deep-cleaning checklist to get you inspired:
Bathroom Surfaces—The bathroom is the space you’ll need most immediately after moving in, so it’s a good place to begin. Start by cleaning counters, sinks, and tubs with a disinfecting bathroom cleaner that helps kill household germs and doesn’t require an extra step of rinsing after use. Then, scrub the toilet with a plant-based toilet cleaner (USDA Certified Biobased Product 97%) that’s tough on stains, but made with scents from essential oils and without chlorine bleach so you can breathe easy while you clean.
When you move on to the shower/tub, use a spray-on tub and tile cleaner to remove any existing soap scum. If needed, supplement with a solution of baking soda and water, which works great to scrub away remaining gunk. Enlist an old toothbrush to give you more scrubbing power, and sub in some white vinegar for tougher stains.
Kitchen Surfaces—You’ll want to get cooking as soon as possible, so clean the kitchen next. There can often be cooking smells left over from earlier occupants, and since your kitchen will be home base for your culinary masterpieces, it’s essential to give it a thorough clean. If you live in a dorm, or share an apartment, gather friends and roommates to help. For most surfaces, a versatile, biobased all-purpose or glass & surface cleaner is the way to go. It’s tough on grease, grime, and dirt—and it’s made without VOCs.
Don’t forget to check the oven before you cook up your first celebratory meal. Our oven-cleaning guide is full of great tips and suggestions, and will help make even an old oven look and smell like new. Also remember to wipe down the dishwasher inside and out. And if you bump into any unpleasant dishwasher odors, we’ve put together some great ideas about how to eliminate them. Once your dishwasher is ready for action, help make dish-duty even easier with grease-fighting dish detergents and soaps POWERED BY PLANTSTM, and USDA certified biobased products.
Windows—It always feels great to see the sun shining through freshly-cleaned windows, and our plant-based glass cleaning formula (USDA Certified Biobased Product 96%) gives you a streak-free shine. Use reusable microfiber towels, or give old newspaper a try. Just ball up a sheet of newsprint, then rub first in a clockwise motion, then up and down to eliminate any remaining streaks.
Linens and Towels—Before you re-make the bed, stock the bathroom vanity, or fill up the linen closet, give all your sheets, tablecloths, and towels a turn in the washer after you unpack them. Our liquid laundry detergent gives a deep clean using the power of plants (USDA Certified Biobased Product 97%) and works in all water temperatures. Oxy booster packs can also freshen up laundry, helping whiten whites and keep colors protected. Energy-saving tip: wash in cold water to take a small bite out of your energy bill. Have some yard space? Using the sun’s power as you hang-dry outside helps reduce your energy consumption, too.
Woodwork—It’s easy to overlook wooden surfaces like baseboards, banisters, and bookshelves, but regular use of a biobased wood cleaner can work wonders—especially one that’s made with essential oils and leaves behind a fresh scent. Our wood cleaner is most at home on treated wood surfaces, but also works well on other hard, non-porous surfaces.
Some other useful tips:
- Disinfect germ hotspots like doorknobs and toilet handles with a disinfectant spray. Our sprays remove 99.9% of household germs** and there’s no rinse required.
- If your new space comes furnished, but there’s some lingering spots or stains on that comfy couch you just inherited, an enzyme-powered stain remover can work magic.
- Dust the vents and clean any air filters to minimize exposure to dust allergens.
- If your new place has carpets, look into options for having them cleaned—or take on the project yourself and rent a steam cleaner. It’s worth it.
- To be extra thorough, clean the walls and floor behind heavy appliances, like the fridge and the stove. Get a friend to help you move them, and watch your toes.
- Wipe down the insides of drawers before loading them.
*Kills 99.99% of household germs, specifically: Influenza A virus, H1N1, Rhinovirus type 37 (the Common Cold virus), Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli on hard, nonporous surfaces. CleanWell™ patented disinfecting technology based on Thyme Oil.
**Kills over 99.99% of household germs, specifically: Influenza A virus, H1N1, Rhinovirus type 37, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli.