Moving into your first home can be a time of great excitement and positivity, but it’s important that you start things off on the right foot, by getting the place spotlessly clean from top to bottom.
While hiring a cleaning service is almost certainly the most effective way to get this done quickly, it’s still wise to have your own cleaning products and tools for those times between professional cleans, or if you choose not to hire a cleaning service at all.
With this in mind, here are some must-have cleaning items to help you keep your new home spotlessly clean:
All-purpose cleaner
You can buy this in a store, or make your own using pantry items such as white vinegar, baking soda, lemons and water. A good all-purpose cleaner can tackle a wide range of dirt around the home.
Microfiber cloths
Soft and highly absorbent, these are so much more effective than traditional cloths and dusters for picking up dust (not merely transferring it from one place to another) and getting surfaces clean.
Vacuum cleaner
No home is complete without a good vacuum cleaner, and if you can, invest in one with HEPA filter technology to get rid of dust, dander and allergens more effectively.
Sponges
Go for sponges with an abrasive side for tougher stains and grime, and make sure you either replace them every week or so (depending on how often you use them and what you use them for), zap them in the microwave to eliminate all traces of germs and bacteria, or soak them in bleach.
Glass cleaner
This is essential for getting your windows and mirrors clean without any streaks, and you can make your own from white vinegar and water, or go for a store-bought option.
Dish soap
Although this is fantastic for getting dishes clean, it can actually be used for a wide range of cleaning tasks around the home, and should be one of the first items you buy when moving into your first home.
Rubber gloves
If you want to keep your hands protected from the ravages of chemicals and other cleaning solutions, rubber gloves are an important addition to your first home.
Scrubbing brush
If you’ve got tough stains on your tiles, grout or bathroom fixtures, a sturdy bristled brush can help eliminate them effortlessly.
Mop and bucket
If you’ve got hardwood floors (or laminate), you’ll need to do more than just vacuum them to keep them clean. With a mop and bucket and your favourite cleaning solution (if making your own, you can add an essential oil to make it smell more fragrant), you can quickly and easily clear up stains and leave your floors so clean you could eat your dinner off them!
Toilet brush and cleaner
Just because you don’t eat your dinner out of your toilet, doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be kept hygienically clean at all times. A good toilet brush and a strong disinfectant can keep your toilet looking and smelling fresh and clean. For tougher stains, you can use an overnight cleaning solution.
With a good cleaning closet full of all the essentials, you can keep your new home as clean as a whistle. And for those who have better things to do with their time than scrub and dust, hiring a cleaning service (who will bring their own tools and solutions) is always an option.
