Revealed: Expert tips for cleaning your new-build home before moving

The fantastic thing about moving into a new-build property is it’s a clean slate for you to put your stamp on. The downfall, however, is that construction can leave lots of dust and debris behind that needs attending to before you can move in and make it a home. 

Expert in cleaning and homecare, Lynsey Crombie aka ‘The Queen of Clean’, shares her top tips for cleaning your home so that it’s spick and span for moving in.

What you’ll need:

• Vacuum cleaner
• Broom
• Mop and bucket
• Microfibre cloths
• Sponge
• Rubber gloves
• Multi-purpose cleaner
• Toilet cleaner
• Floor cleaner
• Newspaper

Crombie’s top tip for getting the job done quickly and efficiently is to “write a list of all the tasks you need to do and tick off as you go. You will be surprised at how much you can get done when you are motivated.”

Here are some areas to focus on:

Give the whole place a thorough vacuum

Construction dust can be notoriously difficult to clear up, but it’s nothing a good vacuum cleaner can’t handle. Give all carpeted areas of your home a thorough vacuum to pick us as much dirt and dust as possible, making sure you empty the vacuum bag regularly to avoid blowing dust back out. You might even want to use a pipe fitting to hoover the corners of ceilings, which should oust any cobwebs that have formed when the building was vacant.

Avoid using the vacuum cleaner on wooden floors, as the last thing you want to do is damage your brand-new flooring!  Instead, use a broom to sweep away debris and then mop with a mild cleaning solution.

Crombie recommends to “only use a small amount of product when cleaning the floors, as too much product creates streaks and can make them slippery. To dilute, you can mix your cleaning solution with warm water. Steam cleaning is also a great eco-friendly method for cleaning floors and is safe for pets and young children.”

Wipe down all hard surfaces

It doesn’t take long for dust and grime to settle onto hard surfaces, so be sure to give them all a good clean before moving in. Use a microfibre cloth and multi-purpose cleaner to wipe down all surface tops, skirting boards, drawers, and cupboards. Also, be sure to check hidden dust-collectors, such as doorframes, light fixtures, shelving, and windowsills.

Crombie says “a basic disinfectant will always work well and not cost you much at all. You can even create your very own multi-purpose cleaner easily at home. Here’s how:

1. Use a 500ml spray bottle
2. Add 200ml of white vinegar
3. Add 20 drops of essential oils (such as a fresh peppermint)
4. Fill up with water
5. Shake well
6. Use throughout the house”

Scrub the bathroom(s) and kitchen

Although they are newly fitted, the bathroom and kitchen are likely to have got a bit grubby during the construction of your home, especially if they have been used by builders, decorators, etc. For a thorough clean, wipe surfaces, rinse sinks and bathtubs, clean the toilet, and polish up metal fittings to remove hard water stains.

Crombie suggests “bathrooms and kitchens require a two-step cleaning process. Firstly, you remove dirt and bacteria, using a detergent-based product, and then you go over with a disinfectant to kill germs. Always allow the product to work by leaving it on the surface for a few minutes before rinsing. Use different colour cloths to avoid cross contamination too, e.g. blue for the loo and pink for sink.”

Clean the windows

You don’t want to start your first day in your new home with smears on your windows, so take the time to clean them inside and out. You may need to use a window cleaning service to reach higher level outside windows, but it’s quick and easy to get them looking clear as day from the inside.

Crombie says, “try using newspaper to clean windows - this works well and goes back years. The ink from the paper acts as an abrasive and will give you really clean windows.”

As a new build, you may also need to remove manufacturer labels from the glass. Warm water and a sponge should do the trick for hard-to-remove patches.

Hopefully with a bit of elbow grease, your new home will be looking spick and span and ready for you to move in!