Moving home is never an easy task, in fact, it has been ranked the most stressful life event by Brits. With August being the most popular month of the year to move home, plenty of people will be lifting sofas and taping up boxes this month. The hashtag #moving has over 3M views this week alone.
There’s nothing worse than moving into a dirty home, so to give yourself a fresh start, 4 home interiors experts have shared the key places to clean in your new house.
Bedroom
Whether you’re moving into rented accommodation with existing furniture or moving your own belongings in, now’s the time to give your bed a refresh.
1. Thoroughly clean your mattress
Whilst washing our bedsheets is part of our weekly cleaning routine, we often seem to forget the mattress itself. A study by bed specialist Time4Sleep revealed that 40%(1) of Brits are unaware that they need to clean their mattress regularly, with a staggering 22% stating they have never attempted to clean it.
Jonathan Warren, director at bed specialist, Time4Sleep, advises: “Regardless of the quality of your bed sheets and mattress protector, it’s really important that you also pay attention to the mattress to avoid unhygienic sleeping conditions and poor air quality. Remove your bed linen and vacuum the surface of your mattress to get rid of any dirt or debris. For a real deep clean, sprinkle baking soda over your mattress and leave it for up to 24 hours before vacuuming again. This will act as a deodoriser and will help to get rid of any long-lasting smells”.
2. Freshen up your headboard
A statement velvet or upholstered headboard can really transform your bedroom, especially when kept in tip-top condition. For easy ongoing maintenance, Jonathan advises:
“A weekly hoover and spritz of fabric spray will keep your headboard free from dirt and dust, as well as smelling nice and fresh. For a deeper clean, start with a quick hoover, then apply a mix of warm water and detergent to a dry cloth and blot any visible stains before leaving to dry and giving it another once over with the hoover.”
Living space
3. Dust off your blinds and curtains
Window blinds are another feature that often get forgotten about during the cleaning routine. Helen O’Connor, product manager at 247 Blinds and 247 Curtains recommends:
“Ideally, you should clean your blinds once a month to get rid of any germs and dust that are lingering on the surface. If you have roller blinds or Roman blinds, just give them a soft dusting and gentle vacuum once a month. Venetian or plantation shutters can have a more thorough clean. Wipe down each slat using a damp cloth and some washing up liquid, then finish up with a quick dusting to make them look as good as new!
“As for curtains, dusting should be part of your weekly cleaning routine – as should vacuuming. Start by closing the curtains fully, hovering over with the vacuum top to bottom before repeating the process on the inside too. Ensure you always use the small brush attachment designed for upholstery to avoid causing any damage. For any stubborn stains, stick to a clean soft cloth and warm water, avoiding using too much water as this could potentially result in watermarks.”
4. Wash your windows
uPVC windows should be cleaned on both sides a few times a year, and as we leave the rain and snow behind, now is the best time to get them sparkling. Adam Pawson, Marketing Director at Safestyle says: “Start by opening up the window and take an old paint brush to loosen any dirt, dust and cobwebs that might be stuck in the frame. Then use the hose of your vacuum cleaner to get rid of any debris. For uPVC window frames, marks and stains should come off with ease. Fill up a bowl with some warm water and washing-up liquid and use a soft white cloth to wipe down. Avoid using a coloured cloth as the dye can stain plastic.”
Kitchen
5. Give your washing machine a deep clean
Whilst washing machines are a key household appliance when it comes to cleaning, the machines themselves require some attention every now and then to keep working well.
Andrea Pesce, appliance expert at Domestic & General, says: “Start by running a hot ‘cotton’ wash coupled with a washing machine solution. This will help to kill off any bacteria, mould or sludge that has built up over time. You’ll then want to focus on the seal as this can often trap mould. The best way to tackle this is with a damp cloth and disinfectant spray. Finally, you should clean the washing machine filter. Start by unscrewing the filter, allowing the water to drain. Once this is done, run the filter under hot water and screw back on once dry.”
6. Clear your oven of any food debris
Ovens are another key appliance that are often overlooked when it comes to a regular cleaning routine, meaning they may need a good scrub when moving home.
Andrea adds: “Start by removing the oven racks and covering them with oven cleaner. Scrub this off shortly after and then soak in washing up liquid overnight. As for inside itself, begin by spraying the oven in a cleaning solution and allow it to soak to help remove stubborn burnt food. Finally, for the door, wipe this down using a damp cloth and gentle cleaning solution.”
