Three maintenance tasks to do when you first move into your new home
Photo by Andrew Mead on Unsplash
Moving into your new home is an exciting time. Whether you’re upsizing, downsizing, or changing location, this stressful process will hopefully all feel worth it when you get the keys to your new front door. However, unless you’re buying a new build, your jobs aren’t yet over. Making your house cosy and clean is essential for helping you feel settled, as well as performing safety checks to ensure that all your electricals and plumbing are up to scratch.
Whilst there are some jobs better left to the professionals, there are certainly some tasks that you can easily do yourself. However, especially for first-time home buyers, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to home maintenance. Here, we list a few jobs to get you started when you move into your new home.
Deep clean your carpets
When you go through the conveyancing process, your solicitor will get the seller to fill out paperwork that states what they’re leaving in the property, and what they’re taking with them – it’s commonly called the ‘fixtures and fittings’ form. Most modern sellers will choose to leave their carpets in the property, although it’s not compulsory.
However much they hoovered, it can be reassuring to clean your carpets when you arrive in a new house. They can collect dirt and dust that goes beyond the reach of a hoover, and especially if they had pets, you might find that these soft furnishings are actually hiding quite a lot of grime. In fact, some estimates say that carpets are 4,000 times dirtier than toilet bowls, although that’s probably not the case in every home.
To avoid soaking wet carpets, hire a carpet cleaner that washes the fibres and then extracts the water. You’ll be amazed at how much dirt comes off.
Clean your tiles, regrout and check the shower seal
Whilst you might think that the bathroom will be the cleanest room in your new house, this often isn’t the case. Without regular maintenance, dirt can build up on shower tiles, around sink edges, and under any loose sealant. For an instant visual boost in your new bathroom, as well as for hygiene reasons, you should make sure to do a thorough clean when you move in.
Note, this doesn’t necessarily mean using heavy chemicals – unless something has stained, you can use natural household cleaners for most surfaces in a bathroom. For a good homemade bathroom cleaner, combine ¾ cup of baking soda, 2-3 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, and 2-3 tablespoons of castile soap. This will create a paste which you can apply to surfaces, and then wipe off with a cloth and hot water. You can also soak your shower head in white vinegar, or citric acid and water – any limescale and dirt will fall off overnight.
Additionally, you may want to consider doing some small DIY tasks in this space. This won’t be necessary in every house, but over time, bathroom grout does tend to get a layer of grime from everyday use. This can leave the bathroom looking old and tired, as well as feeling unclean. One of the best ways to make your bathroom feel more hygienic and give it a fresh look is to redo the grouting between your shower tiles. You can do this without removing them, so it’s a skill that everyone can learn.
Additionally, you should check the seal on your shower cabinet to ensure that it's watertight. Whilst you might have quickly checked the water pressure during your house viewing, you’re unlikely to have seen the shower at full blast. Checking it now and sealing any gaps will save you from having a wet floor, as well as water coming through the ceiling at a later date. Redoing the sealant can also help remove any dirt trapped underneath and help the shower look clean and mould-free.
Reduce any draughts
Gaps in window seals or poorly-fitted doors can lead to draughts entering the house. Not only does this create a chilly breeze, but it also means that your precious heat is escaping, which is bad for both the environment and your utility bills. When you bought the house, you should have got an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which will tell you which major areas need improving, but it’s still worth going around and checking for draughts. You can use draught excluders as a temporary measure, or seal the gaps using caulk or glazing putty.
Home sweet home
Getting your new home into shape will allow you to settle in and make it your own, as well as reassure you that it’s clean and hygienic. Whilst it might seem daunting at first, you’ll soon get the hang of it. So pull on those old clothes, put on some music, and get started with our three jobs.
If you found this useful, you might also be interested in - Four Natural Cleaning Methods For a Sparkling Bathroom - How to Clean Chrome Taps - How to Clean a Shower Enclosure.
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