Tips for Moving – Part 2: Cleaning and Repairs
Cheers to moving, right? It can be an incredibly awesome and overwhelming situation all at once.
You’ve packed everything up, leaving the cleaning materials out, so you’re looking at an empty house that you need to clean and make look shiny new. Did you miss the packing tips and how-to’s? Click HERE to read Part 1: Packing.
First things first: When using any sort of cleaning solution, it needs time to activate. Thanks to tips from the W Hotel chain (pretty much perfection when it comes to customer service and cleanliness), we’ve learned to let our cleaner sit about 5 minutes before scrubbing.
CLEANING TIPS
CARPET AND FURNITURE SPOT REMOVER
Supplies:
- Small spray bottle
- 1 teaspoon dish washing liquid
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Clean absorbent towel
- Clean sponge
Quick steps: Dab stain, mix concoction, spray, dab. Watch. Dab again. Stain gone.
For full directions on how to clean the spot, click HERE.
DEEP CARPET STAINS
Supplies:
- White vinegar
- Rag
- Iron
- Water
Quick steps: Spray rag with vinegar and water (1:2). Place rag on stain and put hot iron on rag for 30 seconds.
For full instructions on how to clean the spot, click HERE.
CLEANING MOLD FROM TUB AND SHOWER
Supplies:
- Bleach
- Cotton beauty coils
Quick steps: Dip coils in bleach, line the moldy area with it. Let it sit overnight. Pull coils up. Mold gone.
For full directions on how to clean the mold, click HERE.
DISHWASHER DEEP CLEAN
Supplies:
- White vinegar
Quick steps: Clean out the bottom of the dishwasher, take a look at the drain and then put a glass of vinegar in the top rack. Run the dishwasher with the hottest water possible.
For full directions on how to clean your dishwasher, click HERE.
SINK AND DRAIN CLEANER
Supplies:
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Liquid dishwashing soap
- Rock salt
- Lemon or Lime
- Ice
- Rag
- Toothbrush
Quick steps: Wet sink then add baking soda. Create a paste. Scrub. Rinse. Soak paper towels in vinegar, line sink, let sit for 20 minutes and then rinse & dry.
For full instructions (which I did a horrible job at explaining), and directions on how to clean your disposal click HERE.
WINDOW CLEANING INCLUDING THE TRACKS
Supplies:
- Vinegar
- Qtips
- Paper towels
Quick steps: Wipe your window down. Dip Qtip in vinegar and get down deep into the tracks. Run the paper towel over the tracks and in crevices.
For full instructions and how the BEFORE picture turned into the AFTER, click HERE.
CLEANING KITCHEN CABINETS
Supplies:
- Microwave
- Sponges
- Rubber gloves
- All purpose cleaner
To clean your cabinets, first heat a slightly damp sponge or cloth in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds until it’s hot.
Spray the cabinets with an all-purpose cleaner containing orange oil then wipe off the cleaner with the hot sponge.
CLEANING A SHOWER HEAD
Supplies:
- White vinegar
- Plastic baggie
- Rubberband
- Rag
Quick steps: Fill a baggie with vinegar. Wrap full bag around shower head and secure with rubberband. Let sit. Remove. Wipe shower head.
For full instructions, click HERE.
CLEANING BLINDS
Supplies:
- Sock
- Vinegar
- Warm water
Quick steps: Combine equal parts water and vinegar. Put sock on hand, dip in mixture and swipe.
For a full how-to, click HERE.
CLEANING GLASS STOVE TOP
Supplies:
- Baking soda
- Hot water
- Rag
- Gloves
- Windex
- Paper towels
Quick steps: Dust stovetop with baking soda. Dip rag in almost hot water. Rid rag of water so it isn’t dripping. Place rag flat on top of baking soda dusting. Sit for 15 minutes, scrub and give it a final wash with windex.
For full instructions (and safety notes), click HERE.
CLEANING DRIVEWAY STAINS
Supplies:
- Pour-N-Restore
- Hard bristle brush
Quick instructions: Read the back of the bottle. How’s that for quick?
For a how-to based on another person’s experience, click HERE.
HOME UPDATE TIPS
FIXING SCRATCHES ON WOOD
Rub a walnut over wood scratches. That’s it.
PAINTING PERFECT TRIM
Use a large spackle knife to keep your paint in line, especially with trim. For more, click HERE.
NAIL HOLE QUICK-FIX
Take Dove bar soap and rub in a circular motion over a nail hole. See how it’s done, HERE.
Part 3 of the 3-part moving series will be posted this week.
We’ll walk you through some simple, DIY projects that will turn your home from average to luxury. We all want great looking houses but many of us can’t afford to do a complete renovation.
