One of my not so admirable traits is moving house as often as the weather changes in Melbourne.
While I've certainly had my reasons it still hasn't been ideal for the most part.
The house we are in now is certainly a home to us. I love it and really thought this one would be it…. For a while at least but alas we need another bedroom for bubs. I'm also not too sad about missing our neighbours sound system that makes our walls shake. He's a great guy, we love him but please just turn your fucking bass down.
Anyways I'd like to give myself the unofficial qualification as a moving house expert because I've done it so many fucking times it's actually ridiculous.
Follow my list and you are sure to have yourself a stress free time on moving day….. Unless your family helps you then I take back the stress free statement. You’re fucked regardless.
So first, let's assume you have given your 28 days notice. Exciting! 28 days is perfect to get your home ‘move ready’.
While it's still too early to pack most things (Unless you're a hoarder, then get packing pal) there is a bunch you can still start with.
Linen - leave out a spare and you can rotate the one on your bed and the spare, everything else pack it away.
Ornaments, books, pictures - I leave some around the living areas still just so it doesn't look bare and my kids don't feel out of place but the rest straight into boxes.
Shoes and clothes - the heels that you haven't worn in 12 months I'm sure will survive another 28 days without being worn. Same as the dress that I promise you won't need. Pack it up!
Anything in cupboards that are not essential. I'm talking extra trays (now is not the time to have 20 people over for a dinner party) cake tins, mix master you get my drift. The stuff that you generally don't use you still generally won't use them in the next month.
Most things I will pack into boxes but for some reason I have always packed clothes and linen into either duffle bags or even garbage bags to keep boxes free for other things. Just make sure if you do use garbage bags that you clearly label them.
Now to get cleaning. I promise you it is not too early to start. The goal is to clean as much as you can now so that when you come back the day after the big move it's as easy as wiping things down. Gone are the days wiping yourself out cleaning every nook and cranny before keys go back.
I remember as a kid I would be playing in my room and then hear a noise at my bedroom door. It was my mum wiping down my dirty little finger prints off and I always thought she was crazy! But if we were that meticulous with our cleaning in general think about how easy moving would be! You will be surprised at the places dirt finds home. Here is where you can start while you are prepping for move day
Wipe down all doors and handles
Magic erasers are your best friend spot clean all the marks off your walls
Skirting boards and architraves wipe dust and cobwebs off
Exhaust fans - kitchen & bathrooms
Dust ducts
Wipe down light switches
Clean windows
Curtains/blinds
Weed garden - about a week out from move day
Clean showers and toilets for a quicker clean on the day
I can promise these little things will be a big help for your move. The next step is to organise a carpet cleaner to come in once the property is vacant and your required method of transport for your belongings. We hire a truck but it all depends on budget, if you know someone that knows someone etc.
Organise your utilities, internet etc just make sure power is on for when you are cleaning and incase the carpet cleaner needs access too.
By the time move day comes around everything will be mostly packed other than a couple little things.
Toothbrush and personal items
Travel bag of clothes
Cutlery And crockery for just enough people that live in the house
Coffee essentials
Even cups should be packed away. Buy a cheap slab of water bottles from the grocery store and use those instead.
Now how you pack the truck/van/aeroplane is up to you and how many trips you plan on doing so I'll leave that to you and we will get back to the cleaning checklist for handing back the keys.
You will need
A flat mop - either with a sponge on the end or a microfiber pad
2 buckets
Sugar soap
Oven cleaner
Dishwasher cleaner
Shower cleaning foam - Bam is my favorite
Toilet cleaner
Multipurpose spray
Window cleaner
Floor cleaner
Cloths, sponges, old towels
Paper towel
Brush and pan
Vacuum and broom
Okay now that you have everything you are ready to go.
When you first get to the house to clean, go straight to the oven and spray that baby with cleaner. (Or you could have done this a few days before and only used the stove) spray the stove top too.
Then take your shower foam and go cover those showers top to bottom.
Toilet cleaner in the toilet.
Then I like to start with completing a room at a time and get the whole room done before moving onto the next close the door behind you so you know that's done.
Bedrooms
Quick dust of window sills
Are the windows still clean?
Wipe down wardrobes
Light switches/power points
Skirting boards
Check for cobwebs
Wipe doors
Vacuum - before washing walls
Sugar soap walls
So fill your bucket with part sugar soap and warm water follow directions on the bottle.
Using your flat mop, dip it in the bucket, wring out excess water and literally mop the walls.
Put a towel along the bottom for any drips but also make sure you wring the mop out enough.
Bathrooms and Laundry
Window sills
Windows
Hopefully the foam is enough and you only need to rinse it off the shower because your prior prep was enough - if not, get scrubbing
Windex shower screen
Mirrors
Light switches/power points
Vanity, sink, taps all wiped down
Cupboards & shelving
Vacuum
Sugar soap walls
Mop
Hallways, dining and living areas
Same steps as bedrooms
Kitchen
If you are cleaning your oven and stove on the day you will need that extra bucket.
Full with warm water and use a sponge to wipe all the foam off, it will be dirrrrrrty so rinse sponge in the bucket. Once happy then wipe down with a clean cloth and multipurpose spray.
Wipe down all cupboard doors and shelves
Pantry inside and out
Run a dishwasher cleaner through
Skirting boards/ arcs
Light switches/ power points
Rangehood (try do this a few days prior because they can be a bitch to clean)
Windows and sills
Bench tops
Sink and taps
Vacuum
Sugar soap walls
Mop
Front door and back door
Outside and garage
If you have grass you know what to do or have already done it - cut it
Weeds? What weeds you've already done that.
Windows hopefully were cleaned already but if not get to it with the good old hose.
Sweep pavement
Pick up poop of you have animals a must
Sweep out the garage from dust etc
Make sure bins are already emptied before handing keys back no rubbish can be left.
And there you have it! Hopefully this guide will get you through your move and be the easiest one yet.
Moving house can be a hard time, stressful and tiring but hopefully by chipping away at it over your last 28 days before move day, you can be excited and ready for your new beginning.
Happy moving
Tan x
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