the MOVE-IN CLEANING CHECKLIST you didn't know you needed | Beginner's Guide (Eco- Friendly)

Summary

This video script provides a comprehensive guide for cleaning and preparing a new living space before moving in. It emphasizes the importance of cleaning light switches and handles, deep-cleaning the bathroom, and working from top to bottom due to gravity. The narrator shares personal preferences for using all-purpose cleaners, peroxide, and alcohol, and offers tips on cleaning toilets, grout, and appliances. Additionally, the script touches on the responsibilities of landlords and tenants, including maintaining property and addressing necessary repairs.

Takeaways

• 🔑 Start with cleaning light switches and handles, especially if there's paint or joint compound on them.
• 🧼 Deep clean the bathroom, including the toilet and sink, using all-purpose cleaner or disinfectant, and a melamine sponge for heavy-duty stains.
• 🌬 Use peroxide, oxygen powder, and 70% alcohol diluted with warm water and essential oil for cleaning and disinfecting.
• 🥥 For toilet cleaning, use a coconut husk scrubbing pad, which is a sustainable and biodegradable alternative to store-bought sponges.
• 💧 Clean from the inside out in the bathroom to prevent back spray from dirtying already cleaned surfaces.
• 🛋️ Check for necessary maintenance tasks like changing HVAC filters and addressing any landlord responsibilities.
• 🖼️ Clean walls if the property has been vacant to remove dust before painting.
• 🌀 Work from top to bottom when cleaning to avoid re-cleaning due to gravity pulling dirt downwards.
• 🍽️ Clean kitchen appliances and mid-level surfaces like countertops after higher surfaces like vents and cabinet tops.
• 🚰 Use CLR for mineral buildup on faucets if the buildup is severe, and citric acid or vinegar for lighter cases.
• 🧽 Maintain grout by cleaning and resealing it to prevent water damage, which is often the landlord's responsibility but tenants can also take initiative.

Q & A

What are the two primary things the speaker suggests cleaning or replacing in a new place?

The speaker suggests starting with cleaning or replacing light switches and handles, as they can be touched frequently and may have paint or joint compound on them.

Why does the speaker emphasize deep cleaning the bathroom, specifically the toilet and sink?

The speaker emphasizes deep cleaning the bathroom because it's a place where cleanliness is crucial for health, and it's used frequently, necessitating a thorough initial cleaning.

What type of cleaner does the speaker recommend for general cleaning purposes?

The speaker recommends using an all-purpose cleaner or disinfectant for general cleaning purposes, and for heavy-duty stains, suggests using a steamer or a melamine sponge.

What natural alternative does the speaker prefer for cleaning the toilet bowl?

The speaker prefers using coconut husk scrubbing pads as a natural alternative to store-bought sponges for cleaning the toilet bowl.

Why does the speaker advocate for working from top to bottom when cleaning?

Working from top to bottom ensures that any dirt or dust that falls due to gravity is on surfaces that have not yet been cleaned, preventing the need to re-clean areas.

What is the speaker's opinion on using store-bought household cleaners?

The speaker prefers to use fewer, more versatile products like Castile soap and diluted alcohol with essential oils for fragrance, to avoid the high cost and waste associated with multiple store-bought cleaners.

What should one do if they find the grout in their new place needs re-sealing?

The speaker suggests mentioning to the landlord that they are taking care of re-sealing the grout themselves and possibly negotiating a rent concession in return.

Why does the speaker clean the vents during the move-in cleaning process?

Cleaning the vents is part of the top-to-bottom approach and ensures that any dust or debris that falls from the vents during cleaning doesn't dirty already cleaned surfaces.

What is the speaker's method for cleaning the baseboards?

The speaker uses a cleanser and possibly vacuums if there is dust from filling holes and sanding, emphasizing the importance of cleaning from top to bottom.

How does the speaker address cleaning the floors in the new place?

The speaker recommends using a wet vac or a traditional mop, and for floor towels, suggests the squeegee method to avoid oversaturating hardwood floors.

What method does the speaker use to clean their cleaning rags?

The speaker cleans their rags using Oxy Powder, which is a solid form of hydrogen peroxide, to keep the white rags clean.

Outlines

00:00

🧼 Essential Cleaning and Replacement Before Moving In

This paragraph emphasizes the importance of cleaning and replacing certain items before moving into a new place. It starts with the need to clean light switches and handles, especially when they have paint or joint compound on them, using a scraper. The bathroom, particularly the toilet and sink, is highlighted as an area requiring deep cleaning for hygiene reasons. The narrator suggests using all-purpose cleaners or disinfectants, and for stubborn stains, a melamine sponge or steamer might be necessary. The paragraph also touches on the use of homemade cleaning solutions like Castile soap, peroxide oxygen powder, and alcohol, as well as the preference for reducing single-use items and the use of biodegradable alternatives like coconut husk scrubbing pads. Lastly, the paragraph mentions the importance of checking local landlord-tenant laws before signing a lease.

05:04

🏠 Cleaning顺序和租房维护责任

The second paragraph discusses the recommended order for cleaning a new home, suggesting a top-to-bottom approach due to gravity, to avoid re-cleaning messes from higher surfaces. It covers cleaning vents, appliances, countertops, and built-in units, with a reminder to check for filters in water dispensers or ice makers. The narrator also mentions the need for tenants to inform landlords about maintenance issues, even if it's the landlord's responsibility, and shares personal experiences with maintenance quality. There's also a mention of cleaning grout and the possibility of tenants doing the job themselves for better results, with a suggestion to negotiate rent concessions for such efforts.

10:05

🧽 Deep Cleaning Techniques and Tools

This paragraph focuses on deep cleaning techniques, starting with vacuuming at a slow pace to maximize suction effectiveness. It mentions the use of a wet back for simultaneous vacuuming and mopping, which is more effective than traditional mopping by preventing the spread of dirty water. The narrator also discusses the limitations of their current model, such as the roller not reaching the edges, but expresses satisfaction with its performance. Additionally, the paragraph covers the cleaning of baseboards, the use of a cleanser or vacuum for dust removal, and the importance of sealing grout to prevent water damage.

15:11

🛠️ Final Touches and Cleaning Solutions

The final paragraph wraps up the cleaning process by detailing the final touches, such as deep vacuuming and using a traditional mop or the squeegee method for hardwood floors to avoid over-saturation. The narrator recommends the Muji cleaning system for its versatility and interchangeable pieces. It also addresses the challenge of cleaning grout and shares a successful experiment with baking soda, which not only lightened the grout but also removed artifacts from the tile. Lastly, the paragraph discusses the cleaning of rags using Oxy Powder and ends with a note on the importance of authenticity and a teaser for full-time artists.

Keywords

💡Deep Cleaning

Deep cleaning refers to a thorough cleaning process that goes beyond regular maintenance to remove dirt, grime, and bacteria from surfaces and fixtures. In the video, deep cleaning is the central theme as the speaker discusses cleaning various areas of a new home, including the toilet, sink, and grout, which requires special attention and cleaning techniques.

💡Light Switches

Light switches are electrical devices used to control the flow of power to lights. In the context of the video, they are mentioned as one of the first things to clean in a new home due to potential dirt or paint residue, emphasizing the importance of cleanliness in areas that are frequently touched.

💡Bathroom Break

The term 'bathroom break' is used humorously in the script to highlight the necessity of cleaning the bathroom thoroughly, as it is a place that will be used frequently. It underscores the importance of a clean and sanitary bathroom environment.

💡All-Purpose Cleaner

An all-purpose cleaner is a versatile cleaning product designed to clean a wide range of surfaces without causing damage. In the video, it is mentioned as a primary tool for general cleaning tasks, illustrating the practicality of having a single product for multiple cleaning needs.

💡Melamine Sponge

A melamine sponge is a cleaning tool known for its abrasive qualities, which make it effective for scrubbing away tough stains. The script mentions using a melamine sponge for heavy-duty stains, indicating its utility in deep cleaning scenarios.

💡Peroxide

Peroxide, specifically hydrogen peroxide, is a common ingredient in cleaning products due to its disinfecting properties. In the video, peroxide is mentioned as part of the cleaning arsenal, demonstrating its role in sanitizing surfaces.

💡Castile Soap

Castile soap is a vegetable-based liquid soap known for its gentle yet effective cleaning properties. The script mentions using Castile soap as an alternative to various household cleaners, reflecting a preference for natural and multipurpose cleaning solutions.

💡Coconut Husk

A coconut husk is the fibrous outer shell of a coconut, which in the video, is mentioned as a sustainable and effective alternative to synthetic scrubbing pads. This highlights an eco-friendly approach to cleaning by repurposing a byproduct of the coconut industry.

💡Grout

Grout is the cementitious material that binds tiles together in installations such as flooring and walls. The script discusses cleaning and possibly resealing grout to prevent moisture damage, emphasizing the importance of maintaining not just visible surfaces but also the structural elements of a space.

💡Landlord Tenant Laws

Landlord tenant laws are the regulations governing the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants. The video mentions the importance of being aware of these laws, particularly regarding the expectations of cleanliness and maintenance before moving into a new place.

💡HVAC System

An HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system is crucial for regulating indoor air quality and temperature. The script suggests changing the filter in the HVAC system as part of the move-in cleaning process, indicating the significance of maintaining air quality in a living space.

💡Squarespace

Squarespace is a website building platform that allows users to create and manage their own websites, blogs, and online stores. In the video, it is mentioned as a tool for content creators, providing an example of how to organize and present cleaning tools, ingredients, and methods in an online format.

Highlights

Clean and replace light switches and handles first.

Use a scraper for any paint or joint compound on light switches.

Deep clean the bathroom, especially the toilet and sink.

Use all-purpose cleaner or disinfectant for cleaning.

For heavy-duty stains, apply a steamer or use a melamine sponge.

Ingredients for cleaning include peroxide, oxygen powder, and alcohol.

Castile soap is used for scrubbing as it needs to be agitated to work effectively.

70% alcohol diluted with warm water and essential oil can be used as a disinfectant.

Coconut husk scrubbing pads are a better alternative to store-bought sponges.

Clean the toilet from the inside out by pouring water into it to lower the water level.

Replace the toilet seat for hygiene reasons.

Research landlord-tenant laws in your state as they vary.

Clean from top to bottom to avoid making a mess.

Use a vacuum for cleaning vents and other surfaces.

Request a maintenance change for the HVAC filter for better results.

Clean walls if the place has been vacant for a while to remove dust.

Clean kitchen cabinets and appliances starting from the top.

Check the refrigerator and freezer for filters that may need changing.

Use citric acid or vinegar for minor mineral build-up and CLR for heavy build-up.

Create a maintenance request for grouting if necessary.

Use a wet vacuum for both vacuuming and mopping, which is more effective.

Deep clean carpets by vacuuming at a slow pace for better suction.

Squeegee method is recommended for cleaning floor tiles to avoid over-saturating hardwood floors.

Using baking soda for grout cleaning can lighten grout and remove residual dirt.

Oxy powder is used for cleaning white rags, similar to hydrogen peroxide.

Transcripts

you got the keys to your new place but

now what these are the things that you

want to clean and or replace before you

move in now personally there's two

things that I'm going to start with for

anything else and that's light switches

and handles because I mean you get it

and again I'm gonna be extra I noticed

that there's some paint or joint

compound or something on this light

switch so I'm going in with a scraper

and getting that up first and third is

the bathroom or shall I say at least the

toilet in the sink which I'm sure you've

guessed is for obvious reasons why

you're deep cleaning for potentially

hours you're gonna need bathroom break

and for the most part this is going to

be pretty simple because all you really

need is your all-purpose cleaner or

disinfectant but if you have any heavy

duty stains then you might want to apply

a steamer or in this case I'm going to

use a melamine sponge just keep in mind

what I said before it is safe on plastic

but anything with a really super high

gloss shine no

and since you asked the ingredients or

products that I use is pretty much all

the things that you've seen me use thus

far I also use peroxide oxygen powder

and alcohol I do still buy some products

sometimes I just have always hated the

fact that it costs a lot of money to buy

several different types of household

cleaners so I generally use Castile that

though I'm never just wiping it off with

a Rags I'm actually really going in and

agitating it because that is how so

works you need to scrub but as a

disinfectant I'll also use 70 alcohol

diluted with warm water and essential

oil for fragrance if I want it if you

are using store-bought products don't

forget to read because most of them you

might need to apply but leave it on for

up to 10 minutes before you wipe it for

actually cleaning like inside the bowl

my favorite like sponge alternative is a

coconut husk and that is what these

little scrubbing pads are made of I find

this to be like a much better

alternative to the store-bought version

I like to reduce my single use of things

as much as possible but because it is a

byproduct of the coconut industry this

is a material that would have been

otherwise discarded anyway it's just

making additional use it is

biodegradable and you'll notice that I'm

cleaning my toilet from the inside out

and that's because you saw me pour water

into it and fully clean the entire Bowl

because then the water is low enough for

you to get all the porcelain and that's

another reason why I start with the

toilet first because any back spray that

gets on the rest of the bathroom the

damage is done and then I can clean

afterwards in my first move-in video I

also replaced the toilet seat because I

feel like the landlord should just

already do this actually that's number

one before you even sign a lease look up

any landlord tenant laws in your state

because that can vary a lot because like

in Philly for example a landlord is not

obligated to paint in between tenants so

even though it is something you would

just expect is like good practice not

everyone does it because they're not

required to

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thank you

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you want to be working from top to

bottom because gravity if you go in that

sequence everything from above will fall

and since you haven't gotten to that

surface yet you're not making more of a

mess that you're gonna have to re-clean

later so for me that means I'm going to

be cleaning my vents first and it was at

about this point that I realized girl

what is you doing like you literally

have a whole vacuum I will get something

new and then just let it sit in the Box

for like days if not weeks I'm

struggling to even describe it but it's

like buying it was Peak dopamine and now

I'm waiting for it in the mail you have

to like wait for the excitement or a

burst of inspiration to actually

interact with it

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and this is just the bare minimum

because what you really want to do is

call your landlord or put in a

maintenance request to change the filter

in your HVAC system and you're not going

to believe the results or actually at

this point I'm sure you definitely would

because after I was cleaning in the last

video the worst is to be expected

is it Overkill maybe but depending on

the place that you have this might be

absolutely necessary you can clean the

walls the reason you might want to do

this is if your place has sat vacant for

a bit of time really though I'm doing

this as a cleanup because I do intend to

paint this is helping me clean up any

dust before I do that

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the next highest surface is the tops of

my kitchen cabinets that you saw me do

in a previous video but here's a recap

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I ain't got

and then naturally you can clean the top

cabinets as well now that you've worked

your way down you can work on appliances

and any like mid-level surfaces things

like countertops and any built-in units

that are in maybe your wardrobe and that

I've already covered in part one so I'll

have it linked in the description box

and it's also popping up on the screen

right now and that'll walk you through

things like your oven dishwasher garbage

disposal anything I didn't show you was

the refrigerator and the freezer but

something to keep in mind for that is if

you do have like a water dispenser or

ice maker do check to make sure that you

don't have a filter that you need to

change

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got some place

got no hesitation it's about the journey

not the destination guess I'm about to

stress my patience honestly I want to

have a conversation with all the people

that help me become a good mom your

fathers good moms good Sons

just like in the kitchen I had mineral

buildup on a faucet if it's not too bad

you can get away with the weak acid like

citric acid or vinegar because you're

really built up just go for the CLR and

by the way anything that I'm using

cleaners tools ingredients all that I'd

like to have everything just like in one

place on the blog but currently it is

under construction I think it needs a

revamp so you can write everything in

the description box instead of the

website which by the way is very easy to

do you can either drag everything to

this portion of like your menu which

will make it invisible so you can leave

some stuff and not others and create an

entirely new page like a cover page or

landing page that says coming soon or

under construction or literally not make

the page public at all and keep it under

password so again usability easy to

navigate as usual if you're a Creator

wanting to run a Blog create an online

shop or just have a portfolio on the

internet you can run any type of

platform with Squarespace and run a

newsletter and use their bio sites to

link all of your social media channels

so you've got options and you can get a

discount with my code a between e or

just head to squarespace.com backslash a

between e

thank you

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thank you

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foreign

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of those things that is absolutely not

your problem because it's the landlord's

responsibility to maintain an upkeep

property however you as the tenant do

need to make them aware One Step they

don't notice they have to address it

this just so happens to be one of those

things that I'm so used to doing that it

would be faster for me to do it myself

and also would ensure that it's done

properly because I've had maintenance do

like the sloppiest job possible so that

they can just move on literally just

slap it on spray it with some soapy

water and then wipe it with their finger

in any excess they just don't really

care how it looks well I do because it

will be with an eyeshadow of me while I

take a bath so again I'm doing this

myself however remember you don't have

to grout is one of those things that has

to be resealed but unfortunately a lot

of owners are absentee landlords so

they're not always fully aware of what's

going on their property because they

literally live in another state or have

someone else manage it who could

probably be doing a better job so this

will keep moisture from getting in and

causing any water damage which they

definitely don't want so really I'm

doing a favor especially if you feel the

same what you can do is just kind of

mention you taking care of it yourself

and see if they will give you some type

of concession on rent to compensate you

and also save them the money of not

having to hire someone

foreign

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thank you

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foreign

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thank you

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continue to work our way down now we're

at the baseboards we go in with a

cleanser or in my case if you have any

dust from filling holes and sanding then

you can of course vacuum as well

foreign

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I love my wet back because you can do

both vacuuming and mopping at the same

time and I feel like it's more effective

because it's actually suctioning the

water off of the floors so you're not

just pushing around dirty mop water and

you dock it to the charging station

where it will self-clean the roller

debris Channel however it does require

more cleaning than that doesn't really

bother me though I still find it less

labor intensive than mopping the only

con and that's actually just specific to

this model is that the roller doesn't

reach all the way to the edge so I would

love to upgrade but this one still works

and these ain't cheap so I will just

continue to be grateful

all right

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then of course you want to do a really

good Deep Cleaner way that you do that

is vacuuming at a really slow pace this

just gives the suction more time to get

farther down again this is from a

previous video so if you want to see the

full thing I'll put it up on the screen

and put it in the description box and as

an alternative to the wet vac of course

you can do a traditional mop and for

floor towels especially I love to do the

squeegee method because obviously with

hardwood you don't want to over saturate

the floors even if they're engineered I

recommend the Muji system because it has

lots of interchangeable pieces to

accommodate different areas and

different cleaning styles

foreign

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despite all the things I've tried even

steam I have not been able to change the

color of the grout even though I

technically planned to change the color

with one of those pins I thought I'd at

least give it a try

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foreign

and you'll notice that immediately it

kind of looks like there is a difference

but I was skeptical that it was just the

baking soda and it was but I still

wasn't entirely sure if it was making a

difference so I said we gonna do a side

by side comparison and I did half of the

floor

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and to make cleanup easier I use the wet

vac which as you can see the ring on the

screen is now red that's because

actually Auto detects when there is more

of a mess to clean up and afterwards

there was no denying it because not only

did it clearly lighten the grout because

this is completely dry at this point

also it seems to have taken a lot of

artifact off of the tile like something

told me that those little gray areas

were not actually part of the marble and

I was correct even though I only focused

on the grout it seems that the residual

has picked up on those areas this was

the second most asked question which is

how do I clean these Rags because it is

bold to be using white and technically I

don't do anything special I just use Oxy

Powder which believe it or not is kind

of sort of like a solid version of

hydrogen peroxide

but if you don't like this music then

don't be listening to it you know I'm

just a dude that you know or something

similar if you don't keep it real can

you go somewhere but here cause you know

we're only losing control

I say if you don't like this music you

don't be listening to it you know I'm

just a dude that you know or something

similar if you don't keep it real then

you go somewhere but here cause you know

we're only losing control just for a

minute so this is a recap of everything

that we've done

uh

yeah

full-time artists don't talk keep it

real no secret I wanted to get home to

my own release

what's the point of seeing season stay I

pledge my allegiance

I stumbled in the greatest