6 Areas of Your Kitchen to Clean After Moving In

Kim PhillipsHomeowner Hacks, Lifestyle, Tips

Image of renovated and cleaned kitchen

It’s official! You’ve just signed the paperwork on your new home and are getting ready to move in. While our team of local realtors can streamline this process in many ways, there are some tasks that are left up to the new homeowners. But don’t worry – we’ll provide you with the tools to give you the guidance you deserve.

Before you unpack all your belongings, a thorough clean can really make the house feel like your home. Chances are, when you took the first walkthrough, your soon-to-be house seemed impeccably clean and livable. However, now that you’ve moved in, you may notice some dust and grime buildup from the previous homeowners. Rather than live in the previous owner’s mess, take a weekend or two to deep clean some neglected areas. This will give you the fresh start you need to make the home truly feel like your own. Let’s start with the cleaning of your new kitchen!

Areas of the Kitchen You May Not Think About

The kitchen is a great place to start. Grime and gunk loves to accumulate throughout this area, so while it may look clean, it can always use a thorough wipe down. Here are some spots that could definitely use a clean, but are often forgotten about by typical homeowners:

1.     Kitchen Backsplash

If you have one behind your stove, there could be grease buildup from the previous homeowners. To clean the tile and grout, fill a spray bottle with a ¼ cup of baking soda, 2 tbsp of dish soap, and 2 cups of water. Spray your backsplash and wipe it down with a damp rag. If needed, scrub the grout lines with a wet toothbrush if the cloth isn’t abrasive enough.

2.     Kitchen Cabinets & Drawers

When’s the last time you wiped out your drawers and cabinets? For a lot of people, this is a forgotten task as it’s literally hidden behind doors. With all of these empty, it’s the best time to wipe down the interior and rid the areas of crumbs, dust, and other debris. After cleaning, you may want to insert liners into the bottom of the shelves and drawers. This will create a moisture barrier to protect the wood.

3.     Dishwasher

The appliance cleaning your dishes should definitely be an area of focus. Gunk and grime can buildup on the bottom of dishwashers, especially around the valve, which shouldn’t be in close contact with the dishware you eat off of.

To clean, remove the bottom dish rack and use a clean, damp cloth to wipe the filter and outflow valves. Replace the bottom rack and place a cup full of vinegar somewhere on the rack. Then, place a smaller dish with ¼ cup of baking soda on the top rack and run the dishwasher cycle on hot. Vinegar is a natural antibacterial liquid while baking soda helps breakdown hard water collections; together, they make a super cleaning concoction. After the dry cycle is complete, wipe the interior down with a soft cloth or sponge and you’re ready to go!

4.     Under the Stove

No matter how many people have lived in your new home, chances are, the stove hasn’t been pulled back since it was installed. Meaning, any food, grime, and dust that fell between the cracks, has been sitting there for quite some time.

To clean, you’ll have to pull the stove away from the wall. To do this, place moving disks, a doormat, or towels beneath the feet to avoid scratching the floor. When you pull the stove out, you may notice it only moves a few inches. This is likely due to the anti-tilt mechanism. If this occurs, simply lift up the front end and continue to gently pull. But be careful not to pull it too far as you could damage the gas line. To be safe, turn the valve off as soon as you see the gas line and leave it off while cleaning. No need to disconnect it from the wall, there should be enough room for you to sweep, mop, and degrease the area under the stove.

5.     Oven

Now that you’ve cleaned under the stove, time to tend to the interior of the oven. To clean, mix ½ cup of baking soda with just enough warm water to make a paste. Apply the paste into the oven using a brand new (or very clean) paint brush. Then, fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and water and spray on top of the paste. The combination of vinegar and baking soda will dissolve the grime, making it easy to wipe away. Let this concoction sit in your oven for at least 12 hours before wiping it with a clean cloth and water. Repeat if needed.

6.     Faucets

The tips of your faucets can get very dirty. Since this is the place your water pours through, you definitely want to ensure it’s clean before using. To do this, fill a sandwich bag with vinegar and use a rubber band to attach it to the faucet. Let this soak for a few hours then wipe with a damp cloth to remove any grime. Run some hot water for a minute or two and your faucet is good as new.

Need Help with Cloverdale, Surrey, or Langley Real Estate?

Moving can feeling overwhelming for several reasons. Whether it’s navigating Langley real estate, finding the best realtor in Cloverdale, or the emotional toll of leaving your current home, moving can feel like quite the chore. With all that in mind, the key to minimizing your stress is proper planning. Our team of local realtors can simplify this process to make it as stress-free as possible. While we’ve been voted the “Best Realtor in Cloverdale,” what matters most is if were the best real estate team for you. We’d love to sit down and chat with you to go over your needs, hopes, and goals. Book a meeting today!