It’s safe to say that moving is the perfect occasion to simply get rid of (once and for all) of things that we don’t need. The truth is that they only take away the space that we could otherwise be used. Unfortunately, many people have a very big problem with hoarding. Therefore, when moving, it is worth considering what is really needed and what isn’t. In this post, you will find some tips on how to clean your apartment before moving out, in order to get rid of unnecessary things and prepare the apartment for new residents. You can do it yourself or hire the best apartment cleaning services in Chicago.
Permanent parting with unnecessary clutter will make the move much easier, cheaper, and everything will go much faster. Let’s treat the move as a new chapter in our life, which we want to enter without unnecessary items. This doesn’t mean you’ll have to throw everything away. You can give away old clothes, furniture and household appliances to a local charity or sell it online and earn money on what has been lying in the basement, garage or attic for years.
Moving is an ideal opportunity to do a thorough cleaning and it is worth taking advantage of it! All it takes is a bit of time and initiative.
Why Is It Worth Cleaning Up Before Moving?
Most people before moving, limit cleaning in their house, thinking: “Why bother, if I’ll soon have to pack everything up and move out?”. However, as a professional Chicago apartment cleaner, we think that this is not a good approach and a big mistake.
Unfortunately, many people have a very big problem with hoarding. We usually accumulate different items thinking that everything can be useful – if not now, then later.
If you take the time to organize and clean your space before moving, then it will be much easier to pack and unpack. About 2 weeks before the scheduled date, it is worth starting organizing and
planning your move out cleanup.
Here are some tips on where to start and what to do:
From Top To Bottom
For starters, advice that may seem obvious and just common sense, but not everyone uses it… If you live in a house with multiple floors, why not start cleaning from the top floor? This way you can go from top to bottom and finish and leave the upper parts in perfect condition without the risk of repeated cleaning. Otherwise, the dust and mess from upstairs will settle on the lower floors and you might have to start again.
Get Rid Of Unnecessary Stuff
Before the final move, it is worth having a small… garage sale! Getting rid of a few things that have been lying unused for months in the corner will definitely do you good. You will not have to worry about whether everything will fit in your new apartment, and what’s more, you will make a few dollars for yourself. Remember that less is more, so get rid of all your wall clocks or furniture that just won’t fit in your new space. These things will gain new life and will surely bring joy to someone else.
Boxes With Labels
Each move brings a disturbing feeling of uncertainty and disorder at some point. We have the impression that something is out of control. Where did that lamp go? Where did we put those documents? If you don’t want to feel overwhelmed and anxious, or if you don’t want to lose something important, we advise you to use labeled boxes for each group of things.
Order and good organization are the basis of success during every move. One way to keep things organized is to use storage and transport containers. You’ll save time tidying up if you pack your things one by one. You can even number and write down the overall content of each box so you know exactly what’s where.
Now let’s move on to the good stuff!
Step By Step Move Out Cleanup
Below we will present several effective methods on how to effectively undertake move-out cleaning activities and what strategy to use in order not only to be proud of yourself, but also to reduce the amount of unnecessary things. Unfortunately, it won’t be easy!
1. Under and behind furniture
Although they have always been with us, our furniture can hide many interesting “treasures” under them, as well as behind them. These include clothes, old toys and even cutlery or crayons. It’s worth taking the time to fully explore the secrets hidden in places we’ve never looked at before.
2. Cleaning out the closets
Old jackets that remember the times when football was played outside and not on the computer, pants that won’t fit anymore or old sweaters, whose history we won’t even understand, must be disposed of. Clothes that you don’t wear anymore, are old and just sitting there at the bottom of your drawers should definitely go. There’s no point in keeping them around any longer.
3. Organizing your bookshelf
Many bookworms tend to buy books and not read them. As a result, piles of books are stacked in every corner, and when moving, the weight of them can oscillate around several hundred pounds. It’s better to get rid of the books that we are not going to read or that we have already read but have not impressed us.
4. What do we need this piece of furniture for?
Furniture that has lost its magic can also be a useless item in our new house / apartment. Isn’t it better to get rid of the troublesome companion, not only to limit the number of packages, but above all, to save your own time and energy? For us, the answer is pretty obvious.
5. Heavyweight waste paper
Newspapers, magazines and other journals are an integral part of a typical American household. Hundreds of newspapers, hoarded receipts and other useless pieces of paper are quite troublesome luggage. It’s not worth getting attached to them. A little hint from Your Bright Home –Cleaning Services : you can make some pocket money on recycling paper.
6. Declutter your basement, garage & attic
Garages, basements, cellars and attics are very mysterious places. On one hand, they are quiet and dark, and on the other hand, they can be a place full of secrets. Due to their nature, unfortunately you’ll need to spend much more time cleaning them up than in the case of your regular rooms as they are great places to store stuff that you don’t tend to use very often.
7. Zero sentiments!
Sentiments are the deadly enemy of move out cleanup. They’re the reason we are unable to get rid of unnecessary junk that we are emotionally connected to. Sometimes, despite strong attachment to certain items, some things are simply in a bad condition that they have to be thrown away. So bite the bullet and just clear absolutely everything.
Moving can be chaotic and stressful. In addition to packing and unpacking things in the new place, we also have to make sure that everything is left spotless. By hiring a professional Chicago apartment cleaner who specializes in move in/move out cleanup you will have the time to take care of decluttering your personal belongings and planning out the move. Contact us today and ask us about what we can do for you.
Boxes With Labels