If you’re preparing for a move, keeping your home clean probably isn’t at the top of your list. But as boxes pile up and rooms start to empty out, clutter can sneak up on you fast – especially if you’re still showing the home to potential buyers, leading to feeling overwhelmed, irritated, and just plain stressed.
The good news is that a little upfront planning goes a long way, making it possible to keep your home clean and save yourself the frustration of messes getting in your way and even slowing you down. Here are five tips to keep your home clean and organized throughout the moving process.
1. Plan and organize
It’s important to make a plan and stick to it – a plan that involves cleaning, that is. Because there are so many other aspects of a move to think about, tidying can get pushed to the back of your mind – only surfacing when the untidiness gets really bothersome.
Planning and organizing these aspects of a move can help keep your home clean:
- The packing process
- The packing process can get messy in itself, but if you have a solid packing plan, it will be more efficient and you’ll have more time to clean up at the end of each day.
- Make a plan and stick to it: Pack only one room at a time, or pack certain types of items on specific days to stay organized and clean as you go. If you wander from room to room and do a little bit of packing here and there without finishing anything, you’ll end up with a big mess and nothing checked off your to-do list.
- Supplies
- Make sure you have all the supplies you’ll need at the ready and keep them organized and in an easily accessible location
- Professional moving assistance
- Put the task of packing and moving into the hands of professionals to give you the time you need to keep your home clean and presentable for potential buyers.
2. Downsize
While moving, you might realize just how much stuff you really have. Sometimes, it can seem never-ending! And stuff will create mess – especially things that you haven’t looked at in a while and are collecting dust or grime. So, what’s the best thing to do in a situation like this? Downsize.
As you go through items, determine what can be donated and what should be discarded. Organizations like Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore accept furniture and household goods and make the drop-off process straightforward. After you’ve packed up what you’ve decided to keep, label the boxes so they end up the right places in your new home. Downsizing not only frees up space (and give you less stuff to pack!), it also means less to clean around as you work through the rest of the move.
3. Pack a bag for moving day
Moving day will probably be the most hectic and messiest day that you’ll have to deal with during the entire relocation process. To keep all of your items straight – especially what you’ll need throughout the day – it’s wise to pack a bag that you can access without having to dig through already-packed boxes. You should include belongings like your phone, a charger, extra clothes, medications, keys, and yes, some cleaning supplies for last-minute messes.
4. Rent a storage unit
To make your home more presentable to prospective buyers, you’ll want to minimize clutter during showings. A storage unit is a practical solution for items you’re not using day-to-day – like seasonal items, attic or basement overflow, and items kept in the garage. SpareFoot is a useful tool for comparing local storage options by size, price, and availability. Storage facility lease terms typically range from short- to long-term, so you can match the commitment to your timeline. If all you need is a place to store them while you get settled in, then a short-term lease will do. However, if you don’t have space for these unused items in the new house (and you’re not willing to part with them), a long-term lease might be your best bet.
5. Hire moving assistance
Moving is a lot to manage, but keeping your home clean throughout the process doesn’t have to add to the stress. The biggest bonus you’ll get when professional movers are doing the heavy lifting and packing is the time that you have to get your house clean and keep it clean.
With a solid packing plan, a little downsizing, and the right help in place, you can stay organized from first box to final walkthrough.