Move-In Cleaning: Deep Bleach Cleaning for Your New Home

Cleaning your new home before moving in is a crucial step, ensuring both comfort and hygiene for a worry-free start to life in your new environment. LetsGetHome provides a detailed DIY cleaning guide for new homeowners, teaching you how to use bleach effectively and safely for disinfection and cleaning purposes.

Comprehensive Cleaning Steps for New Homeowners

Cleaning Planning and Preparation

Before you start the actual cleaning, assess the cleaning needs of each room and prepare the necessary supplies and tools.

• Protective gear: gloves, masks
• Vacuum cleaner: equipped with a HEPA filter capable of trapping over 99.7% of particles
• Bleach/Dettol: for disinfection
• Dish soap: for general cleaning
• Baking soda: for stain removal
• Vinegar: diluted for floor cleaning to neutralize odors
• Mops, sponges, trash bags, etc.

Cleaning should follow a top-down, inside-out approach. Perform a thorough vacuum of the new home, followed by cleaning from the ceiling to the floor. LetsGetHome has prepared a comprehensive rental checklist for free download, including property viewing, signing, moving, settling in, and terminate tenancy.

Deep Cleaning for Kitchen and Bathroom

Start with the dirtiest parts of the home, typically the kitchen and bathrooms, where cleaning needs are most intensive.

• Kitchen:
  • Clean inside and outside of cabinets.
  • Use specialized cleaners for the stove and exhaust hood.
  • Sanitize the inside and outside of the refrigerator and microwave.
• Bathroom:
  • Deep clean tiles, toilets, and sinks with lime water or other specialized cleaners.
  • Check and clean the drainage systems.
• Recommended Products:
  • Antibacterial cleaners
  • Lime water or bleach
  • Heavy-duty degreasers

Bedrooms and Living Areas

Pay attention to every room, especially large surfaces like floors and windows.

• Bedroom:
  • Clean windows and sills.
  • Disinfect switches and door handles.
  • Vacuum and mop floors.
• Living Area and Others:
  • Clean fans and light fixtures.
  • Wipe down furniture surfaces.
• Recommended Products:
  • Window cleaner
  • Streak-free cloths
  • General disinfectant

Ventilation and Inspection

After cleaning, ensure windows are open to facilitate good ventilation, helping to eliminate odors and chemical residues.

• Confirm all areas are thoroughly cleaned.
• Check lights and switches for functionality.
• Ensure all facilities meet safety standards.

Bleach Disinfection Ratio: A Safety Guide

Bleach is an economical and effective disinfectant but must be used cautiously to ensure safety and effectiveness. Here are some tips for using bleach:

• Dilution Ratio: Follow health department guidelines to dilute bleach appropriately for home disinfection.
• Kitchen Disinfection: For general disinfection, dilute bleach with water at a ratio of 1:99, spray on kitchen surfaces, and let air dry.
• Bathroom Disinfection: Use a 1:49 bleach dilution to clean all parts of the bathroom, effectively combating pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli.
• Usage Precautions: Avoid mixing with other cleaners, do not dilute with hot water, and ensure wearing rubber gloves during application.
• Contact Time: Allow diluted bleach to dry naturally on surfaces to ensure effective disinfection.
• Incompatibility: Bleach should not be used on metals, wool, nylon, silk, dyed fabrics, or painted surfaces as it may cause damage.

Mixing Bleach with Dettol?

It is not recommended to mix bleach with Dettol or other chemical-based disinfectants as they may react and produce harmful gases or other adverse reactions. If cleaning with both products is necessary, use them separately and ensure thorough rinsing between applications, maintaining good ventilation at all times.

Is the Smell of Bleach Toxic?

The fumes from bleach can be irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat. Prolonged inhalation of high concentrations can be harmful, especially in poorly ventilated areas. Ensure adequate ventilation when using bleach to minimize long-term inhalation.

Symptoms of Bleach Exposure

Improper contact with bleach can lead to significant health issues. Inhalation may cause respiratory irritation, coughing, chest discomfort, or breathing difficulties. Contact with skin or eyes can result in burns, redness, pain, and blurred vision. Ingesting bleach can cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and even internal burns.

Evaporation Time for Bleach

Generally, bleach evaporates within a few minutes to hours in a well-ventilated area. In warmer and drier conditions, evaporation is quicker, whereas it's slower in cold or humid conditions. For safety, ventilate the area for at least 30 minutes after using bleach to accelerate evaporation and reduce potential risks. If indoor ventilation is poor, longer periods may be required to ensure complete evaporation.

FAQs for New Home Settling-In in Hong Kong