Whether they are your first or third, bringing home a new baby is always exciting, but it can also be stressful. Chances are a new mother won’t have time to do housework as she bonds with her baby and takes her well-deserved break from everything else. That’s why we created this quick guide that covers the things that must be cleaned before bringing a new baby home.
Keep in mind that cleaning before a baby arrives is a bit different than regular housekeeping. It would be wonderful if the whole house were already sparkling and fresh from a professional one-time deep cleaning. But newborn babies have their own schedule, and things don’t always go as planned. That’s why it’s best to tackle cleaning things that really matter!
Of course, you’ll get the nursery sparkling clean and sanitized, but your new baby needs a clean home, not just a clean room. You won’t have much time for cleaning after, so take care of the essential cleaning before the baby arrives. Follow this deep cleaning list to prepare for the big day and once you’re settled in, learn how to keep your home clean with a baby.
Deep Cleaning List for Before a Baby Arrives
Many commercial cleaning products include harsh and sometimes toxic ingredients—the last things you want around a new baby. Ideally, you would skip the commercial cleaners during and after your pregnancy—and maybe forever! Most cleaning before a baby arrives won’t require the powerful chemicals typically found in commercial products, so opt for a safer and more natural approach.
Many household cleaning chores are easily handled with distilled white vinegar, baking soda, and other natural cleaning solutions. White vinegar is a mild, eco-friendly cleaner, disinfectant, and stain remover, and baking soda is a safe whitener, deodorizer, and degreaser. Keep the focus on natural cleaning and use these tips to complete your cleaning list before the baby arrives.
- Don’t overdo it. Even though cleaning before the baby comes home is necessary, new babies are pretty resilient, so you don’t have to worry about every speck of dirt and a few lingering germs.
- Ask for help from friends, family, your kids, and your partner ahead of time. Deep cleaning can be hard work, so assemble your team and spread the cleaning out over several days.
- Take plenty of breaks, don’t climb ladders or get up on chairs, and wear a face mask and safety glasses when you’re working on dirt and dust above your head.
- Be good to yourself and be honest with what you can safely and practically achieve.
Now that you and your cleaning team have prepared for a whole-house cleaning, tackle the items on this cleaning list before the baby arrives.
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Dust Collectors
- Tackle dusting each room one at a time.
- Dust with a dry microfiber cloth or duster and damp-wipe as the final step.
- Work from high to low and use a broom or other extension to avoid climbing a ladder or stool.
- Dust window blinds and damp-wipe the blinds and window sills.
- Be sure to dust the tops of door and window frames, fans, picture frames, and light fixtures.
- When you’re done, sweep and vacuum up the dust and debris.
Floors
- Vacuum carpets and rugs and sweep and mop hard surface floors.
- If possible, use a HEPA-equipped vacuum like The Maids to minimize airborne pollutants.
- Clean baseboards, and be sure to get into the corners of your flooring.
- For carpet that has stains or is dingy, you may want to give it a thorough cleaning.
- Chemical carpet cleaners often contain harsh chemicals, so use a steamer or hire a carpet cleaning service that practices safe, healthy cleaning instead.
Bathrooms
- Give your bathrooms a good cleaning using natural cleaning products.
- Replace or discard worn and soiled bath rugs.
- Disinfect the toilet, faucets, handles, vanity tops, and other commonly touched items.
- Inspect behind the toilet and around the tub and sink for mold and mildew and remove it if you find it.
Kitchen
- Give your kitchen a thorough cleaning and declutter your countertops.
- Clean and purge your freezer and fridge to store baby bottles and the inevitable meals brought by friends and family.
- Clear out the cabinet beneath the sink and give it a good cleaning.
- Sanitize countertops, the sink, and other commonly touched areas.
Appliance Cleaning Before a Baby Arrives
You may not have considered cleaning your appliances before your new baby gets home. However, there are two essential appliances you can clean to make your life easier upon arrival: your dishwasher and washing machine. Here’s how to get them clean and ready to handle the extra laundry and baby equipment.
Dishwasher
Your dishwasher gets a regular workout, and with the new addition to the family, it will handle even more dishes and help clean and sanitize baby items. If you haven’t cleaned your dishwasher in a while, now is the time to get it done.
Clean the removable racks, spray arms, and filters in the sink and put them back in the dishwasher. Set a cup of white vinegar on the top shelf, pour another cup of vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher, and run a hot water cycle. For odors and mold buildup, pour a cup of baking soda into the bottom of the dishwasher and run a cycle on the hottest setting.
Washing Machine
When cleaning before a baby arrives, don’t forget your washing machine! A new baby means a lot more laundry. To get rid of mold, odors, and detergent residue, you’ll want to clean and sanitize your washer.
Add two cups of distilled white vinegar to the liquid detergent dispenser and run a cycle on the hottest water setting. Wipe down the perimeter around the washtub and finish with a quick damp wipe of the exterior.
If cleaning a house before a baby gets home is just simply too much, we get it. The Maids offers affordable residential cleaning services, disinfecting, and more. Get a same-day free estimate today, and see what we can do for your new baby’s room and your entire home. We have a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee, so you have nothing to lose and a cleaner, more orderly home for you and your baby to gain.
