Before You Move a Single Box In

The best time to clean a new home is before anything goes in. Once furniture is in place, you lose access to corners, skirting boards, and under-bed areas that are much easier to reach when the rooms are empty. If you have a window between getting the keys and moving day, use it.

Ballyclare has seen a good number of newer housing developments go up on the outskirts of town in recent years. New builds come with their own cleaning requirements: construction dust settles into every surface, kitchen and bathroom fittings need a first clean before use, and window frames often have adhesive residue left from protective film.

Older properties in the town centre have different priorities. They tend to hold onto dust and grime in corners, skirting boards, and window frames that a departing owner may not have addressed thoroughly.

Start With the Kitchen

The kitchen is the room that matters most before you move in. You will be preparing food in it from day one, so it needs to be clean before anything else goes in around it.

Work through it methodically. Inside every cupboard before you line them. Inside the oven and around the hob. The extractor fan filter if it has not been replaced. Behind the fridge space before the fridge goes in. Worktops, sink, and taps last, once everything above them has been wiped down.

In a new build, pay particular attention to the insides of cupboards and drawers. Construction dust finds its way into everything during the build process and a quick wipe with a damp cloth is not enough.

Bathrooms Next

Bathrooms are the second priority before moving in. Toilet, basin, bath or shower tray, and tiles all need a thorough clean before you use them. In a new build, grout lines may have residue from installation. In an older property, limescale and soap scum build up over years and need proper product rather than a surface wipe.

Shower heads are worth running for a few minutes before use to clear any debris from the supply pipe, particularly in a property that has been empty for a while.

The Rest of the House

Once the kitchen and bathrooms are done, work through each room from top to bottom. Dust ceiling corners and light fittings first. Then shelves, windowsills, and surfaces. Skirting boards. Floors last.

In a new build in Ballyclare, window frames and door frames often have protective adhesive residue that needs removing. This takes more time than a standard wipe and a proper solvent cleaner rather than general surface spray.

Fitted wardrobes and built-in storage should be wiped inside before clothes go in. This is often the last thing people think of, and the first thing they notice when they open the door and find dust on the shelves.

The Professional Option

Moving day is already one of the most demanding days of the year. Cleaning the new property thoroughly on top of everything else is a significant ask, particularly if you are also cleaning your old property at the same time.

A professional move-in clean gets the new home to a proper standard before you arrive with the boxes. MM Cleaning NI covers Ballyclare and the BT39 postcode area, including Ballynure, Doagh, Parkgate, Straid, and Templepatrick. Move-in cleans are booked via WhatsApp rather than the online booking page.

Mark and Michelle founded MM Cleaning NI in 2024 and every cleaner is Access NI checked and fully insured. With 40+ five-star Google reviews and 100+ regular customers across the service area, the standard is consistent.

Pricing

Move-in cleans are priced at £25 per hour with a two-hour minimum. For a thorough clean of a full property before moving in, four hours is the realistic minimum. Larger properties or new builds with significant construction dust will need more time.

Once you are settled in, regular weekly or fortnightly cleaning is available at £20 per hour with a two-hour minimum. Regular slots are bookable online. There are no contracts.

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Frequently Asked Questions