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How to Sanitize Your Belongings During a Move

Life keeps moving, and sometimes that means you have to move, too. While you’re focused on packing lists and logistics, it’s easy to forget what your belongings pick up along the way—dust, grime, and germs. Taking the time for sanitizing things during your move is one of the smartest steps you can take. It’s not about being overly cautious; it’s about being proactive. This simple effort ensures your family starts this new chapter with a clean slate and a healthy home from day one.

The Centers for Disease Control says that COVID-19 is most commonly spread by being in close contact with other people. As a respiratory infection, it spreads through droplets that are produced when a person coughs or sneezes.

However, it has also been found that the virus can live for hours up to days on a variety of different surfaces. This may make you may be worried about your stuff. As it is being packed into the truck, is it possible it is coming in contact with this disease? It’s hard to know for sure. But there are ways you can protect yourself and your belongings.

Before losing too much sleep, keep in mind that there are steps you can take. These won’t require having to bathe all of your household belonging in hand sanitizer to keep from getting sick. Sanitizing your belongings can be quick and easy. In fact, some steps will only take a few seconds.

Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting: What’s the Difference?

You’ve probably heard the words “cleaning,” “sanitizing,” and “disinfecting” used interchangeably, but they actually mean very different things. Understanding the distinction is key to keeping your belongings and your new home safe, especially during a move. Think of them as three levels of defense against germs. Each one has a specific job, and knowing which one to use—and when—will help you tackle your move-in with confidence. It’s not about going overboard; it’s about being smart and efficient with your efforts so you can focus on settling into your new space.

Cleaning: The First Step

Before you do anything else, you need to clean. Cleaning is the physical act of removing dirt, dust, and grime from surfaces using soap or detergent and water. This process gets rid of a lot of germs by simply washing them away, but its main goal is to clear the surface of visible messes. You can’t effectively sanitize or disinfect a dirty surface, which makes cleaning the essential first step. As you prepare for your move, this means wiping down furniture, dusting electronics, and making sure the items you pack into your storage container are free of debris for a fresh start in your new home.

Sanitizing: Reducing Germs

Sanitizing is the next step up, designed to lower the number of germs on a surface to a safe level, as defined by public health standards. It doesn’t necessarily eliminate all of them, but it reduces them enough to minimize the risk of infection. You typically sanitize with a gentler product than a disinfectant, like a spray or wipe made for food-contact surfaces. Think about sanitizing the inside of your refrigerator before you pack it, wiping down kitchen counters, or cleaning a baby’s high chair. It’s the perfect middle-ground option for surfaces that need to be more than just visibly clean but don’t require full-on disinfection.

Disinfecting: Killing Germs

Disinfecting is the heavy hitter. This process uses chemicals to kill nearly 100% of the germs on a hard, nonporous surface. This is the step you take when you’re concerned about preventing the spread of illness, especially if someone in your household has been sick. Products that disinfect, like bleach solutions or wipes with a high alcohol content, are much stronger than sanitizers. When moving, you might want to disinfect high-touch surfaces in your new home like doorknobs, light switches, and bathroom faucets to ensure you’re starting with a clean slate. Always be sure to use an EPA-registered disinfectant and follow the label’s directions for contact time.

When to Clean, Sanitize, or Disinfect

Now that you know the difference between the three, how do you decide which method to use? It all comes down to the item, the surface, and the situation. You don’t need to disinfect everything you own, but some scenarios call for more than a simple wipe-down. During a move, you’ll likely use all three methods at different times. Planning your approach will save you time and give you peace of mind, ensuring your new home is a healthy environment from the moment you walk in the door. Here’s a simple guide to help you decide what to do and when.

When to Clean

Cleaning should be your default for most items and surfaces during your move. It’s a routine part of packing and unpacking. You should clean pretty much everything that’s dusty or dirty before it goes into a box. This includes wiping down furniture, bookshelves, picture frames, and the outside of storage bins. According to the CDC, you should regularly clean high-touch surfaces, which is especially true in your new and old homes. Wiping down countertops, doorknobs, and light switches after the movers leave or as you unpack is always a good idea. It’s a simple habit that makes a big difference.

When to Sanitize

Reserve sanitizing for items and areas where lowering the germ count is a priority, particularly those that come into contact with food or mouths. Before you pack up your kitchen, it’s a great idea to sanitize your cutting boards, the inside of your microwave, and your refrigerator shelves and drawers. The same goes for your kids’ plastic toys, high chairs, and changing tables. When you arrive at your new home, you’ll want to sanitize the kitchen counters and the inside of cabinets before you start putting dishes away. This step helps ensure these sensitive areas are safe for your family.

When to Disinfect

Disinfecting is for situations that carry a higher risk. If someone in your family was recently sick, you’ll want to disinfect surfaces they frequently touched in your old home before you leave. It’s also a smart move if a family member has a compromised immune system, as this provides an extra layer of protection. Upon arriving at your new place, it’s wise to disinfect the highest-touch surfaces that strangers (like previous occupants or real estate agents) may have handled. Focus on doorknobs, light switches, toilet handles, faucets, and appliance handles. This targeted approach kills lingering germs and helps ensure your new home is a truly healthy space from day one.

Gather Your Cleaning Supplies First

Even though COVID-19 has impacted people all over the world, the virus is actually quite fragile. That means with the right cleaning products, you can easily kill it. That will ensure that you and your family are protected.

When moving into a new home, make sure you have cleaning supplies that are easy to access. You’ll want to get products that are capable of killing viruses on a variety of surfaces. These include items that contain bleach, other disinfecting chemicals or hydrogen peroxide. The packaging will let you know what germs the cleaner can kill.

If you don’t have access to these cleaning materials, you can always make your own. All you need to do is add rubbing alcohol or bleach to a spray bottle and dilute with water.

You’ll also want to have easy access to cleaning gloves, face masks, hand sanitizer and soap, and paper towels or rags to wipe the surfaces.

Focus on Sanitizing High-Touch Surfaces

Once you reach your new home, you’ll want to use your cleaning products to disinfect the space. Try to do this before the movers and your family enter the property. This can be another way to keep everyone safe. Although, disinfecting again after they leave is a good idea.

The surfaces that you should start cleaning are those that are touched the most often. This includes doorknobs, light switches, remotes, toilets and their handles, tables and chairs. Electronic equipment also gets touched often, so cleaning phones, tablets, keyboards and other touch screens can be beneficial.

After sanitizing these surfaces, you can focus on other areas of your home. This will include cleaning countertops, stairway railings and the floors. When it comes to sanitizing flooring and stairs, you won’t have to wipe these surfaces down. Although you can if you want. But applying the cleaner should be enough to kill the virus and protect you and your family.

Keep Hand Sanitizer and Soap Within Reach

As you move into your home, make sure that your family and the movers have access to hand sanitizer or soap. This way, they can use these items as often as necessary to reduce the chances of transmitting the virus.

Make sure to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. It is the only kind that is capable of killing the virus. When using soap, it’s important to wash for at least 20 seconds. This will get rid of any harmful microorganisms that might exist, including COVID-19.

Prop Doors Open to Reduce Touchpoints

During this pandemic, you need to refrain from touching surfaces that other people have touched. Thus, it’s a good idea to leave your doors open for the movers. Doorknobs are one of the surfaces that a lot of people touch frequently. Limiting how many people touch this can reduce the chances of transmission. In addition, after the movers have finished, disinfecting these surfaces once again is a good idea.

Should You Sanitize Your Moving Boxes?

When it comes to sanitizing your new home, spray and wipe down the cardboard boxes. We now know that COVID-19 can live on cardboard for up to 24 hours. It can live on plastic and steel for longer. To keep everyone safe, it only takes a few moments to spray and wipe everything down. Once you unpack everything, get rid of the boxes as soon as possible and wash your hands.

Extra Steps for Peace of Mind

In addition to following the sanitizing tips listed above, there are some other precautions you can take. These may help reduce your chances of contracting COVID-19. These include the following:

• Wash your hands frequently
• Wear a face mask while outside and during the moving process
• Stay away from individuals who are coughing and/or sneezing

If movers are helping you, ask them what they are doing to reduce virus transmission. Some of the questions you might ask include:

• Do the movers plan on wearing masks?
• Can they wear slip-on booties over their shoes?
• Will they wash their hands often or wear gloves?
• Have you sprayed the truck down with disinfectant?

Any of these steps can reduce the chances of the novel Coronavirus transmission and keep you and your family safe.

Why Sanitizing During Your Move Matters

The COVID-19 threat is serious, but it’s possible to reduce the chances of getting sick. If you have to move during this time, you need to find ways to stay safe. Sanitizing your belongings during a move doesn’t have to be hard.

With the right cleaning materials, you can ensure that your new home is as clean as possible. If you have the opportunity, you might consider giving your new space a deep clean before moving your stuff in. This is another way to reduce the chances of getting sick. It also gives you the opportunity to have a fresh, clean start in your new home.

Proper Methods for Different Items and Surfaces

Not all surfaces are created equal, and your cleaning approach shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all. Using the right method for the right material is key to effectively sanitizing your belongings without causing damage. Whether you’re cleaning items before they go into your storage container or as you unpack in your new home, a little know-how goes a long way. From hard plastics to soft fabrics, each requires a specific touch. Taking a moment to identify the surface you’re working with will make your efforts more efficient and ensure you’re actually getting things clean and safe for your family.

How to Sanitize Nonporous Items

Hard, nonporous surfaces are the most straightforward to sanitize. Think of things like plastic toys, glass tables, metal handles, and kitchen countertops. For these items, you can use an EPA-approved sanitizing product or a diluted bleach solution. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also notes that for some items, like baby bottles, you can use a dishwasher with a sanitize cycle, or even boil or steam them. This is great for kitchenware you’re unpacking. Wiping down the outside of plastic moving bins with a disinfectant wipe is another quick and easy step you can take as you bring them into your new space.

Cleaning Soft Surfaces

Soft surfaces like couches, rugs, and curtains require a different strategy. You can’t exactly wipe down your sofa with a bleach solution. For these items, start by vacuuming thoroughly to remove dust and debris. If the item is machine washable, like a slipcover or curtain, the CDC recommends washing it in the warmest appropriate water setting and drying it completely. For larger items that can’t be washed, use a cleaning product specifically designed for upholstery or fabric. Cleaning these items before you pack them can also prevent dust and allergens from getting trapped inside your moving container and transferred to your new home.

Handling Laundry

Moving always seems to generate a mountain of laundry, from bedding and towels to the clothes you wore on moving day. When it’s time to tackle that pile, you don’t need to overthink it. According to the CDC, simply washing items with detergent in the appropriate water temperature is effective. The most important step is to make sure you dry everything completely. It’s also perfectly fine to wash laundry from a person who is sick with other household laundry, so there’s no need to run separate, smaller loads. This makes the process much more efficient when you’re trying to get settled.

A Note on Outdoor Surfaces

You might be wondering about your patio furniture, grill, or kids’ outdoor toys. Do you need to disinfect every single surface? The good news is, probably not. The CDC clarifies that you generally don’t need to spray down low-touch outdoor surfaces like sidewalks or decking. Focus your energy on high-touch areas made of plastic or metal, like playground equipment or patio table tops, especially when they look visibly dirty. A simple cleaning should be sufficient for most outdoor items you’re moving from one home to another.

Critical Safety Precautions for Using Chemicals

While cleaning products are powerful tools for keeping your home safe, they are still chemicals and need to be handled with care. The chaos of moving can make it easy to overlook basic safety steps, but this is when it’s most important to be mindful. Taking a few simple precautions will protect you and your family from accidental exposure or injury. From reading the label to ensuring proper ventilation, these practices are non-negotiable for safe and effective cleaning during your move.

Read the Label

This might sound obvious, but it’s the most critical step. Every cleaning product is different, and the label contains essential information on how to use it safely and effectively. The CDC stresses that you should always read and follow the directions on the product label before you begin. The label will tell you what surfaces the product is safe for, whether you need to dilute it, and what personal protective equipment, like gloves or safety glasses, you should wear. Don’t assume you know how to use a product just because you’ve used something similar before; a quick check can prevent a lot of trouble.

Understanding Contact Time

One of the most important instructions on a disinfectant’s label is the “contact time.” This is the amount of time the surface needs to remain visibly wet with the product to effectively kill germs. Many people make the mistake of spraying and immediately wiping, which doesn’t give the disinfectant enough time to work. The CDC explains that the surface needs to stay wet for the entire duration listed on the label. This could be anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. Set a timer on your phone if you need to—it’s a small step that makes a huge difference in how effective your sanitizing efforts are.

Ensure Good Ventilation

Cleaning products can release fumes that can be irritating or harmful to breathe in, especially in a confined space. When you’re cleaning your new home, make sure the area has good airflow. The easiest way to do this is by opening windows and doors. If that’s not possible, using a fan can help circulate the air. This is particularly important when you’re doing a deep clean of an enclosed area like a bathroom or a small kitchen. Proper ventilation keeps the air quality safe for you and anyone else in the house.

Never Mix Chemicals

This is a safety rule that can’t be overstated: never mix different cleaning products together. For example, mixing bleach and ammonia creates toxic chloramine gas, which can cause serious respiratory damage. Even mixing bleach with an acidic cleaner can release dangerous chlorine gas. The CDC gives a clear warning to never mix different cleaning products or chemicals. Stick to using one product at a time, as directed by the label. If you need to use a different cleaner on the same surface, rinse the surface thoroughly with water and let it dry before applying the next product.

Proper Use and Storage

During a move, your home can be chaotic, with boxes and belongings everywhere. This makes it especially important to be mindful of where you store your cleaning chemicals. Keep them in their original containers and store them in a secure location that is out of reach of children and pets. When you’re done cleaning, make sure to put everything away immediately. A little diligence in how you use and store your cleaning supplies ensures that your efforts to create a safe home don’t accidentally introduce a new hazard.

Consider a Contactless Moving Option

Moving using Box-n-Go is not only simple and affordable. It is also safe. Especially during COVID-19 outbreak. With Box-n-Go you will not have lots of movers in your house. We deliver our conveniently sized portable storage units to your home. No need to rent a truck that someone unknown to you was using just prior. No need to worry about virus transmission. You can have the units sitting on your driveway for few days before you start loading them. It is a perfect solution to your COVID-19 concerns. Call us at 1-877-269-6461. We will be happy to work out a sound plan for your moving or storage needs. At Box-n-Go we are as concerned about your safety as that of our own.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m overwhelmed by cleaning my new place. Where should I start? The best way to tackle a new space is to focus on the high-touch surfaces first. Before you even unpack a single box, take a few minutes to wipe down all the doorknobs, light switches, faucets, and toilet handles. This simple first pass addresses the areas that have been handled most by previous occupants, movers, or agents, giving you the biggest impact for your effort and immediate peace of mind.

Do I really need to disinfect everything I own? Absolutely not, and trying to would be exhausting! It’s much more effective to use a tiered approach. Regular cleaning with soap and water is perfect for most of your belongings to remove dust and grime. Reserve sanitizing for items that come into contact with food or your family’s mouths, like kitchen counters and high chairs. Disinfecting should be saved for specific high-risk situations, like if someone has been sick, or for those key high-touch surfaces in your new home.

How do I handle cleaning soft furniture like my sofa or rugs? Soft surfaces require a different approach than just wiping them down. Start by giving everything a thorough vacuuming to pull out dust and allergens. If you have removable slipcovers, curtains, or machine-washable rugs, wash them in the warmest water the fabric can handle and dry them completely. For larger items that can’t go in the wash, use an upholstery cleaner specifically designed for the material to freshen them up.

I’ve heard about ‘contact time’ for disinfectants. What is it and why does it matter? Contact time is the single most important instruction on a disinfectant’s label. It’s the amount of time a surface must remain visibly wet with the product for it to actually kill the germs it claims to. If you spray a surface and wipe it dry immediately, the product doesn’t have enough time to work. Be sure to read the label—whether it’s 30 seconds or 10 minutes—and let the product sit for the required time before wiping or letting it air dry.

Is it okay to mix different cleaners to get a better result? No, you should never mix cleaning chemicals. Combining different products can create dangerous chemical reactions. For instance, mixing bleach with an ammonia-based cleaner produces toxic gas that is incredibly harmful to inhale. Always use one product at a time, exactly as the label directs. If you need to use a different cleaner on the same surface, make sure you rinse it with water and let it dry completely first.

Key Takeaways

• Clean, Sanitize, and Disinfect with Purpose: Know the difference between these three tasks to work efficiently. Cleaning removes surface dirt, sanitizing reduces germs to a safe level, and disinfecting kills nearly all of them, allowing you to choose the right approach for each item.
• Focus on High-Impact Areas: You don’t need to disinfect everything. Clean most of your belongings as you pack, sanitize items that come into contact with food or children, and save the heavy-duty disinfecting for high-touch surfaces in your new home like doorknobs, faucets, and light switches.
• Handle Cleaning Products Safely: Always read the product label to understand the correct usage and required “contact time” for it to be effective. To protect yourself, ensure the area is well-ventilated by opening windows and never mix different cleaning chemicals.

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