Moving in: top 5 things covered in other peoples’ filth

Today’s episode of my moving-in series is brought to you by: the filth of other people.

Having moved into many pre-owned domiciles, I have cleaned up other peoples filth many times. There are definitely some hotspots that are always gross. If you haven’t cleaned these in a while maybe check on them.

I don’t know who this post is for.

1. Microwave Top, Bottom, and Vent

Sure, the inside of a microwave can be dirty. What is truly icky is if the microwave lives over the stove. Entering a new place I am not surprised to find a thick impenetrable layer of congealed sticky substance on the top surface, and underside of an over-stove microwave.

2. Vents

Bathroom vents, hvac vents. Just vacuum them. This one makes no sense. Same for fans.

3. Oven floor

It rivals the windshield for awkward angle so I get it. The water in the bucket was clear when I started.

4. Terlet hinge

This ones easy to ignore, but about two weeks in my toilet seat lid literally broke off so I found myself replacing the seat. Check on this one if you run out of things to clean. It’s probably gross whether you cleaned it a month ago or never.

5. Washer gasket

The amount of black sludge I removed from the crevices in my front load washer gasket would shock and appal you, so I’ll just show you some of the aftermath. it was so bad I first thought I was removing part of the gasket itself, but it was just really stubborn crud. Barf.

Honorable mentions

  • Window sills and tracks. I discovered about 20 little greenish house spiders squatting in my window tracks.
  • The gap between the fridge / range and the cabinets.
  • Fridge drawers and shelves. I broke a shelf rail cleaning mine and it was about $30 to replace.
  • Washer detergent dispenser drawer.

Ep. 5: this is not a drill

Panic.

At this time in two days the movers will be finishing up the process of packing all of my stuff into boxes, loading it in a truck, and driving it away on its journey to Alaska.

It really snuck up on me in a way I don’t remember happening in the past.

Right now I’m frantically trying to prepare for the movers, while remembering to save out anything I’ll need for the next month.

See, on Saturday I’ll be without home, indefinitely, until I find a place to live in Juneau. I’ll be on the road for about 5 weeks until June 3rd when I finally arrive in Juneau with my car and my dad and a few boxes of essentials.

This is the current state of things:

Chaos, with accomplished post it notes in the background

More chaos, and vinegar.

More chaos, and my guitar all dressed up and ready to get shipped

Top quality signs on a growing number of things I’ve identified to save out for the month ahead, or donate

I’m tempted to run a time lapse video of the pack and move if the movers don’t care. It’s really astonishing how they can empty out a space so quickly.

Please send productive vibes my way for the next two days.