TIPS FOR DEEP CLEANING BEFORE MOVING OUT

Getting an apartment or house back to the condition it was in when you rented it is part of a standard lease agreement. Here are some tips that will bring your rental up to par. You don’t have to follow them in any specific order, though we recommend cleaning and vacuuming the floors last for obvious reasons.

Clean from top to bottom.

Just like we recommend for your regular cleaning routine, dust surfaces high up in the room, like ceiling fans or shelves, before cleaning lower surfaces, like floors. This way, you won’t accidentally waft dust onto just-cleaned areas.

Work in stages.

Depending upon how large the space is, cleaning all at once may be overwhelming. Break it up into chunks of time, starting with the areas you’ll use the least between now and move-out day, such as a guest bedroom.

Allow time for last-minute cleaning.

Even if you clean in advance of move-out day, there are some things you’ll have to clean right before you leave, like the bathroom. Remember that once the furniture is moved out, you’ll likely have to sweep up the dust bunnies that are uncovered.

Remove all nails from the walls and patch holes.

Decorating your walls is one way to make a space your own, but before you move you’ll need to take out all the nails. You’ll also want to remove any extra fixtures you used to jazz the place up — think towel hooks, hat racks, TV mounts, clocks, furniture anchors, shower caddies, etc. You’ll also need to fill in the holes, and then touch up the paint.

Repaint, if needed.

Most rentals use standardized paint colors in their units, so if you’ve changed the paint, now’s the time to repaint it back to the original color. This is a requirement in most leases in order to get your deposit back. If your landlord says it’s okay to keep the custom colors — get it in writing.
Pro Tip: If you can’t figure out the original paint color after patching, take a sample to a paint store and have them mix up a small batch of a custom match.

Wipe down all doors.

Doors are another household area that often gets neglected in routine cleans, but, again, wiping down the doors has a big impact on the sparkle factor for your walk-through.

Dust the ceiling fans.

If you’re like me, you avoid dusting ceiling fans as much as possible during your normal cleaning routine, but it’s a must-check area to clean before you move out.

Clean windows and mirrors.

It’s such a small detail, but spotless windows and mirrors give a totally new vibe to any place. Use a microfiber cloth special for glass to get a streak-free finish, and don’t forget to dust any blinds and clean the sills.

Clean out all the cupboards and cabinets.

Empty every single cupboard and cabinet in the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, and closets. Remove any crumbs or gunk and then wipe them down. Don’t forget to remove any roach bait, sticky traps, or air fresheners.

Deep clean any sinks, tubs, showers — and toilets.

Deep clean the shower and tub, removing as much muck in the grout and drains as possible and scrub down the sinks, including the faucets, until they shine. Toilet bowls should be scrubbed, lids lifted and cleaned, and the outside wiped down.

Make your appliances look like new.

This is where you’ll need to really kick up the elbow grease — or hire someone else to. It’s no secret that appliances can get a bit grimy over time. Make sure you remove EVERYTHING from the refrigerator. You’ll need to put in the effort to make your stove, oven, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, and anything else look practically brand new. Move them out to clean all the dirt and grime accumulated underneath.

Dust and clean baseboards and trim.

Run a wet rag or duster along all the baseboards and trim. You’d be surprised how neglected these areas can get – and what a difference a little cleaning can make for the final look.

Sweep, vacuum, and mop floors.

Most cleaning checklists might tell you to leave your floors in “broom clean” condition, which basically means you just sweep and that’s it. I rarely find that this is enough, and it’s best to thoroughly vacuum all carpets and mop up any tile, hardwood, or other floors with a hard surface. If you have a furry friend, be sure to remove all the fur that’s probably accumulated, especially in the corners and under the furniture that’s no longer there. Look for any “accidents” on the carpet and spot-clean to remove the evidence.

Take out the trash.

Don’t forget to dispose of all your trash. You’d be surprised at how many people just leave that last bag sitting in the middle of a room. Don’t be that person.

Don’t forget outside.

If you have a lawn, mow the grass. Sweep the patio, porch, stoop, and front walkway.
Laundry Room. Clean and deodorize the washing machine. Then clean the outsides of both the washer and dryer.

Hire A Cleaning Service.

If all of this move-out cleaning seems like a lot of work, you are right. The best way to make sure you get your apartment, house or condo clean is to hire a professional cleaning service. They will do the cleaning fast and efficiently. You can even just hire a one-time cleaning service.

Call us anytime for inquiries, free estimates, and booking appointments.