One of the downsides to moving out of your rental home to downsize into a brand new home or apartment is that you now have the task of cleaning out the place. Once you've found the right home to suit your needs, cleaning quickly so you can enjoy your new house is likely a priority. This guide will help you clean your home so you can get that security deposit back and enjoy your brand new home as soon as possible.
In Every Room
The first thing you want to do in every room is repair any holes in the walls with putty. Then, give the walls, baseboards, and ledges a good wipedown. If the ceiling has light fixtures in place, give them a dusting and then head to the windows with some glass cleaner. Each room also likely has electrical outlets, light switches, and door knobs that need to be wiped down as well.
Finally, pay close attention to the carpets and floors. If you have hard floors, sweep and mop. If you have carpet, vacuum the carpet and consider carpet shampooing if you have stains.
In the Bathroom
The bathroom is one of the most difficult rooms to clean before you move out, unfortunately. One reason for this is the fact that the bathroom has so many nooks and crannies, but another reason is that you also have to deal with several unique surfaces: counters, toilets, shower tiles, and sinks.
The tub and shower requires a lot of scrubbing, especially if you have tough soap scum in place. If you have grout in the bathroom, you might bleach it to ensure it looks its best before heading to the toilet for a scrub. In addition to cleaning the bowl, make sure you wash the seat, lid and underneath the lid. You may need to replace the toilet seat if you can't get it clean enough.
After you clean the counters, sinks, and mirrors, check out the exhaust fan. If you haven't cleaned it out before, it is likely full of dust. Get all the dust out before you sweep and mop.
In the Kitchen
Downsizing to a new home might mean you have less kitchen space in the near future, but for now you have to contend with lots of cabinets and drawers. Take out those liners and wash the shelves and cabinet fronts with some cleaner.
Next, hit the countertops with some disinfectant and a rag. Disinfect and shine your sink and the faucet before you head to the refrigerator. Take everything out of the refrigerator and soak the drawers. Scrub every shelf with cleaner and let the drawers dry before you put them back.
The stove and oven is another difficult spot to clean, but it is necessary if you want to get your deposit back. You can use baking soda and vinegar to scrub the oven and run the self-clean cycle if it needs it. Take the shelves and drip pans out of the oven and wipe them with steel wool. You can also use steel wool on the burners. If your burners have aluminum liners, you can replace them rather than try to scrub them totally clean.
Next, run the dishwasher again and wipe it down. Take out the filter and remove any crumbs and debris.
In the Garage
Your garage most likely needs to be swept, but you should also ensure your vehicle did not drip any oil on the ground. If it did, do your best to clean it up. You can clean the oil with special cleaner meant to pick up oil and then use a plastic scraper to pick up the debris that forms. Keep in mind that this process can take several hours.
Robert Cottingham Property Management
understands that you may need to downsize to a new home, and you certainly don't want to spend all that time cleaning simply to move into a new home that requires more cleaning. We ensure that you have a home that suits your needs and desires. Call us today to meet with a member of our team.
