Moving out of a rental home or apartment can be a bittersweet experience. While you may be excited about a new chapter, the process of packing up and cleaning for the final inspection can also feel daunting. Thorough cleaning is essential for tenants who want to reclaim their full security deposit. Failure to meet the expected standards can mean losing hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
This comprehensive guide provides tenants with expert tips for deep cleaning their rental from top to bottom. Follow this advice to make your property sparkle and avoid deposit deductions.
Introduction
Cleaning a rental home before moving out is very different than regular tidying and upkeep during your tenancy. Landlords and property managers expect far more rigorous cleaning to restore the property to its original rented condition.
The terms of your lease or rental agreement likely outline the cleaning responsibilities you must fulfill. Review these closely because specific requirements can vary. However, some general expectations typically include:
- Removing all belongings, furniture, and trash
- Thorough cleaning inside all cabinets, drawers, and storage areas
- Scrubbing bathrooms, kitchens, floors, walls, and fixtures
- Ensuring appliances are spotless inside and out
- Removing cobwebs and dusting all surfaces
- Cleaning windows, doors, ceilings, and light fixtures
- Eliminating all stains, spills, grime, and buildup
- Restoring outdoor areas like patios, garages, and yard spaces
If you cut corners, cleaning superficially or ignoring certain areas, your security deposit will likely suffer. Landlords may hire professional cleaners and deduct the costs from your deposit if you fail to meet the requirements.
By following this comprehensive cleaning guide, however, you can avoid deposit deductions and reclaim your full deposit. Let’s get started!
Understanding Landlord Expectations
Before cleaning, carefully review all the move-out requirements set by your landlord or property manager. These are often outlined in your:
- Lease agreement
- Rental or tenancy contract
- Move-out procedures document
- Initial rental listing or advertisement
The expectations may extend well beyond basic cleaning. For example, the landlord may require:
- Professionally steam-cleaning carpets
- Touch-up painting of walls and trim
- Yard maintenance like mowing, pruning, and weed removal
- Pest control or flea treatments if you had animals
- Removal of modifications like shelves or fixtures you installed
Failure to complete these additional tasks could result in deposit deductions. So be sure to fully understand what is required of you. Connect with your landlord if anything seems unclear or unreasonable.
While requirements vary, most landlords will expect a very deep and meticulous cleaning standard. They want the property restored to near perfect, rent-ready condition. After all, they need to turn the unit around quickly for new tenants.
If you clean hastily or superficially, you risk disputes over deposit refunds as well as negative references or reviews. Put your full effort into the cleaning process outlined in this guide.
Room-by-Room Cleaning Guide
Meticulously cleaning each room and area is key to satisfying move-out expectations. Let’s break it down room-by-room:
Kitchen
The kitchen sees heavy use during a tenancy, so this area requires extensive cleaning.
Appliances: All appliances (refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, etc.) must be cleaned inside and out. Remove trays, racks, and drawers. Scrub down all surfaces, handles, controls, and paneling. Don’t forget the sides, tops, and underneath.
Countertops: Clear surfaces completely. Use a specialized stone cleaner for granite or other stone materials. For laminate, wood, tile, etc., use a degreasing cleanser to remove stains. Disinfect and shine with a multipurpose cleaner.
Cabinets/Drawers: Remove all contents, then vacuum dust and debris from the floors and corners. Wipe down all surfaces, fronts, sides, and handles. Use degreaser to tackle oil buildup or sticky spots.
Sink: Remove stains and disinfect with a scouring cleaner or bleach-based mildew remover. Use a toothbrush to clean crevices, drain holes, and the garbage disposal flap.
Floors: Sweep and mop floors thoroughly after removing all furniture and belongings. Get into corners and along edges. Use appropriate cleaners for tile, laminate, linoleum, etc.
Walls/Lighting: Wash food splatters or grease from walls, cabinets, and ceiling. Remove globes to wash lighting fixtures. Dust edges where floors and counters meet walls.
Vent/Hood: Remove the filter and wash thoroughly. Clean accumulated grease from the hood and the areas around the vent.
Tips:
- Use degreaser or detergent for heavy grease and oil buildup
- Let soiled areas soak if needed to loosen grime
- Disinfect surfaces and eliminate odors
- Check for often overlooked areas like sides, tops, and underneath
Bathroom
Bathrooms also require heavy-duty scrubbing to remove soap scum, mineral deposits, mold, and mildew.
Toilet: Remove the seat to clean the rim, bowl, tank, and base. Scrub interior stains with a pumice stone. Use a toilet brush and bleach cleaner for inside the bowl.
Sink: Remove stains and disinfect the basin, faucet, handles, spout, and backsplash. Clean the mirror, medicine cabinet, and under-sink areas.
Shower/Tub: Target soap scum, mildew, and mineral deposits with cleaners made for these surfaces. Scrub the walls, floors, doors, tracks, and fixtures.
Floors: Scrub tile grout and floors with a specialized cleaner and stiff-bristled brush. Clean baseboards and behind toilets thoroughly.
Walls/Ceilings: Inspect and clean walls near showers or tubs for mildew growth. Remove mold or soap buildup on ceilings above showers.
Vent Fan: Remove cover to clean fan and housing. Dust and wash the cover.
Tips:
- Use pumice stones, grout brushes, and toothbrushes for stubborn buildup
- Apply mildew removers to affected areas before scrubbing
- Allow tough stains or soap scum to soak before scrubbing
- Disinfect all surfaces after cleaning
Living Areas/Bedrooms
Cleaning carpets, furniture, and general living spaces is also essential.
Carpets: Vacuum thoroughly and spot-clean any stains or soiled areas. Professionally steam clean if required by your landlord.
Upholstery: Vacuum and spot-clean furniture or mattresses. Rent a carpet cleaner to deep clean if needed.
Windows: Wash interiors and exteriors, including sills, tracks, and screens. Clean window coverings like blinds.
Walls: Spot clean any smudges or marks on walls. Dust edges, vents, baseboards, and door frames.
Lighting: Clean light bulb coverings and fixtures to remove dust and bugs. Wash lamp shades and chandelier globes.
Closets: Vacuum, remove any stains, and wipe down shelves and rods. Don’t forget the outside!
Floors: Sweep then use appropriate cleaner for the flooring. Get into corners and underneath furniture.
Tips:
- Use upholstery attachments and spot cleaners for furniture
- Rent or borrow a carpet cleaner for deeper carpet cleaning
- Check walls near doors, switches, and furniture for smudges
- Remove and launder dirty lamp shades
Essential Cleaning Tools and Supplies
Having the right cleaning tools and supplies is vital for a deep, detailed cleaning. Stock up on these cleaning essentials:
Vacuum: A high-power vacuum is necessary for carpets and upholstery. Use attachments for blinds, drapes, furniture, and crevices.
Mops and brooms: Use a heavy-duty mop for scrubbing floors. A basic broom is great for sweeping and reaching high corners.
Cleaning rags: Microfiber cloths are perfect for washing most surfaces. Have plenty available.
Sponges and scrub brushes: Use for scrubbing porcelain, tile, stainless steel, bathtubs, appliances, etc.
Cleaning solutions: Stock up on degreasers, disinfectants, bathroom cleaners, floor cleaners, and more.
Pumice stone: Helpful for removing calcium deposits and stubborn toilet bowl rings.
Toothbrush/toothpicks: Good for cleaning crevices, tile grout, drains, appliance seams, etc.
Gloves: Protect your hands from harsh chemicals. Disposable gloves are inexpensive and practical.
Buckets: Useful for soaking, rinsing, and carrying cleaning supplies from room to room.
Ladder: Provides access to clean ceiling fans, upper walls, light fixtures, etc. Use safely.
Duster: Disposable dusters or microfiber dusting pads simplify removing dust in hard to reach areas.
Trash bags: Big bags are great for hauling away waste and belongings. Go for heavy-duty.
Using the right tools for each cleaning task will make the process far easier. Investing in high-quality cleaning items also helps tackle tough grime.
Addressing Common Challenges
Even with all the right supplies, some cleaning challenges require extra effort and the right techniques. Here are tips for handling common rental cleaning headaches:
Stain Removal
No matter how careful you are, spills and stains happen. Here are some tips for tackling common stains:
Carpet stains: Use an enzyme cleaner specifically for carpets. Allow it to soak in before blotting and rinsing. For stubborn stains, rent a steam cleaner.
Upholstery stains: Spot clean with a specialized upholstery cleaner. For tougher stains, use a rented upholstery cleaner to extract the grime from the fabric.
Grease stains: Generously sprinkle baking soda over the grease stain, allow to sit for 15 minutes, then vacuum up the baking soda. Repeat as needed.
Scuff marks: Rub the wall scuffs gently with a damp magic eraser sponge. Be careful not to damage the paint.
Mildew stains: Use a mildew remover product. Apply a generous amount and allow time to penetrate before scrubbing and rinsing.
Permanent marker: Attempt removal with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball. But permanent marker stains may be impossible to fully eliminate.
Odor Elimination
Bad smells from pets, smoke, mildew, and spills can linger. Here are tips for tackling smelly rental units:
Pet odor: Treat carpets, floors, and upholstery with an enzyme cleaner formulated to eliminate pet odors and stains.
Smoke smells: Remove smoke odor by washing walls, ceilings, cabinets, and fixtures with vinegar or commercial smoke removal products.
Mildew odor: Kill mildew with bleach or other antimicrobial cleaners. Improve ventilation to prevent recurrence.
General bad smells: Absorb lingering odors by leaving bowls of white vinegar or baking soda around the property during and after cleaning.
Depending on the level of odor, you may need to hire a professional service to treat air ducts and fully eliminate odors. Discuss severe smells with your landlord.
Exterior and Miscellaneous Areas
Don’t overlook other important areas when cleaning for move-out!
Outdoor Spaces
If your rental includes outdoor spaces, restore them to leasable condition:
- Yard: Mow, trim bushes, pull weeds, rake debris
- Patio: Sweep away leaves and debris. Clean outdoor furniture.
- Windows: Clean exterior windows, ledges, screens, and doors.
- Garage: Sweep out debris and wash down surfaces. Remove oil stains.
- Balcony: Sweep and wash to remove grime. Scrub railings.
Miscellaneous
Look in often forgotten spots:
- Inside cabinets, closets, and storage areas
- Light fixtures, fans, vents, baseboards, blinds, and door frames
- Under and behind appliances and furniture
The Importance of Documentation
Documenting property condition is crucial both before move-in and after cleaning for move-out.
Take dated photos: Demonstrate how you left the property by taking photos during and after cleaning. Capture any existing damage not caused by you.
Conduct a walkthrough: Schedule a joint walkthrough after cleaning so the landlord can assess your work before taking possession.
Keep receipts: Maintain receipts for cleaning supplies, equipment rentals, or any other expenses related to move-out responsibilities.
Get evaluations in writing: If the landlord identifies any additional work needed during the walkthrough, request the list in writing.
Thorough documentation provides evidence if any deposit deductions are withheld for cleaning or damages that don’t seem justified. Keep good records!
Seeking Professional Assistance
Some landlords require tenants to hire professional cleaners for move-out. Others may allow you to clean yourself but will call in a cleaning crew if you don’t meet the requirements.
Hiring a cleaning service has advantages:
- They have industrial equipment to deep clean thoroughly
- Professionals are experienced with rental turnover cleaning
- Protects you if the landlord isn’t satisfied with your efforts
Just know that hiring cleaners can get expensive. Request quotes from a few services and clarify exactly what they’ll do. Compare costs to the amount of your security deposit.
Final Inspections and Reclaiming the Bond
The final step is passing inspection by the landlord and getting your full deposit back!
- Request your landlord complete a move-out inspection as soon as possible once you vacate.
- Walk through with them and point out your cleaning efforts if possible.
- Describe anything you repaired or improvements you made.
- Ask when they will return the deposit and for a forwarding address if needed.
The landlord may request additional tasks or repairs before issuing the full deposit. Make sure these items align with your documented walkthrough and match your lease responsibilities.
Politely discuss any deductions that seem unreasonable. Offer photographs showing the good condition in which you left the property.
If disputes over deposit deductions cannot be resolved directly with the landlord, look into legal remedies available in your state. Specific processes, like formal mediation, may allow you to recover wrongfully withheld portions of your deposit.
After all that effort, it would be a shame to lose your hard-earned deposit to unfair deductions! Fortunately, thorough cleaning and documentation makes getting your full deposit back much more likely.
Conclusion
Moving out of a rental property requires far more intensive cleaning than your usual tidying during tenancy. Landlords expect rental units to be restored to near-perfect condition.
By following this detailed cleaning guide, you can avoid cleaning-related deposit deductions and reclaim your full deposit. Pay close attention to often-overlooked areas and heavily used rooms like kitchens and bathrooms. Invest in necessary tools and tackle odors, stains, and grime properly.
Document the cleaning process thoroughly in case disputes arise. Going the extra mile sets you up for a smooth move-out and refund of your hard-earned security deposit!
