Giving your property a full deep clean before you hand your keys back on your rental property isn’t one of the most exciting things to put on your to do list, but it’s probably one of the most important things to do if you’d like your deposit back in full.
You’ll be excited about your new property and focused on your journey ahead, but will a quick, simple clean do the job? It’s not that bad after all, is it?
Once you’ve packed all of your boxes and have removed all of your furniture, ask yourself whether it really does look clean. Would you be happy to move in, in its current condition? If the answer is ‘not really’ then why not give it a proper spring clean? Get into all of those nooks and crannies and leave it sparkling and ready for the next tenant. You’ll be glad you did when your deposit comes back to you without any deductions.
One thing we often suggest to our tenants is not to leave your packing until the last minute. It’s a tough job that will take up a lot of your time and whilst it is likely to make your home messier, if you start to clean each room as you pack, you’ll make the task more manageable and less of a rush on the final day.
Here’s a few of our tips ….
Be Prepared
Having the right cleaning products and tools on hand is imperative to doing a deep clean. You’re possibly going to need specific cleaning products for each job. We recommend a certain brand who have a range of products to cover each job to our tenants.
Have a cleaning kit ready to go which includes rubber gloves, brushes (toothbrushes work brilliantly for those hard-to-reach places!), sponges and cloths, polish and dusters (washed old socks are perfect for cleaning – pop your hand in and use perfect on skirting boards 😊), a mop & bucket, dustpan and broom, multi-surface anti-bacterial cleaning spray and wipes (wipes are great for a quick last minute wipe over), glass cleaner, a limescale remover, a mould remover and an oven cleaner.
Small Tasks
Cleaning a whole house can seem like a daunting, huge task so, to make this more manageable, break this down room by room and clean as you go. You’ll be able to pack a room up, clean it and then keep it for essential use only.
We recommend starting with the rooms that you don’t use very often, for instance, a loft or conservatory could be among the first to be cleaned.
Moving packed boxes to a room close to the front door will help with a smooth move too.
Every room will require a different level of attention and will have its own unique jobs that need doing.
Here’s our room by room checklist to help you get ready for your move.
Cleaning your kitchen
Probably the most difficult room in the house to clean because of the amount of time you use it, and you will probably need to use it right up until you move.
Here are some important tasks to complete in the kitchen:
- Empty all cupboards and shelves and clean inside with hot soapy water.
- Deep clean your fridge, including all hard-to-reach areas including the door seals (this is where those toothbrushes come in handy!).
- Use a multi-surface spray and disinfectant to clean all kitchen counters (remember to clean behind any counters too if you can reach them)
- Clean your taps, sink area and draining board.
- Wipe down all cupboard doors and skirting boards (remember a washed sock is a fantastic cleaning hack!).
- Wipe over all plug sockets and light switches.
- Give your oven a deep clean – don’t forget the hob, oven door and extractor fan.If this is not a task you wish to tackle, we have some fabulous contractors we can recommend.
- Clean the windows – inside and out.
- Sweep and mop the floor.
Cleaning your living room & bedrooms
Dust and grime can build up in your living room and bedrooms over time and once you start removing furniture, you may be surprised by how much dirt is hiding beneath.
Here’s some of the things we suggest doing when cleaning the living room:
- Dust down any surfaces and clean any furniture that needs to be removed.
- Pack down or dismantle your furniture ready for moving.
- Dust skirting boards and any hard to reach areas.
- Wipe over all plug sockets and light switches.
- Clean the windows.
- Give the rooms a final vacuum before you go to clear any dirt that’s found its way back onto the floor.
- Remember part of your tenancy agreement is to have all carpets and floor coverings professionally cleaned at the end of the tenancy.
Cleaning the bathrooms
Dirt and bacteria can be found lurking in bathrooms, so be sure to use disinfectant and specific bathroom cleaner when doing these rooms. There are some great mould removers on the market that doe a great job.
Pointers for cleaning your bathroom:
- Clean out any plugs and drains – remove any hair or dirt that has been built up here.
- Use a limescale remover on your shower, bath, and sink (including the shower head and taps). Usually, you’ll need to leave this to soak for a few minutes, so be sure to read the label of whatever product you’re using to see the maximum effect.
- Clean your toilet thoroughly with bleach, including the lid, seat, cistern, outside of your toilet and any tiles around it. There are some great toilet “bombs” out there.
- Clean all mirrors and windows.
- Clean any drawers or medicine cabinets.
- Clean any skirting boards and hard to reach places, remember behind pipes.
- Wipe over any shaver points.
- Sweep and mop the floor.
Cleaning outside of your property
It’s important to remember that it’s not just the inside of your property that will need a good clean, you’ll also need to clean your garden, any sheds you may have and also the garage if you have one.
- Declutter, clean, and remove any cobwebs from your shed and/or garage. Give them a good sweep through to finish.
- Sweep away any leaves in your garden.
- Clean any decking or patio – a pressure washer can make this job a lot easier.
- Remove any weeds.
- Mow the lawn.
- Scrub up any gates or fences.
- Remove any decorative or unwanted items.
Consider hiring a professional cleaner
If you’re concerned about the size of the job you have on your hands, you may wish to consider hiring a professional cleaner. It might cost you a few pounds but many tenants choose this option to have the peace of mind that everything will be done well.
Cleaners are often in high demand so it’s a good idea to book these as soon as you have a move in date to avoid any disappointment.
We hope these few tips help but if you would like some further guidance or details of the products that we recommend then please don’t hesitate to contact a member of the Rental team.
