With all the hustle that changing a residence involves, move-out cleaning can easily slip your mind. However, neglecting one last deep cleaning in your old home can cost you the security deposit. Every landlord expects a spotless property when a tenant moves out. In this blog post, we tell you how you can get the best results from a move-out cleaning!
Why should you clean before moving out from a rental home?
Recovering your security deposit depends on the home condition. As we mentioned, landlords expect you to leave a clean house. One of the duties of the landlord is repairing and cleaning the home before a new tenant arrives. In California, the landlord can use the security deposit to cover repairs and other expenses, including cleaning services. If the home is clean and in good shape, there won't be any reason why you shouldn't recover your deposit.
What is included in a move-out cleaning?
A move-out cleaning is the thorough and top-to-bottom cleaning a tenant does before moving out. It should include every regular cleaning task but adding the time-consuming and often overlooked chores, like cleaning fixtures and hard-to-reach spots. Besides, if you are taking the furnishings with you, you'll have to clean the hidden areas where the large furniture was.
Move-out cleaning could be an exhausting job, that's why many people prefer to hire a company to take care of it. Whether you or a company tackle the chores, make sure these tasks are part of the cleaning checklist:
Every room
- Wipe spots and stains on the wall. Adding a coat of paint is an option too!
- Clean the baseboards.
- Clean the windows from top to bottom. Include the window seals, ledges, glass, and every spot of the window frame.
- Throw washable curtains into the washing machine. If they are not safe to wash, you can use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and debris from curtains.
- Dust the light fixtures and ceiling fans. If you have to use a ladder to reach them, be careful!
- Use a vacuum cleaner to remove cobwebs.
- Wipe the doors, doorknobs, and door frames.
- Spot clean every stained surface inside the home.
- Remove cleaning supplies, tools, and junk from the garage and other rooms.
- Give a quick touch-up to the front yard and backyard: lawn the grass and pull off weeds.
The kitchen
- Empty the cupholders and wipe the inside. Do this to every cabinet and drawer in the kitchen.
- Wipe and disinfect the countertops.
- Furnished homes often come with many kitchen appliances. Clean them and retire every food residue.
- Take everything out of the freezer and refrigerator. Wipe the drawers and every surface inside and outside the appliance.
- Take the plate out of the microwave and wash it. Wipe inside the appliance.
- Remove the grates and burner caps from the stove-top and scrub food residues.
- Use the oven's self-cleaning function (following the instructions to avoid fire hazards).
The bathroom
- Clean the toilet, including inside, outside, and the base.
- Disinfect the bathtub.
- Scrub the grout and remove soap scum from the shower.
- Wipe the faucet and clean the sink.
- Clean the mirrors using a glass cleaner.
- Remove everything from cabinets and drawers, including personal items, cleaning supplies, and medicine. Then, clean inside and outside the cabinets.
The Living room/bedrooms
- If the rental agreement included furniture, clean them.
- Empty and dust the bookshelves, dressers, closets, and drawers. Every cabinet must be emptied and cleaned.
- Vacuum both sides of the mattress.
- Remove and wash rugs.
- Consider renting a carpet cleaner to deep-clean the carpets.
We are sure you can do a great job! But if you want to focus all your attention on your new home, let eMaids of San Jose take care of the cleaning! Schedule and get a precise estimate on our website!