To clean and prepare a home after the previous residents have moved out isn’t exactly pleasant but is still a necessary evil. This is one of those instances when being a landlord, or a property manager is difficult because the house must be spotlessly clean for the new tenant regardless of whether you do the end-of-tenancy cleaning yourself or hire a company. It doesn’t matter how many years of experience you have; preparing for a tenancy shift could still be a struggle.
As far as property maintenance is concerned, taking shortcuts is never a good idea. Therefore, a checklist can help verify that all components of the job have been completed. The following is a basic guide on cleaning your property at the end of a tenancy.
Kitchen Deep Cleaning
One of the essential places to begin cleaning after the end of a tenancy is the kitchen. This is because it is the most likely place to accumulate filth and grime. This is mainly due to the spills that occur during cooking, pest infestation that might be in the area because this is where they can get their food and the refuse and kitchen garbage that get left behind.
When deep cleaning the kitchen begin from top to bottom. Clean the kitchen cabinets and get rid of any pest nests that might be in there. Then descend onto the walls, especially near the sink and the cooking area where splashes occur. You might need to pull up your sleeves a bit higher depending on how clean your previous tenant was. Scrub the sink to make it sparkling clean, then finish by cleaning the floor.
Bathroom Cleaning
Your next stop should be deep cleaning the bathroom. Your primary focus should be on the bathroom sink, bathtub if there is any and bathroom tiles. Because they are mostly white, it is easy to spot dirt and stains. When it comes to showers, you need to ensure that the shower head and grout are clean so there are no clogs.
Other Rooms
After you have ensured that the most important rooms are well cleaned, the remaining tasks will be easier to do. Before you clean the living room:
- Start by cleaning the bedrooms.
- Focus on the walls and floor to remove any scuff marks.
- Make sure the ceiling is free of cobwebs.
- Repeat the same with the living room and focus on the hidden and hard-to-reach areas where dirt tends to accumulate without being cleaned off.
- Remember to clean the interior and exterior surface of the windows and doors.
Vacuuming/Dry Cleaning Furniture
Last but not least do not forget to clean the furnishings. You can begin by vacuuming them. Vacuuming the fabric of the sofas is vital to remove any loose debris. Use stick vacuum cleaners. Stick vacuum cleaners are portable and surprisingly powerful.
If stained and embedded with dirt, you can also try dry washing. Spray the stained area with a solution of water and a cleaning agent. If there is a significant amount of dirt, pour the solution on and let it sit for at least five minutes before attempting to clean it. Use the nozzle to absorb the wetness left behind by the cleaning mixture gradually.
Carpet and Curtain Cleaning
If there are carpets, you can vacuum them, but for deeper cleaning and removal of dirt, it would be best to take them for pressure washing and have them brightened up by dislodging loose dirt and embedded grime. It is also a good idea to check the curtains; they tend to accumulate dust.
Additionally, wipe down and polish the curtain rods.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
