Many tenants do not have any idea about how detailed landlords can be, while inspecting their property at the end of the lease. Most deposit deductions occur when they spot cleaning issues that tenants could have avoided with a proper plan. Follow this checklist of essential tasks for move out cleaning Vancouver WA. It will be easier to get your full deposit back.
Take care of living room and bedroom properly
Your next tenants will use these spaces mostly, just like you. You cannot go wrong while tidying up these areas. Other than vacuuming, mopping and scrubbing, you have to take care that the areas under beds or furniture items are also taken care of.
You have to do this to be on the safe side, so that your landlord or property manager cannot get you on the wrong foot at any moment.
Deep clean the kitchen (including hidden grease spots)
You should wipe down all these things properly:
- Countertops,
- Cabinet doors,
- Handles,
- Near the stove,
- Behind small appliances, and
- Backsplash tiles
Scrub the bathroom until it looks brand new
Many tenants often end up cleaning their bathrooms in a halfhearted manner. Do not clean like this. It is a good idea to clean oft-ignored surfaces such as:
- Mirrors,
- Commode,
- Faucets,
- Pipes,
- Shower corners,
- Faucet handles and
- Toilet base
Remove dust from every surface (even the ones you forget)
You can find a lot of dust accumulating on window sills, ceiling fan blades, baseboards and door frames. During inspection, these surfaces will always be checked. You can be quite sure about this.
Landlords and property managers are very serious about the air vents, blinds and air returns. Clean these well enough.
Clean floors thoroughly (vacuum, mop, and spot-treat)
You have to vacuum the carpets carefully, especially the corners and edges. If you find stains, spot-clean them immediately. If you find your carpet stained too much, you may like to schedule a professional steam cleaning service. In many lease properties, it is mandatory to do so. Sweep and mop hardwood, vinyl or tile flooring.
Pay attention to walls, switches, and high-touch areas
Landlords also inspect wall surfaces closely. You should look for fingerprints, scuff marks and dirt near doorways. Wipe outlet covers, light switches and door-handles clean. Disinfect them properly.
Cleaning up all these high-touch spots can be time-consuming. This is where professional apartment cleaning Vancouver services can help you.
Clean appliances inside and out
Take care of:
- Oven,
- Refrigerator,
- Microwave, and
- Dishwasher
These are some of the common appliances that look unclean and end up reducing the deposits. Wash them separately.
Do not forget windows and tracks
Vacuum or scrub window tracks where dirt builds up. Wipe down frames. Clean the glass from the inside.
Final trash removal
And take the trash out in the end. When you live in a rental property, after doing all the cleaning, you are likely to toss at least some of the items into the trash can. Unless you have cleaned it up, how can you satisfy your landlord? Make sure that you do this at the very end so that nothing is left behind.
Take care of the exterior
When you live in a rental property for a long time, it is quite likely that the exterior walls or some of the surrounding areas will get dirty as well. If this happens due to you or any of your family members, it is better that you clean up these spaces too.
While cleaning these surfaces, you have to be extra-cautious. Any mistake on your part and smudges or stains will be easily visible. If you find it difficult to handle it on your own, going for professional assistance might be a better idea.
Bottom Line
It is not so difficult to get back full security deposit when you clean as per a proper checklist. You can actually manage to satisfy your landlord or property manager when you work step-by-step, with a proper plan in place.
If you need help with apartment move-out cleaning in Vancouver WA, our professional cleaning team can help you meet landlord inspection standards.
