Moving out can be an absolute headache – packing up all your things, changing your address, doing end of tenancy cleaning… but did you really clean well enough? There are some landlords who will pedantically check every last nook and cranny just so they can find a reason to withhold your security deposit.
Are you willing to risk your deposit because you didn’t clean as well as you should have? You might think you’ve done it perfectly, but you can always forget something. For this reason, we will go over some spots that are often overlooked, even during a deep clean.
Hard-to-reach reach places
Out of sight, out of mind, right? You can definitely abide by this saying if you want to lose your deposit, that is.
Some hard-to-reach places, like the ceiling corners, chandeliers, light fixtures, curtain rails, and other high-up places can gather lots of dust without it being easily noticeable.
Make use of a chair or step ladder to reach those lofty, dust-filled areas. Use a dusting wand to remove any cobwebs and dust, then wipe it all down with a microfiber cloth to remove the rest of the grime. Use an all-purpose cleaner if the dirt proves resilient to your efforts.
The tops of furniture
The spaces above your kitchen cupboards, wardrobe, bookshelves etc., accumulate lots of dust over time and should be given a good cleaning before you vacate the premises.
As with the hard-to-reach places, you will probably need a chair or step ladder to reach that high up.
For the cleaning itself, spray with some wood furniture cleaner and then wipe down with a microfiber cloth. Repeat if needed until you achieve a squeaky-clean result!
Underneath large furniture
As with places that are too high to see, there are some that are too low for us to notice just how dirty they are. The spaces underneath your sofa and bed are a prime example of what is often overlooked when cleaning.
Move your couch, and you’ll notice just how many dust bunnies and other gross stuff have gathered down there, and the same is probably true for under your bed, as well.
Move your sofa/bed to fully open up the space underneath it. Grab your vacuum cleaner and hoover up all the dirt, then take a moist floor mop and clean up all the remaining grime. Another thing you can do is turn the furniture to its side, to reveal its bottom – dirty, isn’t it? Grab a microfiber cloth and wipe away all the dust that has been gathering for ages.
Window sills and window frames
You might have cleaned the windows and left them sparkling, but did you remember to wipe the window sills and frames, as well?
These spots can easily be overlooked in the end of tenancy cleaning rush, but they’re not to be underestimated. Any flat surface, no matter how small, is a perfect place for dust to gather.
Start from the window frames. Wipe them down with a microfiber cloth and apply some all-purpose or wood cleaner (depending on the material of the frames) if needed. After you’ve cleaned the frames, repeat the same process for the window sills.
The baseboards
Have you ever thought about how much dust your baseboards gather? No? Well, maybe you should! Those little wall furnishings are constantly bombarded with dust, as they are close to the ground and any dirt you kick up while walking will find its way over to them.
Run your finger over the little baseboard ledge, and you’ll see just how much dust has accumulated there.
The main difficulty with baseboard cleaning is how low they’re situated, so you’ll have to crawl around a bit for this one. You can start by hoovering them with the brush attachment on your vacuum.
Then, grab your trusty microfiber cloth and wipe away all the dirt using some detergent, if needed. Any scuffs and marks on the baseboards can be removed with the use of a magic eraser.
All of the appliances
Don’t forget to clean all the appliances in the household! That includes the oven, stovetop, refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine and microwave. These appliances should be properly cleaned on the inside and outside.
You don’t want your landlord to crack open the fridge and be met with food stains and musty smells because that’s a surefire way to lose your deposit!
Doors and walls
Not only horizontal surfaces gather dust, but vertical ones do, as well. Look at the walls closely under bright daylight – do they look a bit fuzzy?
If so, start by wiping the outside of the appliances until all the accumulated dust and grime are removed. The stovetop might need more elbow grease and a specialised cleaning foam to eliminate all that stubborn, burnt residue.
The insides of your oven and microwave can be cleaned in pretty much the same way. The interior of the fridge should be deep-cleaned and disinfected.
The dishwasher and washing machine should be run on a high-temperature cycle, together with a special detergent that removes any limescale, residue and bacteria that have accumulated inside. You should definitely give them a clean. The same goes for doors and their frames.
Walls are much larger than any other surface you’ve cleaned so far, so wiping them with your small microfiber cloth won’t do the job. Grab the flat mop you use for your floors, which is equipped with a large microfiber cloth, and use it to wipe the dust away from all the walls.
Make sure you don’t use a wet mop, as that might end up removing the paint on the walls if it’s water-soluble. The doors are easier, as they can be simply wiped down with your regular microfiber cloth and some wood cleaner. And don’t forget the little ledge above the door, too!
Air vents and filters
If you have central heating/air-conditioning that uses air ducts to move the air throughout the house, then you should clean the air vents and filters before you go. All that air moving throughout the house gathers lots of dust with it and deposits it on the filters and ducts in the system.
Grab your dusting wand and run it over all the air vents around the home. You can even unscrew the vent covers and see whether they aren’t clogged with dust bunnies and other gunk.
As for the air filters, they are located in each air handler unit of your system. Locate the filter, remove it, and wash it under running water. Let it air dry completely before inserting it back.
Conclusion
Every end of tenancy cleaning is hectic, as you are also doing lots of other things together with it. This can lead to some spots being forgotten and you risking your security deposit if the landlord isn’t pleased with your cleaning efforts. But now that you’ve read this article, you know all those often overlooked areas!
Do you think you don’t have enough time to do all this yourself? Don’t worry – just let the professionals take care of it for you, with a 100% deposit back guarantee!