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End of tenancy cleaning can be a challenge for tenants and landlords alike, but unfortunately, many of the biggest cleaning jobs are left until the lease ends, resulting in more difficulty to restore them to their former glory. From hard stains that won’t shift to forgotten areas that require extra attention, we’ll explore some of the most common challenges involved with cleaning a rental property and how to navigate this often-stressful task with ease.
A thoroughly cleaned property is essential for tenants to get their security deposit back, especially if a Schedule of Condition was put in place prior to moving in, but also for landlords to ensure the space is up to the right standard for the next tenant. The property needs to be free from dust, grease and mould, while both in and outdoor areas need to be tidy and free from debris.
With this in mind, note down areas that often get forgotten about like skirting boards and on the tops and sides of appliances, as well as areas that will require a professional clean like stained carpets or ovens and hobs where a DIY fix won’t suffice.
There are plenty of factors that can affect how a property smells, from food odours that have permeated soft furnishings to mould, pets, tobacco or a lack of thorough cleaning, but one thing’s for sure—they all have a negative impact on the property overall. For landlords, especially those looking to sell up in the future, this can greatly affect the desirability of the home, so it’s something they’ll be looking for when it comes to inspection.
Air fresheners may mask the smell temporarily, but to fully eradicate bad odours, you need to clean with care. Pay close attention to overlooked areas like cooking vents, splashbacks and walls behind appliances, tiling behind sinks and toilets, together with the tops of cabinets that might have been neglected, and be sure to ventilate every room thoroughly.
One of the most common problems renters and landlords face at the end of a tenancy is carpet stains. But removing them requires first identifying what the stain is from, as the method to remove them will vary from one stain to the other.
Paint, for example, will require a small amount of dry-cleaning solvent (for synthetic materials; wool carpets require white spirit), blotted gently over the stain to lift it. Once the paint has mostly been removed, you can follow up with water to remove the residue. For red wine, you’ll need to blot with water to dilute the stain then use a carpet cleaning solution, working from the outside in to avoid spreading the stain further. If the stain has been there for some time, it may be worth renting a carpet cleaner to give the area a thoroughly deep clean and remove embedded dirt and grime.
Removing grease from any surface can be challenging at the best of times, but if there are layers of grease to contend with, it can be even harder. In kitchens, grease can build up over time on cupboard surfaces, windowsills and even ceilings, and it will require both the right products and a lot of manual effort to clean it off.
White vinegar is your friend when it comes to removing sticky grease from kitchens, and it’s easy to find. Using a spray bottle, fill it halfway with white vinegar and top up with warm water. Spray onto the cabinets or surfaces and leave for a few minutes, then wet a cloth in warm water to wipe the surfaces down and remove the stains.
Mould and limescale tend to occur in bathrooms, but can also be a problem in kitchens or utility areas, where moisture accumulates and there’s often a lack of ventilation. You might find mould around the edges of showers and baths, on ceilings or on tiling in these spaces, and it can be hard to remove.
Similarly, limescale can build up as a result of water evaporating on surfaces like taps and hardware. In both instances, using white vinegar, left to sit on these surfaces for a few 10-15 minutes and then washed off thoroughly can help to remove the problem. In particularly challenging spots, you might need to repeat the process a few times.
Equipping yourself with the right tools and materials will make the process of cleaning the property so much easier. Make sure that you stock up on multi-surface cleaners, disinfectants, glass cleaner, specific products for bathrooms and kitchens, and relevant specialist products if your property has materials such as marble or hardwood floors.
Remember to be cautious with abrasive cleaners or tools that might damage surfaces—always check product labels carefully and, when in doubt, test cleaning solutions on a small, inconspicuous area first to avoid potential damage that could affect your deposit return.
Attention to detail makes all the difference in an end of tenancy clean, so don’t be tempted to skip over areas like light fixtures, down the sides of shelving units or cabinets, and around door and window frames, which can accumulate dust and grime.
Carefully clean skirting boards and corners where dust tends to gather and move large items of furniture to clean underneath and behind. Pay attention to often-neglected areas like ventilation systems, including extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms, too – these small details will definitely impress during the final inspection and reduce the likelihood of disagreements over the return of your deposit.
While it may not be the most exciting aspect of moving home, the reality is that end of tenancy cleaning is an important part of the moving process. It can be challenging to ensure that the property meets the right standards. But giving yourself plenty of time, making sure you have the right tools for the job, and ensuring you don’t neglect the finer details will result in a smoother and more successful inspection at the end of the tenancy period.
Written by Annie Button
Posted by Simon on May 26th, 2010
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