Moving out of your apartment? Once everything is packed and ready to go, the last thing you want to do is clean your rental from top to bottom. However, if you want to make sure you get that security deposit back, it's a good idea to give your apartment a thorough scrubbing.
Read on to find out the most important cleaning tasks to complete before giving your keys back to the landlord.
Fix holes, cracks, and chips
Did nails from your framed artwork leave behind any unsightly holes in the walls? Are there any cracks or chips in the paint that weren't there when you moved in? These imperfections could cost you your damage deposit. Apply putty to conceal any holes, chips or cracks.
Dust from top to bottom
When dusting your apartment, make sure to get high-reach places first. Pay attention to light fixtures, ceiling fans, and cobwebs in the corners.
Vacuum (and possibly shampoo) carpets
Vacuum and sweep all floors, making sure you get behind your furniture. You may want to rent a carpet shampooer if you have light-coloured carpeting or any noticeable stains.
Scrub soap scum
Bathrooms can get pretty grimy. Scrub all grout in your shower, tub, and tiled floors and walls to remove mildew and soap scum. If you have a glass shower door, spray and wipe it down to remove all trace of scum. Don't forget to wipe down the faucets, shower head, toilet, and the insides of drawers and closets too.
Disinfect everything
The countertops, the refrigerator, the bathroom--everything should sparkle. Remove all shelves from the refrigerator when cleaning it, scrub the oven inside and out, and wipe down the fronts and insides of all of your cabinets.
Clean behind appliances
Make sure to get all those hard to reach places--move your fridge, stove, washer/dryer, and any other appliances away from the wall to remove any dirt and grime hiding back there.
Inspect everything carefully
Once your cleaning is complete, do a walk-through of your apartment to carefully inspect your handiwork. Make sure you didn't miss a spot, and compare your rental to photos you took when you moved in to ensure there isn't any glaring damage that could cause the loss of your deposit. Once you're confident you're good to go, it's time to move out! |