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The Ultimate Guide To Keeping Your Rental Home Clean
Jan
Renting your first solo apartment or house brings exciting independence – but also sole responsibility for essential household duties like cleaning.
Maintaining tidy living spaces not only upholds cleanliness standards commonly outlined in lease agreements but also prevents losing your security deposit down the road when inspections assess for damage and required repairs.
By implementing a proactive cleaning routine, you can stay comfortably on top of dirt, grime and clutter while respecting your rental. Follow this ultimate first-timer’s guide to keep your rented spaces sparkling.
Get Familiar with Cleaning Clauses in Your Lease
Carefully review which exact cleaning tasks your lease dictates as required maintenance for tenants – both inside the unit and outside in yards or shared common areas.
Confirm whether tenants or hired contractors handle specialised cleaning like gutter or chimney maintenance.
Know the outlined standards well so you can consistently meet tenant obligations, whether daily tidying or seasonal deep cleaning.
Discuss any confusing clauses with your landlord directly to avoid confusion or potential security deposit jeopardising misunderstands of your maintenance obligations.
Hire A Professional Lease Cleaner
Given the intensive deep cleaning required before moving out, consider hiring professional end-of-lease cleaners to tackle this final cleaning hurdle.
You can find cleaners across the country with Absolute Domestics’ end-of-lease cleaning service, where these trained experts possess all the right equipment and techniques to scrub a rental home spotless from top to bottom.
Their keen eyes notice subtle damage tenants often miss.
Leave the task to the cleaning pros so you can focus efforts on packing belongings and finalising move-out logistics with your property manager stress-free.
Investing in an end-of-lease cleaning service ensures you leave the rental gleaming while also maximising the chances of getting your full security deposit back thanks to their sparkling results.
Compared to losing deposit funds, the cleaning fees seem a small price to pay.
Designate Tasks on a Handy Cleaning Schedule
Break bigger cleaning jobs into daily, weekly and monthly tasks so upkeep feels entirely manageable, not overwhelming.
Quick daily wipe-downs of kitchen surfaces, vacuuming high-traffic areas and cleaning litter boxes prevent gradual mess buildup.
Designate more intense efforts like scrubbing bathrooms, dusting ceiling fans, mopping floors or scouring ovens for designated weekend times monthly.
Use digital or paper planners to assign tasks and set helpful reminders – whatever works for you to help you keep on top of the weekly or monthly schedule.
Stock Up on Quality, Rental-Safe Cleaning Supplies
Gather essential apartment-friendly cleaners, tools and backups for surfaces, bathrooms, kitchens, laundry and floors all in one convenient place, under sinks or in a storage closet.
Having the right cleaning products close at hand makes tidying easier and prevents using solutions that could inadvertently damage rental property finishes.
Maintain extras like sponges, microfiber cloths, paper towels, trash bags, dish and laundry detergent too so you never lack vital supplies when needing to wipe up spills or wash linens.
Stay Proactive on Repairs & Preventative Maintenance
Promptly submit maintenance requests for any leaks, electrical issues, appliance malfunctions or hinge repairs needed.
Also report ceiling cracks, window seal failures or dripping faucets and any other issues.
Addressing small issues early on prevents destruction long-term from burst pipes, mould growth or collapsed structures.
Handling them immediately also shows landlords you care about protecting their investment property.
Do Seasonal Deep Cleaning & Outdoor Yard Care
Perform intensive top-to-bottom cleansing of your entire rental every change of season. You can do the following:
- thoroughly wash walls,
- launder all linens,
- polish hardwood floors,
- detail clean appliances inside and out,
- dust ceiling corners and fans,
- disinfect trash bins,
- scrub patio pavers or
- power wash vinyl siding if needed
See this guide on how to clean outdoor furniture for some steps in this area.
Refer back to your signed lease for specifics on seasonal lawn mowing, snow removal, HVAC filter changes or holiday lighting policies as well.
Inspect Every Nook Thoroughly Pre-Move Out
While the ideal is to hire professional help here, we know this is not a viable option for everyone.
As your lease end date nears, devote intensive hours to cleaning every corner the same way you would expect a hotel suite upon check-in – including entryways, closets, curtain treatments, appliances, yards and shared common spaces like laundry rooms.
Following initial move-in condition reports closely prevents unfair blame for pre existing damage from past tenants.
Leave rental spaces truly move-in ready for the next residents to enjoy as much as you did.
Final Thoughts
By following these renter-tailored tips to uphold cleanliness, you preserve positive relationships with property managers and pass the final move-out inspections needed for full security deposit refunds.
Prioritising consistent cleaning routines and respect for your rented property keeps first-time rentals feeling like home all lease long. Welcome to independence!
