No matter how good a job your previous tenant did with their end of rental clean, you may find a few things that need going over one more time. And you need to get them done ASAP before your new tenant moves in.
It’s the curse of the landlord; it’s a space you’ve put time and money into, so you can’t help but notice when something is not quite right!
And if we’re honest, there’s a lot more dirt in your rental property than you might think. After all, if you’re not deep cleaning the space every single time a tenant moves out, dirt, grime, and dust is going to accumulate in the dark cracks.
So where are these areas? Here’s a quick checklist to go through when you’re planning a rental clean and want to make sure the property is absolutely sparkling.
Behind Kitchen Appliances
Cleaning behind appliances is a bit of a task. That’s why both tenants and landlords alike tend to avoid it.
It requires you to pull out very heavy, and often very delicate, bits of equipment. The fridge, the dishwasher, and even table top appliances like air fryers and toasters.
And yes, for a lot of people it’s a bit of an effort to clean behind the smaller appliances too!
But if you want to get a proper deep clean done, you’re going to need to spend a couple of hours cleaning behind these appliances. Make sure they’re disconnected properly, the water has been turned off (if need be), and you’re not in danger of getting a shock.
Inside Cupboards and Closets
How often do you clean inside cupboards and closets (and drawers) inside your own home? Maybe once a year, if that? Well, the same goes for the cleaning done by the tenant inside your rental.
And yet, the inside of these spaces is likely to get very dirty over time. From bits of fluff to dust bunnies, as well as hair and food stains, there’s all kinds of grime that can get etched into the wood and plastic of these storage spaces.
Pipes and Drains
Let’s face it, you don’t often consider what the inside of your rental’s plumbing and drainage really looks like! So when you do a clean in preparation for a new tenant, these pipes are likely to get left off of your list.
But no longer! Here are the main areas to focus on with regards to proper plumbing maintenance:
The kitchen sink
You definitely need to put some drain cleaner down the kitchen sink plughole, but you also would benefit from unscrewing the u-bend and making sure nothing has gotten stuck.
This is especially key if your previous tenant had children, as all kinds of non-flushable items can end up in these pipe sections.
The dryer vent
Most people know how to clean out the lint tray or trap inside a tumble dryer. Of course, it’s a good idea to double check this once a tenant has gone, just in case there’s a fire waiting to happen!
But how about the vent behind the dryer, that helps to filter out excess fibers and fluff? How often has that been cleaned since you had the dryer fitted? If the answer is never, it’s time to phone a dryer vent cleaning service and get the entire unit seen to!
Outdoor drains
Of course, external drains are always going to be dirtier than internal ones. However, they don’t have to be covered in grime, moss, and dead leaves.
Make sure you boil some water to send down this drain, and if you notice any weird sounds as you do, call out a plumber to take a look.
Soft Furnishings
If your rental comes with furniture, including sofa cushions, dining chairs, and a bed with a full mattress, you’re going to need to clean and/or replace these on a very regular basis.
Make sure you wash and/or steam the following items every time a tenant comes to the end of their lease:
Curtains
They can be covered in all kinds of matter, including sneeze droplets, spilled drinks, and pen ink.
Whether or not you’re sure the curtains are clean, take them down, put them through the wash (or dry clean them), and only then hang them back up.
Mattresses
There are various ways to clean a mattress using home remedies, but you can also steam clean them and turn them over.
Mattresses need to be turned on a regular basis as is, as it helps them to last longer, but your previous tenant may not have known this.
Cushions
Sofa cushions can be very easily thrown into the washing machine and tumble dryer, so be sure to put them through these washes at the end of a tenancy.
You can then plump them up, put their covers back on, and make the sofa look as good as new before someone else moves in.
Chair upholstery
These are harder to clean, as they don’t tend to be removable. Most seat cushions for dining tables, desk chairs, etc., are securely attached and would need unpicking.
However, you can wash them down with some regular soap and water, or you can use a color-restoring soap to help breathe a bit of new life into older chairs.
Keep Your Rental Clean
It’s both easier and more complex to do than you might think! But really, the main challenge is staying on top of the areas where the dirt hides.
You don’t want a tenant coming into your rental and finding literal traces of the last person who lived there. You want them to know they’re living in a clean and sterile environment, and be willing to pay top dollar for the privilege.
So, the next time you’re doing a deep clean between tenants, make sure you get down the back of your appliances, check the state of your pipes and drains, and keep the soft furnishings feeling light and fluffy.
