Cleaning
Often the most overlooked aspect when leaving your tenancy, but one of the most frequent to cause loss of deposit is cleaning. If you supply the property back to us in a good clean condition, you will speed up the deposit return process as less deductions will have to be calculated.
We request that the property is kept clean during the viewings process. You can use this guide to detail how to clean the property during and at the end of your tenancy.
We request that the property is kept clean during the viewings process. You can use this guide to detail how to clean the property during and at the end of your tenancy.
General
Clean marks off walls, this can be done with those clever magic erasers, which really do work. Unless you know the paint is a washable type, don’t use a wet cloth as you could end up wiping the paint off.
Check ceilings for cobwebs, and light fixings; which are easy to overlook. Hoover all floors and remove any stains or odours from carpets or rugs. Dust all woodwork so that’s tops of doors, around door surrounds, window ledges and skirting boards. |
The Kitchen
Once all of your belongings have been moved out, the last thing you want to do is to clean everything and then cook on the final night or wash up dishes once you have ensured the sink, taps and draining board are gleaming.
Start with the windows and window handles; not only should you clean the inside of the kitchen windows but also the inside of the frames. If you find any mould or mildew you may need specialist cleaning fluid to remove these. If you have blinds or curtains, make sure these are cleaned and free of dust and grease residue.
The fridge and freezer will usually be required to be cleaned out and the freezer defrosted ready for inspection. You can check with your Letting Agent to make sure of their particular requirements. Newer freezers don’t get clogged up with lots of ice but older freezers may require significant time for all the ice to melt. Use buckets, and plenty of towels to protect the floor. This probably isn’t a job for the last day of your tenancy, so make sure you allow plenty of time. Remember to wash these towels before you clean out the washing machine.
Start with the windows and window handles; not only should you clean the inside of the kitchen windows but also the inside of the frames. If you find any mould or mildew you may need specialist cleaning fluid to remove these. If you have blinds or curtains, make sure these are cleaned and free of dust and grease residue.
The fridge and freezer will usually be required to be cleaned out and the freezer defrosted ready for inspection. You can check with your Letting Agent to make sure of their particular requirements. Newer freezers don’t get clogged up with lots of ice but older freezers may require significant time for all the ice to melt. Use buckets, and plenty of towels to protect the floor. This probably isn’t a job for the last day of your tenancy, so make sure you allow plenty of time. Remember to wash these towels before you clean out the washing machine.
If the washing machine was provided as part of the rental then it will need to be cleaned. The drum may look clean, but lots of fluff and odd change can accumulate in the rubber ridges around the drum; so give them a good wipe out.
Carefully remove the soap/conditioner drawer and soak it hot water. It can accumulate limescale so a little lime scale remover may be needed. Don’t forget to clean inside the drawer area as this can get filled with grime and detergent and will be checked. If your washing machine is also a tumble dryer/condenser, remember to empty out any water held in the machine.
If your property has a dishwasher again clean out the detergent drawer and inside door edges where it can sometimes become discoloured.
There are some really great products for cleaning the oven out there and our favourites are the products that come in a box and include a bottle of chemical and a bag for oven racks with some necessary protective gloves. Basically you open the bags, place the trays and shelves into them, seal and leave for the recommended time (sometimes 24hrs so do this the day before you are checking out). If you have a rubber seal that can be removed, put this in the dishwasher for a rinse and it will come out gleaming.
Extractor fan – replace the filters and clean around the light and fan element, for those hard to reach places, cotton buds can come in handy with a little oven cleaner on them.
First hoover the cupboards and drawers to remove excess crumbs and then clean out with a little washing up liquid and warm water, if your pans have left marks, use a stronger cleaner to remove, leave to dry. Don’t forget to hoover and clean the top of the cupboards – you may need a step ladder to reach them. Whilst you have the step ladder to hand, check the light(s) and run a cloth over – ensure they are switched off before attempting this.
Sink, taps and draining boards can be cleaned with hot soapy water, leave to dry and then go over with a dry cloth to really get the shine required. Don’t forget to really get in around the bottom of the taps, the underside of the plug, chain and overflow element.
Floors and skirting boards should be done near the finish. Start from the farthest end and clean whilst walking backwards, this will ensure that you don’t leave footprints, then once dry, go over with a polishing cloth, to really add some shine.
Finally the door and door handles to the kitchen, remove any finger prints and don’t forget the light switch.
You should now have a beautifully clean kitchen ready for check out and that someone else could happily move into and start using straight away.
Carefully remove the soap/conditioner drawer and soak it hot water. It can accumulate limescale so a little lime scale remover may be needed. Don’t forget to clean inside the drawer area as this can get filled with grime and detergent and will be checked. If your washing machine is also a tumble dryer/condenser, remember to empty out any water held in the machine.
If your property has a dishwasher again clean out the detergent drawer and inside door edges where it can sometimes become discoloured.
There are some really great products for cleaning the oven out there and our favourites are the products that come in a box and include a bottle of chemical and a bag for oven racks with some necessary protective gloves. Basically you open the bags, place the trays and shelves into them, seal and leave for the recommended time (sometimes 24hrs so do this the day before you are checking out). If you have a rubber seal that can be removed, put this in the dishwasher for a rinse and it will come out gleaming.
Extractor fan – replace the filters and clean around the light and fan element, for those hard to reach places, cotton buds can come in handy with a little oven cleaner on them.
First hoover the cupboards and drawers to remove excess crumbs and then clean out with a little washing up liquid and warm water, if your pans have left marks, use a stronger cleaner to remove, leave to dry. Don’t forget to hoover and clean the top of the cupboards – you may need a step ladder to reach them. Whilst you have the step ladder to hand, check the light(s) and run a cloth over – ensure they are switched off before attempting this.
Sink, taps and draining boards can be cleaned with hot soapy water, leave to dry and then go over with a dry cloth to really get the shine required. Don’t forget to really get in around the bottom of the taps, the underside of the plug, chain and overflow element.
Floors and skirting boards should be done near the finish. Start from the farthest end and clean whilst walking backwards, this will ensure that you don’t leave footprints, then once dry, go over with a polishing cloth, to really add some shine.
Finally the door and door handles to the kitchen, remove any finger prints and don’t forget the light switch.
You should now have a beautifully clean kitchen ready for check out and that someone else could happily move into and start using straight away.
The Bathroom
Top Tip – Have a dry old towel for buffing
Shower
Shower
- Detach the shower head and submerge it in white vinegar or descaler overnight.
- Put plastic shower curtains into the washing machine with detergent and some old towels. Rehang to dry.
- Scrub a paste of white vinegar and baking soda onto shower doors, leave it for a bit and then rinse. Buff with a dry cloth.
- Don’t forget to take the drain apart and clean.
- Buff all chrome.
- Scrub round the sink and bath, ensuring the drains and plug holes are clear.
- Remove any mould and limescale build up from metal surfaces. You can get special limescale remover.
- Get an old toothbrush and have a really good go at the grout between tiles with white vinegar and baking soda mix. You can also find good quality grout cleaner on the internet.
- It’s hard to beat a good dose of bleach, but try the white vinegar and baking soda approach too, you might also need a special limescale remover.
- Don’t forget to clean the toilet brush and its container.
- Switch off the power at the fan isolator switch.
- Remove the cover, soak and wash in detergent and water.
- Use a vacuum cleaner to suck out the gunk.