Moving out of your apartment after your lease ends can be challenging. One of the biggest tasks is making sure your space is clean and clear for the next tenants. You would want your next space to be cleaned from the previous tenants. In fact, your landlord may require you to clean your apartment prior to moving out as a part of the lease agreement. Doing a deep clean will help your landlord avoid having to call an outside service and will get you your security deposit back. Here are a few tips to ensure that your apartment is clean and passes inspection before you move out.
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Check your lease and landlord
Before you do anything else, check your lease to see what it specifically says about cleaning. How much are you expected to clean? Are you even expected to clean at all? Your landlord may already have factored in a cleaning service to come in after you move out, meaning you may not have to do as much cleaning. Still, it is a good idea to do a little bit of cleaning to help out. Your lease may also outline any charges for things left unclean and tasks undone. See if the lease gives a specific date to have the cleaning completed. Be sure to read the lease carefully and make notes of things you need to do.
If you have any questions or need clarification on something, be sure to ask your landlord before you even get started with your cleaning. Check to see if you will owe anything if they hire a cleaning service and ask what their expectations are if they want you to clean yourself.
Make a list
Before you start cleaning, do a walkthrough of your apartment. Write down the rooms and spaces that you need to clean. Also take note of anything that needs special attention, like a stain on a carpet or a spot on the wall. Having a list to see what you need to do can allow you to break the task up as well as lets you cross things off as you go. No matter how small the task may seem, be sure to include it to make sure it actually gets done. If you have a roommate, delegate tasks so that you are both working together to complete the cleaning.
You will also want to make a list of any and all cleaning supplies you need to get. You may have some on hand, but you will likely need more. Make a list so that you get what you need and avoid getting something you may not need. Go through the supplies you do have and see what you have and how much is left. If you are running low on something or do not have an item you need, add it to your list.
Buy your supplies
Now that you have your list of supplies, you will actually need to go out and buy the items. If you have a roommate, talk to them about splitting the bill since you both need to pull the weight. Make sure you get everything you need so that you do not have to interrupt your cleaning flow to go get something you forgot to pick up.
Declutter
Before you start the deep cleaning, clear any clutter that may get in your way. While you do not have to put everything away or pack each of your items up right now, be sure you are able to clean effectively. If you have large furniture items and you are working on cleaning the floors, move the furniture out of the way. Make sure there are no small items on the floor that you may trip over in the process of cleaning. As you complete each section, move the items around so you can reach every nook and cranny of your space.
Get to work
Once you have things moved and you have your list, actually do the cleaning. Take it one task and one step at a time. Consider creating a schedule and breaking up the entire task of cleaning. Plan to do a little bit each day so you are not overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to do. Get your roommate and even other friends involved with helping to make the task more fun and the time go by quicker.
Consider a cleaning crew
Your lease may be up around the time you have final exams and projects due, eliminating the time you have to clean. After all, your grades are the most important thing right now. You may also have certain physical limitations that hinder your ability to do as deep of a cleaning as you want or need to. In these cases, you may opt to hire a cleaning crew. While this may sound expensive, some cleaning crews work with students specifically to help them clean their apartments before they move out.
Cleaning is never fun, but it is an essential task when you move out when your lease ends. Knowing what is expected and writing things down can make it seem less daunting.
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