When you move out of a rental home or apartment, one of the biggest priorities is getting back your deposit. To get back your deposit, it’s important to take good care of the home while you’re living there, but when you move out it’s just as important to give it a good deep cleaning. A professional cleaning service is always a good idea, however if that’s not in the budget, follow this checklist:
Decluttering is an excellent place to start. This will make cleaning and repairs easier, with less in the way to move around. If you have a significant amount of items to dispose of, consider a bin rental to toss all of your household junk at once. This way you can get rid of all types of household materials (including glass, metal, appliances, electronics, etc.) at the same time, rather than running back and forth to the dump.
At Bin There Dump That, all of our bins are the same price for any size! So rather than being cautious, order a larger size to be sure all of your junk will fit easily. Besides... We never seem to know how much we truly have to throw away until we start pulling it all out!
Do your very best to make sure that everything is in the exact same condition as it was when you first moved in! Here are some common repairs that may be required, as they are considered more than just inevitable 'ware & tear'.
- Remove nails/screws and repair holes
- Inspect cabinets and baseboards for any damage that can be repaired
- Re-paint walls that you have painted a non-neutral colour (if this is specified in your rental agreement)
- Repair or replace any handles, doorknobs, light switches and other fixtures that have been broken or damaged
The most ideal situation would be to hire a professional cleaning service, to ensure the unit is as clean as possible. However, this is not always in everyone's budget. If you prefer to do the cleaning yourself, we've come up with a list of items to make sure you complete!
- Dust ceiling fans and ceiling light fixtures
- Clean windows & sills
- Clean doors & knobs
- Clean switch plates & outlets
- Clean baseboards
- Dust walls & ceilings
- Vacuum & clean carpets. Be sure to get rid of any stains if possible, professional carpet cleaning may be necessary
- Clean bathroom mirrors, countertops, showers & toilets. Bleach the grout between tiles if necessary.
- Clean inside & outside of all cabinets, including removing liners
- Clean floors
- Clean kitchen appliances (don’t forget the microwave/toaster oven!)
- Clean air vents
- Clean the washing machine and dryer inside and out. Pull them out to clean underneath and behind them.
- Cut the grass and tidy outdoor space if that is your responsibility
After completing all of these items, it is always a good idea to ask your landlord or property manager to inspect the property and point out anything you may have missed. With all of these efforts combined, it is almost guaranteed that you will get your security deposit back!
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