Whether you’re leaving a rental property or selling your own, one thing people often overlook is the final clean-up before moving out. But why is it important? For starters, you don’t want your landlord to deduct a portion from your security deposit for the cleaning costs. Alternatively, if you’re putting it up for sale/rent, a well-furnished space can mean the difference between a long line of potential customers and one devoid of any.
In this blog, we’ll reveal those five hidden factors of move-out cleaning. Buckle up because we’re about to make your move-out cleaning a walk in the park!
Key Takeaways
- Move-out cleaning is necessary to prepare your space for sale/rent or secure your security deposit.
- Move-out cleaning is extensive, time-consuming, and requires more cleaning products than regular cleaning.
- Move-out cleaning can take up a lot of time, so time management is vital when performing a move-out cleaning.
- A high level of cleaning implies a risk of health hazards.
- Professional assistance may be required for extensive cleaning.
5 Forgotten Factors of Move-Out Cleaning
Let’s discuss in detail, what are the 5 factors of move-out cleaning, how they matter, and why!
1. It Goes Beyond Ordinary Cleaning
The first and the most important thing to understand is that move-out cleaning differs significantly from your regular cleaning. While regular cleaning would involve a lot of dusting and wiping furniture, appliances, and other fixtures, move-out cleaning is quite different. Here’s how:
Leaving a lasting Impression
While regular cleaning requires maintaining the same old appearance as your space, a move-out cleaning is all about giving it a brand-new look. It’s like preparing a piece of artwork for an exhibition for potential customers to purchase. You want your space to look best for garnering the attention of buyers if you’re selling your property.
Protecting Your Finances
In case you’re emptying a rental property, landlords like to see the place in the same condition as when they first rented it. This means the dullness accumulated over the rental period must be wiped off if you want to see your deposit returned to you in full. Therefore, you will have to go the extra mile when cleaning your place for one final time.
Uncover Hidden Issues
Your house can accumulate shortcomings over time and you may not even notice them, as regular cleaning just doesn’t delve deep enough to unearth them. However, when you start vacating, you begin to uncover gaps in the infrastructure of your place that you will need to address before listing it for rent/sale.
Save Future Trouble
A thorough clean out of your place can save you a lot of time and effort when it comes time to unpack in your new home. You don’t want your new place to have the dirt and grime of your old one.
If you clean all the hidden dirt and grime on your furniture, appliances, and other belongings by thoroughly sweeping your home, setting up at the new place will be easier than you can imagine. All you will have to do is set them up in your new home.
2. Gathering Necessary Supplies
Every clean-up necessitates having the proper tools and supplies to clean efficiently and quickly. However, most people overlook the depth of the factors of move-out cleaning and end up with an insufficient clean-up due to a lack of essential supplies. The following is a list of all the supplies you’ll need to get it right.
Cleaning Tools
- Mop and bucket
- A vacuum cleaner with attachments
- Microfiber cloths or cleaning rags
- Scrub brushes
- Sponges and scouring pads
- Window cleaning tools (squeegee, window cleaning solution)
- Dusting tools (feather duster, microfiber duster)
- Magic erasers
- Old toothbrush
Cleaning Solutions
- All-purpose cleaner
- Glass cleaner
- Disinfectant spray or wipes
- Bathroom cleaner
- Oven cleaner (So you don’t have to clean it in your new place)
- Floor cleaner (appropriate for your flooring type, like grout cleaner for tiles, wood cleaner for wooden floors, etc.)
- Carpet stain remover (if you have one)
- Stainless steel cleaner
Additional Equipment
- Ladder or step stool (for high areas like ceiling fans and light fixtures)
- Trash bags
- Trash cans or bins for collecting waste
- Cleaning gloves
- Shoe covers or disposable booties (to protect clean floors)
- Plastic sheeting or drop cloths (to protect floors or furniture
3. Time Management Of Your Move-Out Cleaning
Most people plan their move-out in a way that they only take into account the place that they’re going to, not the one that they’re leaving. However, this can lead to several problems and challenges like
- Rushed clean up due to lack of time
- Overwhelmed by your move-out date
- Last Minute Stress
But worry not; here are some tips to help you prevent these problems.
Planning in Advance
Plan a timeline of your clean-up process that works with your schedule. List down everything you need to do, and allocate each task slightly more time than you would require (as a safeguard measure). This will allow you to stay on track and ensure nothing is rushed.
Avoid Last-Minute Stress
Try not to delay your clean-up till the eleventh hour. Not only would you achieve sub-par results, but you’ll also end up putting yourself through emotional strain. The looming deadline pushing you both physically and mentally can be harmful to your health.
Pay Extra Attention to Deep Cleaning
Keep in mind the time and effort required for move-out cleaning because it necessitates a deep clean on many levels (kitchen deep cleaning, bathroom deep cleaning, bedroom deep cleaning). Most people are unaware that these can consume a significant amount of time, disrupting their entire schedule. Thus, make sure you allot enough time for deep cleaning.
Consider Getting Professional Help
Reputable cleaning services like My Cleaning Angel can accelerate your cleaning process and deliver outstanding results that would otherwise be difficult to achieve on your own. So, hiring is also a good option.
Keep Extra Time Slot for Unexpected Issues
You are bound to face some challenges during your move-out cleaning that you didn’t anticipate, like hidden stains beneath your furniture, pipe leaks, or mold in vents. You should keep some extra time slots for these unexpected situations to ensure these don’t accumulate to disrupt your schedule.
Don’t Underestimate the Time It Takes To Pack Up
If you’ve ever moved places, you would probably know how difficult packing up can get. At first, it doesn’t look like it, but once you begin, you will realize how unending it can get. Therefore, don’t leave it to the last minute, or you’ll end up haphazardly stuffing things into boxes, making things difficult for you later.
4. Safety First (NON-NEGOTIABLE)
Now, let’s talk about one of the most critical factors of move-out cleaning that’s absolutely non-negotiable in your move-out cleaning process – safety. So, how to execute safety measures and why keeping things safe and sound matters?
Handle Cleaning Chemical with Care
Your arsenal of cleaning products includes a variety of chemicals that can be highly efficient in getting stains and dirt off. However, do not underestimate their potency. From mild irritation to burns, exposure to these chemicals can severely affect you. Suit yourself with gloves and goggles to tackle grime safely, and ensure good ventilation to keep fumes in check.
Work Safely When Cleaning High Areas
While you’d need to clean high ceilings, try to do it with as minimal risk as possible. Use a fixed and reliable ladder/step stool placed on a flat or even surface. Make sure it isn’t wobbly or loose. Look for alternatives like extendable brooms for reaching these areas without climbing up.
Don’t Lift Heavy Items All On Your Own
When moving out, you’ll need to move stuff around, including the furniture. Execute proper lifting techniques when handling these heavy items. Lift with your legs, not your backs: bend your knees and use your leg muscles rather than relying on your back muscles. Take help from your friends and family if necessary or hire loaders who can do the heavy work for you.
Execute Caution When Handling Electrical Outlets / Switches
Tread carefully when cleaning out electrical outlets and switches, as improper handling can lead to potentially life-threatening results. Avoid using damp clothes to clean them and make sure you’ve removed any wires from the plug and switched them off. Additionally, it is best not to use chemical solutions in close proximity to them as they may trigger sparks.
Handle Sharp Objects / Edges with Care
Since move-out cleaning is a highly extensive process, you may even encounter shards of broken glass or edges of jagged metal. Be extra cautious around them and use safety gear to protect yourself. If you end up cutting yourself, follow safety guidelines and bandage properly. Contact nearby health care centers for medical assistance if you get scratched by rusted metal.
Be Careful When Moving Around Wet / Slippery Floor
After washing, give the floor ample time to dry. Avoid wearing rubber-soled footwear, as you may end up tumbling down. Cleaning your floor can also make it extra slippery, so keep that in mind.
Keep Your Cleaning Supplies Away From Children
Did you know the most affected demographics of accidental poisoning are children under 5? That is because they like to put everything in reach into their mouths. So, make sure whatever supplies you have just purchased are stowed away from the reach of these enthusiastic little hands.
Fire Safety Measures
Most cleaning products contain alcohol, and while it is diluted with water, if there is anything specific in your cleaning supplies that can cause a fire, it is best to use it carefully. It is also essential to know what you have. Most people don’t necessarily know certain products are flammable. Look for any label or warning over your products before using them. Additionally, don’t forget to keep a fire extinguisher within your reach at all times when working with flammable products.
Always Keep Yourself Prepared
Have a plan in case of unexpected situations. Know where the first-aid kit is, have emergency contacts readily available, and be prepared to respond swiftly to any unforeseen circumstances.
5. Get Professional Help: Hiring Cleaning Services
Our lives are so fast-paced that it is often impossible to do all our work on our own. If you find yourself in a similar situation, there is no need to worry. That is why there are so many cleaning services out there. In fact, a good cleaning company like My Cleaning Angel can provide extraordinary benefits that will help you save so much time and money. Book cleaning services online now, it’s fast and easy.
These may include:
Expertise
The workers are well-trained and taught various techniques to tackle any cleaning challenge. No matter how tough, they’ll overcome any stain you’ve been struggling with.
Fast and Efficient
Cleaning isn’t your daytime job; if you can’t find adequate time, don’t worry. Hiring these services can also hasten up the move-out cleaning process since these professionals are much faster than you.
Detail-oriented
These experts have a keen eye for detail, and their brooms and mops reach every corner of your house. Their cleaning is impeccable, with great attention to detail.
Quality Assurance
To add to the professionalism, most top-notch services provide a certain level of quality assurance. This means that you can rest assured knowing you will be delivered the desired results.
People Also Ask
What is included in move-out cleaning?
Simply put, move-out cleaning includes a thorough revamp of your space so that everything looks shiny and new and in the same condition as when you moved in. The ultimate Move-Out Cleaning Checklist will not leave any nook or cranny unclean.
How much do move-out cleaning services cost?
A regular move-out cleaning costs around $130 per clean. However, it can be higher or lower depending on the services utilized.
How long does it take to do a move-out cleaning?
There are various factors of move-out cleaning that influence its time span. Small apartments require as much as 4 hours, while large houses can require 8-12 hours. (Just cleaning, not packing up or moving).
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