Are you moving out of your Ojai rental home or apartment soon? If so, you’ll want to prepare a deep cleaning before you leave if you want your deposit back! This checklist will help you get the job done fast and efficiently. Follow these steps to leave your rental home sparkling and improve your chances of getting your full security deposit returned to you.
- Declutter. Start by decluttering your rental home or apartment. Declutter anything you don’t need or want. This will make cleaning much easier.
- Remove any nails from the walls and patch holes. If you’ve used nails to hang anything in your rental home, from pictures to clocks to TV mounts, you will need to take everything down, remove the nails or screw, and patch the holes with some lightweight spackle.
- Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures. Dusting ceiling fans and light fixtures is a task that is often overlooked. Be sure to dust every blade on each ceiling fan and each part of all light fixtures in your rental home or apartment. For enclosed light fixtures, carefully remove and wash any glass coverings, then dry completely before replacing.
- Wipe down walls and doors. It’s significant to wipe down all of the walls and doors in your rental home or apartment. This will remove any fingerprints, smudges, or dirt accumulated over time.
- Clean baseboards and trim. Baseboards and trim often get unnoticed when cleaning. Give them a good wipe down with a damp cloth or duster.
- Wipe down every cupboard, cabinet, and drawer. Take everything out of each cupboard, cabinet, and drawer in your rental home or apartment. Wipe down the inside and outside of each one. If possible, wash any removable shelving in the sink.
- Clean windows and mirrors. Windows and mirrors should be cleaned inside and out. Use a glass cleaner on the inside of all windows and mirrors. You may need to use a higher-strength cleaner or even a power washer for the outside.
- Wash blinds and window coverings. Likewise, blinds and window coverings will need a good cleaning, too. Dust blinds with a duster or vacuum attachment, then wash them with soap and water. Window coverings can usually be thrown in the washing machine.
- Deep clean the bathrooms. It may take a bit of scrubbing, but don’t forget to deep clean all your rental home’s sinks, showers, tubs, and toilets. Be sure to use a strong cleaner and scrub all surfaces painstakingly.
- Scrub kitchen appliances inside and out. From the oven to the microwave to the refrigerator, every kitchen appliance should be scrubbed thoroughly before you move out. Be sure to empty the fridge, remove all shelves and drawers, and scrub every inch. Use appropriate cleaning products for each type of appliance, and don’t forget to wipe the outside! You may need to use a soft bristle brush to reach any tough-to-clean spots.
- Sweep, mop, and vacuum all floors. One of your final steps is to deep clean all of the floors in your rental home. Start with sweeping, then move on to mopping or vacuuming. Don’t forget to clean under furniture and appliances and other hard-to-reach places!
- Take out the trash. Finally, take out all the garbage from your rental home or apartment. This includes any rubbish in bins, cupboards, and drawers. If possible, put all the trash in recycling and compost bins before leaving.
You can deep clean your rental home or apartment quickly and capably by following these steps. Moving can be stressful, but with a little planning and elbow grease, your Ojai property manager will want to return as much of your deposit as possible.
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