Whether you're moving out after college or selling your home, there's a checklist for everyone to go over as soon as they leave. Be the courteous former tenant or home seller and leave your former home looking immaculate by following these steps on how to clean your home before moving out.
Remove Personal Property
When moving out, we’ve always been told to remove everything to make it look like no one was ever there. This also portrays a role in our personal property. Personal property ranges from furniture to shelving, and even wall art. The person that moved into your old room doesn’t want that abstract painting of a walrus staring back at them while they’re trying to sleep, so take it home. Also, don’t leave any cleaning supplies behind, as this can signal you haven’t fully moved out yet, and you might receive a fine if you were renting.
Clean the Floors
Cleaning the floors includes sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming. When vacuuming, make sure to aim for corners and vacuum over carpets two to three times—and vacuum once more upon leaving. Also, clean other areas like the bathroom, hallways, bedrooms, closets, and the top of exposed shelving space and cabinets.
Mop the Floors
When clearing out your former home, the second to last thing you want to do is mop your floors. It is better to do this last, as there's heavy foot traffic. Instead of using bleach or another expensive cleaning solution, you can simply use a water and vinegar solution that can give the home a pleasant aroma and sanitized floors. If you don't have a standard mop, you can use a specialty one with wipes that you can easily attach to the bottom.
Dust and Wipe Surface Areas
This one is important, especially if someone is moving in right away. Don't leave a surface sticky and filled with questionable odors and residue. Be mindful and wipe down furniture, textures, and areas included with your home or apartment. That way, the next group that comes through won't have to go through the process of getting the place deep cleaned.
Clean the Freezer and Fridge
Ensure the fridge is emptied of all contents before you begin to wipe down bins, doors, and walls. Every container in the refrigerator and freezer needs wiping down with a sanitation spray. Before using a sprayer, remove any crumbs that have accumulated.
Wipe Down the Stove and Oven
A place to target the most is the oven, which is located on the bottom. The way you clean will depend on the type of stove you have. If your stove is gas, remove the top and clean underneath the burners. You can also clean the oven with water and baking soda. The combination will create a paste that is easy to apply and remove residue. You can also use vinegar for its strong natural cleaning properties.
Clean Out the Cabinets
Cabinets are a complete hit or miss, as some that are out of sight and reach will often go unchecked. If the cabinets are too far up, grab a tall friend or a ladder to inspect and clean out cabinets. Cabinets that are high off the ground will have dust and crumbs that have accumulated over time. Clean out all cabinets thoroughly. You can even vacuum out your cabinets, as stated above. Also, be cautious when using any cleaning detergents or wipes on the interior depending on the cabinets’ material.
Wipe the Appliances Down
Appliances like the stove, microwave, fridge, and dishwasher need wiping down. You can easily use a vinegar and water mixture in a spray bottle to target regularly touched surface areas, like the fridge handle. Also, clean out your microwave and wipe down the door.
Get the Appliances Fixed
If you have at least one appliance that isn’t working, it’s a good idea to get it fixed to avoid any fines or new homeowners having to replace a device. At least a month before moving out, hire a maintenance service to help diagnose and fix the problem your appliance is having. After that, you can request they look over other devices right before you move out.
Clean the Closets
Aside from vacuuming the carpets in your closet, inspect the walls and shelving and dust them off. Don't forget to wipe down those shelves and clean off corners of your walls that might've gotten stained. This is important to help the following bodies that move in from having to clean up your mess. Also, while you're in your closet, remove any extra nails or wall anchors you've placed there yourself.
Fill in Holes and Repair Drywall
Once the anchors, hooks, and nails are removed, you can go ahead and start patching up any holes left. Look for any needed repairs along the walls and repair them. If you aren’t a hundred percent comfortable, hire a professional to do the work for you.
Touch Up the Walls With Paint
Before moving out, continue checking the walls for any scratches or markings. If any, go to a local paint store and find paint that'll match the color of the walls. Using paint will help cover any markings that are present. While painting, make sure you're consistently checking the baseboards to ensure no stains get on them or other areas that have high-gloss paint. The borders with high-gloss paint can scratch easier than walls with a matte finish.
Hire a Rental Dumpster
If you need proper removal of waste and any furniture that is no longer usable, contact Vine Disposal for a Marietta dumpster rental to help get rid of debris and waste faster. While you sit and relax after cleaning your home, we’ll remove all unwanted and unnecessary waste by properly disposing of it.
Be Mindful and Clean
Once you have finished cleaning, you can finally breathe a sigh of relief. If you don't clean, you might come across as rude and cheap for not sweeping the floors. Whether you're selling or renting, it's a good idea to clean a home before moving out. This is to ensure that the next group of dwellers doesn't have to pay a lot to replace items or have an area of the house cleaned. Be mindful and follow these steps to better understand how to clean your home before moving out.
Inspecting a home is difficult, but it isn't something you should overlook. When you have the time, reach out to Vine Disposal, we'll help create the best match for dumpster rentals to help make your cleaning process faster and less exhausting.
