Cleaning Your Rental Property after Moving Out

Date06 Jul 2021

When moving out of your rental property, you have one last obligation to your landlord. That is to clean the property’s interior and leave things in the same condition as when you moved in. This process can feel overwhelming to many people, particularly if you lived in a rental for a long period of time.

Below, the moving pros of Movin’ On Movers provide some tips for this moving out cleaning to ensure your work goes smoothly. If you follow these tips, you can be proud to hand over the keys to your landlord, instead of feeling you need to tiptoe away in shame.

Tips from the Pros About What to do After Moving Out

1. Start From the Top

When cleaning your former living space after moving out, it is best to start from the top of each room and work your way down. “The top” refers to the ceiling, light fixtures, ceiling fans, window frames, built-ins and walls. Doing so enables dirt, dust and debris to fall to the ground without requiring you to vacuum, sweep or mop more than once.

2. Remove Cobwebs from the Ceiling and Corners

It is amazing how much clearing away cobwebs can improve the appearance of a room. This is something many of us neglect when we know we are moving out soon. Use a vacuum with an attachment hose or tube. If you do not have a vacuum available, a broom can certainly work. If you have popcorn ceilings, use a ceiling duster to pull dust from these raised surfaces without damaging the popcorn.

3. Dust Window Fixtures

Dust also accumulates on the top of blinds, shutters or other window fixtures where you may not notice it until after moving out. You can reach these areas using a ceiling duster. Or, simply wear a sock on your hand like a glove to pick up the dust bunnies. This works best when you dampen the sock in water before running it across the window treatments. For blinds, gently run the damp sock over each rung and rinse periodically to avoid transferring dust from one slat to the next.

4. Wash the Windows

Cleaning windows is pretty straightforward. Use a glass cleaner of your choice with lint-free cloths for the easiest and most streak-free results. Also ensure you clean locks, handles and sliding tracks to remove all of the accumulated dirt and residue.

5. Patch Nail Holes

Having personal photos and other wall hangings can certainly make a temporary dwelling feel like home. Now that they are gone as part of the moving out process, you suddenly see what is left behind. Those tell-tale nail holes need patching or you will certainly pay your landlord to do so. The best method for repairing nail holes is using commercial putty. Then paint the surface in the same color as your wall.

Many landlords or property managers leave a can of the wall paint color beneath a sink or in a utility closet, specifically for post-moving out repairs. If you cannot find a can of the right color on your premises, ask your landlord for the right color. If your walls are white or off-white, this process is easier. If all else fails, you can use free swatches from your local hardware store to color match and find a small can of the right shade.

6. Replace Blown Out Lightbulbs

When you moved in, your property manager likely ensured all rooms had working lightbulbs. As a courtesy and to avoid being charged for bulb replacement, it is best to ensure all lights work after moving out. Clean all of the fixtures at the same time. You can use a simple sanitizing wipe for easy cleaning.

7. Clean Walls and Baseboards

Most vacuum cleaners come with a brush attachment. Use this attachment or a duster to clear away any dust left on walls, baseboards and other trim. If you have food splatters or other residue on your walls, use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe these away. You can also use a Magic Eraser or sanitizing wipe on problem areas.

8. Clean the Carpets

If your rental property has carpeting, it is very important to leave these as clean as possible when moving out. If there are stains, apply commercial carpet cleaning solution found at a hardware or grocery store. Follow the cleaner’s instructions, such as using a microfiber cloth to blot the stain. If you had a pet living with you, you may need to rent carpet cleaning equipment to avoid losing your pet deposit.

9. Vacuum and Mop Hard Floors

Finally, after finishing all of the rest of your moving out cleaning, it is time to vacuum and mop your hard floors. Ensure you use the right type of cleaning solution for each floor, such as for hardwoods, linoleum, ceramic tile or engineered flooring.

Call the Local Pros to Make Moving Out Easier

Of course, before any of the cleaning can begin after moving out, you must first go through the actual move-out process. Having the help of local professionals is priceless, whether you are moving down the street, within North Carolina or across the country. Movin’ On Movers in Apex, NC provides a full array of services for local and long-distance moves.

Movin’ On Movers’ services include: