Moving out of a rental unit is an exciting milestone. It’s your chance to leave behind the mess and quirks of your previous residence and make peace with your landlord.
Moving out should be a smooth process where you leave the property in a good or better condition than when you moved in. You want to avoid getting charged for any repairs, having your security deposit reduced unnecessarily, or even risking being sued by the landlord due to negligence.
If you don’t clean thoroughly before moving out, you could find yourself in a very sticky situation. A less-than-ideal move-out inspection could result in deductions from your security deposit and increase your costs after you’ve already moved out! However, there’s no need to fear. With some preparation, you can make sure that moving out of your current apartment or house is as easy as possible. Read on for our guide to move-out cleaning so that you can leave your home with confidence.
Find a professional cleaning company
Even if you’re in the middle of a move, you should spend a few minutes looking for reputable end of tenancy cleaning services in Singapore. Their move-out cleaning services will help you save time and energy and make the process less stressful.
To have sufficient time to choose the services that are best for you, you should start looking at least two weeks before your lease expires. When selecting a company, find one with a solid reputation and excellent reviews, such as OCD. With years of industry practice under our name, we have helped numerous clients have a smooth move-out cleaning process and ensured their rental property was left in the best condition after the tenancy.
What to expect during move-out cleaning
Cleaning procedures will vary depending on the company, but there are some general expectations. Once move-out cleaning begins, crew members will start in the kitchen, bathrooms, and common areas. They will then move to the bedrooms, closets, and storage areas.
The cleaning crew will do everything they can to clean your home, including scrubbing the kitchen, cleaning the bathroom, and washing windows. When it comes to the living room and entryway, the cleaners will dust and vacuum the floor and furniture. They will also thoroughly examine the bedroom, including the wardrobes and drawers. The crew will concentrate on sanitising the surfaces and ensuring the space is as spotless as possible.
Bedrooms
While move-out cleaning focuses on the major spaces of the home, it’s vital to ensure that you get the bedrooms as clean as possible. Since these are the rooms where you sleep, spending a little more time on these details will ensure that you rest easy as you transition out of your current residence.
For the bedrooms, you’ll want to make sure that you clean the sheets, empty the dressers or wardrobe, and put away any clothes. When cleaning your room, you’ll also want to vacuum the floors, wash the walls and windows, and clean the bathroom (if any). One of the best ways to clean your room is by using an all-purpose cleaner. You can use these cleaners on any surface in your room, including the walls, floors, and furniture.
Bathroom
The bathroom is one of the rooms that move-out cleaning crews will put a lot of focus on. To ensure the bathroom is spotless, you can do a few things before the cleaners arrive.
Aside from ensuring that the bathroom is emptied, such as discarding any cleaning products that may have been left behind, the first thing is to remove any stains from the floor or the tiles. You can do this using a commercial cleaner or a mixture of vinegar and water. You should also make sure that the toilet is clean, as well as the sink. If you have a shower, make sure that the grout is scrubbed and looking fresh as well.
You may also want to ensure that the smell in the bathroom is pleasant. It’s crucial to ensure that the last person moving out doesn’t leave something behind that would prevent other residents from enjoying the bathroom.
Kitchen and cooking area
It’s critical to get the kitchen as clean as possible. After all, it’s the messiest place on the property, and a heap of filth may have amassed during that time.
For the kitchen, you’ll want to make sure that you clean the cabinets, countertops, and appliances. You can do this by cleaning the cabinets with scrub brushes, wiping down the counters with all-purpose cleaners, and cleaning the appliances with water and a rag.
In addition to cleaning the kitchen, you can break down and pack away your appliances after they’re washed and dried. You can also pack away any pots and pans sitting on the stove, clean the sink and faucet, and deep clean the floor.
Staircases, hallways, and windows
The staircase (if any), hallway, and windows are usually overlooked during move-out cleaning, but these areas deserve as much attention as the other rooms in your rental property.
To clean the staircase, use a vacuum with a brush attachment to get dirt and dust off the steps. Make sure to vacuum the edges of each stair where dust and dirt can collect.
To clean the windows, use a squeegee to scrape away any grime and then wash the windows with a glass cleaner. If your rental agreement allows it, you may want to open the windows during the hot, humid days. This will allow the fresh air to circulate through the unit and keep it fresh for the next tenant.
You may also want to clean the hallway to give the property a fresh appearance. You can do this by sweeping up or vacuuming any dirt and dust. You may also want to consider mopping the floor to give it a fresh look and prevent any slips.
Conclusion
Move-out cleaning is an integral part of the tenant process. As you only have a certain period to clean your home, you’ll want to start as soon as you know you want to leave. While move-in cleaning can be done in a few days, move-out cleaning can take several weeks, depending on the condition of your home. The best way to start is to make a checklist of everything that needs to be done. Make sure to leave enough time to do a thorough job. The last thing you want is for your landlord to complain that your house wasn’t tidy enough.
OCD is a reputable professional cleaning company that offers quality services at competitive rates. We offer a host of services, including deep floor cleaning, marble polishing, upholstery cleaning, and even HDB painting services in Singapore. With OCD, you can rest assured that your home will be cleaned thoroughly, leaving it fresh and tidy. Moreover, we also offer commercial cleaning services, so if you run a small business, you can benefit from our expertise. OCD can handle practically any cleaning task, and we are convinced that we will exceed your expectations.
Visit our website to learn more about our services and find out how we can help you during your next move-out cleaning!
