Cleaning If you are about to move out of your apartment, it is important to make it clean to maximize the amount that you will get back from your deposit. Read on for six tips and tricks to make your apartment look spotless.

Plan Time

Doing a deep clean on your apartment will take more time than you think it will, so make sure that you give yourself plenty of time. Plan on spending 2-3 hours per room.  Yes, it will take that long.

Clean The Walls

After you move your furniture, the walls of your apartment will look dirty and like they will need a paint job.  Some landlords charge you to do that, so instead of forking out hundreds on new paint, clean the walls.  Use a trisodium phosphate substitute (a substance used to prep walls for new paint) like a magic eraser to get rid of the scuffs and dirt.  If you need to, patch any holes and paint over them.

Get Down

Baseboards collect a lot of dirt and dust, making a room look infinitely dirtier than it is.  Wipe down all of the baseboards in your apartment with a wet rag.  To get the hard to reach spots, use a credit card covered by a wet rag.  Magic erasers work well for this too.  As you are cleaning the floor, get down to look for spots.  You will see them better if you are closer, making sure that you scrub them before your landlord notices them.

Look Up

Ceiling fans and other light fixtures are often overlooked by tenants but are always noticed by landlords.  Dust them off with a gentle cloth, and remove light covers to clean out any dirt and bugs that might have been trapped inside.  Also make sure that you get rid of any cobwebs or dust on ledges.

Go To Your Move Out Inspection

If you have time, walk through the apartment with your landlord and ask what he is marking off on his checklist.  Ask if there is anything that you missed that you could fix or clean quick so that you won’t be docked.  Keep a copy of the inspection checklist for your records.

Move Furniture

If you have any furniture or appliances that were provided as part of the apartment (fridges, couches, microwaves,etc.) move them away from the wall so that you can properly clean under and around them.  Make sure that you properly clean the inside of the appliances or furniture as well.

Apartment Cleaning Tips