How to Clean an Apartment or House when You Move Out: In the Inside

Something that is on everyone's mind when someone is moving out of a rented apartment or house is the big clean up that has to be done before the place can be rented out again. The landlords are wondering if they will have to hire help to get the place in shape for showing and the people who are moving out are wondering if they are going to have time to clean everything.

Cleaning the Floors in the Apartment or House

Give the floors a good sweep and a good mopping at that. If you are pressed for time you can spot wash the floors to make sure that you get in areas that were dirty. You don't want to give the landlord any reason to feel that they have to hire someone by the hour, keep in mind that you may be charged as much as 20 dollars per hour for someone to clean your house or apartment after you move out. If the landlord does not see it fit for showing in the condition that you leave it, they most likely will hire someone clean the apartment or house.

Cleaning the Carpets in the Apartment or House

It will be very likely that the landlord of the house or apartment that you are renting will clean the carpets before a new person rents the apartment or house. However you should vacuum so you don't have to worry if the landlord will look to see if the carpet needs vacuumed before they have the carpets cleaned. Plus you don't want to leave any stains because then you will have to pay for the labor of replacing the carpet and the cost of the carpet that is used in the replacement.

Cleaning the Walls in the Apartment or House

It will be less about cleaning the walls in the house or apartment before you move out and more about painting and doing touch ups on the walls of the apartment or house that you are renting. The charges that applies for the time that is spent cleaning is the same for the time that is spent painting. This means that if you see that a piece of furniture caused a mark on the wall you will want to paint over it. If you placed any nails in the walls you will want to remove them and spackle and paint over the nail holes. You don't want to have to pay for the labor of all this if the landlords will have to do it, it shouldn't take that long but still there is no reason that because someone had to spackle and paint the nail holes that it should cost you $20 hourly wage.

Cleaning the Windows, Doors and Blinds in the Apartment or House

By dusting the blinds and cleaning the windows with Windex you will assure that they are clean enough that the landlords can show the place without having to clean. Wipe off any markings that may be on the doors in the apartment or house.

Cleaning the Light Fixtures, Fans , Fireplace and Heaters in the Apartment or House

Clean around the fireplace and dust the mantel. Dust off the blades of the fan and empty the light fixtures of any bugs that may have accumulated there while you were renting the apartment or house. Keep in mind you will want to make sure that every light in the apartment isn't burnt out. They won't have to be brand new but your landlord will want to be able to turn on a light if they want to. Lastly dust off the heating units in the apartment or house.

Something that can help motivate you when you are cleaning the apartment or house that you live in will be that fact that you won't have to pay 20 dollars every hour that someone else would be doing the same thing that you are doing.