On paper, Han Lo was the perfect tenant. He had a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and attended a prestigious school in Europe.
When the co-op board passed him with flying colors, Suzanne Seggerman had no reason to believe he would violate the lease agreement. That was until the building manager emailed her to say her tenant was doing ‘demolition work’ at her loft.
Rushing straight to the apartment, Seggerman and her husband found chunks of drywall and debris on the street outside the co-op building.
Things went from bad to worse. Following an online search, she discovered Lo had a criminal record and had scammed innocent victims around the globe. He had a track record of being a ‘nightmare tenant’ and even boasted about it on his Instagram profile.
Landlords around the world have similar stories. Getting their tenant off the property is a nightmare alone. Then comes dealing with the aftermath. Finding yourself in the same situation is stressful enough.
Chances are your house isn’t quite move-in ready. Thankfully, with a few cleaning hacks, you’ll be ready to welcome new occupants in no time.
Make a Checklist
When doing an ‘end of tenancy clean,’ HomeLet advises starting with a checklist of things to be done and ticking them off as you go along.
Big jobs like vacuuming and mopping are a given. However, don’t forget the smaller ones. Dust accumulates on skirting boards, wardrobes, coffee tables, and shelves, so clean all surfaces thoroughly.
In addition to washing windows, frames, and doors, focus on the insides of drawers and wardrobes and wipe down light switches.
Even when hiring a professional cleaning company, they tend to ignore the above focus areas, so make a note before they are done with the cleaning work.
Backyard Inspection
Ideally, your backyard should be set up to be low maintenance. Even low-maintenance gardens can become overgrown with weeds and bushes.
Mow the lawn and trim the hedges. Weed the flower beds and remove all debris. Ensure the backyard is free of clutter and dirt.
If the previous tenant owned a pet and you can still see and smell remnants of the furry occupant, you may have to call in a pet waste removal company.
A pet waste service is adept in dealing with dog waste. They do the dirty work so you don’t have to. Some offer comprehensive packages, including pet waste removal services. You schedule a convenient time, and they arrive to do the cleanup fast and efficiently.
Scoop Soldiers recommends hiring a local business that provides hassle-free pet waste removal.
Rolling in the Deep
Time to put on those rubber gloves and get into some serious elbow grease.
Once you have your cleaning checklist in hand, Better Homes & Gardens suggests tackling the grunt work room by room.
Declutter every room as this makes the cleaning process easier. The golden rule of deep cleaning is to start high and go low.
Pick your fighters when cleaning hard-to-reach surfaces like the ceiling fan and light fixtures. Clean microfiber mops, dusters with a telescoping handle and sanitizing cleaning wipes are your superheroes, says the publication.
For eye-level surfaces, a light spritz of water on the mop is enough. Lower surfaces collect more dirt, so use warm water with a drop of dish soap.
In bathrooms, add white vinegar to prevent mold and mildew. For hard-to-reach areas, use a microfiber cloth, rinsing and wringing it often.
Easy Cleaning Hacks
Clutter Storage offers smart hacks to save time and money.
Wipe the blinds with an old sock dipped in equal parts water and vinegar. Vacuum the mattress to remove dust and dirt, then use an upholstery cleaner for stains. For odors, sprinkle baking soda with essential oils.
Baking soda sprinkled with a few drops of essential oils does wonders for stenches. Apply the concoction to soiled or smelly areas and let it sit for an hour or so. Thereafter, vacuum off the residue.
Scrub your kitchen cabinets with a dish brush and a mix of one part vegetable oil to two parts baking soda instead of repainting. It instantly lifts food stains and fingerprints.
The drains are the dirtiest part of a home. Pour one cup of baking soda and two cups of vinegar down the drain. Let it sit, then rinse with boiling water.
Clean, Clean
Every landlord hopes and prays for a model tenant. Unfortunately, bad renters exist everywhere.
Don’t let that deter you from handing over the keys to a fresh, clean home ready for its new occupants.
