The end of tenancy clean isn’t the most exciting task, but it is
a necessary one.
Whether you choose to conduct the end of tenancy clean
yourself or pay a specialist cleaning service, your property needs to be in
ship shape for your new tenants.
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Here, we’ve compiled a simple guide to doing a great end of
tenancy clean. We’ve also teamed up with a professional cleaner to bring you a
series of videos giving step-by-step instructions for cleaning key parts of
your property.
Should I do the end of tenancy cleaning myself?
You have a choice at the end of a tenancy: you can either carry
out the end of tenancy clean yourself, or you can pay a professional end of
tenancy cleaning service to do it for you.
Your decision may depend on how close you live to the property,
and how much time you have. If you have a letting agent, many will be able to
arrange the end of tenancy clean for you. However, if you have a bit of spare
time and some basic equipment, conducting the end of tenancy clean yourself may
be the most cost-effective option.
Your property needs to be sparkling for your new tenants. It
needs to be cleaned top to bottom, but there are some key ‘pain points’ that
you should concentrate on. We’ve compiled a list of the most important focus
areas to help you carry out a great end of tenancy clean.
- Gather your
equipment. You'll
need some specialist cleaning equipment, including proprietary cleaning
fluid, upholstery shampoo, cloths and rags, scourers, and spray bottles.
More information on individual cleaning products is available below.
- Walls. Check
for scuff marks on walls. These may be able to be rubbed off, or alternatively
you might need to repaint sections of wall.
- Doors. Make
sure that doors are clean, including handles. Make sure that locks are
functioning properly.
- Windows. Windows
should be cleaned inside and out. You may need to engage a professional
window cleaner for exterior windows.
- Ceilings. You may
need an extendable broom to clean the ceilings. Watch out for cobwebs in
the corners of rooms.
- Fixtures and
fittings. Dust
and polish any light fittings and sockets, and take steps to make sure
upholstery is free of stains.
- Carpets. You
should consider hiring a carpet cleaning machine for soiled carpets. These
are available at many supermarkets, and cost around £20 per day.
- Room by room. Once
you've ticked off the rest of your checklist, it's time to concentrate on
the pain points in individual rooms. Read on for detailed instructions.
Kitchen end of tenancy cleaning
The kitchen is one of the most important areas to clean at the
end of a tenancy, but it’s also one of the places in which dirt and grime can
accumulate most easily.
First, take a look at the kitchen sink. Depending on how tidy
your tenants were, this could require some work. You’ll need some basic tools,
including non-scratch scourers, a spray bottle, and some specialist cleaning
liquid. The exact method you use will depend on the material your sink is made
from, but the most common is stainless steel. Watch our video on how to clean a
stainless steel sink without scratching.
You’ll also need to look at the hob, which can become extremely
grimy. This requires some elbow grease, but you’ll see the results quickly.
Watch the video on how
to clean a stainless steel hob, and when you’re
done with that, move onto the next step – how to clean an extractor
fan filter. It’s not much fun, but it is necessary!
Want some tips for cleaning the whole of the kitchen? Check out
our videos and article on how to clean a kitchen professionally.
Bathroom end of tenancy cleaning
Next stop is the bathroom. In here, you’ll find a number of
different areas that may require different equipment. You’ll want to focus on
the bathroom sink, the bathroom tiles and bathtub, and the toilet. If you have
a shower, you’ll also need to work on the shower head and grouting.
We’ve covered all of these areas step-by-step in a series of four
bathroom cleaning videos. Watch them in our guide to cleaning a bathroom quickly
and efficiently.
Other areas for end of tenancy cleaning
There are a number of other things you should concentrate on
when conducting an end of tenancy clean. For example, it’s important that the
windows are cleaned inside and out – remember you’ll need to hire a
professional window cleaner if your exterior windows are unreachable. You
should also wash off any scuff marks from the walls, and if this doesn’t work
you’ll need to repaint them. It’s often possible to simply cover up stubborn
scuffs, provided that you’re using the same colour paint.
Curtains should also be checked. They’re generally dry clean
only, but check the label first as some curtains are machine washable. Don’t
forget the curtain rods too, which will need to be dusted and possibly buffed.
Finally, don’t forget furnishings – at the very least they should be vacuumed,
but you might also choose to use a dry wash to remove and grime or stains.
Get a
free instant online estimate for an end of tenancy clean near you, or call us
Call now 07501 534 431 or visit soscleaningservice.co.uk