5 Quick Move Out Cleaning Hacks: Get Your Deposit Back!
Clean Tenant = Happy Landlord
It’s the end of the month, and for some of you, the end of your lease. You’re all finished packing and delegating moving duties to your loved ones, so what’s the only thing left on your mind? Cleaning your home well enough to get that deposit back! Not to worry, we have some of the best cleaning hacks anyone would need in order to keep their landlord happy and get that spending money back!
Blinds
Have you been cleaning your blinds as much as you promised yourself you would? If not, we have the perfect concoction to clean those dusty things in no time flat.
What you’ll need:
- Old cleaning rag
- Tongs
- Cleaning solution
- Rubber bands
How you’ll do it:
Start by cutting your old cleaning rag in half, then wrap each piece of the rag around both sides of the tongs. Next, use the rubber bands to hold the rags in place, and there you have it; a blind-cleaning master! Just use the tongs to go in between the blinds carefully. If you have blinds with smaller insertion areas, you can use an old glove dipped in cleaning solution to carefully maneuver through each opening.
Microwave
Stubborn old food stuck inside your microwave can be difficult to get clean, but with this trick, it’ll be a breeze!
What you’ll need:
- Microwavable bowl
- Water
- Fresh lemon slices
How you’ll do it:
First thing’s first, add some water to a microwavable bowl, add in some fresh lemon slices, and place it inside your microwave. Next, add a few minutes to the microwave and allow the steam from the water to loosen all of the stuck-on food. Once the microwave beeps, take the bowl of water out, and you’ll now find it easier to wipe out all of the food and splatters!
Grimy Stove Tops
Typically stove tops can be cleaned with some elbow grease, dish soap and a course scrub brush. Your stove top can also be cleaned with a product many serious cleaners have come to enjoy: baking soda.
What you’ll need:
- Dish soap
- Baking Soda
- Water
How you’ll do it:
After giving your stove top a quick cleaning with dish soap and water, sprinkle a little baking soda on the trouble areas. The grimy grease areas will definitely break down once you add the banking soda. Give the dish soap and water step one more go after to ensure a thorough clean.
Bathroom Grout
Cleaning bathroom grout can be one of the toughest areas to clean, but with this quirky cleaning hack, we’ll get that grout looking like new in no time.
What you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Sponge
How you’ll do it:
This mixture is simple and definitely worth a try. First, mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide together and then use a sponge to scrub the mixture all over and into your grout. During this process, be sure not to scrub too hard when you get down near the caulking, as older caulking may begin to crumble.
Calcium Guild Up
Have you lost strong water pressure in your shower? This process will take out the calcium and gunk build up that has accumulated over the year. Skip the elbow grease and try this nifty technique for a more relaxing shower.
What you’ll need:
- A plastic bag (over-sized Ziploc)
- Vinegar
- A single rubber band
How you’ll do it:
This process is a definite win. First, fill your plastic bag (over-sized Ziploc – to prevent leaking) with vinegar. Next, place the plastic bag around your shower head, ensuring all the holes are completely covered with the vinegar. Use the rubber band to secure the bag in place and let it sit. After about 24 hours you can remove the bag, then run the shower to kick out the rest of the built up calcium.
Quick Tips
Looking for quicker fixer-upper cleaning hacks? This short but effective list will ensure a sparkly home. All the way from pet hair to water stains on glass shower doors, we’ve got you covered!
- Water stains on fixtures: Cut a lemon in half and rub the juice all over the stains on your fixtures then the juice work its magic a bit before you rinse it away.
- Scratches in hardwood: Use a walnut! Rub a shelled walnut in the grooves of the scratch to get your hardwood looking like new.
- Black shoe scuff marks: A tennis ball. Buff away those nasty scuff marks and clear up your flooring just by rubbing a tennis ball over them. You can cut a hole into the tennis ball and stick it onto the end of an old broom for easier cleaning.
- Hard water stains on shower doors: Dryer sheets to the rescue. Use new dryer sheets to spruce up your shower doors and remove the unsightly lines and water droplet stains.
- Crayons marks on walls: Baking soda. Baking soda is a serious cleaners best friend, remember? First, grab a sponge, wet it a bit with some cool water, then add a few sprinkles of baking soda. After that process, you won’t need much elbow grease, just gently scrub away the crayon and pencil marks.
- Ceiling fan blades: Old pillowcases to the rescue. First, carefully stuff the fan blade into the pillowcase, grab a hold of the blade from both sides, and then pull towards your body. This traps all the dirt and dust in the pillowcase and saves you from extra clean-up.
- Fresh clean smell throughout your home: Boil some Fabuloso or scented oil in a small pot on the stove, and your entire home will smell amazing!
- The list of amazing cleaning hacks can go on and on; hopefully the ones we’ve listed above will help to recoup your deposit and keep your landlord happy! Happy cleaning.
