Are you moving out of your state to another state or just another neighbourhood? Then you have to prepare for it because there is more to be done than just packing. Most importantly, you’ll have to clean the house before handing the keys to the landlord before the end of your lease.

Although move-out cleaning can be tedious and time-consuming, it is a breeze if you organise and prepare yourself early. Therefore, making a simple move-out plan helps keep everything organised and ensures a smooth sailing move-out cleaning. This piece outlines a step-by-step guide to help you efficiently tackle move-out cleaning.

Step 1: Pack All Your Things First

Pack all your things first before cleaning, and don’t forget the insides of your drawers and cabinets. You will probably find the house in need of cleaning after you’ve finished packing all your stuff. Packing your stuff will also create much more space to clean smoothly without being stalled by knickknacks lying all over the place.

Step 2:  Move the Storage Boxes to One Area

If you cannot move your boxes to your new house or a storage facility, gather them in a separate room altogether. This ensures simple and thorough cleaning of the house without colliding with any packed stuff. You can then clean the room that housed your boxes after cleaning the entire house.

Step 3: Start High, Go Low

Always start from top to bottom. Start by removing dust and cobwebs from the ceiling, light fixtures, and ceiling fans. To achieve this, use a stepladder and a broom/mop to clean the ceilings. Then, clean the walls from the top, moving your way down. Ensure your scrap thoroughly the places near the floor as they catch most of the dirt.

Step 4: Polish Windows and Door Frames

To clean the windows, start with the window frames, sills, tracks, glass panes and ledges. Start wiping the window from top to bottom. Brighten up the window frames by wiping them with a damp cloth. To remove streaks or stains from the glass, use a glass cleaner for efficiency. You can make a glass cleaner from ingredients you already have in your house. Repeat the same for doors and frames for thorough cleaning of the house.

Step 5: Clean Light Switch Covers and Wall Plates

Light switch covers and wall plates are some of the items that are overlooked when cleaning the house. They are often covered with a gummy layer due to paint, fingerprints, and grime accumulated over time. To clean the plates, spray the cleaner on the cloth and wipe. Do not spray the cleaner on the plates.

Step 6: Clean Kitchen Cabinets and Counters

A kitchen is a place scrutinised by landlords before refunding your house deposit. Therefore, ensure you perform a deep cleanse in your kitchen, depending on the condition of your kitchen cabinets and counters. You need to work extra hard on this, since anyone moving in expects the kitchen to be sanitised and smell good.

Step 7: Mop the Entire House Simultaneously

It is best to mop or vacuum the entire house at the same time. Sweeping one room at a time will unnecessarily extend the cleaning process because dust and dirt can transfer into already cleaned rooms. Sweep or vacuum all rooms thoroughly and then mop for sparkling floors.

Step 8: Finish with Bathrooms

The reason for saving the bathrooms for last is that everyone involved in move-out cleaning will be using the bathrooms throughout the entire process. Therefore, experts recommend cleaning the bathrooms after finishing move-out cleaning when everyone is done using them.

You will have to go the extra mile to deep clean the bathrooms, as they will be dirty by the end of the move-out cleaning process. This is to ensure you leave those surfaces gleaming and spotless. Use a dry cloth to polish the bathtubs and the mirrors.

However, to save you all the overwhelming and time-consuming work, Regional Services professionals would be more than happy to help you in your move-out cleaning to ensure the house is left sparkling for the next owners.