Cleaning Rental Property

Ultimately cleaning apartments is fast, but they have to be done well. Attention to detail is important. Refrigerators, stoves, the inside of cup boards is paramount. The term is getting the unit “rent ready.” In another post we will talk about why this is all so important, but for right now these are some steps I take. 

The best tool of all is my duster brush on a long pole. We buy them at Ace Hardware for between $15 to $20. It reaches above the window, and door frames, catches cob webs, and dusts the base boards. It’s also handy for the hard to get at areas. It’s the first thing I do so it gives the dust a chance to settle. 

Number two is to use water when possible. I still get in trouble by my cleaning team for wetting everything with a damp cloth, and moving along. After getting things wet for about fifteen minutes I go back, re-rinse the rag, spray Windex and pick up as much moisture as I can. I rinse the rag as needed, but often. I finish with a dry rag. So essentially I go over the same areas three times, but it goes quick.

The baths get a generous amount of Comet in the toilet. All around the bowl gets lots of disinfectant. The shower, tub, and surrounds get lots of water, scrubbed down, and rinsed before being dried, first with a damp cloth, rinsed often, then dried with the dry rag. Again I damp mop the floors after wiping around the bowl with paper towel. We use disposable gloves, it makes the work go a little faster.

Finally the floors get vacuumed and damp mopped. 

Refrigerator, and stove will get a separate post, but if the oven is self cleaning always use that instead of a chemical.