There are several types of terrible tenants, ranging from those who have no care for your property to those who have poor cleaning habits. More often than not, you will be unpleasantly surprised to discover that your property has devolved into a complete mess. Cleaning up after messy tenants can be troublesome, especially if you intend to deep clean it before moving in yourself. It isn’t easy to know exactly where to start and what to do. However, with some effort, you can improve the overall appearance and feel of your property.
Make a plan for cleaning up after dirty tenants
If you want to thoroughly clean a home, it is necessary to devise a plan. By walking around your place, you will see which areas require the most attention, which require less attention, and what you will need to replace. As you go, make a list of all you need to do. Making a plan is a good start to anything you do, especially a big cleanup after messy tenants. Another thing you must do is ensure that you have all the necessary cleaning supplies. It would be best to research which cleaning solutions, tools, and protective wear you’ll require. If possible, seek the assistance of some friends or family members before you start cleaning.
Remove all junk and declutter
When you first enter the home, there’s a good possibility you won’t see the true extent of the damage the tenants caused. The place might be engulfed, top to bottom, with junk and unnecessary stuff. Thus, you should always carry a trash bag with you and discard items from each room. Of course, depending on the extent of the mess, you can get professional cleaners to help you clean up after tenants. By removing all the unnecessary items, you can better view the damage and understand what kind of help your property needs. Make sure to check everything that might have junk, like kitchen drawers, the refrigerator, and even the closet. Try and be as detailed as you can at this stage.
Give your walls and flooring the attention they need
Once your house is completely decluttered of any unneeded items, the state of your walls and flooring will astound you. Messy tenants may have wreaked havoc on your freshly painted walls, leaving holes and stains in their wake. The simplest thing you can do for your walls is patch up any holes and then repaint them. Your flooring, on the other hand, usually requires a lot more maintenance. You may need to hire contractors to repair the damage left by messy tenants, depending on the extent of the damage. Lastly, you may want to hire a professional cleaner to restore your flooring to its former glory.
Clean all of your windows
An essential step people often overlook until the very last minute is cleaning the windows. Before cleaning your windows, wash or deal with any drapes, curtains, or blinds covering them. After you’ve removed them, you can move on to cleaning your windows. You can use alcohol for persistent stains and then clean them thoroughly with a mixture of water and vinegar. Make sure you use a lint-free wipe while doing this. Remember that if you have many windows to clean and want assistance, you may contact professional cleaners. There are several benefits to hiring such cleaners, but one of the most important is your peace of mind.
Focus on detail cleaning
Detail cleaning is the most crucial aspect of cleaning up after messy tenants. By focusing on details, you can make sure that your home not only feels clean but is clean. Many people frequently neglect or forget about cleaning certain items.
First, wipe clean all of your house’s baseboards. Wipe down all electrical outlets and light switches as well. Your light fixtures also might need some attention, so make sure to bring back their previous shine. Because the kitchen is the room with the most grease stains, pay close attention while wiping down all of the cabinets and counter-tops, inside and out. Also, before anybody moves in, clean your refrigerator thoroughly. As for bulky furniture, move it around and clean underneath it. Do this when it comes to your rugs as well! Another simple but effective thing you can do is to clean any upholstery you might have in your home.
Dust everything and vacuum
Now that you have dealt with all stubborn stains, you can clean the dust and vacuum your floors. Pay close attention to all the nooks and crannies in your home and give them a good dusting. Leave no stone unturned! Once you have dusted everything, you can safely move on to vacuuming. Vacuuming can be very time-consuming at times, depending on the size of your property and the leftover energy you might have from cleaning everything else. Do not refrain from getting some professional help when it comes to this step.
Disinfect properly
As a cherry on top, disinfect all surfaces properly to ensure your home is ready for new, hopefully, less messy tenants. Cleaning up after messy tenants is very time-consuming but do not skip this step, especially now that we are still battling Covid-19. Wipe down, or spray items and furniture in your home with bleach or alcohol-based cleaner. Pay special attention to high-touch areas, like doorknobs, light switches, and handles. Allow the disinfectant to work by giving it some time before wiping it down with a clean washcloth. Also, avoid some of the most common mistakes while disinfecting, and by the end of it, you will have a spotless, odor-free, and germ-free home!