Moving out of my apartment. Cleaning tips?

Beev

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2006
7,775
0
0
I've lived here for 3 years now, and I've kept it pretty clean overall. I'm going to do a sweep through the bathroom today, but one thing I've always had trouble with is the little crevices around the hinges of the toilet seat. Any tips for those? Along those same lines are there any minor things I need to make sure are clean that the apartment office will try to call me out on?
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Make sure to take pictures of everythign right before you move out. That way of they say XYZ is damaged you have proof to get your deposit back.

I learned that the hard way the first time. After that I took pictures and got 100% of all my deposits back. Had to fight some but I had proof on my side.
 

MrPickins

Diamond Member
May 24, 2003
9,117
766
126
I'd take the toilet seat off to clean around the hinges. Should be two hand-tight nuts on the bottom. (wear a glove :p)
 

rasczak

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
10,437
22
81
if you have carpeting, rent a steam cleaner to clean it as best you can. it will go a long way towards getting your deposit back.
 

AMCRambler

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2001
7,711
30
91
I've lived here for 3 years now, and I've kept it pretty clean overall. I'm going to do a sweep through the bathroom today, but one thing I've always had trouble with is the little crevices around the hinges of the toilet seat. Any tips for those? Along those same lines are there any minor things I need to make sure are clean that the apartment office will try to call me out on?

I find the tongue works well for those toilet seat crevices. Moisten it up real good and those dingles come right off.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,238
1,722
126
Call your mom. Or girlfriend. Women are just better at these things.


Haha .. I'll send this to my best friend, and then call him a Woman because he is OCD about cleaning. Then I'll send it to my uncle who's a custodian at a shipyard who always has to fix other people's sloppy work.
 
Aug 23, 2000
15,509
1
81
Don't worry about the carpets. They are going to replace it anyways.
Even if you clean the place top to bottom, they are going to have their crew come in and clean it anyways. They're also going to repaint.
When I lived in apts, I just packed up my stuff and moved. I always got my deposit back.
 

Train

Lifer
Jun 22, 2000
13,579
75
91
www.bing.com
Don't worry about the carpets. They are going to replace it anyways.
Even if you clean the place top to bottom, they are going to have their crew come in and clean it anyways. They're also going to repaint.
When I lived in apts, I just packed up my stuff and moved. I always got my deposit back.

Ya I was going to say that too. Unless the place is shady, they already planned on replacing the carpet anyways. It usually won't affect the deposit.
 

PricklyPete

Lifer
Sep 17, 2002
14,582
162
106
Don't worry about the carpets. They are going to replace it anyways.
Even if you clean the place top to bottom, they are going to have their crew come in and clean it anyways. They're also going to repaint.
When I lived in apts, I just packed up my stuff and moved. I always got my deposit back.

+1

Do basic cleaning of bathrooms/kitchen, sweep, vacuum. Anything more is really just wasting your time.
 

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
42,589
5
0
Make sure to take pictures of everythign right before you move out. That way of they say XYZ is damaged you have proof to get your deposit back.

I learned that the hard way the first time. After that I took pictures and got 100% of all my deposits back. Had to fight some but I had proof on my side.

All walls and both sides of any doors. Inside of cabinets and appliances
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
I hired a cleaning lady when I moved out of my old apartment two weeks ago.

best $80 I ever spent.

they came in while I was at work, scrubbed the entire apartment top to bottom (floors, walls, windows) and got the kitchen/bathroom cleaner than they were when I moved in. my landlord came over the next day for inspection and to hand-over the keys and he couldn't get over how clean I managed to keep the place :awe: good return on the money when I get my entire $1500 sec deposit back.
 

Ksyder

Golden Member
Feb 14, 2006
1,829
1
81
Be sure to clean the oven and stove... get a can of oven cleaner for sure. And clean the fridge out good as well.
 

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
42,589
5
0
Be sure to crawl into the cabinets to get pics of the inside.

Missing shelves or split panels is possible claim.
Opening the doors and shooting with a flash will CYA
 

Whisper

Diamond Member
Feb 25, 2000
5,394
2
81
If you've rented from a complex, ask them what their actual expectations are regarding cleanliness. The office manager where I used to live came right out and told me that they hire cleaners to take care of things after I leave, so I shouldn't worry about killing myself trying to get everything spotless.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,418
30,506
146
clean all of the cooking grease off of your kitchen walls, stove, and other nearby appliances.

Leave the blood and semen stains on your bedroom walls.