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7 Professional Apartment Cleaning Tips

Moving boxes and cleaning supplies

Keeping a clean apartment is more than just an aesthetic choice; it's a practice that affects your quality of life, productivity, and even your mood. Regular cleaning and maintenance can seem daunting, but with the right tips and tricks, it can become an easy and satisfying habit. 

In this article, the professional cleaners at Yost Cleaning will provide valuable insights about maintaining a clean apartment and making it an enjoyable space to live in. Whether you're a cleanliness enthusiast looking for creative hacks or a busy individual struggling to find the time for cleaning chores, this guide will offer useful strategies and reminders for everyone. 

In the process of moving out of your apartment and want to make sure you get your full deposit back? Consider hiring an apartment move-out cleaning service such as Yost Cleaning. We’ve been helping the people of Northern Colorado since 2003!

Gather Your Supplies

If you plan on cleaning your apartment without the help of professionals, you’ll need all the right supplies for the job. The basic tools you should have on hand include: 

  • Rubber gloves
  • Bucket with handle (2-3 gallons)
  • Vacuum 
  • Hot water 
  • Rags or cloths for dusting, wiping, and drying
  • Brush (one small like a toothbrush, one larger)
  • Spray bottle
  • Microfiber cloths
  • Sponges/ paper towels
  • Disinfectant wipes or spray
  • Trash bags
  • Dish soap
  • All-purpose cleaner
  • Toilet cleaner
  • Broom
  • Mop

Start by Decluttering 

A great starting point for any cleaning situation is dealing with various clutter. Before you can get to the actual ‘cleaning’, you’ll first need to address any trash, clothes, mail, and other loose odds and ends that have piled up around your apartment. Take the time to do the laundry, donate some extra clothes, and organize your trinkets and treasures into labeled boxes. Soon enough, you’ll feel less overwhelmed and your apartment will start opening up space for the cleaning to begin. 

If You’re Moving Out, Understand Your Landlord’s Expectations

If you’re moving out of an apartment, cleaning is one of the final tasks you need to consider once all of your belongings have been packed and transported. This is crucial no matter whether you've been living in an apartment for months or years. Move-out cleaning is a deep cleaning process aimed at restoring the apartment back to its original state or even better. Because such intensive cleaning can be very time-consuming, your first step should be to understand your landlord’s expectations. This will allow you to prioritize the things that are most important so you can feel confident that you won’t incur any penalties.

Consider DIY Cleaners 

You can certainly buy all of the required cleaning products from a store, but you don’t need to. For many people, buying all of the supplies that will give your apartment a professional clean is an expensive investment; and luckily, there are some DIY cleaners that will run you half the cost. The best part is, you may already have most of these ingredients on hand! 

Here are a few recipes for our favorite DIY cleaners:

  • Make your own all-purpose cleaner by mixing ¼ cup of liquid castile soap and ¼ teaspoon essential oil with a quart of water in a spray bottle. 
  • Make a bathroom cleaning agent by mixing hydrogen peroxide and water in equal parts. Once again, use a spray bottle to easily apply to the shower, bathtub, and toilet areas. 
  • A simple glass cleaner can be made by combining white vinegar and isopropyl alcohol in equal parts. If you’re not a fan of the vinegar smell, add a few drops of essential oils.
  • Polish wood and stainless steel with a mixture of one part oil, one part castile soap, and two parts water. This oil (food-grade such as olive oil), helps restore dried-out furniture with a fresh, natural shine. 

Clean in the Right Order

The order in which you do your cleaning matters. When it comes to cleaning an entire apartment, the smartest way is to work from top down, and from the perimeter of the room towards the door. A little thing called gravity makes cleaning more efficient if you start from the top of rooms (such as ceilings, lights, fans, etc.) and work your way down to the walls, countertops, and then the floors. This way, if you accidentally knock dust down from a ceiling fan or countertop onto your carpet, for example, there’s no concern because cleaning the floor will happen later. 

In a similar way, it’s smart to start from the farthest point from the entryway and work towards the door. This is especially true with floors, as you don’t want to walk across mopped hardwood floors and freshly vacuumed carpets with dirty shoes! 

Focus Your Attention on Most and Least Used Spaces

This tip may seem like a no-brainer, but it is often overlooked for one reason or another: pay close attention to your most and least used spaces! 

Your most used spaces will have extra grime, dirt, and buildup that you may have gotten used to over time. The kitchen, bathrooms, and living spaces all need an extra critical eye to make sure they’re done right. 

On the other hand, your least used spaces will likely suffer from a layer of dust and cobwebs purely due to your infrequent usage. It’s safe to assume that these least used spaces are cleaner than ones used more frequently, but it’s very important that they are not overlooked nonetheless!

Don’t Forget Shared and Outdoor Spaces 

An important reminder is to not forget shared and outdoor spaces. These parts of your apartment will likely fall down the list of priorities, but few things will make your landlord happy (and more willing to return your full deposit) than going the extra mile and helping clean beyond your immediate, indoor apartment space. 

A quick sweep, wash of the windows, and dusting of your front door will go a long way in giving your apartment a truly clean feel. 

Need Help With Apartment Move-Out Cleaning?

Moving out of an apartment involves not just packing and moving belongings, but also a thorough end-of-tenancy cleaning, commonly referred to as apartment move-out cleaning. This is especially important as it can affect the return of your security deposit. 

If you’re thinking about enlisting professional help for your apartment move-out cleaning, contact Yost Cleaning. We service homes, apartments, and businesses in Johnstown and throughout Northern Colorado. Contact us today to get started on your free quote!    

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