Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Moving from an apartment in itself is a very time-consuming task, but, in addition to all the hassle, you may not be refunded the deposit if you leave the apartment untidy. It is very important to know how to prepare the apartment for a pre-departure inspection in order to get your deposit back and avoid being charged for damage to the apartment during your stay.

Steps

1. 1 Contact your utility company and set a date to stop supplying utility services in your name (such as water, electricity, etc.).etc.)
2. 2 Remove any brackets and nails you hammered in from the walls, ceilings, or doors of your apartment. Using melamine sponges, go through each room and clean stubborn stains from walls, ceilings and doors. Warning: First, test the action of the melamine sponge on some surface, this sponge will help you get rid of paint marks on the wall.
3. 3 Clean up the kitchen. Fill your sink with warm water and add dish soap to the water.
   • Wash Fridge - Remove all shelves and drawers from fridge and freezers, place them in the dishwasher, or wash them by hand. Dip a sponge in water containing dishwashing detergent and wipe down the entire interior of the refrigerator and freezer, making sure to remove all food from the refrigerator. Remember to check the little compartments for storing butter and eggs, then wipe down any extended shelves, dry them, and shove them back into the refrigerator.
   • Oven - One way to clean the oven is to use one or two packs of cleaning products (depending on if you've EVER cleaned the oven while in the apartment). Read the instructions for safe use carefully, because many products must be applied with protective gloves and goggles, and in a well-ventilated area. "Do not ignore the instructions for use on the packaging." Spread newspapers on the floor so that they cover the entire space in front of the oven and slightly under the door to protect the surface of the floor from dripping. Distribute the contents of the packages evenly inside the oven, on wire racks, baking sheets, etc. Also cover the grease trays with the cleaning agent. Leave them to soak for 24 hours. "Don't use the oven!" Using sponges and napkins, dry the entire surface of these items. Rinse them with water. Clean the hood above the stove and make sure that the lights in the hood are on. If you want to avoid using chemical oven cleaners, you can try dissolving 100 grams of baking soda in one liter of water and sprinkling the mixture over the oven, leaving the soiled items to soak for one hour. If the oven is very dirty, add more baking soda, turning the detergent solution into a gruel. After one hour, use a scraper to remove the build-up of deposits and spray the rest of the mixture over the oven. Repeat the process until the oven is cleaned up.
   • Cabinet with pull-out shelves - wash them with universal detergents that are safe for household use, wipe the inside and outside of the shelves.
   • Lamps - Make sure the luminaires are clean and remove dead insects from the lamps. Wipe off your chandelier pendants. Consider before loading the pendants in the dishwasher, temperature fluctuations and strong chemicals can damage the glass structure.
   • Surfaces - Wipe the outside of the refrigerator, wipe the gas hob (including the area under the burners) and the entire countertop of the kitchen counter. Clean the inside and outside of the dishwasher, microwave oven and all other appliances in the apartment (for example, the surface of the washer or dryer).
   • Sink - Drain the sink and wipe off the faucet. If the sink is made of stainless steel or is a ceramic sink, powdered cleaners are great. An old toothbrush or any small brush with stiff bristles can come in very handy when cleaning the edges of lamps and sinks.
   • Floor - Sweep and wipe the floor with a rag. Work it out by moving the stove and refrigerator aside and flushing out the free space behind them. Be careful when you move the appliances. You can scratch wood floors, ruin linoleum, or break tiles. Plus, you'll find a thick layer of dirt on the sides of these appliances or cabinets, as well as all those little things that went missing eight months ago - you might find rolling behind your stove or refrigerator.
4. 4 Take care of cleaning the bathroom.
   • Thoroughly wash your sink, tub, toilet and shower. Make sure you get rid of the rust and wipe down the lamps in the bathroom.
   • Wipe down bathroom mirrors, hanging cabinet, fans and lamps. Use ammonia-free mirror cleaners. Check the lamps are clean and in working order. If the lamp covers are strong enough, you can load them into the dishwasher for washing.
   • Sweep and wipe the bathroom floor. Be especially careful when wiping the floor around the toilet.
   • Repeat cleaning in each bathroom.
5. 5 Take care of cleaning your bedroom. Wipe down the shelves in the nightstand and all the mirrors. If the bedroom has a carpet, remove any stains on it and then vacuum it. If there is no carpet, then just wipe the floor with a damp cloth. If it is a wooden floor, use an oil-based soap to clean it.
6. 6 Now take care of cleaning the living room and dining room. Clean windows and blinds. Clean the fan fenders, lamps and chandeliers. Remove any stains on the carpet. Vacuum or mop the floor.
7. 7 Sweep and clean outside the apartment (including balcony, courtyard and doors) and take out trash. Make sure the lights work outside. Place containers with garbage on the side of the road, in a specially designated place for collecting garbage.
8. 8 Measure and replace broken blinds.
9. 9 Take a picture of the apartment and save the pictures in case you are accused of causing damage to the property of the apartment. Send the pictures to your landlord or the agency you are renting from with a description of its contents and ask them to sign the pictures. Send one copy to your address and do not open the envelope. If the owner of the apartment did not sign the photographs, then the stamp on the envelope will be direct evidence of the state of the apartment at the time the photographs were sent.
10. 10 Get involved in an apartment inspection. In what condition is it at the time of departure. Keep one copy for yourself.
11. 11 Return the keys.

Tips

• It would be good to ask the landlord or your tenant for a sheet with the approximate cost of the items in case they are repaired, then you will know roughly your costs.
• Send your landlord a new address so he knows where to send your security deposit.
• If possible, start cleaning the apartment as far away from the door as possible, gradually moving towards it.Then you don't drive yourself into a corner.
• Stock up on all the necessary cleaning products, otherwise you will waste time shopping.
• Ask if your owner is automatically obligated to clean carpets at no additional cost to you, no matter if you just moved in or rent an apartment for several years, and how long you can enjoy these benefits. If your carpet has stubborn stains, try applying a stain remover before cleaning.
• Turn on the radio while cleaning.
• Save the following documents:

• • apartment rental agreement or lease agreement
  • apartment receipts or receipts
  • copies of all agreements regarding damages between you and the landlord
  • a copy of the letter sent to the owner of the apartment with your new address
• Ask your family or friends to help you clean up in exchange for a free housewarming lunch
• Some rental agencies specify in their contract that the walls must retain their original color. Check your contract before painting the walls a different color

Warnings

• Follow the safety rules when using detergents, and if you use strong detergents, protect your skin from contact with them by wearing rubber gloves.
• Use suitable detergents depending on the type of surface.
• If possible, do the cleaning when all things have been taken out of the apartment, or ahead of time before leaving, or on the day the apartment is checked.
• If you need to get rid of carpet stains or holes in the field, then get the help of a professional, because you can only aggravate the situation, causing even more harm with your inability.

What do you need

• napkins
• latex gloves
• detergents
• light bulbs
• hard brush (old toothbrush)
• sponges
• cleaning powder
• bath detergents
• oil-based soap for cleaning wooden floors
• 2 packs of oven cleaner
• glue
• sandpaper
• toilet detergents
• detergents for cleaning the kitchen
• window cleaners
• floor cleaning detergents
• brush and bucket
• broom
• vacuum cleaner
• melamine sponges for walls and doors
• carpet stain remover
• bucket for wiping cabinets and appliances
• duster for removing dust on the blinds
• toilet brush
• toilet cleaners
• garbage bags
• curtains
• rags
• shower curtains
• soap
• iron
• ironing board