Spring time is well underway and the vacuums and feather dusters are out as many households give their homes a spring clean. For those living in private rented homes, giving the place a good scrub is essential when the time comes to reclaim the deposit once the tenancy ends. In fact, many of the deposit claims observed by tenancy deposit scheme SafeDeposits Scotland are for cleaning. A good way to prevent this is by making a list of each area that needs to be cleaned, and going room by room. The following guide looks at a few of the pressure points for different rooms that are often forgotten about and can result in a cleaning claim.
Bathroom
Nobody enjoys cleaning the toilet, but it’s an important task that has to be done before vacating the property! A lot of cleaning claims come from the bathroom. Unclean toilet bowls, as well as around the seat and under the lid are a common source of cleaning claims and so the tenant should ensure this area is clean before leaving. Baths, showers and sinks need to be properly cleaned too and free from any drain blockage, along with shining the taps to get rid of any water spots. Residue from toothpaste or soap can solidify and get stuck to surfaces, so it’s important to wipe down any surfaces after use to prevent this from happening.
Living room and bedroom
Some of the easiest areas to forget are the ones that are out of sight – the expression “swept under the rug” exists for a reason. Quite often it is the case that tenants forget to lift up the rug and clean underneath. Any shelves, including bookshelves, along with desks and tables should be dusted. Both behind and underneath the couch along with any chairs should be cleaned, as well as making sure there are no items wedged between the couch cushions. Curtains are another often forgotten area and most people do not wash them regularly, but they collect dust and absorb odours, even contributing to poor air quality. Along with washing curtains where necessary (and being sure to follow their specific cleaning instructions) blinds should be wiped down to prevent dust building up.
Many of the same points of consideration in the living room will also apply to the bedroom, though there are a couple of additional areas that will need to be cleaned. Drawers and wardrobes should be emptied, and the tenant should ensure they tidy under the bed as well – another one of those often forgotten areas!
Kitchen
The kitchen is full of hidden and easy to forget spaces that the tenant might forget to clean before leaving. Cupboards should be completely emptied with no food left behind (excluding any provided items listed on the inventory such as crockery or glassware), even if it has been left with good intentions as a gift for the next occupant – as is the same case with the fridge and freezer, which should all be wiped down and free of any food residue, including sticky spillages. Left behind food can rot and result in unpleasant smells which could be grounds for a cleaning claim.
Grease can accumulate over multiple uses if the oven is not cleaned – generally it is advised to clean it every few months, or more regularly depending on how often it is used. In kitchens with large appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines and tumble dryers, the tenant should make sure that they clean each compartment, and the tumble dryer should be free of any lint built up from regular usage.
