There’s one big paradox in almost everyone’s domestic cleaning routine.
On one side, kitchen appliances are usually the dirtiest items on the property. On the other one, though, when it comes to daily housekeeping chores, we tend to pay the least attention to them.
This can turn into a serious problem when you traditionally live on rent and decide to change your residential address.
Cleaning the electric appliances is a crucial task when moving out. If you don’t carry it out thoroughly, problems with your landlord and getting your security deposit may ensue.
Read on to learn about how to effectively clean your appliances before relocating.
Why is the end of tenancy important?
Being a tenant brings you a set range of obligations. Besides taking care of the property and the entire inventory, you are supposed to put it back in a presentable condition when you decide to move out.
Experienced tenants are aware of this bond and know it as an end of tenancy cleaning mandatory procedure. This deep top-to-bottom sanitising process is neither required by ethics nor driven by goodwill. The moving-out cleaning is simply a must.
Here’s why it’s so important:
- You have to perform it because it’s a clause mentioned in your tenancy contract. Since you’ve signed it, you are supposed to observe it.
- It’s the only one-way ticket to get your tenancy deposit. If you don’t know what end of tenancy cleaning is, you might have forgotten what rental agreement you’ve signed. Let us remind you that there are lines where it’s explained how much money you should provide to your landlord as a guarantee that you will keep the property impact and will vacate it in perfect condition. If you don’t meet your obligations, the landlord has the legal right to keep your tenancy deposit.
- Pay it forward. At the end of tenancy cleaning, there’s a moral aspect, too. Just try to imagine if no one cleans up after themselves. As a never-ending tenant, you must move into a grimy and full of bacteria and hard water stains new property. That wouldn’t be very nice and welcoming, would it? The existence of a rule for the tenants to perform deep disinfection before moving out of a rented property is a way to protect and secure the newcomers optimally.
- End of tenancy cleaning as a concrete cleaning procedure, on the other side, is essential for the perfect final result. If you just tidy up, get your personal belongings out of the property, and wipe out the surfaces, don’t expect the landlord to be happy with what you’ve done (or what you haven’t done, to be more specific). There’s a mandatory inventory check during which the landlord will examine the property’s condition, most notably your sanitising efforts, which will determine what happens to your deposit. That is why so many tenants prefer to pay for an end of tenancy cleaning service with numerous guarantees for a hassle-free inventory check.
How to clean your oven?
Now let’s get back to the kitchen appliances, which are the focus of the topic.
According to the stats, a dirty oven is one of the major problems during an inventory check.
People – tenants, homeowners, and even cooks – often forget about this electric device and that it needs deep cleaning when moving out, so your landlord gives you back your money. And, since it’s used daily and with products that make stains, dirt, and bacteria focus, you should also be highly diligent in disinfecting it.
Here are some move-out cleaning tips for this essential item in the rented property:
- As a start, it would be good to dismantle the device. This can help you soak the dirtiest items in advance (fire grates, in-built tins, etc.).
- Always pre-clean the grimiest oven parts. Save for soaking in soapy water, you can also scrape off the burnt and dried food remains. Make sure to remove the excesses with a soft brush to avoid any device damage, as they can also be a reason not to get your tenancy deposit back.
- Special hack for extra stubborn stains: use a mixture of mild universal liquid detergents, water, and baking soda. Apply the solution on the spot for a while and let it absorb. In a couple of minutes, remove the dirt with a scouring pad.
- Rinse the oven parts after deep cleaning. It will provide an extra sleek effect.
- Polish the surfaces when needed.
How to clean the extractor fan?
The extractor fan is not cleaner than the oven.
As a matter of fact, it gathers so much grease and dirt that you should definitely be prudent enough to put it back in excellent condition. Except for using professional end of tenancy cleaning services, you can also try our DIY guide for extract fan disinfection below:
- Deeply clean the fan filters, which are the dirtiest pieces of the device. Let them dry finely after the procedure.
- Read the manufacturer’s guide for cleaning instructions. There might be actions or detergents incompatible with this device’s maintenance.
- If nothing is prohibited, try this easy all-purpose homemade cleaning solution made of dishwashing detergent and lukewarm water to soak and scrub the filters and other device parts with a non-abrasive brush.
- Re-assemble once the extractor fan is fully dry, respectively usable, with no safety risks.
How to clean your fridge?
Getting out all of your beers, already rotten cheese and the rest supplies out of your fridge is insufficient to move out properly. You will have to clean this electric appliance, too.
Of course, when it’s empty, thorough disinfection becomes easier. Hence, you should not forget something specific about fridge cleaning–mandatory defrosting before the sanitising procedure.
Once you make it as clean as a whistle, you can turn it to make the fridge usable for the next tenants.
How to clean the microwave?
The microwave is commonly not just dirty, but also with a bad smell. If you want to succeed in getting your tenancy deposit back, you should go for double maintenance of this device.
Cleaning might not be enough, and you should also take bad odour removal measures. Thankfully, you are here and can learn a special trick that disinfects and deodorises.
Simply pour some water into a bowl and squeeze one fresh lemon into it. Then, run the bowl in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. When you open it, the foul odour will be gone, while the oldest food stains – will loosen and be ready to be removed with one wiping movement.
Don’t hesitate to use a soft toothbrush and general cleanser for the worst spots.
How to clean the dishwasher?
British landlords complain that even their most diligent tenants tend to forget about the dishwasher end of tenancy cleaning procedure. Wе might know what this tendency is about.
Even if the dishwasher has an in-built water softener or runs on cold water, the truth is that many people believe that since the appliance is a “cleaning” device, it should always remain clean. On the contrary, though, the dishwasher is one of the dirtiest appliances in your home as it gets disinfection rarely and gets old food remains constant.
The best way to eliminate the microbes is to start deep cleaning the filters. Then, scrub the inner and outer surfaces of the device. Last, pour some white vinegar and run the microwave empty (preferably on a disinfection program).
Conclusion
So, these are some of the most effective tips and tricks on how to clean your appliances before moving out of your rental property.
If you feel confident about doing all of these sanitising chores independently, we wish you luck! If you don’t but still wish to get your tenancy deposit back, consider using professional moving out cleaning services. It will save you money, time, and lots of effort.
