Cleaning Your Apartment Before Move Out

As moving day approaches, one of the most dreaded things is cleaning the apartment. For some, it's the first time it's gotten a complete cleaning since the day they moved in. Giving it a detailed cleaning is especially important in college towns - when so many people move in and out each year, it's much more likely that damage has been done. Let's use Ames, Iowa, as an example - it's home of Iowa State University and has thousands of students moving in and out of apartments each year.

Normally, your Ames property management company will provide you with a move-out inspection, which is a checklist of things you should clean before move out. At the least, they'll let you know exactly what you're responsible for cleaning and what they'll take care of. If they haven't given you a list within a few weeks of moving, check with the office and see if they have something you could use as a reference. Some apartment communities will even walk through the rooms with you and point out things that need to be taken care of - but, many times you won't be that lucky.

Nearly all apartment communities will give you a check list to fill out when you move in to your Ames apartment. This is a great advantage to you because they'll know the exact condition of the apartment before you moved.

Aside from wiping cabinets, cleaning counter surfaces, and vacuuming and mopping the floors, there are several other things that shouldn't be overlooked. Here is a list of some you should take a closer look at before moving out of your apartment:

Repair the walls - After removing your posters, frames, and photos, make sure you take all nails and push-pins out of the wall. Then, fill the holes with hole filler (drywall or wood filler both work great, depending on the surface.) Let it dry, then lightly sand over the top of it. If you don't have these supplies lying around, white toothpaste can work too. Simply brush some over the hole and let it dry. Next, remove all of the black or scuff marks. A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is a good product to use - or, combine water and baking soda on a washcloth and rub it lightly over the marking.

Clean the oven - Some ovens have a self-clean option. If not, buy an oven cleaner at a local department store. Beware, the warnings about cleaner damaging other surfaces is true, so it's important to follow the directions. For the spill pans, it's usually best to purchase new ones for around $10.

Clean the refrigerator and freezer - This might be one of the most dreaded parts of cleaning an apartment. First, remove all the shelves and drawers, and clean them with warm water and dish detergent or a cleaning product like 409. Next, clean the inside of the refrigerator with a rough sponge. Accidental spills can be quite hard to clean, especially if they've been there for awhile. That's why it's important to have a sponge that will scrub well.

Wipe down the windows and blinds - The window area is one that's commonly overlooked. Make sure you clean all windows and window frames in the apartment, as well as wiping down the blinds. Some apartments charge you a premium for brand-new blinds if yours are left dirty and grimy.

Check your light fixtures - Double check all lights throughout the apartment. If the outside of them are dirty, wipe them down with a cleaning solution. Be sure to replace all broken bulbs as well.

Vents - Run a feather duster along all vents in the area, then wipe them down with a cloth and simple cleaner. This is another one that's commonly overlooked and could end up costing you money if you don't catch it.

Finally, take photos of the apartment after you've cleaned it. This is a safety measure for you - if the landlord would come back and accuse you of damage, you can show them the photo and a written description so they'll know how clean it was upon move-out.