Scheduling time for a deep clean every spring sounds like tradition, but life often gets in the way. As a result, with the season winding down, you may feel immense pressure to finally get around to cleaning the bathroom, washing your linen, and getting rid of old junk. That’s especially true for tenants who are ending their lease or facing a routine landlord inspection. Read this article, as we have compiled the last-minute spring cleaning tasks for renters looking to clean up their apartments in a crunch. 

Focusing on High-Impact Tasks 

Decluttering

When you’re working against the clock, prioritize tasks that make a noticeable difference. For instance, clutter is one of the fastest ways to make your home look disheveled and disorganized. Thus, it would be best to start by removing items you no longer need. Also, those stray items on your coffee table, kitchen counter, and entryways need to find their place or be discarded. Aside from getting rid of unnecessary items and clearing your space to make your scrubbing easier, your apartment will have a fresh and organized feel when you’re done.

Cleaning of Visible Surfaces

With your space free of clutter, move on to cleaning the most visible surfaces. If you’re pressed for time, rolling up your sleeves to get between the nooks and crannies of every appliance or under heavy furniture would be intense. Landlords usually consider professional cleaning services if needed, so focus on the easy-to-spot places such as countertops, mirrors, and floors. Also, don’t overlook places that accumulate fingerprints due to traffic, like doorknobs and light switches. 

Refresh Soft Furnishings

For an instant lift, consider laundering soft furnishings like your bedspread, pillow cases, and curtains. These items are easily overlooked because they accumulate dust and dirt over time before becoming visibly duller. However, a quick wash can elevate your rooms and make them more appealing. If you have carpets and rugs, now would be an excellent time to power wash them thoroughly. Aside from that, it also gets rid of trapped allergens and odors, which makes breathing in your space easier. 

Discussing Safety and Maintenance Checks with your Landlord

 Beyond the aesthetic benefits, spring cleaning is an excellent opportunity to conduct a quick safety and maintenance check of your rental unit. For renters, tasks such as checking the smoke detector batteries, looking for leaking faucets, or signs of pest infestation may be on your to-do list. However, for larger appliances and structural systems, consider talking with your landlord to hire a professional. You need the right expert to give your HVAC system, roofing, and plumbing the green light. For example, contact Alexandria rental property management team if you have questions related to HVAC maintenance tasks.

Why Does Spring Cleaning Serve as Investing in Your Living Space?

• Improve Your Comfort

Cleaning up your rental isn’t solely about passing an inspection. It’s also about improving your comfort. Beyond fulfilling your tenant responsibilities, living in a clean and organized space improves your focus and mental well-being. After all, breathing cleaner air and navigating your home with ease make your stay a lot more comfortable. 

• Avoid Legal Disputes

Another benefit of spring cleaning is that it reduces the chances of legal disputes. It’s quite common for renters to have disagreements with their landlords at the end of their tenancy that require a court resolution. In most instances, it’s often due to unmatched expectations about the rental’s condition at the end of the lease. That’s why tenants who pay more attention to their deep cleans are less likely to have trouble reclaiming their security deposit over dirty rugs and unswept floors. 

• Maintain a Positive Relationship with Your Landlord 

If you’re not planning to move out yet, prioritizing your deep cleaning sessions can increase your rapport with your landlord. This tip is especially beneficial for tenants who’d like to stay long-term, because a good relationship with your property owner increases the chances of them being more lenient with house policies. Thus, they may be willing to meet you halfway on issues such as renovation or late rental payments. 

Even with summer around the corner, you can still squeeze in a spring cleaning session if you focus on high-impact tasks. Clutter makes a huge difference, so ensure you get rid of what you don’t need and organize what you want to keep. Next, clean the visible surfaces and wash your soft furnishings for an instant lift. If necessary, discuss a thorough safety and maintenance check with your landlord to ensure you complete your checklist and have the right professional. In the long run, spring cleaning is more than a thing you check on your to-do list. It’s an investment in your space because it improves your comfort, avoids legal disputes, and keeps relations with your landlord rosy.