End of Tenancy Cleaning – An Estate Manager’s Perspective

Disclaimer: We have distilled numerous conversations with an experienced Highgate estate manager into this single post. We are thankful for her kind permission to publish this on our blog. 

I realise that moving out is natural – people change jobs, larger families downsize once the kids grow up, or they just need a change of scenery. It is unrealistic to expect all your tenants to remain in their apartments forever – although it would make my job so much easier! But all this does not make the end-of-tenancy cleaning ordeal any more pleasant – even if I only have to approve the final check-up. 

There are three general types of tenants regarding the move-out cleaning – the deniers, the pros, and the absent-minded. Of course, every case is specific, but most people fall into one of these three categories. 

The Deniers

These people want nothing to do with end-of-tenancy cleaning. They are willing to forgo their security deposit because they have too much on their plate – packing, dealing with movers, and settling in their new home. 

Usually, my tenants in this category are single, in their late twenties or early thirties, with good jobs and an above-average income. Don’t get me wrong – they do not leave their apartments in a total mess, on the contrary. They just don’t see the need to deal with something they consider to be unnecessary. 

The problem is I cannot list the property for rent before a thorough post-tenancy cleaning. So I have two options:

• Option “A” is to try and talk my leaving tenants into doing the end-of-lease cleaning. The best way to achieve it is to describe how hassle-free the procedure is (which is a fact). More than a few local cleaning contractors provide comprehensive packages – the tenant pretty much has to pick up the phone and choose a suitable date, and the contractor does all the rest. I have to tell you, I’ve perfected my sales pitch so much that two-thirds of my tenants go for it.
• Option “B” – option “A” hasn’t worked (bummer!). It leaves me with no choice but to book the move-out cleaning contractor myself. The good thing is I have a few business cards on my desk that always come in handy.

The Pros

My favourite type of tenant! They have read their contract thoroughly, researched the best cleaning providers within a 5-mile radius, and booked the procedure well before the move-out deadline. What can I tell you – these people make me love my job and hate that I lose them as tenants. 

They are usually older than the deniers, probably in their forties, and mature enough to understand that rules are put in place for a reason. Nothing gives me more pleasure than ordering their security deposits to their bank accounts – it is a well-earned way to say “thank you” for being awesome!

The Absent-minded

I often refer to them as my “babies” – these are first-time tenants who also have to cope with moving out for the first time. Most often in their mid-twenties or even younger (I’ve had university and college students), they are like fish out of the water when dealing with contracts. It is not that they don’t want to do the tenancy cleaning – they simply haven’t read the contract carefully enough to understand that they are supposed to. 

I try to be very careful with such tenants. As with the deniers, there are two options:

• Their initial reaction is anger. I’ve found out that young people do not react particularly well to unexpected news, especially ones that are not to their liking. They feel somehow swindled or cornered. After weathering the initial rant, I let them know that nothing fatal has happened and they can quickly deal with the issue.
• The initial reaction is panic. Look, a few hundred pounds is a lot for a college student, and I feel for these kids. So I try to be as helpful as possible – giving them advice and support. And you know what – they deal with the situation beautifully! They react quickly, and in fifteen minutes, they know more about tenancy cleaning than the pros! Got to love the way they rebound!

A few additional words regarding the cleaning contractors. The vast majority of them are true professionals, especially when dealing with an estate manager. Few of them, however, do try to cut corners – only cleaning the most visible spots, not performing a final quality inspection or contacting the property owners. I guess this tactic may work with landlords who deal with their tenants directly. But to try and pull it off with a professional estate manager is not only stupid – it is insulting. 

Is There A Proper Order Of Housekeeping Chores?

For most of us, any cleaning work done at any time or place in your home (especially by someone else) qualifies as good cleaning. Whether you do housework regularly or only when the house is messy, we have some tips for doing household chores properly to make the job easier. 

1. Allow the cleaning appliances to do the hard work 

Almost every home has appliances that can do much of our cleaning. When you start a housekeeping session (or even in the evening while cooking dinner), load the dishwasher and start the washing machine so that the appliances work while you do something else. 

Then head to the bathroom or kitchen, where cleaning may be hardest. Start by spraying cleaning products on soap scum and stains on toilets or greasy ovens. Give cleaning products time to work while doing other things; removing stains will become much easier in 15 to 20 minutes. 

2. Arrange first before cleaning 

Cleaning floors and surfaces becomes more difficult if a room is full of paper, toys or clothes. Start from one place and methodically work around the room, picking up anything out of place. Use a plastic laundry basket to collect items you should put away and a garbage bag for things to be thrown away. Now you can clean the dust much more manageably. 

3. Choose a room and stick to it 

Now that things are going well, choose a room to clean entirely and stick to it until it’s over. If you fly from room to room, you may not see good results from your efforts. Always clean the room from the ceiling to the floor. This way, the dust will not get on the already clean surface. It is not necessary to dust twice. Remember the hard-to-reach ceiling fans, lighting fixtures and high furniture counter tops. In other words, wipe or clean dust from any surface and then vacuum. 

It doesn’t matter which room you clean first. Some people like to deal with the most challenging rooms to clean first, such as bathrooms or kitchens. Or you can start with the places where you spend most of the time. The key is keeping at least one space in perfect shape. It is crucial if you only have a limited time to clean. 

Make things easier by having all the cleaners and tools on hand when you start cleaning. A few rounds around the house to find disinfectant wipes, towels or a vacuum cleaner wastes time and effort. 

4. Create a daily or weekly housekeeping plan 

Every home and family is different. There is no right or wrong way to do housework, as long as you do it with quality. It is ideal to cooperate to observe a housework plan that functions admirably for every family member. Some prefer to clean a little but consistently. Others like to delay until they have the entire day for housework. Someone may be a laundry specialist, while another may be better at vacuuming. 

Whatever cleaning routine you find, it’s a good idea to make an essential to-do list so that nothing is overlooked. It is almost impossible to do all the housework in just one cleaning session, and some things only need to be cleaned more rarely. 

If you have children, it is helpful to create an age-appropriate list of reminder tasks and place it in a prominent place. They can keep their room clean daily (put away clean clothes, throw dirty clothes in the bin, arrange toys and books, make the bed) so that weekly changes of sheets, dusting, and vacuuming are easier.  

Most cleaning duties are much easier if you take your time. More time-consuming tasks will become less scary if you do a little for a few minutes daily.  

Try to plan the cleaning time to complete the tasks fully. Washing clothes and leaving them in the washing machine to smell or wrinkle in the dryer only opens up more work for you. And no one wants that. 

Mother’s advice 

If you ask cleaning professionals how they learned the tricks of their craft, many will tell you that it all started at home with mothers dedicated to keeping the house clean. We asked these professionals for cleaning advice that their mothers gave them. 

Did they respond with complex decisions? No – most were simple tips that stood the test of time. 

• “When my mother was cleaning, she filled the pockets of her bright apron with cleaning tools, so she never had to look for a lost rag or cloth.” 

• Some tips were on how to combine the useful with the pleasant. “We had a small TV in the laundry room so Mom could watch her favourite shows and have fun while she worked.” 

• “My mother puts paper towels on the shelves of cupboards or around the sink so that any leaks, drips or spoiled food remain in the paper towel, which she then discards and replaces. That is much easier than washing, as the surface of the shelves is kept clean.” 

• “My mother was a fanatic about loading the dishwasher properly. All the cups had to go on the top shelf, and the silverware had to put the “handles up” so we didn’t touch the part that went into our mouths. She also cleaned the dishwasher every week, leaving it empty with lemon juice and salt in the soap dispenser to break down any internal soap scum.” 

• “My mother makes every job a challenge. She set a five-minute timer, and my three sisters and I had to figure out how much work we could do to clean up before time ran out. We loved watching the timer countdown, and to this day, I still make my cleaning tasks more fun by setting a timer.” 

• “The cleaning trick my mother taught me was to put a few drops of essential oil on the vacuum cleaner’s filter. The oil penetrates the air as you clean it, leaving your house smelling amazing. ” 

• “My mother uses shaving cream to eliminate water stains on the glass shower doors. Leave it on to stay for 10 minutes and clean it. ” 

These are some of the tips, there are many more, but we hope to help you with your daily cleaning and hygiene at home. And if you have such ideas and tricks, we will be happy to share them. 

Can Natural Cleaning Products Rival Domestic Detergents?

Recently, a neighbour of mine asked me to help her clean her kitchen. Of course, I agreed because the woman was quite old and needed help. I noticed the sink and floor were messy and dirty when I entered. I had predictably taken the necessary cleaning stuff, assuming it was unavailable at her home. When she saw the detergents, she waved and forbade me to use them. I convinced her that all this dirt would not go away without detergent. But the woman stubbornly refused. I wondered what to do and stood in the middle of the room. She took out a bar of soap and a mixture of vinegar and water in a bottle. Also added a packet of salt. She almost ordered me to wash the sink and around with these things. I laughed for understandable reasons. I did not expect to have people who use salt and vinegar for cleaning. These were the means that my grandmother used at the time. 

I started and did my best to wash and clean everything. And you know what? I could polish everything to shine. Then we tidied up the room, and when we finished, I asked her why she didn’t use the more comfortable and robust cleaners instead of rubbing them so hard. She replied by pointing out the following: 

1. They are cheap and fit into the budget.

Taking into account that in the supermarket – it is significantly cheaper to buy baking soda and a bottle of vinegar than a cleaning spray. And we can use them for cooking, while the detergent – we can’t. 

2. They are health-safe

There is no doubt that chemical cleaners cause damage to the skin, and if we inhale them – they cause allergies, headaches and more. They are too aggressive. That is not the case with natural products. The statement that you can safely apply something to your body if you eat it is true. 

3. They are not harmful to the environment 

The production of natural cleaners does not harm nature; when they go into the sewer, they decompose easily and quickly. Salt and soda are natural minerals, and people can extract them with minimal damage. Vinegar, alcohol, and essential oils are plant-based products. Now think about how much chemistry they use to produce chemical cleaners that we buy from the supermarket. 

For what can we use these everyday products? 

• Baking soda softens and cleanses the water 
• White vinegar is helpful against stains, mould, wax, odours and more. To remove the unpleasant odour from the refrigerator, use vinegar with water. 
• Salt – to remove dirt and unclog the sewer 
• Lemons are a powerful food acid that kills bacteria. 

These items are available in any usual household. Natural cleaning products are safer, cheaper and easier to make using only products around the house. 

A practical solution for grout 

Baking soda is for brightening up dirty bathroom grout. Make a paste of baking soda and dishwasher soap and scrub it into the grout. After a while, rinse it off. For detailed work and the rings around drains, use a toothbrush. 

Top four reasons to use natural cleaning products 

1. It is healthier for your entire family, especially your minor children. By having all-natural products, you limit the damage to them. 
2. Responsibility for the environment. By using natural cleaning products, you prevent the environment from dangerous chemicals. 
3. Increases the life of things. Chemical cleaners are aggressive and reduce the durability of items in your home. By switching to natural cleaning methods, you can rest assured that your home is well cared for. You are unlikely to cause accidental damage. 
4.  They are cheaper  That is indeed the case. Even better, you can prepare your organic cleaning products with the help of daily household ingredients. As I mentioned above, baking soda and vinegar are excellent, versatile natural cleansing products that cost almost nothing. And don’t worry about the smell of vinegar, as it disappears after it dries. 
5. Suitable for sensitive skin. Most natural cleaning products contain oils, vinegar and plant-based active substances instead of harmful chemicals. 

Even today, people still use salt, vinegar, soda, alcohol, etc., to clean and polish various home items. Our grandmothers used such cleaners, but young people know they are very effective today. They kill germs and eliminate the dirt that bacteria feed. We should not underestimate them because these products are clean to shine. And for flavouring, some essential oils do an excellent job. Tea tree oil, for example, is a great choice because it has natural antibacterial properties. 

What Is The Best Day Of The Week To Book Your Tenancy Cleaning?

Have you already chosen your tenancy cleaning contractor? Good for you! Now you have to pick the most suitable day for the job. While many people go for the first available date because they want to cross the task off their moving-out chore list, here is why you should adopt a different mindset and go for one specific day of the week instead.

If you are changing your place of residence, let’s assume that you are still a relatively young professional with a job. The last thing you want is to schedule the end of tenancy cleaning procedure on a working day. Many contractors insist that you be present for the final quality check-up, and it is a very poor idea to do it after work when you are tired, distracted, and quite probably annoyed.

Suppose you operate on the standard Monday-to-Friday working week. That leaves the weekend as the only optimal option. I would personally eliminate Saturday for two reasons – first, you should give yourself one day completely free of worries, even in the middle of your transition period. Second, the city traffic in London and Highgate, in particular, is the slowest on Sunday, making it much easier for the tenancy cleaning crew to arrive at your place on time. An extra advantage is that your landlord is likely to be in a far better mood on a calm Sunday than a busy working Wednesday, for example.

However, Sunday does have one disadvantage – most people share that thought process and book their appointments for the last day of the week. If you want to squeeze in your tenancy cleaning, plan it well in advance and notify your contractor ASAP.