Many things must be considered when you decide to move out of your current rented place.
You might not believe it, but even the stupid kitchen cabinets or the old bedroom drawers matter for a smooth farewell with your landlord at this special and so daunting moment.
Understanding that you will be examined to the last detail at the end of this life phase is critical. You will be checked on how well you have handled the property.
And guess what – if you fail, you will be penalised: prepare to lose your tenancy deposit if your landlord sees the cabinets dirty and the drawers – dusty.
Or, instead, learn how to clean them below.
Why and How Often To Clean Cabinet Doors and Drawers
Probably, there will be people among you who would consider the drawers and cabinets cleaning as not such a big deal. They, though, have something you don’t have – the habit of disinfecting these pieces of furniture regularly.
But how often do we have to wipe the cabinet doors and remove everything from the drawers to clean them from the inside?
There’s no concrete right answer, but there’s a golden rule in every diligent housekeeping domestic routine: the more often you sanitise, the less time you spend each next seasonal cleaning.
Spring cleaning is identical to end of tenancy cleaning: deep, thorough, from top to bottom and detailed. Both require form you to clean the cabinets and the drawers decently.
Naturally, you will do it now because of your tenancy deposit, but for your new home, note that these items should be cleaned at least twice per month from the inside and a minimum of once per year from the inside.
Tools and Products You’ll Need for The Cleaning
The good news now: cleaning the cabinets and the drawers is not an arduous chore.
Here’s what you need to perform the disinfection:
- Microfiber cloths;
- DIY homemade all-purpose solution. You can prepare one from the following recipe: mix white vinegar and lukewarm water (1:2) and add a pinch of baking soda if there are stubborn stains;
- A bucket where to prepare the cleansing solution;
- A spray bottle where to pour the DIY green cleaning remedy to spread more carefully on the surfaces and the hard-to-be-reached edges and zones;
- Vacuum cleaner, preferably with a HEPA filter;
- Essential oils (a couple of drops upon your flavour).
Tips for Cleaning Cabinet Doors Quickly and Efficiently
A cabinet can be cleaned very quickly as long as you empty it. This means removing absolutely everything. While you do this, don’t hesitate to sort out the things – what’s yours can be put in the concrete box with a label.
Then, get your vacuum cleaner and remove all the dust and, most importantly–any leftover food.
Finish the entire procedure by letting the doors open for a while. This airing will freshen up the cabinets.
Use essential oils to remove the foul odour, if needed. Citrus and tea tree oils are the best for deep antibacterial disinfection. And if you want to provide some clothing mite prevention, the best option is the lavender essential oil.
Tips for Cleaning Drawers The Right Way
Now, let’s move to the drawer cleaning guide for you. It’s not hard at all. Just like the cabinets, the drawers should be emptied, too.
Then, continue with the following steps:
- Wipe out with a clean cloth;
- Use the vacuum cleaner to remove the dust, bacteria, and you name it;
- Get your freshly made all-purpose cleansing solution and spray from top to bottom;
- Wait for the remedy to dissolve the old grime for a while;
- Now, grab the clean cloth and start wiping from top to bottom;
- If it’s dark inside the drawer, get a lantern and inspect it as you are the landlord who seeks for some stains;
- For stubborn stains: apply a paste prepared from baking soda and distilled water. Blot a bit and then wipe the grim out;
- Deodorise with a mixture of essential oils and lukewarm water.
Hire a Professional Cleaning Service, if Necessary
Whether you live in a 3-bedroom house or an enormous flat with dozens of cabinets and drawers, you might find some huge difficulties in dealing with all of them. And in case the removal date is close, you might be literally short of time to handle the disinfection procedure.
You don’t have to reconcile with the possibility of losing your tenancy deposit. What you have to do is to call move out cleaning specialists. They can help you out in a flash of a second.
And if you want to, they can undertake the entire disinfection procedure. Our tip is to call them as early as possible to get the best offer, as the sooner you need everything to be cleaned, the more you will be charged.
At last, we want to add that even if you decide to rely on the cleaning experts, they will want you to empty the cabinets and drawers in advance. So our tip for parallel de-cluttering and packing your things are still on.
The drawers and the cabinets are essential elements of the home interior. They don’t just have a critical storage function, but they also make the design and the whole atmosphere look complete.
During the property inspection, your landlord will not forget to check them out, including from the inside. You should be prudent enough when reaching them in your end of tenancy cleaning procedure.
By relying on experts, you will definitely have no issues and will get your tenancy deposit. In all cases, make sure to take care of these interior elements because, like the way you needed them, the next tenants will, too.
Conclusion
Now that you know more about the importance of cleaning cabinets and drawers when moving out, you will have no trouble doing so.
And that will ensure a smooth and successful transition from your old home into the new one, but most importantly–that your landlord will likely return your safety deposit back in full.
