Moving out of your rental home and into a new one can be an exciting chapter in your life. But it can also be a huge pain once you realize all the cleanup that needs to be done. After all, nobody wants to lose their safety deposit!
READ: This Brilliant Bathtub Cleaning Hack Will Make Your Tub Sparkle
Move-out policies can vary depending on your rental agreement, but generally speaking, tenants are required to leave their unit in the same condition as when they moved in.
So to make sure you don’t lose a cent of your safety deposit, here are 10 cheap and easy cleaning hacks that will return your home to tiptop shape.
1. Fixing Nail Holes
Photo by The Gracious Wife
This is probably the most common grievance you’ll have to deal with when moving out of a home. Believe it or not, you don’t have to waste your money on spackling when you only have one or two nail holes to fill in. A crayon, white glue, or even a bar of white soap should do the trick!
Get the crayon hack: The Gracious Wife
2. Washing Walls
Photo by Thrifty Fun
Walls looking a little dusty? There’s a hack for that! Use your Swiffer to dust and clean your walls without hassle. The beauty of this floor mop is that it can easily reach high spots. But if you need to target specific marks, there’s another trick you can try. Dip a microfibre cloth into a mixture of vinegar, detergent and lukewarm water and scrub away. This should get marks off your walls without removing any paint.
Get the microfibre hack here: The Pretty Organized Life
3. Cleaning A Glass Stove Top
Photo by The Lazy Dish
Trying to get stubborn stains and burnt food off a glass stove top can be a huge hassle if you don’t know what products to use. To clean the stove with natural products, use white vinegar, baking soda, hot water, dish soap and a scrub brush. If that doesn’t work, use a mixture of dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda. Mix it all together, scrub, and let it sit for a few minutes on the stove before wiping clean. This should leave the glass sparkling.
Get the hack here: My Thirty Spot
4. Getting Rid Of Grout
Photo by Practically Functional
Banish grout from your shower, bathroom or kitchen using this homemade cleaner. All you need is baking soda, bleach and a scrub brush. So simple and works like a charm!
Get the hack here: Practically Functional
5. Carpet Stains
Photo by WikiHow
If you have a carpet stain, don’t freak out just yet. There are some simple solutions that could easily (and magically) remove the marks. Windex, for instance, can get rid of food, coffee, grease stains and more. Simply spray the area and lightly dab with a rag until the stain disappears.
Another option is to soak a cloth with white vinegar and water and place it over the carpet stain. Then, lightly iron over top until the entire stain has been lifted off.
Get the iron hack here: WikiHow
6. Dusting Your Blinds
Photo by Frugal Coupon Living
Yes, you can totally dust your blinds using tongs. Wrap the kitchen tool with microfibre dust cloths and keep them in place using elastic bands. Now you’re ready to get dusting! Not only is this method effective, but it's also a major time saver.
Get the hack here: Frugal Coupon Living
7. Scratches In Wood Floors
Photo by Restoring the Picket Fence
Wood floors can easily get scratched and scuffed if you’ve got kids or pets running around the house. The easy fix for this is to use a mixture of one part vinegar and three parts canola oil or vegetable oil. Rub this on the scratches and they’ll disappear like magic!
Get the hack here: Restoring the Picket Fence
8. Cleaning Your Oven
Photo by Cha Ching Queen
Cleaning your oven doesn’t have to be complicated. A simple mixture of vinegar, salt, and baking soda creates a natural cleaner for any type of oven (gas, electric, convection, etc). Those who don’t want to waste time scrubbing can also try using a water and lemon trick.
Fill an oven pan with water and juice from two lemons. Lemon halves can also be added. Put the pan in the oven and turn it on. “Make sure you let the water boil before you take the pan out. The steam will loosen the grime and grease inside your oven and will help you remove it more easily,” oven-cleaning expert Cyrus Bedwyr, of Fantastic Services, told Real Simple.
Get the natural cleaner hack here: Cha Ching Queen
9. Unclogging Drains
Photo by Free Restaurant Recipes
Clogged drains are the absolute worst! They can happen often, and store-bought products like Draino can be a costly solution. A more economical method is to use products already found in your home: salt, baking soda, and vinegar.
Mix a quarter cup of salt and a quarter cup of baking soda together before pouring it down the drain. Then pour half a cup of vinegar and wait 15 minutes. Pour hot water down the drain to clear everything out, and voila! No more blockages.
Get the hack here: Free Restaurant Recipes
10. Cleaning Your Baseboards
Photo by Cottage Notes
Nobody wants to hurt their back just trying to get their baseboards clean. That’s why this simple hack is pure genius! Grab a broom and wrap a microfibre cloth around it. Use this tool to remove dust and dirt from your baseboards. You can also spray your baseboards with cleaning solution before wiping to get off as much dirt as possible.
