Rental Property Cleaning Tips for Owners
Cleaning the Carpets
Carpet cleaning is the most important process after a renter leaves your home. Even if the tenant vacuumed before moving, the carpeting still holds hair, dust, and allergens. If a pet was in the house, add pet hair, fragments of pet waste and dander to the list. In snowy climates, salt and snow compact carpet fibers near the front door while warm weather leads to tracking in rain and mud.
Revisit the carpet with either a powerful consumer vacuum or a commercial unit to capture additional debris. If the carpets still look dingy, hire a professional firm to steam clean the carpets before you invest in a carpet shampooer rental. Dream Steam’s equipment uses hot water extraction to remove dust and allergens and all traces of a pet from the floor as well as food and beverage stains.
Refresh the Air Ducts
Air conditioning and furnace units require regular maintenance. You undoubtedly visit your rental on a regular basis to change or clean filters. Adding routine cleaning of the air ducts after a tenant leaves to your list can help cut down on filter changes and keep your HVAC units from becoming clogged. A duct cleaning will remove allergens as well as pet and human hair from the system. Dream Steam can help keep air microbe-free while protecting your HVAC investment. When you opt for duct cleaning, let potential tenants know they will be enjoying exceptional air quality while showing them through the home.
Combat Grime on Tile and Vinyl
Kitchen and bathroom areas covered with tile or vinyl flooring also need some elbow grease between tenants. Crank up the lights and examine the floor. Even if it is free of debris, ask yourself if the vinyl floor looks dingy or if grime is building up along the edge of your grout. Use a mild detergent and a rag to scrub tiles on your hands and knees or opt for a chamois mop to put your back into it.
On a regular basis, such as every two years or four tenants, hire a tile cleaning service to blast hard to see dirt and grime. Dream Steam uses a hot water pressure system to dislodge dirt and bacteria. When the clean is done, a sealant is applied to your grout to keep it fresh for the next several tenants. For vinyl, Dream Steam brushes and scrubs before either recoating, stripping and waxing, or buffing the floor to restore its original sheen. Investing in this service is a must when you are thinking about upping the price on a rental property and need the floors to glow.
Refresh Upholstery in Furnished Apartments
When you rent a furnished apartment, the furniture needs a deep clean and to be disinfected after a move. Wood and leather furniture can be cleaned with specialty wipes and sprays, but the upholstery needs to be vacuumed at a minimum. If a couch or chair is particularly stained, call Dream Steam for help. Like carpeting, upholstered furniture is cleaned using hot water extraction to remove pet dander, food and beverage stains, and allergens.
A tenant leaving your rental lets you thoroughly examine the unit and make minor changes to upgrade the property. It is also an opportunity to spend a bit of time refreshing existing flooring, furniture, and HVAC systems. A pristine carpet, shiny floors and clean air can help secure a tenant as quickly as new appliances and will often cost a great deal less. Let Dream Steam help you get the best return on your investment. Call today or visit our website to learn about this month’s specials.