Owning
a rental property is stressful, especially when you have unoccupied
homes that don’t generate revenue. Cleaning thoroughly between
tenants both makes your property more appealing to new renters and
protects your investment. Unfortunately, depending on how your last
tenant left the property, cleaning sometimes means renting equipment
and spending several hours or days removing stains and odors.
Here
are a few tips for landlords from the experts at NorthStar Cleaning &
Property Services about cleaning their soft surfaces (carpets,
upholstered furniture, and drapes) between tenants and what equipment
you might need to get the job done if you are doing it yourself.
Snap
Photographs
Before
you start cleaning or repairing damage, grab a camera and get proof
of how the property looked after the last tenant left and before the
next tenant arrives. Pay attention to any damage or stains. After
you have done the cleaning, take several photographs of how the home
looks. This will act as proof of the home's current condition.
Clean
the Carpets
Carpets
that appear clean and odor-free can still harbor mold, mildew,
irritants, and bacteria. Rent or purchase a carpet cleaner for a
safe, cost-effective way to remove stains and odors from your
carpets.
Here
are a few tips to help you use a carpet cleaner like a pro:
- Prepare
the space.
Move
any furniture out of the room. Vacuum the carpet to remove any loose
dirt and debris.
- Pre-treat
tough stains.
Soak
stains with a pre-treatment solution. Check the carpet cleaner's
manual for recommendations about which product to use.
- Use
the machine correctly.
Fill
the shampoo and water reservoir according to the manufacturer's
directions. Clean the carpet in slow, back and forth movements.
Avoid making too many passes over a single area because this will
oversaturate the carpet.
- Dry
the carpet.
Open
the windows, turn on box fans, and allow the carpet for dry for
several hours before stepping on it.
- After
the carpets are completely dry, wipe off any cleaning solution from
the trim, walls, or nearby flooring.
Clean
Drapes and Upholstery
Drapes
and upholstery absorb cooking smells, cigarette smoke, perfumes, and
any odors lingering in the air. This can leave the curtains and
upholstery discolored and smelly. Steam cleaning is the safest,
easiest way to eliminate these stains and odors.
Start
cleaning the curtains near the top and slowly work your way down the
length of the curtain. Hold the steam cleaner a few inches away from
the curtains, and if the material becomes soaked, hold the steamer
further away or adjust the settings. Do not place the curtains in
the dryer because this could cause wrinkling and damage. Instead,
allow them to air dry.
To
clean upholstered furniture, begin by removing the cushions and
vacuuming off any food, dirt, or other debris. Spot clean the
cushions with a plastic scrub brush and a commercial pretreatment
solution. Spray a soil emulsifier on both sides of the cushions and
allow it to soak in for several minutes. This product helps loosen
any dirt or other debris that is ground into the upholstery.
Use
a steam cleaner with a wand attachment and carefully run it across
both sides of the cushion. The steam cleaner typically has another
setting that soaks up moisture from the upholstery. Turn on this
setting and run the wand over the cushions again.
Set
the cushions aside and clean the remainder of the upholstery. Allow
the cushions and the upholstered frame to dry completely before
reassembling the furniture.
Cleaning
the carpets, drapes, and upholstery is a quick and inexpensive way to
make your rental property look and smell fresh and clean. However,
you can do the job even better if you hire
a professional like NorthStar
Cleaning & Property Services
instead of cleaning by yourself. Let us handle the dirty work by
contacting us today.
