Introduction
Speaking to the bond return, it is crucially important to understand how to clean the kitchen first when moving out of a rental property. The kitchen could probably be one of the most utilized areas in a home where grime, grease, and food particles are most likely to build up over some time. Landlords and property managers focus on the kitchen in the final inspection. So, you should be ready to clean it for bond cleaning.
What is Bond Cleaning?
End-of-lease cleaning is also called bond cleaning. It means a really deep clean of the whole property, to the standard of the landlord, and getting your deposit back. Herein is the step-by-step guide on how to clean your kitchen so it will pass even on the most intense inspections.
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Why Kitchen Cleaning is Important for Bond Cleaning
While the kitchen is the heart of every house, on the other side of the coin, it coldly tells the truth that it’s a magnet for dirt and grease. Grease from cooking might build up on cabinets, walls, and appliances. This makes the kitchen one of the hardest places to clean. Poor cleaning of such residues is a major cause of deductions from your bond. A properly cleaned kitchen speaks for you as a good tenant and also increases the chances that you get your full deposit returned to you.
Failure to clean the kitchen might also lead to extra cleaning expenses, which could be directed towards bonding.
One Cardinal Point: Systematic Cleaning
One cardinal point in cleaning the kitchen is that you need to work systematically. The best option is to clean from top to bottom and from left to right. This will be efficient because you can avoid situations cases whereby the dirt on a part might drip or splash to recoil a place that has been cleaned. For instance, if you clean the countertops ahead of the cabinets, any dirt or grease released from the cabinets drags itself onto the newly cleaned countertops.
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
Before diving into the cleaning process, gather all the necessary tools and cleaning agents. Being prepared will make the task more manageable and less time-consuming. Here’s what you’ll need:
• Vacuum Cleaner: This is a must-have for cleaning loose dust and particles from cabinets and floors.
• Jif and Dish Soap: This kind of powerful cleaning agent, once it comes into contact with water, effectively disintegrates grease and grime.
• Small Bucket: Mix Jif and dish soap with water.
• Scrub Brush or Sponge: Scrub off any stubborn spots.
• Cloths: One for dipping into the cleaning solution and the other for wiping, which makes the surfaces clean.
• Hot Water: For the purpose of dissolving grease, so it allows effective wiping.
How to Clean the Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are one of those places that are usually forgotten; they accumulate a lot of grease, along with dust, with those near the rangehood even more so. The first step to cleaning your kitchen cabinet is the removal of items stored in them. This provides clean access to every inch of the cabinet, inside and outside.
1. Vacuum the Interior: You can use a vacuum cleaner to suck away the dust, breadcrumbs, and other particles that may have accumulated in the cabinets’ interiors. Take care not to forget about those corners and at the edges, which may have amassed large amounts thereof.
2. Prepare the Cleaning Solution: Mix Jif and dish soap in a small pail with warm water. It yields out, as a solution, very well in cutting grease that has accumulated on the surface of the cabinet.
3. Scrub Cabinet Exteriors: Dip a scrub brush or sponge into the cleaning solution and scrub the fronts of the cabinets, paying special attention to any area that may be extremely greasy or dirty. A number of them will indeed need to be scrubbed twice in some instances.
4. Wipe Down the Surfaces: After scrubbing, use a wet cloth dipped in hot water and run it over the cabinet surfaces. The hot water will help to remove any grease that may still be on it, along with the cleaning solution. Make sure that you wipe from top to bottom to avoid dripping dirty water down onto clean surfaces.
5. Cabinet Drying: This is the final thing to do. It would help if you used a dry piece of cloth to absorb any remaining moisture. This is crucial since water spots can be left, and spotless cabinets are not desirable.
Cleaning Rangehood and its Surroundings
Another area that usually requires more than average effort during bond cleaning is the rangehood. With time, grease and dust will start to act on the rangehood, thus reducing efficiency and producing a fire hazard.
1. Take Filters Out and Clean: Remove the filters from the rangehood. Most filters are soaked in a solution of hot water and Jif for 15 to 20 minutes to dissolve the grease. After soaking, scrub the filters with a dish brush, rinsing out the residue.
2. Exterior of Rangehood Cleansing: While the filters are soaking, this is the time to clean the exterior using the same Jif and dish soap solution. Make sure to pay extra attention to any buttons, knobs, and edges of the hood, as those are spots that tend to accumulate grease over time.
3. Wipe Down Surrounding Cabinets: These are where grease can splash around, creating a mess for you. A cleaning solution will be needed to wipe down the cabinets and surrounding wall area of the rangehood.
4. Install the Rangehood: After the filters are dry, reassemble the rangehood and check to see whether it operates well.
How Often Should You Clean Your Kitchen?
Cleaning the kitchen shouldn’t really be a move-out procedure, but it’s a part of housekeeping. Regular cleaning will mean the grease won’t build up and will make the job much easier if and when you do come to move. If you only use the kitchen for light meals, generally, you can give it a thorough clean every three months. In case you are using it every other day or daily, you may have to clean your kitchen monthly since grease might build up.
• Monthly Routine Clean: Give extra attention to high-use surfaces, i.e., the stove, rangehood, and countertops.
• Quarterly Cleaning: Deep clean cabinets inside and out, reaching unreachable areas.
• Annual Deep Cleaning: This will include behind appliances, degreasing of the rangehood filters, and scrubbing walls and ceilings.
Conclusion
Keeping your kitchen clean can be a nightmare, but it is of the essence when you want to get your bond back. To help you down that line, here are a few more tips:
• Details Count: Do not be blind to minute details such as lighting fixtures, door handles, and interior of appliances as these spots are pretty scrutinized in an inspection.
• Using the Right Cleaning Products: Apply the chemical products on various kinds of surfaces you will be cleaning with. This helps prevent damage and allows for effective cleaning.
• Take Your Time: Slow down and conscientiously clean every detail within the area. A rushed job usually stands out more, and it is likely to be identified by the inspector. You will get potentially more deductions from your bond for such a job.
If you are not sure that you have cleaned your kitchen to the right standard, consider that professional cleaners like O2Ocleaning also have a special bond back cleaning service that can ensure your kitchen and the rest of your house are spotless and inspection-ready. Please take a look at their blog for the best bond cleaner tips and tricks.
