Are you planning to move out soon?
If you live on rent, there’s something you should consider pretty seriously – throwing a decent end of tenancy cleaning of the entire property. This would save you lots of problems, such as disputes with the letting agency, arguments with the landlord, and mostly not getting back your tenancy deposit back.
Speaking of which, according to what most of the tenants and landlords share is that during the moving-out process, one of the biggest problems is usually the hardwood floor condition.
You have to understand their position as well: after all, if you want to find a trusty landlord, you have to be trustworthy yourself. So, maintaining it regularly is something you should have done up to now. But what if today is your last chance to get away with a penalty?
Well, there are some things you might do. Find them explained in detail below.
Putting back the floor in a proper state – where to start?
First, don’t panic immediately – especially if you see the surface under your feet dirty and full of dust, stains, and spots. There’s always a way to deal with them. Analysing the situation, you are facing right now is a must, though. You should know what you are dealing with.
Remember, a dirty floor can also attract various types of pests that can cause damage to it and the rest of the house. Your landlord will not be happy with you if that is the case, so your best bet to avoid losing your deposit is to clean and sanitise everything properly.
So try to figure out the following aspects of the hardwood floor end of tenancy cleaning:
- What is the type of your floor? Are you sure it’s hardwood? Because this specific surface requires a concrete approach that’s not the same as we apply to clean other floor types.
- Are there any stains? Each of them should be treated individually. Check out where exactly you should work through delicate scrubbing.
- Remove the carpets and rugs. There’s a floor under them, too. And the landlord will check it out, too.
- Finely remove the dust and the excess spots in advance. Vacuuming is ok as a start for your procedure.
- Finally, consider if you are capable of dealing with this sanitising chore. If you are not, for the sake of your safety, turn to your local hardwood floor end of tenancy cleaning company.
How to clean the hardwood floors like a pro?
How to deep clean hardwood floors is a question that many homeowners and people living on rent wonder about.
A lot of them believe that it’s only regular professional maintenance that can keep the surface sleek and stylish. We agree that taking care of the floor often is essential, especially if you plan to one day make the home attractive to sell to potential buyers.
Here are some of the best hardwood floor sanitising tips:
- Nothing but ordinary soapy water can do magical things with your floor. It’s the best solution to seal the floor.
- The secret is never to leave the hardwood floor surface wet. Otherwise, it will swell and damage.
- Always finish the cleaning procedure with proper polishing. The hardwood floor requires some wax products.
- You can apply oil-based solutions with a polishing effect for extra antibacterial treatment of the hardwood floor.
- The best hardwood floor stain removal remedy you can prepare at home is hydrogen peroxide. This ingredient dissolves the dirt quickly and cannot damage the surface.
What mistakes to avoid preventing damage?
As we have already mentioned, the hardwood floor is not just sleek and luxurious but also a very pretentious surface type. You should be precise when selecting a cleansing solution to keep it fresh and spotless.
On mandatory, read the label of the commercial product before paying for it at the cash desk. Consult the shop assistant for the most efficient and reliable hardwood floor polishing agent if you must.
Here are some things you should NOT do to avoid any severe damage:
- Don’t leave your floor soaked, with any sticky spills or other liquid on its surface, for a long time, including while disinfecting it.
- White vinegar might be an essential all-purpose cleanser for the entire end of tenancy cleaning routine, but it’s going to ruin the hardwood floor.
- Add all abrasive ingredients and severe chemicals like bleach and ammonia to finish the list of non-suitable solutions for hardwood floor surfaces.
- Steam machines are not suitable for this type of floor.
- Don’t wash the floor with a dirty mop.
- Don’t forget the final polishing finish with a clean cloth to avoid any streaks.
How to fix damages during the end of the tenancy?
If you have already cleaned the hardwood floor without reading the top mistakes to avoid in order avoiding damage, you might be facing a huge problem right now. Thankfully, we might have the right solution to cope with it.
Here are some quick fixes for your hardwood floor damages:
- Don’t hesitate to apply brown crayons and finish with some more waxing for gouges and dents.
- Water damages and spots can be easily fixed when treated immediately. Try vacuuming off the humidity and apply an ordinary mixture of water and mild dishwashing detergent.
- The hardwood floor scratches will be gone if you apply some sawdust. Then, use a spatula to cover all the gaps.
- You can try the following hack for floors with faded shades: simply use a floor buffer and finish with waxing.
How to ensure you get your security deposit back?
When you live on rent with hardwood floor surfaces in most property premises, the end of tenancy cleaning might become an absolute nightmare.
It’s normal to worry whether you will pass the inventory check and get your tenancy deposit back.
The best guarantee is to use professional hardwood floor end of tenancy cleaning services. The experts will deep clean everything, saving you time and ensuring you get your security deposit back.
If you are alone in this task, clean the surface thoroughly and make the necessary fixes in case of damage.
Should you use homemade solutions on hardwood floors?
All DIY green cleansing remedies with dishwashing detergent of a mild type are ok to be used on the hardwood floor.
Yet, you have to mix the product with water.
Besides the mentioned forbidden ammonia and white vinegar, you must skip the following ingredients in your homemade disinfection recipes:
- alkaline elements.
- lemon or any other citrus juice.
- all-purpose glass cleansers.
Conclusion
Now that you know more about how to clean your hardwood floors, you will have no trouble doing so before moving out.
One last thing: be gentle with the hardwood floor-it looks so elegant and amazing precisely because it’s delicate. And like all such items in the property, this flooring type requires specific cleaning approaches.
If you have them in mind, you will definitely manage to put the hardwood floor in the rented property back in its presentable state.