How to Easily Clean a Student’s Home at the End of a Tenancy

When a student comes to the end of their residence, there can be a whole range of cleaning to catch up on. This is often the case with universities and colleges, where students live in prescribed accommodation or separate student digs with others, and at the end of the academic year or terms, when there are key points of change.

Effective cleaning is, of course, necessary anyway, but when a landlord or other establishment lets a home or room, it is key to hand the room back in a good, clean condition. These end-of-tenancy cleaning scenarios usually state that everything must be returned in the same good, clean condition in which it was found, with fair wear and tear allowed.

This is really a combination of a general clean and a more specific end-of-tenancy clean for other kinds of general letters, though with a few unique twists and turns to bear in mind. Student life can be messy to say the least, which is fine so long as it’s kept on top of by the end, but the dynamics of others being involved and nagging landlords can make things interesting.

Here are a few student cleaning tips for those looking to clean up. Whether you’re a student needing to do this, a landlord needing to ensure it happens correctly, a worried friend or family member wondering if they have to step in and help, or a middleman like a letting agent, this will help everyone get more of a handle on students’ end-of-tenancy cleaning:

1. Deposits

Remember that a deposit held by a landlord could be kept if things aren’t cleaned up correctly. For certain short-term residential leases, this must be kept separate from the landlord, and a fair procedure must be adhered to to release it. Therefore, not only check the requirements for release, but also ensure they have been correctly noted in the first place.

Ideally, work with the landlord or letting agent to agree on what needs doing and when, and when the actual funds will be approved. There may be an initial inventory showing the original condition at moving in to refer to. Make sure cleaning isn’t duplicated by a landlord sending in cleaners afterwards for just a few small extras, like a carpet clean, and instead getting the whole place unnecessarily cleaned up as well.

2. The End

Get a final definition of when things come to an end. This may sound too simple to be true, but it can save a lot of confusion afterwards.

So if there is a final hand-back date to the landlord, then make sure each student actually leaves well before then and gives ample time to clean up afterwards. You may need to focus on each room individually first, then tackle the communal living areas last.

Then look at how this will all be determined as acceptable with the landlord, maybe a day or so before the agreed end, to give time for people to go in then and finish off any other bits missed.

3. A Load of Rubbish

Removing rubbish is always a problem, particularly in student life. There can be tonnes of items left to get rid of, from old and broken items to general cardboard boxes and rubbish, and all those little extras, such as old pizza boxes under the sofa.

Not only make sure it’s all accounted for, including anything stashed away in store cupboards, but also work out how it will all be practically taken away. You may need a separate trip to the tip with extra bags and items, in which case, transport will need to be arranged, as students are unlikely to have their own cars.

Maybe you can all chip in to pay for a special collection and check whether anything can be recycled, not only to save the planet but also to be more cost-effective.

4. Cleaning Products and Equipment

The good news is that you don’t have to get carried away with things, which is good news with students who are on a budget and will tend to favour straightforward discounted goods from a local supermarket, for example.

So stick with the basics: a good cloth, ideally microfibre; a good general-purpose spray; and something a little more substantial for, say, the toilet and areas like the oven and taps. A good old mop and bucket are helpful for floors, and of course, some good gloves and possibly an apron if you’re getting really stuck in, along with lots of bin bags.

Hopefully, you have a vacuum cleaner anyway, but make sure it’s up for a big clean-up, and you don’t need to get any extra bags or even clean the vacuum itself.

On a practical note, you may need to get everyone chipping in on a shared basis, unless everyone just does it themselves, and be careful about automatically using any existing items you don’t know the history of, which may have been around for years.

5. The Extra Mile

A quick flick around with a hoover and duster probably won’t cut the mustard, and you’re going to have to go deeper.

Actually start from the top, ideally with a long feather duster, and get rid of cobwebs, etc., near the ceiling. Remember to check areas like picture rails, curtains and rails, lampshades, and windows and sills.

Back at ground level, focus on doors, handles, and mirrors to thoroughly wipe off all smears and stains, and always give the skirting a wipe-down. It’s incredible what good old hot water and a cloth, with some elbow grease, can achieve.

Of course, you have all the hidden and special areas like kitchen cupboards, bedroom wardrobes, and desks to include, along with all the equipment like microwaves and ovens, and apparatus like taps with lime scale that will need that extra TLC.

And don’t forget to move furniture to check underneath and behind it.

To finish off, you then have floors, often the last job on the list. Hopefully, this is just simple vacuum cleaning and mopping, remembering to get right into the edges and underneath things.

6. The Heavy Mob

Even with a good deep clean, there may be things just too much to cope with, in which case you need to bring in some heavy-mob help. Whether this is a cleaning company or some well-researched friends and family, this can help save the day.

Maybe the oven needs a full oven clean, or the carpets a separate carpet clean. There may be stains in certain areas, as well as upholstery (such as sofas and curtains) that need to be looked at.

A real nasty one may be the drains and any smells and blockages that you come across, not for the faint-hearted, with special substances to clear them being the first point of call.

You may also come across repairs and damage that require some good DIY and handyperson skills, such as replacing bulbs, fixing a loose door handle and lock, and repairing damaged areas of the wall once posters come off them.

7. The Outside Areas

Don’t forget any outside areas in the frenzy of getting the inside ones perfected.

This could be just straightforward paths and rear yards, with all kinds of dumped rubbish and old bikes, cigarette ends and after-party mess, and even neglected grass and planted areas that need a bit of gardening green fingers.

Remember any other hidden areas as well, such as garages and sheds, basements and cellars, and even lofts which might have items stashed in there.

8. Who Has What

Student living is often a communal experience with everyone having their own items here, there, and everywhere.

This needs to be bottomed out from the start, and who will be taking what and when, in which case they don’t have to be cleaned for this purpose, with each person then often dealing with it separately. It may be worth labelling these, so everyone knows precisely what remains to be done.

Then, make sure every little detail is noted, including individual cutlery and plates in the kitchen area, which will probably need a good final wash after everything else, and then neatly placed back.

9. The Final Bling Factor

Okay, you’re about there, and things are taking shape. Hopefully, you have confidence that a proper job has been done, and therefore, as a final step, make sure it looks the part now.

These little finishing touches can make a huge difference, provide a great first impression on others, and finish off all the hard work so far. So it might be using smelly sprays as a final wipe-down, or even nice-smelling scents and candles.

Also, remember the visual impact, so a friendly bunch of flowers, possibly, and everything neat around, rather than just slung around.

End of Tenancy Cleaning Up the Aftermath of Student Life

So, when getting a student pad nice and clean, these nine tips will help ensure things are adequately covered. Whether it’s the nitty-gritty actual cleaning and what needs doing, or within the context of deposits and working with others and their expectations, these will help keep things on track.

And who knows, you might actually enjoy the process.