Cleaning Tips & Tricks: How to encourage my tenant to maintain high standards of cleanliness?

When it comes to cleaning tips, it’s important to know that your property is being kept to a high standard, but your tenant relationship is also important!

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Setting an example to your tenant by expressing the importance of cleanliness is vital, but you don’t want to come across as a ‘pushy’ or rude landlord. 

There’s plenty of healthy and safety checks that a landlord is responsible for, whether that’s a Legionella risk assessment or a simple routine check on gas safety. But communicating with your tenant the importance of routine cleanliness is another sticky issue. So we’ve gathered some tips and tricks for you to send that subtle nudge to your tenant to help get the ball rolling when it comes to cleaning time.

Cleaning tips to ensure your property is kept at a high standard

1. Routine inspections. Organising a regular routine inspection, usually around every 3-6 months, gives your tenants a heads-up so they can prepare ahead of time. It will lessen the stress of any last-minute cleaning for your tenant and ease that headache of reminding them often. Routine inspections can also stave off an end of tenancy deep clean or a deposit deduction for your tenant – a win for both of you!
2. Include a cleaning clause. Everyone’s interpretation of ‘clean’ is different! Spell out exactly what you’re expecting in the tenancy agreement so that it’s in writing. The start of the year is a great reminder for a fresh start, so why not add a routine inspection sometime after Christmas and New Year, giving your tenant some time to prepare?
3. Maintenance routines. Of course, for larger-to-tackle maintenance routines and repairs you may need to hire a professional to do the dirty work. You can also refer to our Guide to Maintenance which will help you kickstart your year by checking off a list of priorities such as roof and gutter maintenance, rot, damp or mould inspections and routine check-ins on alarms and heaters.
4. Cleaning deposit deduction. End of tenancy cleaning can be a tricky topic. The perfect scenario would be for the property to be in great condition so both parties are happy, but that is rarely the case. As a landlord it’s extremely beneficial if you do an inventory yourself or use a professional service, then send a copy to the tenant. This way when the tenant has a reference on hand, they can ensure they return the property to you in the same condition they’ve received it, which is the easiest and clearest route for all involved.
5. Know your options. Many questions may arise when it comes to cleaning services such as how much does private cleaning cost or why are end of tenancy cleans so expensive? It’s important to assess really how bad the situation is before booking a professional cleaning crew, as such a thorough deep-clean may not be needed. Be sure to go and check the property thoroughly to see if you could manage yourself without the extra expense.

1. Eliminate dust. Using a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency air filter is a great start, but tenants can also invest in an air purifier, or lint rollers to run over furnishings and blinds. 
2. Cleaning wooden blinds. A soft, clean, anti-static cloth as part of your regular cleaning routine catches a lot of dust and grim – but a sock does just as well! 
3. Carpet cleaning tips. Treat stains instantly and correctly. Dropped chewing gum can be freed with ice cubes and the most unexpected DIY carpet cleaner is shaving cream! 
4. Bathroom tiles. Don’t underestimate the power of an old toothbrush – but make sure it’s labelled for cleaning only! Toothbrushes are great for scrubbing in-between tiles. Non-scratch scrubbers made of plastic mesh are great for removing soap scum from shower doors and tiles in the bathroom.
5. Window cleaning tips. For a streak-free finish, newspapers and microfibre towels are best. You can also get yourself a dedicated window squeegee. 
6. Cleaning tips for your kitchen. Clean as you go is the best advice we can give! Grease can build up, but if you wipe up spills immediately before they dry out, it’s much less effort.
7. Leather furnishings. Mix equal parts vinegar and a natural oil (lemon oil or flaxseed oil tend to work the best) in a bowl and apply with a soft cloth (be sure that it’s just damp and not soaking wet). Gently wipe down any dirt you’re trying to remove and leave overnight, wiping down the next day with a fresh, dry cloth. 
8. Washing machine cleaning tips. Cleaning influencer Mrs Hinch took Instagram by storm with her amazing tips – with one of her best being how to clean a washing machine: first clean out the drawer so with a bathroom cleaner that is good for removing soap scum. Don’t forget to clean behind the drawer too, where limescale can build up – a combination of white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda works well for this! Wipe around the rim and throw the cloths you’ve used to clean the machine into the drum, along with a capful of white vinegar and a scoop of bicarbonate on a quick spin cycle. 

9. Toilet cleaning tips. Use a toilet brush that’s not past its prime and replace it every six months. When you use disinfectant, always wait to allow it to soak for at least 10 minutes. You can also find that quality or home-made toilet bombs are a no-scrub option that works for quick fixes. 
10. Clean painted walls. Always use soft sponges and cloths to avoid scratching the paintwork. Use warm, soapy water and your most mild cleaning detergent to gently clean your walls – making sure not to over soak your sponge leaving water stains on your wall. 

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