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The 5 Things To Clean To Get Your Security Deposit Back

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If you’re renting your home, condo, or apartment, you probably paid a security deposit when you signed the lease. The good news is this deposit is refundable when you move out… as long as you meet certain requirements.

Landlords use security deposits to protect their property and pay for repairs or cleaning if a tenant leaves damage or a mess behind. Here’s how to make sure you receive your deposit after moving out.

Security Deposit 101

security deposit

Whenever you rent a place, there are some things everyone should know about security deposits before signing their lease.

What can prevent you from getting your security deposit back?

The most common reasons for not getting your deposit back include:

  • Moving out before the terms of your lease is up
  • Breaking the terms of your lease
  • Leaving significant damage behind

If your rental is judged to be extremely dirty, the landlord may also hold your deposit in order to pay for professional cleaning before a new tenant moves in.

Ultimately, use common sense when cleaning your rental before you move out. (Certain things like faded paint, sagging cabinets, and general wear and tear are usually considered normal for a rental, so don’t worry too much about those issues.) If you’re concerned, make sure you take a few pictures and note them on your move-out walkthrough checklist.

How do I increase the odds of getting my deposit back before I move In?

Before you move into your rental, ask for a walkthrough checklist. This list should consist of any pre-existing damage, as well as areas where the rental still needs to be cleaned. Take photos of anything that causes concern, so you have proof that it was there before you moved in. The more thorough your walkthrough list is now, the better the odds are that you’ll get your security deposit back later.

What fees or expenses are renters responsible for paying?

The fees or expenses you’re responsible for will vary depending on your landlord and the terms of your lease. For example, many landlords expect renters to pay for a professional carpet cleaning before they move out. If you’re unclear about which things you’re responsible for, ask your landlord for clarification to avoid surprises later.

What can and can’t I change in the apartment? 

In most cases, you won’t be allowed to make significant changes to your apartment, such as knocking down a wall or replacing the appliances. Make sure you’re clear about what you cannot do versus the things you can. In many cases, landlords don’t mind if you paint the walls a different color, but they may not allow you to make structural changes or alter the interior of the rental in any way.

The 5 Must-Cleans: Floors, Surfaces, Trash, Fridge and Your Belongings

There are certain things that every tenant must clean (even if you’re moving last-minute) if you want to get your security deposit back. 

  • Floors: Vacuum and sweep all floors to remove excess dirt and debris. If you wish, you can hire a professional carpet cleaner, which is recommended if you notice any significant stains or marks on the carpeting.
  • Wipe down all surfaces: Once you’ve packed, make sure you dust and wipe down all surfaces, including windowsills, door handles, bathroom vanities, and kitchen countertops.
  • Remove trash: Go through your rental and make sure that all trash is removed. This means leaving zero waste when you move, which includes bathrooms, bedrooms, living area, any backyard or patio and the kitchen.
  • Empty and clean out the fridge: Throw away leftover food in your refrigerator and wipe the inside clean. Do not unplug the fridge unless your landlord asks you to power it down. Make sure the inside of your microwave and oven is reasonably clean, too.
  • Don’t leave items behind: If you leave that old couch you don’t plan to take with you behind, your landlord will likely take money from your security deposit so they can pay to have it removed. Never leave anything behind, and make sure that the entire rental is completely empty.

Less Obvious Security Deposit Ruiners: Stains, Dings, Odors and Drains

There are other issues beyond basic cleaning that can be seen as damage to your rental. Major damage to your place is covered with the security deposit, and some cannot be repaired once it happens. But here are common types of damage that are fixable (with a little elbow grease).

drywallPatch dings in the drywall

To repair drywall, use a quality spackle that will fill in holes. Smooth the spackle down using a flat-edged tool and allow it to dry. You can also use a wall patch to fix the issue. If you have paint that matches your wall color, paint over the repaired areas. 

Rent a steam cleaner for carpet stains

carpet steam cleanerCommon stains like dirt, ink, and pet urine are the norm for many landlords. However, you might not get your security deposit back if the carpet is in bad shape. To fix the problem, rent a steam carpet cleaner or hire a professional to come in and clean the floors before you leave.

Deep clean walls and upholstery to remove pet odors

clean wallPets are messy, and they can often leave unpleasant odors behind. The best way to prevent this is to address messes as they happen and clean your pet’s bedding regularly.

Use an air filter to remove pet odors from the air. Before you move out, deep-cleaning the apartment is the best way to remove residual odor. This includes scrubbing down your walls and upholstery, and using odor-neutralizing cleaning products that are specifically made to address pet odors.

Remove buildup from glass stovetops with vinegar and baking soda

dirty glass stovetopGlass stovetops can easily collect gunk that looks like damage, especially because the buildup is notoriously difficult to remove. Get rid of grime on your glass stovetop by spraying it with distilled white vinegar.

Sprinkle some baking soda onto the stovetop and then lay a wet towel over the mixture for about 10 to 15 minutes. Next, remove the towel and wipe the surface clean using a soft microfiber cloth dipped in water. If you’re dealing with stubborn stains, you may need to scrub or scrape for a long time and finish with a glass stovetop-specific cleaner. 

Address clogged drains with drain cleaner or a snake

drain snakeIn many cases, clogged drains are a gray area, depending on whether the clog was caused by normal vs. irresponsible use of the plumbing. A clog often does not constitute damage that would allow a landlord to keep your security deposit, but that doesn’t mean they won’t try.

Addressing drain clogs is a great way to avoid the issue altogether. If any drains are clogged in your rental, use a plunger to unclog the toilets and a drain cleaner for showers, sinks, and tubs. You can also remove the drain cover and use a special tool for fishing out hair and gunk to unclog the drains.

Tighten or replace cabinet hinges

door hingeIf your kitchen or bathroom cabinets are broken or ripped from the hinges, it could cost you some or all of your security deposit.

Start by re-tightening the hinges that are already there. If that doesn’t fix the issue, you can easily replace the cabinet hinges for a minimal cost.

Rescreen ripped sliders & window screenripped screen door

If any windows are broken, it’s recommended that you get them repaired before you move out. But landlords care about more than just glass, this logic goes for screen windows too!

Torn or ripped screens can be replaced, or you can use a screen repair kit to patch the damage.

With some general cleaning and elbow grease, you should be able to get your security deposit back when you move out of your rental. Make sure you’re clear about the terms of your lease and do a thorough walkthrough both when moving in and moving out.

Clean your rental thoroughly and repair minor damages, and you should have a smooth move-out experience with that extra cash back!

How To Get Rid of Weird Smells and Odors in Your House

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You’re finally all moved in… no more living out of a suitcase, no more fast food (for a while anyway), and there’s not a cardboard box or shred of packing paper in sight. But wait… what’s that smell?

You might expect your new landlord or the previous owner to have completely cleaned the place before you moved in (including cigarette or pet smells). Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen.

How do you get rid of odors? The answer involves more than opening the windows for a day.

First, Identify the Source of the Odor

Where is that smell coming from?

Wherever they may originate, the most common left behind smells come from:

  • Pets
  • Smoke
  • Puke
  • Urine 
  • Mold

But there’s also mildew, water damage and rot, or even animal poop and other beastly remains in the ductwork or chimney.

Before you blindly start wiping your walls with ammonia and coating your carpets in baking soda, pinpoint the source of the smell. Once you follow your nose and find it, your work is just beginning.

Why? Removing the source is one thing, but getting rid of the odors left behind is another problem.

For example, how do you remove smoke smells from things like cigarettes?

Sometimes simply airing out your place will do the trick. You can try your luck and set out bowls of citrus fruit peels and slices, or light a bunch of scented candles and crank up an air purifier. But usually, getting rid of those smells once and for all usually takes a bit more effort. Here’s what our cast of experts recommends.

How to Remove Smells in Carpeting/Curtains/Furniture

carpet

Fabrics do a super job of reeking with general smoke and pet odors. Pets (and people) will occasionally do a job on the couch or the carpet, leaving behind the faint aroma of urine or vomit. Here’s how to take care of it all.

Carpets

For carpeting, the go-to solution is baking soda (not baking powder!). Sprinkle it all over, let it sit for a few hours, and vacuum it all up. If this does it, awesome. If not, give it another go—or call a professional carpet cleaner. If you own the place and you are selling, consider getting rid of the carpet completely. The same goes if you just bought your new place and aren’t completely in love with the carpeting.

Curtains and furniture upholstery

For curtains and any removable furniture upholstery, it’s recommended to wash them in cold water with a dose of vinegar added. For upholstery you can’t toss in the washing machine, check out these nature-based nuggets of advice which don’t use any chemicals.

Leather furniture

For leather furniture, clean it with a mixture of vinegar and water on a rag, but don’t “oversaturate” the leather. In other words, go easy on the vinegar—especially in the beginning!

Spot cleaning

For spot cleaning of vomit or urine, a couple of solutions offered by the Farmer’s Almanac involve mixing cold water with vinegar or, particularly for pet urine, using a mixture of liquid soap, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. (They also mention getting professional help for odors from mold and mildew, which we’ll cover below).

Bonus tip: Once you’ve cleaned and freshened up (and completely dried!) your curtains, throw rugs, and upholstery, keep them all wrapped up in plastic until the rest of the house is odor-free. Otherwise, you may have to clean and freshen up everything all over again. (And don’t forget to clean that odor-soaked baking soda out of your vacuum cleaner!)

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How to Remove Smells in Walls/Ceilings/Floors

odors in walls

Surprisingly (to some), wood, paint, linoleum, and even glass can trap all kinds of undesirable odors.

Ceilings, walls, and bare floors

For hard, non-porous surfaces like ceilings, walls and bare floors, simple ammonia does a bang-up job. Just keep it away from bleach and keep your home well-ventilated (and, perhaps, your eyes protected). Also, be careful what you use it on; sealed surfaces are a no-no.

Glass

Clean glass with a mix of vinegar and warm water, rinsing it off with just water. Vinegar can also be used for walls and ceilings without having to rinse the vinegar off at the end. As with ammonia, use a bit of caution when you start wiping your walls with vinegar.

Painted walls

Painted walls (and ceilings too) can be stubborn odor-holders. All the wiping and scrubbing may not do the trick, and if the ammonia doesn’t work, it may only leave you with a nasty headache. If those smells are really embedded in there, your only option (short of burning down the house) might be painting over those stinky surfaces.

A simple paint job, however, likely won’t do the trick. Instead, you’ll want to start with a coat of oil-based or shellac-based sealant/primer. There are some professionals out there who don’t like using shellac for most projects, but it is excellent for blocking odors.

Two of the most popular odor-blockers on the market are oil-based Kilz and shellac-based Zinsser. Check out what Farmihomie has to say about several of these products if you want more granular details.

Bonus tip: Latex paint, even if touted as odor-blocking, is generally regarded as less effective than oil-based or shellac-based sealant/primer. If you are repainting over those aromatic walls, give them a coat of Kilz or Zinsser first.

How to Remove Smells in Vents/Ducts

vent odor

Where air goes, so go those funky smells. If odors are trapped or are lingering in the ductwork and air vents, they could lie dormant until the weather turns and you crank up the heat or the AC, only to have the smell blow straight into your living room.

Heat or AC vents

Circulate some air through your system and sniff what comes out. If you sense something slight but suspicious, you might be able to just blow it out and let it dissipate out your open windows. Unfortunately, if it’s anything more serious than that, you may need to shell out some cash to get your air system professionally cleaned. Either way, it’s best not to wait until after you’ve got the rest of your home smelling fresh and sweet!

Also, make sure to check any and all air, AC and furnace filters to rule them out as the source, and clean or replace as needed.

How to Remove Smells in Bathroom/Basement/Dark & Spooky Corners (AKA mold)

mold

Even if a place has never seen a cigarette or a pet, odors can still exist. A musty smell comes from the presence of mold and mildew in the damp, dark reaches of your home

Not only can these smells be in the bathroom, the basement, or the back of a closet, but you may also find them in pipes and drains. And while that smell can be unpleasant, it more importantly can also be unhealthy.

The good news about mold and mildew is if you can reach it, you can clean it. 

Mildew

Mildew cleans up with the weapons already mentioned: white vinegar, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, and warm water to name a few. Check out more extensive tips from Reader’s Digest for cleaning mildew off just about anything, including the exact measurements for cleaning materials.

Mold

Mold is a bit more of a challenge if only for the health precautions one should take, according to the CDC. Ultimately, if that musty smell is coming from your air ducts or vents, your best bet is still to call a professional cleaner.

Before You Move in, You Can Negotiate Odor-relief Inside Your Contract

Up top, we mention the possibility of a landlord or previous homeowner leaving you with a home wafting with someone else’s odors. If it happens, you now know what to do to fix it.

But the better play would be to have something in your lease or your contract stating that the home you’ll be moving into will be free of all unwanted odors. Do this, and when you are all moved in you can just put your feet up and smell nothing but the freshness of your clean new home (and maybe your socks).

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