Your responsibility as a tenant to return a rental to its start of tenancy condition applies to including the appliances at the rental in your property maintenance plans too.

In this article, we will quickly go over how to care for the appliances at your rental. Hence, your landlord is happy and releases your full security deposit after the end of your tenancy.

Why is proper appliance maintenance important for a rental?

Proper maintenance of the appliances in your rental will mostly serve your comfort and will make your tenancy much easier. There, however, is more to that.

Depending on your tenancy agreement, you might have agreed to conduct maintenance or possibly even repairs to the appliances in the rental.

Not performing this regularly could damage one or multiple appliances and come out of your pocket or security deposit.

Showing care for their property and your responsibilities will improve your tenant-landlord relationship, which can make your stay at the rental far more pleasant, and you can receive the same care from your landlord in resolving issues that may be troubling your stay.

How to clean the most common rental appliances

Many appliances can be provided along with a new rental property for a tenant to use. However, there are many appliances that pretty much every rental will have, so here is how to perform property maintenance for them.

Refrigerator

Fridges are sturdy and can last over a generation. Whether you have a new fridge or an old one at your rental, here are some maintenance tips to keep it serving as best as possible:

  • Clean the fridge interior at least once every 1-2 months. It gets dirty, and that could clog the drain in the storage. A clogged drain could lead to multiple other issues with your fridge – bad smell, leaky fridge, and possibly corrosion. Turn off the fridge, empty it of all items, and use a mild detergent to clean its interior and the rubber gasket on the door. Use the original drain cleaner or something long and non-abrasive like a straw to unclog the drain.
  • Defrost the freezer when there is excess ice buildup to lower bills and make it more efficient. Unplug your fridge and lay towels around it to prevent water from ruining the flooring. Open the freezer unit and let the ice melt. You can pour hot water into pots and then place them inside the fridge to accelerate defrosting. Use mild detergent to wash the freezer unit once no more ice is left.
  • Another maintenance tip is to clean the condenser coils as well, as dust can reduce their efficiency and increase bills. You should also check if the door insulates properly. If not, check if your fridge is level or change the rubber gasket if you see damage on it. Otherwise, your fridge will need to cool much more often, piling up costs.

Stove and oven

For basic maintenance, you should clean the burners and the surface of the stove at least once every 1/2 – 1 month to prevent oil and food stain build-ups. A dirty stove also invites bacteria which can get you sick and makes burners inefficient.

Use detergents for stoves depending on the type of build-ups you have. Use a cloth to clean. Avoid cleaning wires since they can remove your stove’s coating. Use similar detergents for the oven as well.

Additionally, you should:

  • Keep a look out if the rubber gasket of the stove is letting out heat and change it if it does.
  • If you have gas burners, use a needle to remove any build-ups in the ports.
  • Some modern stoves have auto-cleaning ovens you can use. Just make sure to remove the sections and anything else from inside the oven so the heat will not damage it.
  • Regularly clean the drip pans since too much build can pose a fire hazard.

Laundry machine

One of the more common issues that may arise with your laundry machine is hard water build-ups.

Those can reduce the lifespan of your laundry machine and could even cause a breakdown over time. One of the simplest methods of cleaning hard water build-ups is by putting a laundry machine cleaning tablets into their drum.

This will break any build-ups, and it is a good idea to do it regularly, especially in an area with harsher water. Make sure to choose the longest program and the hottest option when using these tablets.

Clean your laundry machine’s interior and exterior with a steam cleaner. Dirt, mould, and stains can form in and around the drum, which can provoke an unpleasant smell. You could also use home remedies like vinegar and baking soda as an alternative cleaning method.

Another simple maintenance tip to follow is to stay within the laundry weight limit. This will help preserve the drum bearings and the motor driving it for longer.

Hoses and their fittings also tend to get worn out, so watch out for water pooling or streaming down the body of the laundry machine and call property maintenance services for help.

Dryer

Cleaning and disinfecting the dryer is vital for shining clothes and your health as well. A cleaning solution of vinegar can help dissolve most stains and built-ups on the outside and inside, but you could also go for a safe detergent. Use a clean damp microfiber cloth to apply your cleaning method.

You should always make sure to clean the vents and the lint trap of your dryer, too. A full lint trap can’t prevent the lint from reaching the vents and can clog them. Once a vent is clogged, it can pose a serious fire hazard. Once you are done cleaning the lint trap and the inner part of the vent, you should also make sure to clean the vent’s exit.

Similarly to the laundry machine, you should watch out not to overload your dryer to preserve the motor.

Microwave

Leaving stains and spills in your microwave can turn it into a bacteria breeding ground and get you sick. Not to mention the possibility of the food debris catching fire. To clean your oven, you can use any type of detergent or even vinegar and wipe away with a clean microfiber cloth.

If you have a stovetop microwave, chances are there is also a grease filter attached to it. Remove the filter, soak it, add approved cleaner, scrub with a cloth, and rinse. Let your filter dry off and put it back into the microwave.

When to hire professional cleaning services

Whenever you are unsure how to do end of tenancy cleaning, you want to save time and avoid stress. The best solution to end of tenancy proper property repairs and maintenance is relying on professional property maintenance services.

Expert cleaners will make your move-out cleaning responsibility a breeze and will ensure a quick release on your tenancy security deposit.

Conclusion

Taking care of property maintenance will make your end of tenancy a bit less stressful, especially once your landlord sees you’ve taken care of their property.

Make sure to call tenancy cleaning services whenever you need extra time for yourself or are unsure how to perform property maintenance.