An old and abandoned apartment may exist for quite different reasons; the death of a loved one or inheritance. The issue of cleaning a new house may seem less tasking but not as overwhelming as cleaning an abandoned apartment.
After considering all the tasks required to put an old and abandoned house back in shape, there may be this urge to abandon it yet again. But that will not be the case here as we will be providing you with tips on how to go about cleaning your old apartment.
Tips for Cleaning an Abandoned Apartment
1. Take Inventory of The Property and Evaluate the Damage
When you are ready to clean your apartment, you first need to document the damages in pictures and write them down in a notebook for later use. The essence of this is to help you ascertain the extent of damage and know what needs to be done in the house. Evaluating the extent of damage will enable you to find out how much it will cost you to do the repairs.
Once you have come up with an estimate of what needs to be done, that's when you decide if you are financially prepared to do the repairs. You can also choose a later time if you are not prepared. When you are convinced that you are ready for the repairs, that's when you can go ahead and engage the services of a construction company. The company would be able to fix all damages.
2. Remove Any Trash Found in The Apartment
When cleaning up an old and abandoned building, you are most likely to meet old property that needs to be removed and replaced with a new one. Damaged furniture, refrigerators, washing machines, mattresses, and dishwashers could be among the abandoned items you may want to be removed. You can keep these items in the storeroom to create space in the apartment.
Sometimes it is difficult for you to lift these heavy items. Lifting them could damage other parts of the house in the process, so you need to engage the services of professional junk removal companies in your city to take care of the junk.
3. Your Cleaning Equipment and Materials Should Be Ready
You cannot effectively do any form of cleaning without cleaning equipment and materials. Equipment such as vacuum cleaners, broom, duster, dustpan, mop and scrubbing brush helps to make the work easier and faster. Ensure that you get all the necessary cleaning equipment and materials that you'll need before the actual cleaning day.
4. You Need to Make Repairs on Damages
One of the necessary things to check for in an old and abandoned house is the repairs that should be done. Since the apartment has been abandoned for a long time, it might require some repairs like repainting the house, fixing broken windows, mending leaking taps, replacing burned-out light bulbs etc.
Remember to invite a professional to fix the damages that you can’t fix by yourself.
5. Check Out The Floors
There is a high possibility that the floors of an old house will need some attention too as they might not be in the best condition. The carpets may be damaged and require complete removal and replacement. Check out for stains and places that need to be polished.
The floors are an important part when cleaning an old and abandoned apartment so ensure that you pay special attention to them.
6. Patch and Paint The Walls of an Old Apartment
It is not abnormal to see faded walls in an abandoned apartment that has been empty for a long time. To give the apartment a new and clean look, you should consider repainting the walls. You can mix up colours for aesthetics.
Websites like dripmotion.com and certapro.com can help you in choosing the perfect design and colour combination for your home.
7. Time For The Actual Cleaning
You’ve finally gathered your cleaning materials, made your budget and fixed the damages in the house. It’s now time to get busy with the actual cleaning. Scrub and clean all the rooms, kitchen, bathrooms and every other area properly.
The rule of cleaning is that you start from the top; top floor, ceiling etc. The essence of this is to prevent double cleaning. When you clean from down, the dirt from the top can restrain the area you have already cleaned. This can make the task time-consuming and energy-draining.
Final Words
It is important to note that cleaning an abandoned and old apartment should not be seen as a daunting task. Instead, you can decide to make it a thrilling experience that you can look back at fondly.
If you are the type that cannot keep up to it or you feel overwhelmed by the entire process, hiring a cleaning company may be the best option for you.