When it’s time to say goodbye to your short term rental, it’s important that you leave the space in the same condition as when you first moved in. Our partner, The Maids, knows that the easiest way to do that is by incorporating daily cleaning tasks so that it is never a big job to tidy before you move out. We’ve teamed up with them to share these tips that can help you maintain a clean and fresh living space throughout your rental period and ensure that it is in great condition when you leave.

Buy a Squeegee for the Shower

The last things you want to see when it comes time to move out of your short term rental are creeping mold in the corners of the shower and hard-water stains on the glass. To prevent these from forming, buy a cheap squeegee. After each shower, wipe down the walls or door with it, and you can even use it on the bathroom mirror. This simple move takes just seconds every day, but it inhibits mold growth and whisks away water buildup, creating a much cleaner situation come moving day.

Keep Disinfecting Wipes in the Bathroom and Kitchen

If you’re only in a rental property short term, you may not want to invest in a variety of cleaning tools and products. However, that doesn’t mean you can skip cleaning duty. Buy a few packs of disposable disinfecting wipes and keep them somewhere easily accessible. Make a habit of wiping down sinks, counters, the toilet, and any other surfaces such as towel racks or handles on a regular basis. This keeps the areas you use the most consistently clean so you don’t have to spend your weekends scrubbing them down.

Do the Dishes as You Use Them

Even if you eat some of your meals away from home, you’re sure to accumulate a few dirty dishes over time. Letting them sit in the sink is definitely not a habit you want to get into, and it could lead to stains and hard-to-scrub messes that you have to deal with before you move out. Always use coasters and placemats, and every time you use a glass, coffee mug, or plate, wash them in the sink or pop them into the dishwasher. You’ll avoid any bugs and keep the space in pristine condition.

Make Your Bed Each Morning

Technically, making your bed isn’t something necessary, even among those who want a cleaner space to live in. However, this simple task takes just a minute to do each morning, and it can set the tone for the entire stay. After all, once you have made the bed, you might be inclined to quickly tidy up the rest of the bedroom, put some clothes in the hamper or put away the papers you spread out on the desk. Making your bed daily has also been closely linked to productivity, making it a solid habit to adopt whether you’re at home or in a short term rental in a new city.

Create a Storage Box for Miscellaneous Stuff

Staying organized is key when you are living in a short term rental. If you don’t have a designated spot for things like books, documents, or accessories, it’s easy to lose them or leave them behind when you move out. Instead of leaving these things out and creating messes, get a storage box or a basket for these miscellaneous items. Staying clutter-free will be a lifesaver on move-out day.

Leaving your short term rental in the same condition it was in when you moved in doesn’t have to mean days of cleaning before your departure. Just adhere to these suggestions for a clean space throughout your stay, and you won’t even notice that you’ve been doing the hard work all along.