As a rental property manager or owner, you want to attract and retain top tenants. However, a big turn-off for tenants is living in a rental unit where the air feels unhealthy or unpleasant odours seem to permeate the home.
This can result in negative reviews that keep top tenants from viewing vacant apartments and increase tenant churn.
In this article, we will share our professional apartment cleaning services in Toronto’s top tips to improve the air quality in your rental apartment units.
Hire Move-In/Move-Out Apartment Cleaning Services
Apartment cleaning services in Toronto will tackle the entire apartment, floor to ceiling, using eco-friendly cleaning products that help keep pollutants to a minimum. Every surface is cleaned and sanitized so tenants feel safe and comfortable when they move in.
You can also control the level of clean between tenants, so you avoid buildup of dangerous pollutants such as cigarette smoke residue, pet messes, germs, and bacteria. Professional move-in/move-out cleaning and maintenance includes deep cleaning of the following:
Bathrooms
- Bathtub and shower enclosure
- Inside, out, and behind the toilet
- Lights, mirrors, sink, countertops
- Vacuuming ceiling fan covers
- Light switches and door knobs
- Vacuuming/mopping floors
- Wiping baseboards
- Wiping the vanity inside and out
Bedrooms
- Dusting
- Wiping switches and door knobs
- Vacuuming/mopping floors
- Wiping baseboards
- Wiping window ledges
Kitchen
- Inside fridge and oven
- Stove top
- Polishing fridge front
- Microwave (inside and out)
- Backsplash, counter tops, cupboard fronts
- Sink
- Wiping light switches and door knobs
- Vacuuming/mopping floors
- Wiping baseboards and window ledges
- Wiping inside cabinets and drawers
Living and Dining Rooms
- Wiping switches and door knobs
- Vacuuming/mopping floors
- Wiping baseboards and window ledges
Laundry Room
- Clear air vent
- Clear lint trap
- Wiping washer and dryer
- Clean floors
Invest in Professional Carpet Cleaning Services
When tenants leave, be sure to invest in professional carpet cleaning services. This ensures that all pollutants and odour-causing dirt and buildup are removed.
Your carpets will not only smell better but also look newer so prospective tenants won’t feel that the unit is neglected.
Keep Control of Humidity in Apartment Units
Overly humid environments contribute to moisture that causes mould and mildew. That obvious musty smell is sure to send a clear red flag that your apartment is not clean and the air quality presents a health risk.
With proper humidity levels, you can avoid the dryness that is uncomfortable in the winter, while reducing the risk of mould and mildew growth. The result is a cleaner-smelling unit where tenants want to live.
Replace Air Filters in the HVAC System and Units
Be sure you are replacing air filters in your building’s HVAC system and in each unit to reduce contaminants and pollutants. Ideally, you should do this every three months to help improve air quality.
Clean Furnished Apartment Upholstery
If you rent out furnished apartments, professional upholstery cleaning between tenants is a must. Upholstery holds onto odours, pet hair, and dander, negatively impacting apartment air quality.
If tenants have allergies or asthma, the pet hair and dander can also aggravate their symptoms. A thorough cleaning makes furniture look newer and creates a homier feel to your rental apartment units.
Clean the Ducts Regularly
Cleaning the building ducts every few years can also make a big difference in air quality. Cleaning removes allergens, pest droppings, dust, and unpleasant debris trapped in the ducts.
Clear ducts produce cleaner air and create a more pleasant living environment for tenants.
Install Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Monitors
Provide peace of mind to tenants by installing an indoor air quality monitor. Although you are required by law to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, IAQs can gauge factors that contribute to air quality including:
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Outdoor air calculations
- Carbon dioxide
- Carbon monoxide
- Airborne particles
Understanding these factors ensures that you can maintain healthier indoor air quality. IAQs are also an excellent selling feature when seeking new tenants.
Inspect Your HVAC System Twice a Year
Having your HVAC system inspected when the seasons change ensures it is functioning properly. This saves you money on energy, as your system will operate more efficiently.
Small repairs are also more cost-effective than leaving your unit unattended for years on end, leading to the need for a complete unit replacement. Finally, proper HVAC maintenance ensures the system is thoroughly cleaned and tested for the risk of carbon monoxide leaks.
Replace Kitchen Exhaust Filters
Kitchen exhaust fans are a magnet for grease that collects debris, reducing air quality. Replacing the kitchen exhaust fan filter is a must to create a cleaner environment.
Deep cleaning and sanitizing the entire exhaust fan and its surfaces also removes rancid grease, food debris, and odour-causing bacteria contributing to apartment unit smells.
Clean Window Screens
Window screens collect debris, particles, and pollutants that contribute to poor air quality. A thorough cleaning of window screens removes this debris and helps keep the apartment’s air quality cleaner.
Clean Window Treatments
If your apartment includes window treatments such as blinds, they should be professionally cleaned between tenants, as they can hold onto odours and contaminants, including those produced by cigarette smoke.
They can also become yellowed and fade over time. Clean window treatments will help keep apartments smelling fresher and reduce the amount of dust and pollutants floating around the unit.
Wipe Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans
Taking down light fixture covers and giving them a good cleaning removes dust that can hold contaminants.
Ceiling fan blades are even worse, as when dirty blades are turned on, all the dust and particles clinging to the surface are released as the airflow stirs up the mess.
What are the benefits of improving air quality?
There are many advantages to improving air quality in rental units, including the following:
- Prospective tenants viewing new units will enter an apartment that smells fresh and clean.
- You provide a safer home for your tenants.
- Tenants feel comfortable in their home and are more likely to renew their lease, thus reducing resident churn.
- You reduce pollutants that travel from unit to unit due to shared boundaries and passages in multi-family buildings.
- The unit becomes easier to clean and maintain between tenants.
Although it takes more effort and seems to cost more money to help improve apartment air quality, clean air can contribute to profitability in the long run.
For more information on Maid4Condos’ professional apartment cleaning services in Toronto, click here. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.
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