When you are ready to move out, don’t forget to clean some critical areas in your apartment on moving day. Often tenants realize just how much they may have underestimated the cleaning task. Listed below are some of the critical areas that you should address to make your apartment look sparkling clean during the move out process.

You might not have done this cleaning task throughout your entire lease, but before you leave it's important to clean the ceilings. To clean this area, you need to use a broom or vacuum to help pull down cobwebs. If you have popcorn finished ceilings, roll a damp high-nap paint roller over the ceiling to pick up dust and cobwebs. 

If you think that cleaning your blinds will be difficult, don't worry. Just grab an old pair of socks and put one on like a glove. If you have an extra glove made of cloth, you may want to use it instead, but using old socks is still good for removing dust. Just dip the socks in water until it's damp, then run your hand across each rung, ridding blinds of dust. This method works great also in cleaning the sides of most appliances and even underneath.

Using a glass cleaner is the most effective way to wash windows. Spray your window with this solution and wipe quickly with a lint-free cloth, such as microfiber, to avoid streaks. Make sure to dust off the locks, handles, and between the sliding tracks of your windows as you clean window by window.

The gallery wall was an excellent decor idea for your space, but now it's time to remove it and patch up any holes it created. Look for a commercial putty and use touch up paint to restore the wall to its original color. Be sure to use a putty knife so you can properly apply the product, and you may even need to do a light sanding to make the surface smooth before painting.

Look for any light bulbs that are out, and replace them as necessary. Dust the lighting fixtures, and use a cleaning wipe to sanitize light switches. Use a duster that has an extendable arm to help you reach high ceiling lights.

A vacuum cleaner usually has a brush attachment which you can use to remove any dust lingering on your baseboards or trim. If your walls have stains, use a microfiber cloth and follow a guide about wall cleaning to remove these stains.

Most carpets are bound to have stains and other specks of dirt, especially from shoes and sandals. You will find it easy to remove them if you apply commercial carpet cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes. Use a microfiber cloth to remove the stain. Check out some tutorials for apartment cleaning tips and tricks which show how to clean most common carpet stains. You should also check with your landlord, as some require the carpets to be professionally cleaned upon move-out.

Vacuuming and mopping the floors are essential cleaning tasks that you should do before you move out. The floor is one of the critical areas in an apartment that you should not forget to clean as it's in this place where dust has likely fallen while you brought out all of your boxes and while you were cleaning elsewhere. After cleaning the floors, make sure everyone avoids walking on the floor until it is completely dry, and keep your pets in another room.

Start by taking everything out of your cabinets and pantries. It is time to remove and toss any expired foods. Remove any shelf liners and wipe down the shelves with a damp cloth. You can save time by using the brush attachment on your vacuum to suck up any crumbs.

Cleaning an apartment for move-out can be a challenging task because it is important not to miss any critical areas. If you do, your landlord can hold part of your deposit, in order to pay to have someone else come in to professionally clean it. If you pay attention to the details and be careful not to overlook any easy to miss areas, your space will be ready for the move-out inspection in no time.