Cleaning apartment when moving out

A friend asked what requirements a new tenant in a senior home can make for cleanliness upon moving in. My obvious answer was that it is the same requirement as with any other move, it should be clean. We live in a time when more and more people carry multi-resistant bacteria.

There are also bedbugs and other pests. Cleaning between tenants then becomes extra important. There have been cases where substitutes have mistakenly shown apartments where the previous tenant still resides. If an apartment is shown where there are stains on the floor or the windows are dirty, it does not contribute to confidence.

The person moving in has also had to leave their previous apartment. They leave the home that may have been dear for decades. Often they also have to get rid of furniture and dear objects. They leave many memories behind. They have just cleaned out their previous apartment and it is then fair that it is well cleaned where they are going to move in.

Municipalities have different routines for moving out in connection with deaths in senior housing. In some municipalities, a maximum of five days is allowed between tenants. The ambition to streamline site management can present major challenges for relatives. In these cases, it often falls on the staff at the senior home to clean the apartment. Some homes have cleaning companies they recommend. If relatives have to clean, they often need more time. Some senior homes sell the cleaning service to relatives. In some cases, the cleaning is included in the operation's mission. The individual cannot get a RUT deduction for cleaning after their own death.

Review of moving cleaning

There are homes where the landlord reviews the apartment before the next one is allowed to move in. It then becomes some form of quality control both in terms of wear and cleaning.

In light of the fact that we are getting more resistant bacteria and also pests such as bedbugs, there are good reasons to spend time ensuring that apartments that someone is going to move into are properly cleaned. There is good support from healthcare hygiene and also in the healthcare manual when it comes to cleaning out care spaces.

It's not about who cleans but that it's clean and fresh when I as a new tenant move in. If it's not, confidence in the senior home decreases. It may also pose a risk of infection if the previous tenant had multi-resistant bacteria.

Basic cleaning principles according to the Healthcare Manual

- Clean from the cleanest to the dirtiest, generally from top to bottom. Floors are cleaned last.
- Water should be of drinking water quality.
- Spot disinfection at spills of body fluids is performed before cleaning begins. Use surface disinfectant with tenside.
- Change disposable wipe cloths often and always between each care station/patient unit. Multi-use mops are changed between each room and more often if needed, for example, large floor area.
- Never dip a used wipe/mop in the cleaning solution.
- Before refilling clean material, hands should be disinfected.
- Cleaning performed is documented with date and signature in checklist.
- Clean and/or disinfect cleaning equipment after cleaning is completed and as needed.

It can be good if someone checks the apartment after cleaning but before the new tenant arrives.

Read more about moving into senior housing Flytt till äldreboende

Reflection questions - moving cleaning
Care staff:
- Do you have a checklist for what should be cleaned and description of how the cleaning should take place in connection with moving out?
- Is there a routine to check that it is thoroughly done? What does the routine look like when the cleaning is insufficient?
- What equipment do you have?
- Is there a risk of infection spreading between apartments?

Manager, nurse, occupational therapist, and physiotherapist:
- Do you have safe routines in connection with moving in and out?
- When is an apartment reported as vacant?
- Is there a risk of potential tenants arriving before the cleaning is completed?
- Do you inspect the apartment otherwise, to identify and fix issues such as scuffs on the walls or broken blinds?
- Do you check that the moving cleaning is well performed?

Residents and relatives:
- How do you find the cleaning at the housing?
- Was the apartment fresh and in good condition when your relative moved in?
- Would you have approved of the moving cleaning if it was a regular apartment?

Erland Olsson
Specialist nurse
Sofrosyne - Better care every day