11 Tips for Cleaning and Maintenance of your Furnished Apartment

1. Decalcify your kitchen and bathroom

Since the water in Munich is very hard, it is recommended to use cleaning agents with limescale remover for cleaning the kitchen and bathroom. To prevent limescale stains from forming in the bathroom, a simple trick is to wipe the wet surfaces briefly with a towel – your bathroom will always look like new.

2. Use vinegar essence

Particularly heavily calcified areas should also be cleaned with vinegar essence. For an even better result use hot water with vinegar essence. Perlators on taps and electrical appliances such as coffee machines and electric kettles should de decalcified regularly with vinegar essence. Simply fill the appliance with water, add the descaler and switch it on. Do not forget to rinse with water afterwards.

3. Treat stainless steel with care

To avoid damaging the sensitive surface, do not use scratchy sponges, brushes or steel wool to clean the stainless steel, but rather use a microfiber cloth.

4. Use a ceran cooker scraper

Ceran surfaces may only be cleaned with water or a special cleaning agent. Ceran scrapers for burnt-in stains are available in household supply stores.

5. Do not forget to clean the oven

Ovens should be cleaned regularly with an oven cleaner. Clean the removable parts such as the baking tray and grill rack in hot water and leave the oven cleaner in the oven for some time before wiping it. Don’t forget the rubber seal and the viewing window.

6. Clean the floors with the correct cleaning agents

Most floors can be cleaned with ordinary household cleaner. Marble and parquet floors, require additional special care products. If carpet floors get dirty or stained during the rental period, it is advisable to clean it with a carpet cleaner or hire a cleaning company to avoid permanent damage.

7. Avoid surface damage

Please note cleaning agents using acidic or the wrong cleaning agents can cause permanent surface damage to the furniture or the floors.

8. Refrigerator and freezer

Hygiene is especially important in the refrigerator. The different products bring all kinds of bacteria and germs into the refrigerator. And when it's warmer than 8 degrees, they multiply as well. Thorough cleaning is therefore an absolute must in your cleaning routine.
It is best to clean out all food once a month to defrost the refrigerator and freezer. Remove the ice and wipe down all surfaces with a refrigerator cleaner. The individual compartments can be washed in the sink with dish soap.

9. Shower

If the shower cabin is not cleaned regularly, lime deposits, dirt and mold will form.
If the lime deposits in the shower are already very heavy, it is recommended to use a strong acid agent. If the deposits are only light, a shower cleaner is sufficient. Spread the cleaner with a sponge and then rinse with cold water. You can use a microfiber cloth to wipe off any remaining water droplets. Glass cleaner can also be used to polish the shower wall.
Dirty joints can be cleaned with a toothbrush and acid. If mold has already formed, a suitable mold cleaner is recommended.

10. Washing machine

Residues of detergent and fabric softener, lint or hair remain in the machine resulting in an unpleasant smell inside the machine. Sometimes the laundry doesn't smell fresh right after the wash cycle, but rather musty. Then it is high time to give the washing machine a basic cleaning. Cleaning the washing machine is easier than you think. To do this, place one or two dishwashing tabs in the empty drum and run the machine at high temperature. After each wash cycle, the water should be removed from the rubber ring so that it always remains dry and clean. The detergent compartment should also be cleaned regularly, otherwise too much old powder or liquid detergent will settle.

11. Dryer

The clothes dryer should deliver dry and fragrant laundry in no time at all. To fulfill these services, drain the water in the tank after each cycle and, if possible, rinse it with clean water. You can clean the lint filter with a soft brush or toothbrush. If too much lint remains in the sieve, the dryer must run longer to be able to remove the moisture from the laundry.

Here are our suggestions for suitable cleaning agents from various manufacturers.