How to clean it
Nail holes, scuffs, and when to repaint
This is cheap to do and disproportionately expensive to be billed for.
Fill small nail holes with lightweight spackle, sand flush when dry, and touch up with matching paint. Patching without painting is still visible and usually still gets charged. Anchors and large holes are damage.
Small holes
Lightweight spackle on a fingertip or a putty knife, slightly proud of the surface, sanded flush once dry. Ten minutes for a whole flat.
Paint, or it does not count
A white patch on an off-white wall is more visible than the hole was. If you can find the paint, touch it up and let it dry properly. This is why it belongs a week before move-out and not on the day.
Anchors and brackets are different
Drywall anchors, TV mounts and shelf brackets leave holes too large for spackle and usually need a proper patch. Removing an anchor badly can take a chunk of the wall with it. Sometimes leaving it and mentioning it is the better call.
Scuffs
A melamine sponge lifts most marks. Go gently, because these are mildly abrasive and will take the sheen off a satin wall if you scrub.
Related
- Normal wear and tear versus damageThe line between wear a landlord absorbs and damage they can charge for, with the items that actually come up on walk-throughs here.
- What landlords actually check on a walk-throughThe order most landlords and property managers follow on an inspection, and the specific items that generate deductions.
Need a move-out clean booked?
Tell us the address, the unit size, and your walk-through date. You get a fixed quote back, not a callback to schedule a callback.