Crocodilian Blog
The Temporary Rental Blog from Berlin

Eco – friendly (and affordable) Ways to clean your temporary furnished Home

Christine Kandler Von Christine Kandler
Eco cleaning equippment

It’s essential that tenants of furnished apartments give them a regular clean. If things aren’t taken care for months on end, don't be surprised if there are problems when moving out. It’s important to keep in mind that not only does neglecting the apartment go against the tenant’s contractual obligations, but that they can expect high costs for the final cleaning, which are then offset against the deposit.

Want to take care of your temporary apartment but cleaning isn’t your thing? In this case there is of course an option to book a weekly helper through different platforms or at Crocodilian. But remember this will result in additional costs, and don’t forget - cleaning can also be easy, and fun! And there are more benefits, from reducing your impact on the environment to saving money. This can be done through regular maintenance and by using eco- friendly products that smell good, and don’t contain toxic chemicals.

If you rent furnished for a temporary period, you don't need to buy shelves of different cleaning products that take up space - and may not even get completely used up.

Here are our tips on how to use just a few simple ingredients to quickly and cheaply produce environmentally-friendly products for cleaning your furnished home. The advantages are obvious:

Eco-friendly all-purpose cleaners

There are countless products available for cleaning surfaces in your home: bathroom cleaners, kitchen cleaners, WC cleaners, etc.  But such a wide range of cleaning products usually isn’t necessary, both for a temporary apartment and your own.

You can easily produce an all-purpose cleaner for 80% of all cleaning tasks yourself.

Sodium all-purpose cleaner

For 750 ml baking soda/sodium cleaner you will need:

  • 3 tablespoons sodium bicarbonate
  • 3 teaspoons grated curd soap
  • 700 ml warm water
  • 1 spray bottle (from an old used bottle, from the drugstore, or from Ikea)
  • A few drops of essential oil (optional for scent)

Method:

  1. Place the curd soap and water in a small pot and heat them slowly against the pan.
  2. Stir with a whisk until the curd soap has dissolved.
  3. After cooling add all other ingredients and stir.
  4. Fill the cleaner into the bottle.

Application:

  1. Shake briefly before each use.
  2. Spray onto dirty area and wipe with a cloth.

Where to buy ingredients / prices:

  • Sodium bicarbonate: In the drugstore in approx. 250 g packages, in larger quantities on the Internet or at unpacked shops. 1,65 for 250 g
  • Curd soap : Drogeriemarkt (dm), 300 g for €1,65
  • Spray bottle: own used bottle, free / Ikea or drugstore, €2,99
  • Essential oil e.g. Eucalyptus: drugstore €2

Universal vinegar cleaner

Vinegar is cheap, available everywhere and can clean almost anything. This key ingredient is particularly suitable for removing grease, limescale, and normal dirt. Vinegar also has a disinfecting effect. To improve the smell, we recommend adding a few drops of essential oil.

For 750 ml vinegar cleaner you will need:

  • 500 ml table vinegar
  • 250 ml water
  • A few drops of essential oil
  • 1 spray bottle

Method:

Pour all ingredients into the bottle and mix.

Application:

  1. Shake well before use.
  2. Use your vinegar spray to clean sinks, tiles, wood, and plastic surfaces.

Where to buy ingredients / prices:

  • Table vinegar: Most supermarkets and drugstores, approx. 0,55€/litre

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