Is this your first "home away from home"? Never had to deal with the freedom, as well as the responsibilities, that come with having a place of your own? Well, you don't have to wear the apron and pearls that this lovely lady sports when she's cleaning to keep your home in tip-top shape. Here's the scoop:

1) Please clean your bathroom at least once a week!
Oxford has very hard water. Stains become increasingly difficult to remove if not cleaned regularly. Clean the toilet with an appropriate cleanser and brush it well. Tub walls should also be scrubbed with a Teflon-type pan scrubber or sponge, using a lime remover type product. Wipe sinks with a vinegar solution (such as a window cleaner) – and NEVER use an abrasive cleaner on the sink or countertop! FYI if you are a hairspray user – hairspray, mixed with dust, dirt and hair, turns into a congealed coating similar to epoxy which can literally ruin woodwork, metal, flooring, and walls. Keep your bathroom clean, and remove the spray residue daily! You will be glad you did when it comes time to move out!

2) Please clean your kitchen every time you use it!
NEVER leave water standing on your countertop! If you have a dish drainer, either place it in the sink, or put a plastic drainboard underneath that will funnel water to the sink. Use a lime removing type product to clean the sink and fixtures – wiping the sink dry at the end of the day will prevent lime deposit build-up. Once a month pour about 4 tablespoons of baking soda down both sides of the sink to keep it smelling fresh. Be sure to wipe the drain out, too! Mop the floor with a mild cleanser. If you have black heel marks, do not use an abrasive cleanser to try and remove. Call the office – we can recommend special cleaning products to remove the marks that won't damage the vinyl.

3) Vacuum your carpet at least once a week!
You can borrow a vacuum from the office, during our regular hours – it's free of charge!

4) Be gentle with the cabinets and wood surfaces!
Never use abrasive cleaners on wood. Wipe with a mild soap solution, and dry it off! Ditto for hardwood floors.

5) Clean your vents!
They are located in the living room, at the top of the stairs (townhouses), and in the bathroom. Use a dry scrub brush, or dusting wand, and clean them once a week. It will save you money on heating and air conditioning, as well as keep your home cleaner.

Finally (and maybe of greatest importance) . . .
Clean your apartment thoroughly when you move out!
Really, we don't want to do it! Cleaning charges, while they support wonderful families
and a great Oxford cottage industry, do nothing but create work for us and cost you deposit money.

Despite what you may have heard, or experienced elsewhere, we do not financially benefit from cleaning charges. Frankly, we like you – but HATE when you leave dust and dirt behind.

By leaving your apartment in move-in condition for the next tenant, you will bring your security deposit back to where it truly belongs – in your pocket!

Use the cleaning check list that you will be given prior to moving out – follow it and clean everything on that list! If you do not know how to clean something – for goodness sake, ASK! Nobody will yell (although we have been known to giggle), and we would much prefer you seek guidance. Understand that we cannot "clean" for you, but we will give you instruction if you need them.

We want to remember you as you truly are – the unique, wonderful and CLEAN person who left the place spotless for the next guy! We believe! Prove us right, okay?