To clean before the landlord checks

Don't use a big company like Merry Maids

For blood, use lemon juice and seltzer water.

My sister hired Merry Maids and they were awful and over priced.

Ask people you work with or any of your parents or relatives who live in the area if they can recommend someone.

for any number of reasons. It just happens.

My advice would be to move all your stuff out and to the monster super clean then. And yes, hire a local crew. Google is your best friend, find the local companies and re-google them looking for reviews from other locals. Also have a look on Facebook if there are any local groups offering or looking for jobs.

For removing tough rust stains on any white surface, use a toilet duck product with bleach. As a gel it sits longer and works harder on the porcelain. I use it in my kitchen sink, and on my white tile kitchen floor; it totally rocks, way better than any kitchen or standard bathroom cleaning product. Just do NOT mix it with any other cleaning product, especially ammonia. You'll be dead and unable to move into your new place.

Preventing rust stains means preventing any leaks or installing a water filtration system on your unit, which may not be possible. It's in the water you drink. Delicious, right?

To prevent leaks, use best quality fittings and keep them in good repair. Preventive maintenance, as we say.

And here's my hot tip: with the purchase of your condo you will be granted a year's worth of 'home buyer's warranty'. READ. IT. USE. IT. RENEW IT EVERY YEAR. Learn exactly what it covers and never, ever hesitate to use it, it will possibly save you many thousands of bucks in the future. Most new home buyers forget about it after the first year, and rarely take advantage of it to begin with. You may also be entitled to select the one you want before closing, so it pays to do your homework on that as well. Some home buyers warranty companies are better than others.

Good luck.

it was their side job. They came with their own stuff & got my apartment shiny like a new penny.

Look in the classifieds, ask your friends, co-workers. Someone knows somebody or uses someone they can refer you to.

things I could clean and disinfect with vinegar. Just don't use it on hardwood floors or furniture. Google cleaning with vinegar.

Or vinegar plus baking soda to help get that stuff "loose" plus fizz like crazy... Bleach could "color" the stain white enough to pass inspection.

Or just take a dump there and forget to flush during inspection day. That usually discourages all but the extremely wacko landlords.

that they use a couple times a year and rent out the rest of the year. They have a cleaning service come in after every rental so it's all ready for the next renters. This is just generically helpful to say that they have had great experience with the cleaners and you can probably find a similar company near you. You can negotiate how much or how little you want done and how much that will cost. The stain might be out of a general cleaner's purview but the CLR suggestion is probably enough for that.

I wish I had thought of using a cleaning service in my youth - I never once got a deposit back but then, I was young and foolish and kind of a slob. When me and my buddies got a new place we just assumed the deposit was lost so we were never disappointed. Had a LOT of great parties though.