How to Get Rid of Roach or Ant Smell in a Rental Kitchen

Sticker Residue: Easily Chargeable Damage You Can Fix

Stickers, tape residue, and adhesive marks on walls, appliances, cabinets, and surfaces are a very common move-out issue, particularly in homes with children. Residue from stickers, packing tape, poster putty, and wall-mounted hooks all leave adhesive marks that are immediately visible during inspection. The good news is that most adhesive residue responds well to a handful of common products and can be removed completely without damaging the underlying surface.

Goo Gone and Commercial Adhesive Removers

Commercial adhesive removers like Goo Gone are specifically formulated to dissolve adhesive bonds. Apply a small amount to the residue, allow it to soak for one to two minutes, then wipe away with a cloth. Work on the residue with a plastic scraper or your fingernail if needed to assist the removal. Wipe the area clean with a soapy damp cloth afterward to remove the oily residue left by the product. Test in an inconspicuous area first on any painted surface since some adhesive removers can dull paint sheen on flat finishes.

Rubbing Alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol (70 percent or higher) is effective on many types of adhesive residue and is safer for painted surfaces than citrus-based removers. Apply with a cloth and rub the residue area in circular motions. The alcohol dissolves the adhesive without leaving an oily residue. Follow with a clean damp cloth to remove any remaining traces. This is a good first option for wall surfaces where you want to minimize the risk of paint damage.

Cooking Oil and Peanut Butter

For surfaces where harsh solvents are not appropriate (like delicate wood or certain plastic finishes), cooking oil or peanut butter can dissolve adhesive residue. Apply a small amount, let it sit for a few minutes, and work it into the residue with a cloth. The oils in these products dissolve the adhesive similarly to commercial removers. Clean thoroughly afterward with dish soap and water to remove the oil.

After Removal: Checking the Paint

After removing adhesive residue from walls, check whether the area needs any touch-up paint. Stickers and tape can pull off surface paint when removed, particularly on flat paint finishes. If a small area of paint has come away with the sticker, fill any rough spots with spackle, sand smooth, and touch up with matching paint. Addressing the paint damage is just as important as removing the residue itself.

Find adhesive removers and surface cleaning products: sticker and adhesive removal products on Amazon.

More help: Cleaning and Stains guides

Move-Out Cleaning That Protects Your Deposit

Move-out cleaning should restore the unit to the same cleanliness level it was in when you moved in — not necessarily spotless, but comparable. If your move-in documentation shows the unit was already lightly cleaned, your obligation is to match that standard. If the unit was professionally cleaned and documented as such at move-in, a landlord may have grounds to require professional cleaning at move-out as well, particularly if the lease specifies it. Reading your lease’s language around cleaning expectations is the first step in understanding your actual obligations versus what a landlord might claim.

The areas that generate the most deposit deductions for cleaning are predictable: kitchen appliances (especially oven interiors, refrigerator coils and drip pans, and range hood filters), bathroom grout and caulk, window tracks and sills, light fixtures, and baseboards. Professional move-out cleaners know these high-scrutiny areas and address them systematically. If you’re cleaning yourself, working from top to bottom (ceilings, fans, light fixtures before floors) and back to front (starting in the farthest room from the exit) ensures you don’t track dirt through cleaned areas. Budget at least two days for a thorough self-clean of an average two-bedroom apartment.

Odor is a category where renters frequently underestimate the effort required. Cooking odors, pet smells, and cigarette smoke require treatment of surfaces, not just masking with air fresheners. An enzyme-based cleaner on any fabric surface (carpet, upholstery, inside closets) breaks down organic compounds at the molecular level rather than covering them. Hard surfaces that have absorbed cooking oils or smoke require a degreaser rather than a standard all-purpose cleaner. Replacing HVAC filters before move-out eliminates a common landlord deduction, and running the system with a carbon filter for the last week of occupancy helps clear airborne odors from the space.

Photographing your cleaning efforts sounds unusual but is worth the effort. Before-and-after photos of the oven, bathroom, and any areas that were visibly dirty create documentation that supports your claim that you left the unit in good condition. Time-stamped photos taken on your final day in the unit — ideally with the landlord present or immediately before your landlord’s walkthrough — are particularly strong evidence. Some renters keep receipts from cleaning supply purchases or professional cleaning services as additional documentation. The stronger your cleaning documentation, the harder it is for a landlord to justify a cleaning deduction of any significant amount.