By the time you’re all packed and ready to leave your rental home, you’ll have checked off a slew of pending tasks that led you to this – the very last thing on the list, and one of the most important things that will help you get your bond back with no issues – End of Lease Cleaning.

Most lease agreements, as you may know, require that the home be returned to the owner in the same condition as it was provided to the tenant. In other words, you must clean every room from top to bottom, wall to wall. 

Unfortunately, fairness may often suffer in these cases, with the landowner wanting an absolutely spotless place even if that wasn’t the case when you originally moved in. Of course, if you’re like most tenants who want to know how to get their bond returned, this is it; a full move out clean is required, and you’ll need an end of lease cleaning checklist for that.

Oceanpower cleaning has put together a move-out cleaning checklist for each area of the property to help renters/movers guarantee that nothing is neglected every step of the way. So, let’s get straight to it!

All Subjects/Common Tasks

To prevent repeating the same cleaning jobs throughout each checklist, we have compiled a list of common places or objects that need to be cleaned in practically all of the rooms in the property (as part of your end of lease cleaning). 

As a result, we recommend that do-it-yourselfers refer to this checklist as they clean each room.

The following is a checklist of typical cleaning duties for all or most homes:

  • Wipe electrical switchboards and switches
  • Wipe baseboards
  • Clean ceiling fans
  • Clean light fixtures
  • Dust mouldings
  • Clean ceiling (remove cobwebs)
  • Dust door frames and wipe down doors
  • Wipe door knobs/door handles
  • Dust air vents and HVAC units
  • Dust interior walls
  • Dust wall frames/wall decor
  • Wipe furniture
  • Clean mirrors

The Living Room

When you rent a property, you utilise all of the existing furnishings and technological gadgets, some more than others. You may notice that objects like remotes, chairs, and sofas are not quite as clean as they were when you first moved in, especially in the living room where family members prefer to congregate or relax in front of the television.

With that in mind, here is your living room end-of-lease cleaning checklist:

  • Clean the curios/artwork/decorative objects;
  • Clean the TV showcase/unit;
  • Dust the TV and other electronic screens.
  • Clean inside cupboards and drawers
  • Wipe remotes
  • Clean glass tables/doors
  • Vacuum couches/sofas
  • Remove stains (if any) from couches and sofas
  • Vacuum upholstered furniture Kitchen

Along with bathrooms, spills, splatters, grease stains, and the like make the kitchen a disaster. As a result, it will take a bit more time and care to guarantee that no details are overlooked for a highly fastidious houseowner.

Use the following checklist to make your kitchen clean and sparkling again:

  • Wash all soiled dishes
  • Clean the interior and exterior of kitchen cabinets and drawers (including cabinet tops) with an empty, hot cycle.
  • Clean sink, tap, and surrounding surfaces;
  • Clean and remove grease from countertops;
  • Clean inside and outside of refrigerator;
  • Clean inside the microwave and wipe off outside.
  • Clean the exteriors of kitchen equipment (coffee maker, kettle, air fryer, etc.)
  • Clean all flat surfaces (such as tiny countertops, shelves, and tables).
  • Scrub and remove stains from the backsplash
  • Clean the inside and outside of the oven;
  • Clean the stove top (including the hood and chimney);
  • Garbage disposal should be cleaned and refreshed.

Dining Area

The dining room is prone to food and beverage spillage since it is where most people have their meals. Crumbs may also be tracked or blown about, creating an even bigger mess to clean up.

During your end-of-lease cleaning, follow the dining room checklist below:

  • Wipe and remove stains from the table
  • Clean showcase cabinets
  • Clean glass surfaces
  • Wipe dining table and chairs
  • Dust décor
  • Wipe wall shelves and hooks
  • Clean additional dishware/crockery storage units

Bathrooms

Bathrooms accumulate filth and accumulation over time, which may be difficult to remove if not cleaned on a regular basis. In any case, when it comes to end-of-lease cleaning, you must be diligent and aware that the property owner wants to see a clean and hygienic bathroom during their inspection.

To ensure that the area passes inspection, apply the bathroom cleaning checklist below for a thorough cleaning:

  • Remove any bottles, containers, and personal objects
  • Clean the window and window sill
  • Clean the inside and exterior of the medicine cabinet
  • Wipe the bathroom vanity; clean interior drawers (if any)
  • Clean mirror
  • Clean sink and faucet
  • Scrub bathtub interior and exterior
  • Scrub shower drain
  • Scrub and wash bathroom tiles
  • Clean interior and exterior of toilet bowl including the seat and lid
  • Wipe down flush tank and handle/button
  • Clean shower area
  • Wash and remove stains from shower curtain/glass door
  • Wipe all bathroom fixtures and fittings (showerhead, faucets, wall-mounted hooks, shelves, etc)

While the majority of the items to clean in the bedroom will be included on the checklist for “all areas/common tasks,” there are a few particular places and pieces of furniture that must not be ignored.

The following is a checklist for end-of-lease bedroom cleaning:

  • Take away all personal belongings.
  • Dust the tops of major furniture (cabinets, bookshelves, etc.)
  • Vacuum the mattress and clean the pillows
  • Dust the bed frame;
  • Clean below the bed;
  • Dust the books and bookcase.
  • Clean bedside table (including inside drawers)
  • Clean nightstand
  • Clean cupboard/closet inside and out
  • Dust dresser and clean inner drawers
  • Clean lamps and other lighting fixtures
  • Clean the desk and chair.

Laundry Area

If the home has a laundry area, there will most certainly be spills and buildup to remove, in addition to cleaning the major equipment.

  • Consider the following areas/things to concentrate on while cleaning the laundry room:
  • Clean the inside and outside of the washer and dryer.
  • Clean the hampers/baskets.
  • Clear the counters and shelves.
  • Remove any soap stains or spills from the room.
  • Clean the interior and outside of the sink.
  • Wipe down the fronts of cabinets and drawers.

Other Areas/Rooms

  • Dust wall hangings/artwork
  • Clean console tables
  • Vacuum carpets/rugs
  • Clean light fixtures
  • Remove dust and grime from the railing;
  • Dust the ceiling and remove cobwebs;
  • Dust light fixtures and wall-mounted fixtures; and
  • Vacuum/sweep and clean the floor.
  • Hose down the garage door;
  • remove cobwebs and dust from the walls;
  • clean and remove oil from the floor.

Finally, since each house and apartment is unique, certain places, rooms, or items described in the checklists above may not apply to every rental property. That being said, if you’re searching for a complete end of lease cleaning checklist, you’ve come to the perfect place.