The renter’s guide to end-of-lease cleaning

For many, the end-of-lease clean can feel like an insurmountable hurdle before getting their bond back.

But it needn’t be like that, according to Delah Gomasi, director of Sydney-based cleaning service Maidforyou.com.au.

Here are his top tips for getting a rental clean once it’s time to move out.

Regularly cleaning throughout your lease is the best way to prepare for the end-of-lease clean. Picture: rawpixel/Unsplash

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Plan ahead

Just as cramming all your studying into the night before a test leads to substandard results, cleaning your entire rental property in one fell swoop is a recipe for disaster.

If you’re planning on cleaning the property yourself then leave enough time to do a thorough job before needing to hand the keys back to the property manager. This can also often mean needing to return to the property to re-clean anything the property manager deems not clean enough.

If you’re instead choosing to hire professionals then book them early to ensure they have enough time to finish the job before the final day of the tenancy.

Clean room by room

Regularly cleaning throughout your tenancy will go a long way towards simplifying your end-of-lease clean. But even then, you’ll still need to put in some elbow grease before you move out.

To reduce the chance of feeling overwhelmed by the task at hand, Gomasi suggests cleaning one room at a time.

“We start from the back of the house and move towards the front door. That way, we know that everything’s been taken care of,” he says.

You should get your full bond back if you leave the property in the same condition as when you moved in. Picture: realestate.com.au

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Be thorough

Cleaning the floors and walls is a good place to start, but you’ll need to do much more to recover your bond.

Pay extra attention to kitchen appliances and other areas that may be overlooked as part of a regular household cleaning schedule. And don’t forget to sweep and mop outside. 

“As much as you can, you need to get rid of dust in all areas – inside cabinets and skirting boards especially,” says Gomasi.

“If you do the outside windows as well, you’re going to save a lot of money if you decide to hire professionals because the outside is expensive to clean.”

Don’t forget to clean the deck. Picture: Erinna Giblin

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Checklist: end of lease cleaning

Depending on which state you’re in you’ll know this as a ‘bond clean’ or ‘vacate clean’ checklist.

Jump to each section:

Kitchen

Cooking areas

Wipe down all surfaces, removing all traces of food and spills.

Oven

Store-bought chemical cleaners will remove the toughest grease, simply follow the instructions on the can. If you prefer a more planet-friendly option, use baking soda added with water to create a paste.

Clean oven racks too. 

Rangehood/extractor fan

Remove any oil marks, clean rangehood filters and ensure the light is working.

Sinks

Remove food from the drain and clean taps and water spout.

Benches

Wipe down all surface areas and walls.

Dishwasher

Clean inside, including all racks and rubbers. Remove food from the filter and rinse.

Refrigerator

Pull out and clean behind and underneath.

Cupboards

Empty and wipe out. 

Clean the kitchen thoroughly once it’s time to leave your rental. Picture: realestate.com.au

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Inside

Walls

Using sugar soap wipe down all walls. Scrub off marks and fix dents or holes and repaint if necessary, remove cobwebs from corners.

Sugar soap is the best to remove marks on walls. Simply add to a bucket of water and use a non-abrasive cloth to wash the entire wall and scrub the darker marks. To fix dents use wall putty. Allow it to dry for several hours before sanding and repainting. Take a small piece of the existing paint to the store to make sure the colour is a perfect match. Larger holes can also be fixed using putty and self-adhesive mesh from your local hardware store.

Windows and mirrors

Clean all windows and doors inside and out. Be sure to clean in the window tracks and blinds.

Clean with washing detergent and dry before finishing off with glass cleaner. Use newspaper to wipe off glass cleaner as this will minimise streaks, leaving your windows and mirrors sparkling.

Use a wet cloth to wipe blinds to avoid spreading dust before washing the window. If cleaning outside windows it is recommended to wash them with soapy water first. Blinds should be wiped with a wet cloth to remove dust before you clean the windows.

Cupboards and drawers

Empty and wipe clean.

Ledges

Wipe clean all ledges including, windows, skirting boards, top of doors, sliding door tracks.

Fly screens

Remove wash and put back.

Lights

Clean all light switches and lights, and replace non-working bulbs.

Extras

Any appliance or furniture that was provided, should be cleaned and left in the condition they were received in.

Floors

Vacuum or sweep floors before mopping and steam clean carpets.

Bathrooms and laundry 

Mirrors

Clean all mirrors and remove wipe marks.

Toilet

Scrub and disinfect including under the seat and around the outside of the bowl.

When leaving a rental you can also clean inside the toilet tank. For a simple clean or to remove mineral deposits, pour some vinegar into the cistern and leave overnight before flushing. However, if more effort is required turn off the water to the toilet and drains the tank by flushing repeatedly.

Put on gloves and clean the empty tank with bleach or a commercial cleaner. Turn the water back on and fill the tank before flushing cold water through the system until the chemicals are cleared.

Shower

Clean glass, taps and shower head, remove mould from grout, mop floor and allow the area to dry.

Use shower foam or vinegar paste to scrub soap scum from the glass. An old toothbrush will help scrub mould from grout and to clean in other hard-to-reach places. make sure to scrub the drain and remove hair. If using chemicals remember to turn on a fan.

Basin

Clean the basin and drain, and wipe down all bench tops, wall tiles and taps.

Extras

Wipe down soap holders, towel rails, toilet paper holders and ceiling fan.

Here are even more tips for cleaning bathrooms including steps for making your own eco-friendly cleaning solutions.

Wipe down vanities and cabinets. Picture: realestate.com.au

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Outside

Yard

Mow lawn, weed garden, trim trees, sweep paved areas.

Bins

Add household detergent or disinfectant to a bucket of hot water and scrub using an abrasive cloth. Alternatively, for an environmentally-friendly option pour several cups of vinegar into the bin and add hot water. Allow it to soak for several hours before scrubbing. Leave them turned upside down in the sun to dry.

Patios

Clean and hose down all outside verandas or decks, remove spiderwebs and clean any appliances including barbecues. 

Windows

Clear cobwebs, wash and dry.

Pets

Clean any animal mess and repair any damage.

Pool and spas

Clear debris from the water and filter.

Garage

Empty and clean any oil marks or dirt, remove cobwebs and clean garage door.

Rubbish bins

Wash and dry.