Moving house is stressful enough without worrying about whether you’ll get your full bond back. Your property manager will use a fine-toothed comb to inspect the property, and their standard is simple: the home must be left in the same condition it was in at the start of your tenancy, accounting for fair wear and tear.
To help you meet those expectations and secure your bond, we’ve created the ultimate end of lease cleaning checklist. This is the same detailed guide our professional cleaners use to ensure a 5-star result every time.
Before You Start: Essential Tips
Document Everything: Refer to your original property condition report. The goal is to return the property to that initial state.
Book Professionals Early: If you’re using a professional service like HomeMaid, book well in advance, especially during peak moving seasons. This guarantees you a spot and avoids last-minute panic.
Work from Top to Bottom: Clean from the ceiling (cobwebs, fans) down to the floors. This ensures you’re not dropping dust onto already cleaned surfaces.
Don’t Forget the Details: It’s the little things—light switches, skirting boards, window tracks—that property managers notice.
This applies to every room in the house, including hallways and living areas.
Walls: Spot clean any scuffs and marks. Use a gentle cleaner like sugar soap for tougher stains.
Skirting Boards: Wipe down all skirting boards. They are magnets for dust.
Windows & Doors: Clean all interior windows, sills, and tracks. Wipe down both sides of every door and clean the handles.
Light Fittings & Switches: Remove dust and insects from light fittings and wipe down all light switches and power points.
Cobwebs: Remove all cobwebs from ceilings and corners.
Floors: Vacuum all carpets and mop all hard floors thoroughly.
Cupboards & Wardrobes: Clean the inside and outside of all built-in wardrobes and cupboards.
Air Conditioners: Wipe down the outside of units and clean the filters if they are removable.
This area is a major focus of any inspection. It needs to be degreased and sanitised.
Oven: This is a big one. Clean the oven inside and out, including racks, trays, and the grill. Don’t forget the oven door.
Stovetop & Rangehood: Clean the entire stovetop, removing any burnt-on food. Degrease the rangehood and clean or replace the filter.
Benchtops & Splashbacks: Wipe down and clean all benchtops and the splashback area, removing all grease and food residue.
Cupboards & Drawers: Empty and clean inside and out. Pay attention to handles and hinges.
Sink & Taps: Clean and polish the sink and taps, ensuring you remove all food scraps from the drain.
Dishwasher: Clean the dishwasher inside and out, including the filter and rubber seals.
These wet areas require a deep clean to remove soap scum, mould, and grime.
Shower: Scrub the shower screen, tiles, and grout to remove all soap scum and mould. Clean the showerhead and taps.
Toilet: Clean and disinfect the toilet from top to bottom, including the bowl, seat, lid, and the area behind the toilet.
Basin & Vanity: Clean the sink, taps, and wipe out all drawers and cupboards in the vanity.
Mirrors: Clean and polish all mirrors.
Exhaust Fans: Wipe down and clean the exhaust fan covers.
Laundry Tub & Taps: Clean and scrub the laundry tub, taps, and wipe down any cupboards or shelves.
Bedrooms are generally simpler but require the same attention to detail.
Wardrobes: As in other areas, clean the inside of wardrobes, shelves, and drawers. Make sure mirrored doors are spotless.
Floors: Vacuum carpets thoroughly, including the edges.
General Cleaning: Complete all tasks from the “All Areas” list (walls, windows, skirting boards, etc.).
Don’t neglect the outside of the property.
Lawns & Gardens: Mow the lawns, trim the edges, and weed the garden beds.
Patios & Decks: Sweep and hose down any paved areas, patios, or decks.
Garage: Sweep the garage floor, remove any oil stains if possible, and wipe down the garage door.
Rubbish Bins: Ensure all council bins are empty and clean.
Carpet Steam Cleaning: Most tenancy agreements require you to have carpets professionally steam cleaned. You’ll need to provide the property manager with a paid invoice as proof.
Flea Fumigation: If you had pets at the property, a professional flea treatment is usually mandatory. You will also need to provide a receipt for this service.
An end of lease clean is a demanding job. If you want to save time and ensure you get your bond back without the hassle, booking a professional service is your best bet.
At HomeMaid, we provide a 100% Bond Back Guarantee. Our experienced cleaners follow this exact checklist, ensuring we meet the high standards of property managers across Australia.
Ready to move out with confidence? Call us today!
