Checklist to Consider in the End of Lease Cleaning Process

What is the end of lease cleaning?

Also known as move out cleaning or bond cleaning, this specific type of cleaning is done at the time of changing houses. When you move out of a house, you need to hand it over to the homeowner or the realtor in a clean condition. This is where end of lease cleaning comes into play. Sometimes, it can also refer to the cleaning done before you move into a new place. However, the former is the general case. Your security deposit is not transferred to you or a part of it is deducted if your move out cleaning is not done or is done poorly.

End of lease cleaning is a more thorough version of your regular spring clean. It requires time and effort and there are specific end of lease cleaners to do the job. It is naturally more expensive. If you plan to do your own end of lease cleaning, it has to be properly planned. House cleaning without the help of cleaning services is challenging anyway. This is especially true for large houses.

Coming back to the part of planning your house cleaning, you will need a checklist to that. Hence, the purpose of this piece – checklist for a successful move out cleaning in Melbourne.

What is the end of lease cleaning checklist?

An end of lease cleaning checklist is necessary if you want to cover everything. It has a list of tasks that you have to do. You can categorise and breakdown the checklist like we have to make it easier. Dividing the checklist helps you to take this stressful house cleaning step by step. It is, therefore, more efficient.

Why is the end of lease cleaning checklist so important?

There are several reasons why a checklist is so important for your bond back cleaning. The advantages of a checklist can only be understood once you understand why end of lease cleaning, in itself, is so important.

Well, the most crucial part is that your security deposit is on the line. If the house does not meet the cleanliness requirements after you move out, there is a high probability that a portion of your security will be deducted. A checklist makes for a successful house cleaning process and hence, allows you to get your bond back quickly.

How exactly does a checklist help in making your cleaning so efficient though? The points below will explain this better:

• A checklist allows you to cover everything that you have to do. If you follow a well-drafted checklist, you will not miss out on anything when cleaning your house.
• It makes the process faster and less stressful since you already know what’s next on your plate.
• It allows you to delegate certain parts of the job to others as well. It is easier to assign a ‘sub-checklist’ to a helper than to instruct them verbally.
• Finally, you get to keep a track of your progress. You can also see how much of the job is done. This makes it easier to schedule your end of lease cleaning tasks.

The Ultimate End of Lease Cleaning Checklist

Akin to how a checklist is so efficient, subdividing it amps up this efficiency. We have done exactly that. We have compartmentalised this checklist into two major categories – interior and exterior – and then gone further to break it down even more. Let’s go.

Bond cleaning checklist for house interiors

End of lease cleaning checklist: Bedroom cleaning

1. Mattress cleaning: cleaning mattresses thoroughly is quite a task. For stains, use baking soda and warm water. You can use a vacuum cleaner to suck out the dust and maybe leave it out in the sun for a while. If the mattress has old urine stains, make sure you use a disinfectant in the process.
2. Carpet cleaning: Carpets and rugs tend to get dirty pretty easily. Make sure that you steam vacuum them or send it to a professional carpet cleaner. For stains, you can use commercial stain removers or go for the same baking soda cum water solution.
3. Bed frame: Cleaning your bed frame depends on the material. For wooden frames, ensure that you don’t use any spray or solution that will spoil the wood or stain it.
4. Wardrobes, cupboards, and drawers: Again, the material matters. Mostly, wooden wardrobes and cupboards should be dated and then wiped with a wood-friendly solution. Make sure you vacuum the top and wipe it clean. Cobwebs and mats of dust find comfortable homes on cupboards and behind cabinets.
5. Mirrors, picture frames, and other wall decorations: Use a generic glass cleaning solution and wipe away the dirt and the smudges with a microfibre cloth. Clean the frames with a wood or metal friendly spray.
6. Vacuuming the room: Finally, vacuum the room with your regular vacuum cleaner. Make sure that you do not rush into this. Slowly move around the room ensuring that you get to every nook and cranny.
7. Lights: For hanging bulbs and lamps, use a soft duster. If dust and dirt is matted on top of the light, carefully wipe it with a slightly wet microfiber cloth.

End of lease cleaning checklist: Kitchen cleaning

1. Cooking areas: Frequented by food grease and stains, your cooking areas such as the countertops and the stove demand a grease removing solution. Use a strong product to tackle these.
2. Oven: Make sure that you get deep inside the oven to clean the corners and remove the food grease. Unplug the oven before you start cleaning.
3. Sinks: Use a steel scrub or a medium bristled brush to clean the sink area. Use an unclogging powder or a similar product on the drains.
4. Benches: Use a duster or vacuum the surface. Wipe away the remaining dirt with a microfiber cloth.
5. Dishwasher: You can use a pressure washer to clean the dishwasher and get deep within the appliance. Power should always be unplugged when cleaning electrical appliances.
6. Refrigerator. Empty your refrigerator before you clean it. Make sure that you use a microfiber cloth to wipe the insides of the refrigerator.
7. Vacuuming the room: Vacuuming the kitchen is one of the final steps. Make sure you remove the appliances or at least go under the refrigerator and the cabinet.
8. Cupboards and drawers: Empty the cabinets and the drawers before you clean them. Use a cloth to wipe the dirt and the grease after you spray it with a cleaning solution.
9. Lights: The same applies for lights in the entire house – wipe them or dust them depending on the amount of dirt accumulated on top.

End of lease cleaning checklist: Living rooms

1. Remove cobwebs: Using a broom with an extended handle or just use a vacuum cleaner. Use a stool or an extended support if you can’t reach the ceiling.
2. Curtain rails and picture frames: Remove the curtains and the picture frames from the windows and the walls respectively. Wipe after spraying a cleaning solution. Use a glass cleaning solution for the picture frames.
3. Doors: Wooden doors should be cleaned with a solution that does not stain them. Use a microfiber cloth for the knobs. Make sure you clean underneath the doors.
4. Light switches, fittings, lampshades, etc.: small fixtures such as nightlights and table lamps should be cleaned properly. A successful end of lease cleaning is only possible when you pay attention to the small details.
5. Woodworks: Dishwashing soap mixed with a little water is great for woodworks. Use a duster first before you spray this solution.
6. Banister, stairway, and railings: Use your vacuum cleaner or a damp cloth to wipe the surface. Wall cleaning should also be done in a similar fashion. However, avoid using a damp cloth in this case.
7. Floors: Mop the floors with a disinfectant. Make sure that you do not use corrosive products that can stain the floors.
8. Vacuuming the room: Make sure that you adjust the vacuum cleaner at a height that is convenient for you. Vacuum slowly and in a W pattern.
9. Wipe down air conditioner, cleaning vents, wash and dry filter: Use your vacuum cleaner with a nozzle extension to get within the vents and the filters. Remove the filters and wash them before installing them again.

End of lease cleaning checklist: Bathrooms and laundry

One of the toughest places to clean, the bathroom and the laundry should be cleaned with lots of good products. Make sure that you have proper equipment in order to get the best results. Tile and grout cleaning is also a major part of bathroom cleaning.

1. Mirrors: Use a glass cleaner and wipe with a moist or a damp cloth. Remove the mirrors before wall cleaning.
2. Toilet: Use a toilet cleaner and leave it there for at least half an hour. Scrub with a toilet brush and then flush. Repeat the process if the toilet is very dirty.
3. Shower: Shower wall cleaning and tile cleaning is tricky. Tile and grout cleaning should be done keeping in mind the type of grout used. You can go DIY here – ingredients like baking soda, white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine bleach, etc. are all good here.
4. Basin: Spray with a dishwashing solution before wiping the surface. Unclog the drains with a powerful unclogging powder or solution.
5. Extras: Bathroom and laundry room fixtures should be removed and cleaned separately.

End of lease cleaning checklist: Dining rooms

1. Table and chairs: A damp cloth will suffice for the table and the chairs. Do not ignore the legs though.
2. Vacuuming the room: Vacuum the room carefully without ignoring the corners and spaces underneath the cutlery cabinets and the dining tables.
3. Cups, plates, spoons etc.: You can use your regular dishwasher for these.
4. Dust regularly: Dusting your dining room even before the end of lease cleaning makes the final day job much easier.

Bond cleaning checklist for house exteriors

Moving Out House Cleaning is incomplete if you ignore the outdoors. This forms an entire part of this checklist. The outdoors give the first impression and if the house cleaning is not done properly, the entire purpose is lost. End of lease cleaning without a proper exterior house cleaning is definitely incomplete. Let’s go into it!

1. Balcony: Ensure that you clean the balcony with water and wipe away the debris and the dirt. Next, you can use a vacuum cleaner or a mop to finish off. Wipe the railings with a cloth and a cleaning spray.
2. Garage: Probably one of the dirtiest places, handling oil and grease on the floors and the walls is tricky. You can use one of those grease cleaners for maximum output.
3. Walls & Floors Cleaning: Scrape off the dirt and the oil stains with a metal tool or a scraper. Wash off the dirt multiple times. For the walls, you can vacuum or wipe with a cloth.
4. Outdoor Walls: The outdoor walls of the house should be dusted. If the condition is really bad, you can consider applying a coat of paint.
5. Windows: Use regular glass cleaner for windows. Wipe off the shades with a damp cloth.
6. Ledges: Blow away the dust on the ledges outside the window. Scrape off any bird poop or such things and then use a cloth for the final blow.
7. Fly screens: Fly screens are best cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or a blower.
8. Outdoor Lights: Remove the lights before cleaning them with a duster or a damp cloth.
9. Floors: Use a broom for the porch floors. Use a wood polish for wooden floors after mopping them.
10. Outside Yard. The outside yard can be cleaned with a rake or a broom. Mow the lawn using a powerful mower.
11. Patios: Wash the patios and the driveways with a pressure washer.
12. Pool and spas: Use a net to clean the pool and the spas from leaves and other foreign elements. You can drain them off after this step and then use a pressure washer.
13. Rubbish bins: Empty the rubbish bins and buy plenty of trash bags for a successful end of lease cleaning process.
14. Tile and grout cleaning: Identify the kind of grout you have in the house. Grout cleaning should be done after you know your grout well. Tackle mould and dirt using commercial products or DIY solutions.

End of lease cleaning or bond cleaning are tricky if you don’t have a plan in place. This checklist should be enough to get your job done quickly. We hope you have a happy house cleaning experience!