The Ultimate End of Lease
Cleaning Checklist

Let’s face it, finding affordable end of lease cleaning services in Australia isn’t always easy. For many tenants, taking matters into their own hands and tackling the cleaning themselves can seem like the simplest way to secure a full bond refund. If you’ve been following our blog, you may have already checked out our Ultimate Moving House Checklist, a comprehensive 6-week guide to help plan your move with ease. Now, we’re extending that series by offering Australian tenants the exact end of lease cleaning checklist our professional cleaners rely on — covering everything from bedrooms and bathrooms to kitchens and beyond.

Cleaning preparation

Before you lift a finger, there’ll be some prep work that you’ll need to do to ensure a fast and efficient cleaning day. Follow these tips to set yourself up for success.

Prepare your schedule

A team of two professional cleaners will typically need 2-4 hours to clean a studio apartment, 4-6 hours for a three-bedroom apartment, and a full day for a large house. Many renters underestimate the amount of work involved, often running out of time to complete the bond clean. This can lead to a rushed search for last-minute cleaners or, even worse, relinquishing part of their bond. If you’re considering taking on the task yourself, it’s important to be realistic about the time commitment. We recommend breaking the cleaning into manageable sections over a few days to ensure everything is done properly.

Empty your home

At This is Neat Cleaning, we maintain an “unfurnished” policy for our end of lease cleans, and for good reason. We encourage most renters to move out first, as the mess from moving can significantly add to the build up from the tenancy. Bond cleans demand a much more thorough cleaning than standard cleanings. If furniture remains in place, it’s nearly impossible to ensure that some areas are 100% clean — for example hard to reach spots like under the couch or behind the fridge.

Get the right equipment and supplies

You’ll need more than just your time and effort to get the job done right. Gather these essential supplies to kickstart your cleaning process, along with some optional equipment for those specific tasks as needed.

• Broom
• Brush and dustpan
• Duster
• Gloves
• Bucket
• Mop
• Vacuum
• Carpet Steam Cleaner (as required)
• Oven cleaner (degreaser)
• Oven scraper
• Preferred cleaning product (Easy-off, Pledge, Vim)
• Sugar Soap
• Sponges
• Paper Towels
• Towels
• Squeegee
• Newspapers
• Ladder (as required)
• Screwdriver (as required)

End of lease cleaning checklist

Kitchen

By far, your kitchen will require the most cleaning effort when it comes to an end of lease clean. Given its frequent use, grease buildup can vary from mild to severe, making thorough cleaning essential. Oven cleaning alone will take up to an hour for degreasing agents to work their magic. You’ll also potentially have appliances that need to be wiped down, cupboards that need to be washed, and food stains to scrub out.

• clean oven (interior + exterior)
• clean stovetop
• degrease range hood
• clean bench top surfaces
• clean backsplash
• clean sink, handles and spout
• clean pantry
• clean cupboards, shelves and drawers
• clean inside microwave, dishwasher, or fridge (as required)

Bathrooms

If kitchens demand the most cleaning effort, bathrooms are undoubtedly a close second. Many people tend to overlook their bathrooms, allowing soap scum, toilet stains, and hard water marks to build up. To tackle this task effectively, you’ll likely need to use some cleaning products, so be sure to open a window for ventilation before you begin.

• wash tiled surfaces
• clean bathtubs and basins
• clean shower glass/screens
• clean shower head and faucets
• clean and disinfect toilets
• clean vanity, handles and spout
• clean medicine cabinets
• polish mirrors
• dust air vents

Bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms

Room layouts tend to be relatively similar in homes, so you can use this general cleaning checklist for most of them. Don’t forget to address any hallways and staircases if you live in a house with multiple floors.

• vacuum, sweep, or mop floors
• clean cupboards, shelves, and drawers
• clean wardrobe mirrors, frame and tracks
• wash window, sills, and tracks (interior)
• detail door frames
• detail skirting board
• dust blinds
• clean accessible light fixtures
• clean light switches and power points
• remove cobwebs
• carpet steam cleaning (as required)
• wall washing – either spot cleans or entire wall washes (as required)
• blind deep cleaning (as required)
• pest control (as required)

Laundry

If you’re lucky, your apartment might include a laundry room. Here’s a quick tip: Don’t forget to check the lint filter.

• vacuum, sweep, or mop floors
• wipe down washer and dryer surfaces
• remove dryer lint
• clean sink, handles, and spout

Balcony

It’s quite common for terrace houses and apartments in Sydney to have outdoor balconies. One of our favourite tricks is to use newspaper to wash balcony screens. It’s a great way to leave streak-free windows that will be sure to impress even your estate agent.

• vacuum, sweep, or mop floors
• wash sliding patio doors and tracks (interior and exterior)
• wash window, sills and tracks (exterior)

Garage

If you’re living in a house, chances are you might have a detached garage you’re worrying about. Relax, the garage usually takes the least amount of cleaning time.

• sweep floors
• clean cupboards, shelves, and drawers
• remove cobwebs

Real estate agent approval

You’re done the cleaning but hold on for just one more second. Before you return your keys, there’s that one last step. You’ll need to get your real estate agent’s approval during the final inspection before he/she decides to return your bond in full. If you’ve followed this cleaning checklist, you should feel more than confident about your chances. Our recommendation is to have your real estate agent inspect the property immediately after the clean, so you can efficiently address any issues in person.

An insider’s tip about bond refunds

Many tenants are unaware that they can submit their bond refund request as soon as they return the keys to the real estate agent or landlord. By doing this, the responsibility shifts from the tenant to the REA or landlord, who must dispute the claim within 14 days; otherwise, the bond will automatically released. If they choose to contest the claim, the landlord or agent must apply for a hearing with the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).  

Lastly, all of this might seem overwhelming, but there’s still time to hire a professional bond cleaning service (we promise, it’ll be our only plug). If you want to save time and stress. Otherwise, we’re happy to provide this end of lease cleaning checklist in an easy to print PDF format.