Essential Moving Out Bond Clean Checklist for Tenants

Bond Clean Checklist: Essential Moving Out Guide

Moving out of rental is stressful with all the cleaning to do. A deep clean is required before handing the keys back. Tenants are advised to inspect every room and surface very carefully including fixtures, appliances and areas outside the property. The list also gives you a chance to sort problems beforehand from the final walk-through. Also look at your lease for any cleaning requirements that have been specified.

Here are a couple of cleaning tips that you can find in this post that is  key cleaning tasks, practical steps, mistakes to watch out for and hints on what to do after the final inspections are carried out. It is also important that you read the lease agreement so that you’re aware of any obligations on cleaning matters. These easy tips will help you simplify your move day. 

Start With a Cleaning Plan

Take a tour of the entire rental home prior to cleaning. Make a checklist of all areas which need to be cleaned before you move out. First review your lease agreement plus look after any other notes your landlord has provided to you, if there are any. Document the condition of your property by snapping photographs before and during the cleaning process.  Wash high surface from up to low and floors from the top to bottom. Clean floors after cleaning other lower surfaces. This stirs up dust which then falls onto recently cleaned surfaces. Have all your cleaning products in one place having to travel occasionally for more supplies will slow you down. After all, cleaning while sticking to a moving bond clean checklist makes final cleanup check so much easier. 

Clean The Kitchen Thoroughly

Cleaning the kitchen usually takes the greatest amount of time for an end-of-lease clean. Remove the contents from the cupboards, drawers , shelves and pantry. Wipe both inside and outside of the cupboards to get rid of dust, crumbs, grease, and food particles. Also, give a good cleaning to cabinet handles, splash backs, bench tops sinks taps, and nearby areas.The oven needs special consideration as grease can the be the bane of your life. Thoroughly clean oven racks, pans, doors, and all interior surfaces that can be reached. Clean rangehood exterior and accessible filters, if applicable. Also, test the appliances that come with the house. Bedding the drain and sweeping floors, skirting-boards and under appliances where you can. 

Refresh Bathrooms And Laundry

There’s a good reason why bathrooms must be kept spotless. They get constantly wet from the shower, so humidity is very high and you just can’t neglect soap residues, moulds and limescale. In addition, always clean bathtubs and shower surfaces and also tile grout taps as well as the area around the drainage floor. Take up soap scum from glass panels and bleach around. The area in the house where clothes are laundered needs to be clean too before the final check is made. Clean the sink, shelves and cabinets around the laundry room, the exterior of the appliances and the surrounding area of the floor. Get rid of detergent buildup and lint, plus any visible dirt from where you can reach. Don’t use abrasive cleaning techniques that might harm your fixtures. 

Tackle Bedrooms And Living Areas

Windows, doors and walls are also often neglected in the distraction of moving day. Clean all the glass frames, tracks, sills and screens per the degree of their dirtiness. Clean your windows by rubbing them down to remove any smudges from your fingers, dust or dust bunnies that may get stuck in there and other stains. You will need to spend some extra effort in cleaning the tracks of the slider doors since they are the ones that usually end up very dirty, as dirt just gathers there. Harsh chemicals may discolour surfaces and cause permanent damage. Dust light switches, vents and any other reachable fixtures. These little touches could make the house look like it’s well maintained.

Walls and ceilings of bedrooms and sitting rooms should be thoroughly scrubbed. Cleaning the room from top to bottom, ceiling fans, lights ducts, shelves etc. should be dusted. Spider webs in the corners and up on the ceiling must be removed. After the dust has been swept out, the clothes closet can be cleaned, with the shelves and drawers. Test for the removability of stains on walls and treat accordingly. Don’t scrub too hard painted surfaces can be tattered easily. Wipe down on windowsills, doors, handles and other high-contact areas. Keeping carpets fresh and spotless can make a noticeable difference at inspection, while carpet cleaning brisbane services can provide a deeper clean when needed. Vacuum the carpets well over, mop the hard floors according to what they’re made of. Rearrange any suitable furnishings so you can clean under them in those areas that are reachable. Scrutinise skirting boards, as dust tends to accumulate in rows there. 

Check Windows, Doors And Walls

Area	Key Cleaning Tasks
Kitchen	Oven, cooktop, cabinets, sink, splashback, floors
Bathroom	Shower, toilet, vanity, mirrors, tiles, floors
Bedrooms	Wardrobes, windows, doors, fans, floors
Living areas	Dusting, walls, windows, skirting, floors
Laundry	Sink, cupboards, appliances, floors
Outdoor areas	Patios, balconies, garages, accessible surfaces

Inspect Outdoor And Hidden Areas

Your cleaning checklist should account for outdoor and hidden areas as well. Balconies, patios, garages, storages and etc. Pull out the trash, leaves, dirt and personal belongings prior to conducting your walk. You can sweep the floors outside and get rid of cobwebs both inside and outside. You may also clean up If you have the tenancy to include sheds or stores, check them. Also don’t forget that hidden and secret places should get the same kind and amount of attention as they are quite likely to be omitted while cleaning. You can find them behind the doors, inside the cabinets, the wardrobes, underneath the kitchen appliances and even behind skirting boards.  A final run-through with your moving out bond clean checklist may just bring a couple of oversights to light. 

Complete Your Final Inspection

Before you hand over the keys, finish your final clean and rego check to ensure the property is clean and the landlord or property manager isn’t left waiting. After having gone through your checklist of things needing cleaning, inspect closely for areas that may have been missed and make sure that the floor is clean, no dust is accumulated and the surfaces are not scratched or chipped. Take out any other personal belongings and toss the trash. If you have one, compare it with an original entry report for the property’s condition. Taking photos post-cleaning may also serve as useful evidence in case any bond disputes are to occur at a later date and can also help give you a bit more peace of mind for the final inspection. 

Final Check	What To Look For
Kitchen	Grease, food residue, dirty appliances
Bathroom	Soap scum, hair, mould, water marks
Floors	Dirt, stains, dust, streaks
Windows	Fingerprints, dust, dirty tracks
Walls	Scuff marks, cobwebs, visible marks
Storage	Dust, rubbish, forgotten belongings
Outdoor areas	Leaves, rubbish, dirt, cobwebs

Avoid Common Bond Cleaning Mistakes

Leaving cleaning to the last day is one of the errors renters should avoid. Hurrying leads to hidden areas being missed and not fully cleaned prior to audit. A major fault is to clean the surface areas only and forget about the areas that are out of sight. Always read manufacturers instructions on the products before applying unknown cleaning solutions. If your carpet looks tired and worn out now, you can’t just give it a fast vacuum clean. Probably you will need some professional carpet cleaning service. Knowing the key bond clean mistakes to avoid can help tenants decide when a DIY approach is suitable and when professional cleaning may be the better option; read our guide on diy deep clean vs professional cleaning: which is better? Also apart from carpets, professionals could carry out oven cleaning or pest treatments. Scheduling these services in advance allows for an extended period of preparation. Retain the receipted service and any other related documents for your own reference. 

Final Moving Out Checklist

Do one last walk-through of each room before you return the keys. Bring along items belonging to you, waste food and other objects you do not wish to leave behind. Look carefully in cabinets, drawers , closets, appliances, bathrooms, and floors. Feel around windows, doors, walls, fixtures and patios to spot any dirt that you can touch. Keep those receipts still useful and together take service records for your reference. A well structured room by room moving out bond clean checklist can help throughout the entire process of bond cleaning. Getting an early start can help to alleviate some of the stress and give you more time to do things right in the end. 

Frequently Asked Questions