Leaving your rental property in tip-top shape at the end of your tenancy is key to securing that precious deposit. We’ve crafted the ultimate end of tenancy cleaning checklist to guide you through every nook and cranny, ensuring you won’t miss a speck of dust.
Time is Your Ally: Start by giving yourself ample time for the cleaning process. Losing your deposit is not a fair trade-off for a few extra days of housework.
End of Tenancy Cleaning Checklist
Bedrooms:
- Begin by banishing dust and dirt, working from top to bottom.
- Remove cobwebs from ceilings and corners.
- Dust all reachable surfaces—wardrobes, shelving, and cupboards.
- Wipe accumulated dust from doors and picture frames.
- Attend curtain rails, curtains, and blinds.
- Vacuum and dust both sides of curtains and blinds.
- Polish mirrors, pictures, and wall hangings.
- Don’t forget skirting boards, decorations, and light fittings.
- Give attention to metal ornaments, switches, and power sockets.
- Tackle dirty marks on walls and clean power sockets.
- Vacuum mattresses thoroughly.
- Mop hard floors and laminate.
Bathrooms:
- Address the visible culprits—dirt and mildew.
- Clean basins, taps, and fittings.
- Tackle hard water stains and limescale.
- Scrub soap dispensers and rinse.
- Polish radiators, towel rails, and mirrors.
- Scrub and rinse the toilet, bidet, and reachable plumbing.
- Address marks and stains on shower screens.
- Deal with bath marks and signs of mildew.
- Ensure drains are clean.
- Polish mirrors and glass surfaces.
- Descale, rinse, and wipe shower heads, taps, and metal surfaces.
- Scrub and rinse the toothbrush area.
- Clean extractor fans.
- Wipe reachable bathroom tiles.
Kitchens:
- Kitchen cleaning is a crucial quarter of the job.
- Wash and polish worktops, countertops, and the sink area.
- Clean inside cupboards, drawers, and shelving.
- Discard leftover food and carrier bags.
- Polish sinks and shine taps.
- Tackle accumulated limescale and de-grease wall tiles.
- Remove mould growth between grouts.
- Clean ovens internally and externally.
- Address grime on extractors and hobs.
- Scrub gas rings and control knobs.
- Clean microwaves inside and out.
- Address the fridge, freezer, washing machine, and dishwasher inside and out.
- Sanitise bins and dispose of rubbish.
- Wipe down woodwork—doors, handles, door frames, furnishings, and skirting boards.
- Dust off plugs and light switches.
- Vacuum, mop, and polish floors.
Furnishings:
- Landlords notice dirty furnishings—give them a thorough cleaning.
- Wipe and polish tables, countertops, and worktop surfaces.
- Remove fingerprints, marks, and oil stains.
- Take sofa cushions outside for a good pound to remove dust.
- Vacuum the sofa with and without cushions.
- Move all furnishings to vacuum underneath.
- Wipe and polish wooden units.
Carpets:
Carpets face scrutiny—hire a carpet cleaning machine for the job.
- Vacuum all carpet edges thoroughly.
- Move furniture and vacuum underneath.
- Steam clean if possible.
- Hand-wash stains if a carpet cleaning machine is unavailable.
Windows:
Give everything a thorough clean before you move out, including the inside of windows.
- Remove marks, fingerprints, and oily stains.
- Wipe down to prevent streaks while drying.
- Dust off and clean window sills.
- Wipe down frames.
- Dust off blinds, curtains, and shades.
Drawers, Cupboards, and Shelves:
Inspect every drawer, cupboard, and shelf—you might forget the ones you rarely use.
- Clear drawers inside and out.
- Remove unnecessary items and leftover goods.
- Wipe inside and out.
- Wipe around handles.
Fridge/Freezer:
Refer to your tenancy agreement regarding the fridge/freezer’s status.
- Remove dirt, mildew, and leftover food.
- Wipe and polish handles.
- Clean the rubber seal.
- Move and clean underneath and behind.
- Dismantle, wash, and rinse slots, grills, and shelves inside.
- Wipe and polish the exterior.
Appliances:
Check your tenancy agreement for cleaning responsibilities.
- Dishwasher: Clean of food and soap deposits, inspect and clean filters, wipe the rubber seal, move and clean underneath, wipe the soap dispenser drawer, and clean handles.
- Washing machine: Clean the drum, inspect and clean filters, inspect the rubber seal, move and clean underneath, wipe the soap dispenser drawer, and clean handles.
- Tumble dryer: Clean inside and out, inspect the rubber seal, clean the soap dispenser drawer, inspect and clean the filter.
Ovens and Microwaves:
- Clean and degrease oven, extractor fan, hob, and grill.
- Clean and degrease the microwave.
- Scrub off food deposits and grime.
- Clean grill pan and oven racks.
- Clean the inner of both the oven and microwave.
- Inspect and wipe the rubber seals.
- Inspect and wipe all buttons.
- Clean the exterior and remove stains and marks.
The Toaster:
- Clean, wipe, and polish the exterior.
- Remove any food deposits and bread crumb leftovers.
- Clean inside as much as possible.
- De-grease handles.
- Remove grime.
Smaller Details:
Remember the little things for that full deposit return.
- Clean and dry all kitchen tiles.
- Dispose of leftover rubbish.
- Rinse out rubbish bins.
- De-grease fans and extractors.
Final Words
Dear tenants, we strongly advise you to meticulously review every item on the provided cleaning checklist before vacating the premises. However, it is crucial to cross-reference these tasks with the stipulations outlined in your tenancy agreement to ensure compliance. Taking the time to complete this comprehensive checklist will significantly enhance the likelihood of receiving a complete refund of your deposit upon your departure.
