What Are Key Areas to Focus on During End of Lease Cleaning?

With your lease coming to an end soon, it’s important that you divert some of your attention to things, like in what condition you’ll leave your property behind. Tenants in Australia are legally obligated by the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 to thoroughly clean their leased property up to set standards before vacating it.

If you execute a poorly done clean-up, the landlord is authorised to deduct your bond deposit, either in part or in full, to get the property cleanliness up to standards. Hence, hiring professional cleaners for this job or following a comprehensive checklist for cleaning is of the utmost importance.

This article will explore some of the key areas to focus on during end of lease cleaning to help tenants avoid deductions to their bond and leave behind a spotless property. It will cover all the areas like the kitchen and bathrooms, outdoor spaces, etc. Whether you’re preparing to handle the cleaning job on your own or hiring expert end of lease cleaning Adelaide services, paying attention to these areas will help you meet all the rental inspection requirements and get you a full bond refund.

1. Kitchen Cleaning

The kitchen is one of the most heavily used spaces in any home, one that is prone to accumulating a lot of grease, grime and stains over time. When performing detailed end of lease cleaning in Adelaide, you need to pay a special amount of attention to the kitchen space if you want to ensure it looks pristine enough to pass an inspection. Clean everything from top-to-bottom.

Clean the ovens, the stovetops, range hoods, benchtops, cupboards and cabinets and all other appliances in the kitchen. Scrub any baked-on grease or food residue thoroughly, wipe out all the drawers and descale the sinks. For the floors, get it mopped and remove any lingering odours from stains and spills using baking soda or vinegar solution (but first indentify whether these are safe to use for your floor type).

2. Bathroom and Toilet Deep Clean

Another high-priority area during an end of lease clean is the Bathroom. Landlords and property inspectors expect this area to be free from grime, mould, and mildew and soap scum. The tiles, showers and bathtubs need to be scrubbed thoroughly; the grout lines, too, must be cleaned of dirt. For the toilets, disinfection is important, and the mirrors need to be streak-free. In case of any limescale build up near or on the taps and showerheads needs to be eliminated, and all surfaces must be wiped down with an appropriate cleaning solution.

3. Carpet and Floor Cleaning

Floors are a very big aspect when ensuring your property looks and feels clean. Whether a rental home has carpets, tiles, hardwood or laminate floors, they all need to be thoroughly cleaned before the property is handed over for the final inspection. Carpets, in particular, require the attention of professional steam cleaning services to remove any stains or embedded dirt.

Many landlords even expect proof of professional cleaning services for carpets as part of the end of lease cleaning Adelaide agreements. All the tiles need to be mopped, the grout needs to be cleaned, and any discolouration treated, while hardwood floors need to be polished to restore their shine.

4. Windows, Walls and Doors

Windows, walls, and doors are often overlooked during routine cleaning, making them an important area to focus on for the end of lease cleaning process. They need to be left spotless before the inspection day. Clean all windows both inside and out and remove any smudges or streaks from them; walls need to be checked for scuff marks, dirt, smudges and handprints, and in case of minor stains, they need to be wiped away or be touched up with paint (if necessary) to ensure everything is up to the mark.

For the doors, everything from the dandles to the frame needs to be clean of dust and fingerprints and all the skirting boards in the home need to be dusted and wiped clean.

5. Light Fixtures, Fans and Air Vents

Dust and cobwebs can start accumulating in areas that are hard-to-reach like the light fixtures, ceiling fans and air vents. So, for the end of lease clean, ensure that you dust and wipe down all of them to improve the home’s overall cleanliness. Use the pillowcase method to clean the ceiling fans in every room and remove dust from all the light fixtures using a microfiber towel, making sure to get rid of any dirt or dead insects in them.

For the air vents and their filters, make sure they are vacuumed or washed to ensure proper airflow through the home and maintain hygiene standards.

6. Outdoor Areas and Garage

If your rental property has any outdoor spaces like patios, balconies, backyard, lawns or garden area, they need to be thoroughly cleaned, too. All leaves and debris need to be removed from these areas. If there is any outdoor furniture they need to be wiped down and cleaned, and as for the pathways, they need to be thoroughly swept or pressure washed depending on the state of cleanliness.

For the garage, it is best to empty it out, then sweep it and check for any oil stains or dirt build-up on the floors or walls. Ensure that the exterior areas are well-maintained so that you’re able to make a positive impression on the house inspector.

Key Areas to Focus on During End of Lease Cleaning

Wrapping up

End of lease cleaning requires a thorough and planned approach to get the property cleaned up to the expected standards of your landlords or property owners. All the key areas mentioned above are crucial to tackle if you want to get back your bond in full.

So, whether you do the cleaning yourself or hire professionals for the job, ensure that you cover these key areas. A well-executed vacate cleaning will not only ensure a smooth move-out process but also help maintain a good rental history for any future tenancies.