The Ultimate End-of-Lease Cleaning Checklist

Your landlord is not on your side when you move out — the property manager's job is to find deductions, and they're good at it. The difference between getting your full bond back and losing hundreds of dollars almost always comes down to the quality of your exit clean. This checklist covers every room and every surface a real estate agent will inspect, in the order that makes the most sense to tackle them.

Before you start: photograph everything

Walk through the entire property with your phone before you touch a single surface. Take dated photos of every room from multiple angles, all appliances, inside cupboards, the bathroom, laundry, and any outdoor areas. This is your insurance. If there's a dispute about damage that existed before your tenancy, photos with timestamps are your evidence.

Pull out your original ingoing condition report and compare it room by room. Mark anything that was already damaged, stained, or worn — these should not be items you're cleaning around or trying to fix. They're pre-existing and should not cost you your bond.

Kitchen

The kitchen is where most bond disputes originate. Grease builds up invisibly over months, and agents know exactly where to look.

• Oven: inside cavity, racks, griller tray, door glass (inside and out), and control knobs. This is the most-failed item on exit inspections. If yours is very bad, book a specialist oven clean.
• Stovetop: all burners, grates, and the surrounding surface. Remove grates and soak them if needed.
• Range hood: underside, filters (removable filters should be degreased or replaced), and exterior.
• Dishwasher: inside including the filter at the bottom, the door seal, and the exterior.
• Fridge: if you're leaving it, clean inside, underneath, and behind. If taking it, clean the recess it sat in.
• Microwave: inside, including the ceiling of the cavity, the turntable, and exterior.
• All cupboards and drawers: inside, outside, and the fronts. Don't forget the tops of upper cabinets — agents stand on step ladders.
• Sink: scrub the basin, polish the taps, clean the drain, and wipe the area under the sink inside the cabinet.
• Splashback and wall tiles: remove all grease and food splatter. A degreaser and microfibre cloth works well here.
• Benchtops: including the edges and underside lip where crumbs and grime collect.
• Floor: mop the entire surface including beneath and behind any appliances you can move.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are inspected methodically. Mould, soap scum, and limescale are the three things agents note immediately.

• Shower: scrub the screen or curtain, tiles, grout lines, shower rose, taps, and the base. Treat any mould with a dedicated mould remover and let it dwell.
• Bath: if present, clean the interior, taps, overflow drain, and surrounding tiles.
• Toilet: inside the bowl, including under the rim, the exterior including the base and behind, cistern exterior, and seat.
• Vanity: mirror, basin, taps, and inside the cabinet. Toothpaste stains on mirrors are a common issue.
• Exhaust fan: wipe the vent cover. Dust accumulates here and it's highly visible.
• Tiles and grout: clean the full wall and floor, including grout lines. White grout that has turned grey or black will be noted.
• Floor drain: remove hair and debris from the drain cover.

Bedrooms and living areas

• Wardrobes: inside rails, shelves, and floor. Wipe door tracks — these are inspected closely.
• Windows: clean the glass on the inside, wipe the sills, tracks, and handles. Exterior windows are usually not required unless specifically listed.
• Blinds: wipe every slat with a damp cloth. Venetian blinds in particular accumulate a year's worth of dust.
• Curtains: check your lease — they may need to be dry cleaned. If so, get a receipt.
• Ceiling fans and light fittings: dust accumulates on fan blades and inside pendant light covers. Agents look up.
• Walls: remove any Blu Tack residue, scuff marks, and small holes from nails or hooks.
• Skirting boards: wipe the full length of every room.
• Power points and light switches: wipe them down. Fingerprints are common here.
• Carpets: vacuum thoroughly. If professional carpet cleaning is required under your rental agreement or applicable tenancy rules, keep the receipt.
• Hard floors: sweep, then mop. Don't leave streaks.

Laundry

• Washing machine: run a cleaning cycle, wipe the drum interior, door seal, and lid or door exterior. Clean the lint filter.
• Tub and taps: scrub the laundry sink and polish the taps.
• Floor and walls: mop the floor and wipe any tiles.

Outdoor areas and garage

• Balcony or patio: sweep and mop the floor, wipe railings, and clean any built-in furniture.
• Garage: sweep the floor and remove all personal items. Wipe down any shelving.
• Bins: empty and wash them if required.

The items cleaners most commonly miss

These are some of the spots that commonly get overlooked during end-of-lease cleaning:

• The top of the oven door, where grease splatters and bakes on
• Inside the range hood, not just underneath it
• Sliding-door tracks filled with grit and debris
• Behind and underneath the toilet
• The top of the fridge and kitchen cupboards
• Window tracks in every room
• The dishwasher filter

When to call in a professional

Some properties can be cleaned successfully without professional help. Others need specialised equipment or substantially more time, particularly where there is heavy oven buildup, stained carpets, difficult-to-access glass, or a large amount of accumulated grime.

Whether you do it yourself or hire help, use this list as your final walkthrough before you hand back the keys. Check every item, photograph the finished property, compare it with the original condition report, and keep copies of any relevant cleaning receipts.