The End-of-Lease Cleaning Checklist That Gets Your Bond Back

Most bond deductions are not about damage. They are about a property that was handed back "clean enough" rather than clean to the standard on the entry condition report. The gap between those two things is usually a few hours of work in a handful of specific places.

This is the checklist a professional bond cleaner works through, in the order they do it, so you can either follow it yourself or know exactly what you are paying for.

Start with the condition report, not the kitchen

Dig out the entry condition report you signed when you moved in. That document, plus its photos, is the actual standard you are being measured against. You are not required to hand back a property in better condition than you received it, allowing for fair wear and tear.

Read it before you start. If the oven was already stained on day one and you noted it, you are not on the hook for it now.

The order that saves you time

Work top to bottom and back to front, so you are never re-dirtying finished areas.

1. Ceilings and walls: cobwebs, ceiling fans, light fittings, wall marks and switch plates.
2. Windows: glass inside and out where reachable, tracks, sills and flyscreens.
3. Wet areas: bathrooms, laundry, then kitchen.
4. Living spaces: skirting boards, doors, built-in wardrobes.
5. Floors last: vacuum everything, then mop or steam clean carpets.
6. Outside: balcony, garage, garden beds, bins.

The kitchen

This is where agents look first, and where the most time goes.

• Oven: racks, trays, glass door (including between the panes if it comes apart) and the grill. This is the single most common deduction.
• Rangehood: filters degreased or replaced.
• Cooktop: burners, knobs, drip trays.
• Inside every cupboard and drawer: crumbs, liner paper, sticky patches.
• Dishwasher: filter, seals, spray arms.
• Fridge cavity: pull the fridge out and clean the floor and wall behind it.
• Splashback and grout: degreased, not just wiped.

The bathroom

• Shower screen glass, free of soap scum and water marks.
• Grout and silicone, mould treated rather than painted over.
• Showerhead and taps descaled.
• Toilet including the base, the cistern and behind the seat hinges.
• Exhaust fan cover, which is almost always forgotten.
• Mirror, cabinet interiors and vanity drawers.

What tenants miss most often

If you are doing it yourself, these are the ones that cost people their bond:

• The oven grill tray and the glass between the oven door panels.
• Window and sliding door tracks.
• The top of doors, door frames and picture rails.
• Skirting boards behind furniture.
• Rangehood filters.
• Inside the washing machine dispenser drawer, if the machine stays.
• The dryer lint filter.
• Air conditioner filters.
• Light fittings full of insects.
• Garage floor oil marks.

Carpets and pest control

Many leases require professional carpet cleaning, and some require a flea treatment if you had a pet. Read your lease. Where it is required, keep the receipt: agents routinely ask for proof, and a receipt from a professional settles the question faster than an argument about how clean the carpet looks.

Should you do it yourself?

A thorough bond clean on a two-bedroom unit is realistically a full day of work for two people, plus the cost of oven cleaner, grout products and a carpet machine hire. Weigh that against a quote, and against the fact that most bond cleaners offer a re-clean if the agent picks something up.

We cover the trade-off in detail in DIY vs professional bond clean, and typical prices in how much bond cleaning costs.

Frequently asked questions

How long before handover should I clean?

After the furniture is out and ideally the day before the final inspection. Cleaning around furniture guarantees you will miss the areas underneath it, which is exactly where agents look.

Do I have to use a professional cleaner?

Generally no, unless your lease specifically requires professional carpet cleaning or pest treatment. The standard is the outcome, not who does the work.

What if the agent is not satisfied?

Ask for the specific items in writing, with reference to the entry condition report. Most reputable end-of-lease cleaners include a return visit within a set window, so raise it with them straight away.

Ready to book it in? Compare end-of-lease cleaners in your area.