End-of-tenancy cleaning is included in one of the most important tenants’ responsibilities at the end of the agreement. Tenants can use this checklist to make sure they have not missed anything, even a spec of dust. Furthermore, landlords can benefit from this list to ensure tenants have completed their responsibilities.
Following is a Move Out Cleaning Checklist
Kitchen
Half the work is completed by cleaning the kitchen because it is one of the most used rooms.- Dust and wash all the kitchen worktops and the sink area.
- Clean the grease from grouts and polish tiles
- Clean and degrease the oven and tiles
- Thoroughly dust off the cupboards and drawers;
- Washing sinks and polishing faucets;
- Eliminate limescale;
- Throw-out leftovers and carrier bags;
- Clean the microwave and dishwasher from inside and outside;
- Wash the refrigerator and freezer;
- Wipe the washing machine inside and out;
- Cleanse the dishwasher inside and out.
- Dust off all the electrical appliances
- Disinfect the trash cans and throw out rubbish
- Clean the outside of cupboards and drawers
- Stack and arrange utensils, cutlery and other dining accessories.
- Clean radiators, if applicable and accessible
- Remove dust from plugs and light switches
Furnishings
- Wipe and polish tables
- Wipe any oil and grease stains
- Pound the cushions until they are dust free
- Vacuum the furniture or sofas
- Vacuum the furniture and carpets
- Clean and polish all wood units
Carpets
- Landlord agents are notoriously picky about carpets. You can opt for a professional carpet cleaning service as it is one of the most challenging duties.
- Deep clean all the carpets
- Steam clean if possible
- Hand-wash stains if you don’t own a carpet machine.
Windows
- Remove any fingerprints and dust from all windows
- Wipe down to prevent streaks
- Clean frames
- Dust off blinds, curtains and shades
Drawers, Shelves and Cupboards
- Clear drawers, take away any unnecessary objects or leftover goods
- Wipe down the handles or knobs
Bathroom
- Clean and remove limescale from bathtubs and showers.
- Clean the toilets
- Clean the sinks and fixtures
- Wipe and clean all cabinets and drawers
- Wash or mop hard surface floors
Bedrooms and Living Area
- Dust all light fixtures and ceiling fans
- Dust all cobwebs
- Clean or dust all outlet covers
- Clean trim work and moulding
- Dust doors and door frames
- Dust air vents
- Sweep and mop hard surface floors
Outdoor Cleaning
- Cut the grass
- Remove any weeds
- Scrub or pressure wash the pavers
Appliances
The Tumble Dryer
- Empty the soap dispenser drawer
- Inspect and clean the tumble dryer filter
The Toaster
- Thoroughly clean, wipe, and polish the exterior; remove any food deposits and breadcrumb remnants; clean as thoroughly as possible; degrease handles; and remove grime.
What Else You Need to Do Besides Cleaning
- Return all keys, including mailbox keys, garage door openers, and gate openers.
- Leave the house in the same condition you found it in the first place. As a result, the landlord may be encouraged to overlook minor issues.
- Remove everything by yourself. Leaving heavy and bulky items will allow your landlord to deduct the cost from your security deposit.
- Meet with your landlord after cleaning and moving out to report any damages, get approval for the property’s condition, and receive your security deposit.
- Majority use large brackets to hang pictures, leaving large holes when you remove them.
- Treat the place like it’s your own; immediately clean the spills on the counters or floor. Moreover, take special care of light-coloured carpets and furniture.
- Try to pay your rent on time to make your landlord happy and satisfied. Take care whenever you move your furniture into a new space or rearrange it afterwards. Bulky items have the potential to damage doors, peel paint off walls, and scrape flooring. Add pads underneath the legs of the chairs to avoid scratching the floor when moving them in, out, or around.
Make Small and Easy Repairs
- If you made any holes to hang pictures or curtains, use some putty and paint to fill them.
- If you paint a room in the rental, return it to its original colour before leaving.
- Inspect the batteries in the smoke and fire alarms.
- Install fresh bulbs in any burned-out light fixtures.
- Replace the pans below the burners if anything on them has burned rather than cleaning them. A hardware store only charges a few dollars for these.
- Use bleach to clean the sinks and bathrooms.
