Bonds are rarely lost on the obvious things. They are lost on window tracks, oven racks, exhaust fans and the top of the rangehood. This checklist is built around what ACT property managers actually inspect, in the order that makes the job fastest.
Work through it room by room. If you are cleaning yourself, allow more time than you think, particularly for the kitchen.
Explore Clendo’s Premium End of Lease cleaning services.
Before you start
Read your condition report. Two signed copies should have been given to you at the start of your tenancy, and you had 14 days to comment on them. That document sets the standard you are being held to. If the report noted marks on the walls or a stained carpet at move-in, you are not required to fix those now.
Empty the property completely. Cleaners cannot clean inside a cupboard that is full or under a bed that is still there. Finish the move first.
Check whether your lease requires professional carpet cleaning. It matters, and the rules are more nuanced than most agents suggest. We cover this in detail in our guide to carpet cleaning requirements in the ACT.
Gather supplies. Degreaser, bathroom cleaner, glass cleaner, microfibre cloths, a scrubbing brush, an old toothbrush for tracks and grout lines, a vacuum with attachments, and a mop.
Work top down. Ceilings and light fittings first, floors last. Otherwise you will clean the floor twice.
Kitchen
The most heavily inspected room in any Canberra rental. Budget the most time here.
- Oven interior, including the roof, base, walls and both sides of the door glass (Explore our Premium oven cleaning services)
- Oven racks, trays and shelves
- Griller and any warming drawer
- Cooktop, including around and under the burners or elements
- Rangehood exterior, and the filter removed and degreased
- Splashback and the wall behind the cooktop
- Benchtops, including where they meet the wall
- Sink, plughole and taps, including around the base of the tapware
- Inside every cupboard and drawer, wiped out
- Outside of all cupboard doors and handles, where grease builds up
- Dishwasher, if provided, including the filter and door seal
- Under and behind the fridge and any freestanding appliances, where you can move them safely
- Floor, vacuumed and mopped including edges and corners
Bathrooms and ensuite
- Shower screen, including any hard water build-up on the glass
- Shower tiles and grout
- Shower head and taps
- Bath, including the surround and any sealant lines
- Toilet, including the base, behind the pedestal and the underside of the seat
- Vanity, inside and out
- Mirror and any mirrored cabinet
- Exhaust fan cover
- Towel rails and toilet roll holder
- Skirting boards
- Floor, vacuumed and mopped including behind the door
Laundry
- Sink and taps
- Cupboards inside and out
- Behind and around the washing machine and dryer where accessible
- Dryer lint filter, if a dryer is provided
- Exhaust fan cover
- Floor
Bedrooms and living areas
- Wardrobes, inside and out, including shelves, rails and the top of the unit
- Skirting boards throughout
- Architraves and door frames
- Doors, including the edges and around the handles
- Light switches and power points
- Ceiling fans, including the top of each blade
- Light fittings and shades
- Cobwebs in ceiling corners
- Air conditioning vents and filters where accessible
- Curtains and blinds, dusted or wiped
- Mirrored or built-in furniture
Windows
Consistently the most under-cleaned item on any bond clean, and consistently checked.
- Internal glass on every window (Explore our premium window cleaning services)
- Window frames
- Sills
- Tracks, which usually need a brush or old toothbrush rather than a cloth
- Flyscreens, brushed down
- Sliding door tracks
- External glass where your lease includes it
Floors
- Vacuum all carpeted areas thoroughly, including edges and under where furniture stood
- Vacuum hard floors before mopping
- Mop all hard floors, including corners and along skirting boards
- Address any carpet stains (Explore our premium carpet cleaning services)
- Arrange carpet steam cleaning if required by your lease or by the carpets’ condition
Outdoor areas
Only where your lease includes them, which is not always the case for apartments.
- Balcony or courtyard, swept and washed down
- Balcony glass and railings
- Garage or carport, swept out
- Driveway and paths, with any oil stains addressed
- Garden tidied and lawn mowed if the lease requires it
- Bins emptied and rinsed
Before you hand back the keys
- Photograph every room, dated, once the clean is complete
- Photograph the oven interior, shower and window tracks specifically, since these are the most disputed items
- Check every light globe works and replace any that do not
- Check all keys, remotes and swipe cards are accounted for
- Remove all rubbish, including anything left in outdoor bins
- Complete your end of tenancy condition report
- Keep any cleaning or carpet cleaning receipts
The items most often flagged in Canberra
If you are short on time, prioritise these. In our experience and in the pattern of what ACT agents raise, these come up more than anything else:
- Oven interior and racks
- Rangehood filter
- Window tracks
- Shower grout and screen
- Exhaust fans in bathrooms
- Skirting boards
- Inside cupboards and wardrobes
- Behind and under appliances
- Ceiling fan blades
- Balcony or courtyard where included
Frequently asked questions
How long does this take to do yourself?
For a two bedroom unit in reasonable condition, allow a full day, or two if the oven has not been cleaned recently. Larger homes take substantially longer.
Do I have to clean walls?
You are expected to remove marks that go beyond fair wear and tear. Minor scuffing from ordinary use generally falls within wear and tear. Handprints, food splatter and adhesive marks generally do not.
What if something was already dirty when I moved in?
Check your condition report. If it was recorded at move-in, you are not required to return it in better condition than you received it.
Can I hire a cleaner for just the oven?
Yes, and it is a common approach. Ovens are the single most flagged item and the most unpleasant to do yourself. See our oven cleaning service.
Is it worth booking a professional for the whole job?
It depends on your time, the property’s condition and your appetite for risk. See our cost guide for how the numbers compare.