How to Prepare for End of Lease Cleaning

Posted on December 16, 2021

• Cleaning

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If you are moving from one apartment or house to another, you almost certainly are counting on getting your bond back. After you pack up all of your stuff and move it from your soon-to-be-old home, there are several different cleaning duties you will need to take care of if you want your bond back.

In this article, you will be provided with any and all areas you should focus your attention on while you are doing your end of lease cleaning.

On a side note, be certain you get absolutely every item you own out of the apartment or house before you return the keys to your landlord. This will ensure that you don’t get charged for them having to dispose of any items.

Floors

One of the most time-consuming parts of end of lease cleaning is making sure the floors are totally spotless. However, this is a necessary step if you want your bond back.

Sweep and vacuum your floors thoroughly, making sure to use the detachable hose on your vacuum for corners, by the walls, and any other hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.

You will then need to mop your floors throughout the apartment or house. If you have a cat, make sure to scrub away any messes where the litter box was. This is particularly important so you don’t leave the smell of cat urine behind.

Bathroom

As far as the bathroom goes, you will need to scrub the toilet bowl using a toilet brush, then wipe off the lid and other parts of the toilet.

Also, scrub any scum out of the bathroom sink, and use a disinfecting spray to wipe down all of the surfaces in the bathroom.

Finally, use something with an abrasive surface to remove all the grime and any mould that has built up in the bathtub. This part can take some elbow grease.

Windows and Walls

If you want your bond back, you should be certain that the walls and windows are clean. You can use a magic eraser to clean off any stains or dirty areas on the wall. Since magic erasers are gentle on surfaces, you do not need to worry about it scratching up the paint.

Use windex to clean off all the windows and mirrors.

Kitchen

In the kitchen, the most important thing you should do is clean the appliances thoroughly. If there is a dishwasher, scrub away any built-up residue.

If there was a microwave included with the place, use a cleaning spray or vinegar to remove any food stuck on the inside of the door, the ceiling, and the sides of the microwave. One trick to easily clean the appliance is to microwave a bowl of vinegar or dish soap for five minutes.

The refrigerator is also an important appliance to clean out well. You should make sure the oven and stovetop are free of grime as well.

Repair Damage

The final step for end of lease cleaning is to patch up any holes or other damage you caused while residing in the house or apartment.

Use drywall mud and a putty knife to repair damage and, if you can match the colour, paint over the areas that were patched up after you gently sand them.