{"id":1608,"date":"2021-03-28T20:32:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-28T19:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tidygreenclean-co-uk.stackstaging.com\/?p=1608"},"modified":"2024-01-19T10:03:46","modified_gmt":"2024-01-19T10:03:46","slug":"the-complete-end-of-tenancy-cleaning-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tidygreenclean.co.uk\/the-complete-end-of-tenancy-cleaning-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"The Complete End of Tenancy Cleaning Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As your lease comes to a close and you want your deposit returned, the end of tenancy cleaning checklist will help ensure nothing gets missed. For many renters, a final (thorough!) cleaning makes a difference in whether you get your deposit back in full or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider how clean your apartment was when you first moved in. Your landlord should have made sure the unit was neat and tidy. Before you move out of the unit, you must maintain the same standard during your tenancy and before you move out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As many tenants do not do deep cleaning regularly, they must do a deep clean before leaving the unit for the last time. Fortunately, both landlords and tenants can use professional cleaning services to get the job done correctly, but if you are going it alone, follow this end of tenancy cleaning checklist to get your deposit back at the end of your lease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tidy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u200d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cleaning Responsibilities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Leases should include clear information about the landlord\u2019s and tenant\u2019s cleaning responsibilities. In many cases, tenants need to maintain a level of cleanliness that prevents mould, pest infestations, and other health-related problems. If apartments develop mould or bugs, tenants pay for it. You must understand how clean your rental property is before you start deep cleaning your apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before signing the lease, tenants should look at their responsibilities. If they have a garden, driveway, or other outdoor areas, they might be responsible for taking care of those areas, too. If the outside areas are shared, the landlord usually takes care of them. The only way to be sure is to read your lease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the tenant does not take care of the apartment, the landlord can hold onto the deposit to pay a cleaning company for the end of tenancy cleaning. In this case, they may pay for the most expensive tenancy cleaning service as it will come out of your deposit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, you may even get a bill for the cleaning service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, it is a good idea that you either do the tenancy cleaning yourself (using the checklist below as a guide) oryou hire a professional end of tenancy cleaning service<\/strong><\/a>, like Tidy Green Clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tidy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you do a good deep clean, the landlord should have no grounds to do anything but return your deposit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cleaning Tasks for the End of Your Tenancy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most leases have the same cleaning requirements. To get your deposit back, you will need to ensure these areas of your apartment are spotless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make Repairs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before you start the cleaning process, look for damage around the apartment. Anything you or a guest did that resulted in damage to the walls, ceiling, floors, and other permanent parts of the unit is your responsibility to fix. If you do not fix them, your landlord can charge you by keeping your deposit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check Your Lease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After making repairs, the next step is to check your lease. You should find information about your cleaning responsibilities. Make a list and get it done. If you don\u2019t meet the lease requirements, your landlord will withhold your deposit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIY Cleaning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you want to save money, you can clean your apartment yourself. Of course, you are already in the process of moving, which can be stressful. Adding a deep clean to your list might be overwhelming. But, if you have the time, you can save a lot of money to use for your other moving expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you decide to clean the apartment yourself, make sure you are in the apartment when the landlord inspects the apartment. That way, you can take care of anything the landlord deems substandard. Then, clean better and call the landlord back for another inspection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Kitchen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you clean the kitchen, empty and clean the cupboards, wash the appliances, and clean the whole floor\u2014even under and behind the appliances. Then, empty and clean the refrigerator. You should also do a deep cleaning of the oven and hob. Clear away the grime and food remnants from inside the oven and atop the hob, burners, and other surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When cleaning the kitchen, don\u2019t forget to clean the exterior and interior of all doors, including the cabinets, oven, refrigerator, and other appliances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Living Room<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your living room has cabinets or built-ins, you have to dust and clean them\u2014properly vacuum and polish floors, and dust everything possible. Look up to see if the ceiling is clean, too. Clean the windows, curtains, and blinds, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a carpet with stains, a carpet cleaning machine may be a good idea as a rental. Or get in touch with a professional carpet cleaning service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Bathroom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Think about how nice it is to move into a new apartment, and the bathroom is immaculate. You need to deliver the bathroom in that condition, so you need to scrub it from top to bottom. Clean the sink and toilet, tub, and any other tiled areas. Clean the drains and scrub the baseboards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have any mould or soap scum, take care to remove it. You might even want to remove the showerhead and clean that in a vinegar bath, too. Don\u2019t forget to clean the shower curtain if it stays in the apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check the Walls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tenants scuff walls accidentally, and landlords often charge them for repainting. If you find the scuffs, you can buy a paint that matches to cover the scuffs yourself. Buying a small can of paint costs less than paying someone to paint the walls. Some landlords keep paint cans in cupboards, garages, or basements, so look around before buying new paint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have pictures on the wall, you will need to fill and paint the holes. Don\u2019t forget your breathing mask if you have to sand the walls after filling them and before painting them. Clean the mouldings and baseboards, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clean the Windows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most landlords take responsibility for cleaning the exterior windows, but tenants usually need to clean the interior windows. If you broke windows while living in the apartment, you must replace them. The best window cleaning mixture is alcohol and vinegar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Take Care of the Furniture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your landlord furnished your apartment, you have to return it with the furniture in the best possible condition. Vacuum the upholstered furniture and wash it with a safe cleaner. Remove smells, pet hair, and other flaws. You might want to use a steam cleaner to do deep upholstery cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hard surfaces like tables need to be free of scuffs and scratches. An inside secret for cleaning wood surfaces is to rub coffee grounds into scratches for a quick, temporary repair. Lemon oil and wood polish also work well for wood surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washing Window Coverings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If the apartment came with window coverings, you need to clean and dust them. Check the washing instructions before you put the curtains in the washing machine. Dust the curtain rods and fix any scratches or issues you find. If you have blinds, dust them and replace broken slats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking Care of Flooring<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To clean your carpets, you can rent a steam cleaning for a small fee. Steam cleaners have attachments for cleaning stairs, baseboards, and other difficult-to-reach areas. If you have a pet, clean the carpets twice to get as much hair as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t forget to clean the hallways and staircases, too. These high-traffic areas show wear-and-tear, so wash the baseboards and get into any nooks and crannies.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exterior Areas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have to take care of any exterior living spaces, like a patio, garden, or shed, take time to sweep, mow, and weed. Repair any areas that have damage and replace any perennials that you may have damaged during the rental period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hopefully, this end of tenancy cleaning checklist helps you return your unit in top condition. The goal is to return the unit in the same state that you received it, so your landlord returns your deposit. Otherwise, your landlord will charge you for repairing, cleaning, and replacing any areas that do not meet your landlord\u2019s standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tenancy Cleaning Checklist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here is the cleaning checklist that experienced tenancy cleaners follow. Use this as a guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Dust all surfaces until they shine<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Remove cobwebs from ceilings and corners<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Wipe dust from inside drawers, cupboards, decorations, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Wipe away dirt from curtain rails, the tops of doors, and other hidden areas<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Polish mirrors, glass surfaces, and ornaments<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Polish picture frames and art<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Vacuum curtains and blinds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Dust lampshades and light fittings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Clean light switches<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Wipe doors and remove dirty marks from walls<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Carefully clean power sockets and extension cords<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Vacuum mattresses<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Mop and polish hard floors and laminate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Clean basins, taps and fittings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Remove hard water stains and limescale<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Scrub and rinse soap dispensers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Wipe and polish radiators and towel rails<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Scrub and rinse toilet (and plumbing if possible)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Wipe down shower door\/curtain<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Scrub and rinse bath<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Remove hair from drains and then pour drain cleaner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Make sure to clean drains<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Clean extractor fans<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Wipe bathroom tiles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Throw leftover food and carrier bags away<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 De-grease and polish kitchen wall tiles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Remove mould growth between grout<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Clean and de-grease ovens internally and externally<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Clean grime from extractors and hobs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Scrub gas rings and gas control knobs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Clean microwaves inside and out<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Clean out the fridge\/freezer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Clean the washing machine inside and out<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Clean the dishwasher inside and out<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Clean the oven, inside and out (including grill, shelves, and rubber seals)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Clean exterior of all appliances<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Sanitize the bins and remove rubbish<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Shine and pack cutlery and other kitchen accessories<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Hit sofa cushions outside to remove dust<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Vacuum the sofa with and without its cushions on<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Vacuum and steam clean carpets, including the area under furniture<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Clean carpet stains with hand or specialist carpet cleaning machine<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Remove any unnecessary items or leftover goods<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Move appliances to clean behind them<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Remove bread crumb and food deposits and polish toaster<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Clean windows and window sills<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Clean the kitchen sink and tap<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aberdeen’s Tenancy Cleaning Service<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether using this tenancy cleaning checklist or hiring a professional cleaner, we hope that you are now empowered by our guide to help end your tenancy on the right foot. Remember, it is the tenant’s responsibility to review the tenancy agreement and meet all the requirements of the rented property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Achieve this and the landlord will be delighted, the new tenants will be thrilled, and you will receive your full deposit back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have any questions or need a professional-standard cleaning team, know that Tidy Green Clean are always here to help and support you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As your lease comes to a close and you want your deposit returned, the end of tenancy cleaning checklist will help ensure nothing gets missed. For many renters, a final (thorough!) cleaning makes a difference in whether you get your deposit back in full or not. Consider how clean your apartment was when you first […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2196,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"The Complete End of Tenancy Cleaning Checklist","_seopress_titles_desc":"Ensure nothing gets missed with this thorough cleaning checklist. Follow these tips to maintain a high standard of cleanliness and get your deposit back at the end of your lease.","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tidygreenclean.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1608"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tidygreenclean.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tidygreenclean.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tidygreenclean.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tidygreenclean.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1608"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.tidygreenclean.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1608\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3694,"href":"https:\/\/www.tidygreenclean.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1608\/revisions\/3694"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tidygreenclean.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tidygreenclean.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tidygreenclean.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tidygreenclean.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}