Cleaning a rental property at the end of a tenancy agreement is a tenant’s responsibility and can be crucial for them to get their full tenancy deposit back.
We’ve created this cleaning checklist for tenants to help ensure they don’t miss any areas when moving out.
This cleaning checklist is also useful for landlords looking to prepare their property for the next tenants if the previous ones have failed to do a thorough job before moving out.
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Checklist for cleaning bedrooms
Step one is to take care of dust and dirt. The best way to tackle this is to wipe rooms from top to bottom.
- Remove cobwebs from ceilings and corners
- Dust reachable surfaces – wardrobes, shelving and cupboards
- Wipe accumulated dust and dirt from top of doors
- Wipe accumulated dust from top of picture frames
- Wipe dirt off curtain rails
- Properly vacuum and dust both sides of curtains and blinds
- Wipe and polish mirrors, pictures and other wall hangings
- Wipe off dust from skirting boards and decorations
- Dust off all light fittings and lampshades
- Clean and polish metal ornaments
- Wipe and polish switches
- Remove/repaint dirty marks from walls
- Carefully clean power sockets and extension cords
- Thoroughly vacuum all mattresses
- Mop hard floors and laminate
Checklist for cleaning bathrooms
Dirt and mildew can be an issue in bathrooms. Toilets, showers, tiles and baths should be cleaned as thoroughly as possible.
- Clean basins, taps and fittings
- Remove hard water stains
- Remove limescale if present
- Scrub and rinse soap dispensers
- Wipe and polish radiators and towel rails
- Scrub and rinse toilet and bidet
- Clean plumbing behind toilet if reachable
- Wipe marks and stains from shower screens
- Scrub and rinse bath marks and signs of mildew
- Make sure to clean drains
- Wipe and polish mirrors and glass surfaces
- Descale, rinse and wipe showerheads, taps and metal surfaces
- Scrub and rinse accumulated dirt from the toothbrush area
- Clean extractor fans
- Wipe reachable bathroom tiles
Checklist for cleaning kitchens
The kitchen can be one of the biggest tasks when cleaning a home from top to bottom. It can be the most used room, not to mention the most heavily exposed to germs and dirt.
- Wash and polish all worktops, countertops and the sink area
- Clean inside cupboards, drawers and shelving
- Throw leftover food and carrier bags away
- Wash and polish sinks and shine taps
- Remove accumulated limescale
- De-grease and polish wall tiles
- Remove mould growth between grout
- Clean and de-grease ovens internally and externally
- Clean grime from extractors and hobs
- Scrub gas rings and gas control knobs
- Clean microwaves inside and out
- Clean out the fridge/freezer
- Clean the washing machine inside and out
- Clean the dishwasher inside and out
- Clean exterior of all appliances
- Sanitize the bins and remove rubbish
- Clean outside of cupboards and drawers
- Stack and arrange cutlery, utensils and other dining accessories
- Clean inside of windows and wipe down sills, ledges and frames
- Wipe dirt from woodwork (doors, handles, doorframes, furnishings and skirting boards)
- Wipe down radiators if applicable and accessible
- Remove dust from plugs and light switches
- Vacuum, mop and polish floors
Checklist for cleaning furnishings
Landlords or their letting agents will likely check for dirty furnishings upon their inspections, so carefully wipe, vacuum, and clean all furnishings.
- Wipe and polish tables, countertops and other worktop surfaces
- Make sure you remove all fingerprints and marks
- Take sofa cushions outside and pound them until the dust is removed
- Vacuum the sofa with and without its cushions on
- Move all furnishings to vacuum underneath
- Wipe and polish all wooden units
Checklist for cleaning carpets
Carpets will also likely be checked by landlords letting agents wanting to ensure the property is in an acceptable condition when tenants move out. Carpet cleaning can be difficult without suitable equipment, so hiring a carpet cleaning machine can save you time and effort.
- Thoroughly vacuum all carpet edges
- Move furniture and vacuum underneath
- Steam clean, if possible
- Try hand-washing stains if a carpet cleaning machine is not available
Checklist for cleaning windows
Everything within your rental property should be subject to a thorough clean before you move out. Cleaning the inside of the windows is no exception.
- Remove any marks, fingerprints and oily stains
- Wipe down to prevent streaks when drying
- Dust off and clean windowsills
- Wipe down frames
- Dust off blinds, curtains and shades
Checklist for cleaning drawers, cupboards, and shelves
Is the property furnished by the landlord? It’s not uncommon to forget a drawer or cupboard that isn’t used often. Always inspect each drawer, cupboard and shelf.
- Clear drawers inside and out
- Remove any unnecessary items or leftover goods
- Wipe down the inside and out
- Wipe around handles
Checklist for cleaning appliances
You will need to check your tenancy agreement regarding your responsibilities for cleaning appliances provided by the landlord. For example, does the fridge/freezer need to be turned off upon check-out?
Fridge/freezer
- Remove dirt, mildew and leftover food
- Wipe and polish handles
- Clean rubber seal
- Move it and clean underneath and behind
- Dismantle, wash and rinse slots, grills and shelves inside
- Wipe and polish the exterior
Dishwasher
- Clean the dishwasher of food and soap deposits
- Remove all dirt, mildew and food deposits
- Inspect and clean filters
- Wipe the rubber seal
- Move it and clean underneath and behind
- Wipe the soap dispenser drawer and remove marks and stains
- Wipe down handles
Washing machine
- Clean the drum from leftovers and stains
- Inspect and clean filters
- Inspect the rubber seal
- Move it and clean underneath and behind
- Wipe the soap dispenser drawer and remove marks and stains
- Clean handles
Tumble dryer
- Clean inside and out
- Inspect and clean the rubber seal
- Clean the soap dispenser drawer
- Inspect and clean the filter
Oven and microwave
- Clean and de-grease oven, extractor fan, hob and grill
- Clean and de-grease the microwave
- Scrub off food deposits and grime
- Clean grill pan and oven racks
- Clean the inner of both the oven and microwave
- Inspect and wipe the rubber seals
- Inspect and wipe all buttons
- Clean exterior and remove stains and marks
Toaster
- Clean, wipe and polish the exterior
- Remove any food deposits and bread crumb leftovers
- Clean within as much as possible
- De-grease handles
- Remove grime
Smaller details to check when cleaning a property
There are other smaller tasks to consider to help ensure the full tenancy deposit is returned. This can include:
- Ensure all rubbish is in the appropriate outside bins
- Rinse out rubbish bins
Protecting your investment
Keep your investment safe, whether it’s a single property or a portfolio. Being a landlord has various laws and regulations to keep up with and there are various risks associated with letting a residential home. Our comprehensive Landlord Insurance can help protect you from financial risks, including accidental and malicious damage by tenants, as well as loss of rent.
The sole purpose of this article is to provide guidance on the issues covered. This article is not intended to give legal advice, and, accordingly, it should not be relied upon. It should not be regarded as a comprehensive statement of the law and/or market practice in this area. We make no claims as to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein or in the links which were live at the date of publication. You should not act upon (or should refrain from acting upon) information in this publication without first seeking specific legal and/or specialist advice. Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited trading as Just Landlords accepts no liability for any inaccuracy, omission or mistake in this publication, nor will we be responsible for any loss which may be suffered as a result of any person relying on the information contained herein.
Reviewed 02/05/2024
