A thorough end of lease clean is the single thing standing between you and your full bond. Agents inspect the property against the condition report you signed on day one — and anything that doesn't match can come out of your deposit. This end of lease cleaning checklist walks you through every room, in the order agents actually check, so nothing gets missed in the chaos of moving week.
It applies whether you're renting in Canberra, Sydney, Newcastle or Port Stephens — though the bond rules themselves differ between the ACT and NSW, which we cover at the end.
What an end of lease clean actually is
An end of lease clean (also called a bond clean or exit clean) returns the property to the condition it was in when you moved in — minus fair wear and tear. It's not a regular tidy-up. Ovens get degreased, walls get spot-cleaned, carpets get steamed, and the inside of every cupboard gets wiped. The benchmark isn't "clean enough to live in." It's "clean enough that the agent ticks every box against the condition report."
The complete end of lease cleaning checklist
Work room by room. Tick each item off as you go.
Kitchen
The kitchen is where most bonds get docked, so start here while your energy's high.
- Oven — racks, trays, glass door and interior degreased
- Rangehood and filter (filters can soak in hot soapy water)
- Stovetop, knobs and splashback
- Inside and outside of all cupboards and drawers
- Dishwasher — filter, seals and exterior
- Sink, taps and drain (remove limescale)
- Benchtops and tiled surfaces
- Floor — swept and mopped, including under appliances if movable
Bathroom and laundry
- Toilet — bowl, seat, base and behind
- Shower screen, tiles and grout (treat any mould)
- Bath and basin
- Mirrors and vanity
- Exhaust fans (dust build-up is an easy thing for agents to spot)
- Taps and chrome polished
- Dryer lint filter emptied
- Floors and skirting
Bedrooms and living areas
- Walls spot-cleaned for marks and scuffs
- Skirting boards, door frames and doors
- Light fittings, switches and power points wiped
- Inside wardrobes and built-in storage
- Windows — glass, sills and tracks
- Blinds and curtains dusted
- Carpets vacuumed (then steam cleaned — see below)
- Hard floors mopped
Floors and carpets
- Vacuum every carpeted room, including edges and under where furniture sat
- Mop all hard floors
- Steam clean the carpets. This is the one most renters underestimate. Many leases specifically require a professional carpet clean, and agents often ask for a receipt as proof. If your lease has that clause, a home vacuum won't satisfy it.
Outdoor and extras
- Balcony or courtyard swept
- Garage swept, cobwebs removed
- Cobwebs cleared from eaves and corners
- Bins emptied and rinsed
- Remove all rubbish and any items left behind
What landlords and agents check most
If you're short on time, these are the four areas that trigger the most bond deductions — get them right first:
- Carpets — stains and odours, plus that "professional clean" clause.
- The oven — grease and baked-on residue are the classic fail.
- Walls — scuffs, marks and picture-hook holes.
- Mould — in bathroom grout, on shower screens and around windows.
Nail those four and you've handled the bulk of what an inspection looks for.
Do you need a professional bond clean?
You can absolutely do an end of lease clean yourself. Be realistic about what it takes: a two-bedroom place is usually six to ten hours of solid work, plus access to a carpet steam cleaner. If your lease requires a professional carpet clean with a receipt, that's an extra cost and trip on top.
Doing it yourself makes sense if you have the time, the place is in good shape, and there's no professional-clean clause. Hiring a professional makes sense when you're moving on a deadline, the property needs heavy work, or you simply can't afford to lose any of your bond over a missed detail. A professional end of lease clean from Grime Reapers covers everything on this list, carpets included, and gives you the receipt agents ask for.
End of lease cleaning across our service areas
We clean across the ACT and NSW, and the bond rules differ depending on where you rent:
- Canberra and the ACT — ACT tenancies are governed by their own rules, and bond disputes run through ACAT. We'll have a full ACT renter's guide linked here soon.
- Sydney — NSW bond refunds go through NSW Fair Trading via Rental Bonds Online.
- Newcastle — same NSW process, with our local team covering the Hunter.
- Port Stephens — end of lease cleans across the Bay and surrounds.
Booking the team that knows your area means we already know what local agents look for.
Frequently asked questions
What's included in an end of lease clean?
A full interior clean returning the property to its move-in condition: kitchen (including oven and rangehood), bathrooms, all rooms wiped top to bottom, windows, and carpets steam cleaned. Use the checklist above as your complete list.
Do I need to get the carpets professionally cleaned?
Often, yes. Many leases require a professional carpet clean and ask for a receipt. Check your tenancy agreement — if it's there, a home vacuum won't meet it.
How long does a bond clean take?
For a two-bedroom property, expect six to ten hours of work for a thorough DIY clean, more if the place needs heavy attention. A professional team typically does it in a single visit.
Will I get my full bond back?
If the property matches the condition report (minus fair wear and tear) and meets any cleaning clauses in your lease, you're in a strong position. The most common reasons bonds get withheld are dirty ovens, marked walls, mould and un-steamed carpets — all on this checklist.
Moving this week and don't fancy scrubbing the oven?
Skip the day of cleaning and the worry about losing your bond. Get a free quote for an end of lease clean — we cover Canberra, Sydney, Newcastle and Port Stephens, carpets and receipt included.
Written by the Grime Reapers team.