End of Tenancy Cleaning Checklist

A useful and comprehensive end of tenancy cleaning checklist

At the end of your tenancy agreement, it's a tenant's responsibility to ensure that the property is left in the same clean condition as when you first moved in. If you live with multiple tenants/housemates, it's a good idea to divide up the cleaning and allow plenty of time (1-2 days) to do a thorough job. Or the alternative is that you hire a reputable cleaning company to do a professional job for you. Landlords can also refer to this checklist to compare against the original inventory report.

The best way to start, is to mutually agree on a date to carry out the cleaning, ideally one or two days before you are due to move out. Any earlier and you risk the chance of needing to re-clean again! Once you have a date in the diary, make sure that you have all the required cleaning materials i.e:-

Bleach
Furniture polish
Toilet cleaner/toilet bowl cleaning tablets
Toilet brush
Washing up liquid
Rubber gloves
Dusters//sponges
Microfibre cloths (great for polishing taps, stainless steel sinks and kitchen appliances)
Floor cleaner
Bathroom cleaning spray
Kitchen cleaning spray
Kitchen roll
Window/glass/mirror cleaner
Oven cleaner
Scouring pads
Antibacterial cleaning wipes
Limescale remover/spray
Broom/dustpan and brush
Vacuum cleaner (with new/empty bag)
Mop and bucket

Cleaning To-Do List:-

Entrance Hall:-

This area can become scruffy and overlooked, but with a little time and effort, is easily transformed.

Remove any cobwebs in corners and on the ceiling/light fittings
Vacuum all areas
Throw out all junk mail/flyers
Take away your own personal post
Mop the tiles (if applicable)
Clean the inside/outside of the front door and wipe down all skirting boards/dado/picture rails

Kitchen:-

The kitchen is one of the most communally used rooms in the house, so allow enough time for a thorough clean!

Start on the oven first. Certain cleaning products such as Oven Pride, can be used whereby the racks/shelves can be placed into bags to clean/dislodge the built-up grease etc. Ideally, this should be done the night before. Clean and remove all grease/food splashes from the oven both internally and externally, including the oven door.
Clean the hob, pan supports, control knobs, extractor and scrub the gas rings
Clean the microwave both inside and out
Empty the fridge/freezer and wipe down all the shelves and compartments
Defrost the freezer if necessary
Throw away all leftover food/containers/empty bottles/cans etc.
Dispose of all the accumulated carrier bags
Empty and wipe down the bins and put out all the rubbish bags
Clean away any grease/stains from the kitchen tiles
Clean and wipe down all the work surfaces
Clean/dust kitchen/dining table and chairs
Clean and polish the sink area /taps and remove any limescale
Make sure the dishwasher is clean and empty
Throw away used/dirty sponges, cloths
Clear out all the cupboards, shelves and drawers and wipe them down if dirty (including the handles)
Remove all personal pots, pans, crockery, cutlery, glasses, utensils etc.
Make sure the washing machine is empty and clean away any mould
Clean out the clothes dryer filter and make sure it's empty
Polish/buff the exterior of all appliances where necessary
Vacuum the floor and mop

Living Room:-

Another much used communal area that will require some time to get cleaned properly.

Dust all areas including coffee/side tables, TV/stand, units, bookshelves etc.
For floorboards - vacuum and mop
For carpets - vacuum, remove any stains
Wipe down skirting boards/dado/picture rails
Clean all cobwebs from corners and ceiling/light fittings
Sofas/chairs - vacuum and clean any stains
Wash (on a gentle cycle) any cushions/covers that are dirty
Remove all personal belongings

Front/Back Garden/Outside Space:-

Often forgotten, but this is not an area that should take up too much time to tidy up.

Sweep and tidy
Dispose of any cigarette stubs/empty ashtrays
Clear away any junk that has accumulated
Wipe down any garden furniture if applicable

Bedrooms:-

Each tenant should be responsible for cleaning their own bedroom space and removing their personal possessions. Because the rooms need to be stripped of all the bedding and drawers/shelves/wardrobes emptied, you should allow ample time to allow for a thorough job to be done.

Dust all shelving, fireplace, bed side tables/desk/furniture and light fittings
Clean away all cobwebs
Wipe down skirting boards/dado/picture rails
Clean window sills/dust curtain rails
Clean all mirrors
Remove all personal possessions
Strip beds and vacuum mattresses
Wash mattress protector and fit back onto the beds (if supplied by the Landlord)
Vacuum carpeted areas and remove any stains
Gently clean all stains on walls and remove any posters/blu tack etc.
Don't forget to clean/check under the beds!

Bathrooms/Toilets:-

In a shared property, a bathroom/toilet will most likely need an intensive deep clean! Where stains have accumulated in the bath/sink and toilet, ensure you use the correct cleaning materials to get them sparkling! A toilet will probably require a vigorous scrub (with gloves on!), bleach/toilet cleaner and an effective toilet bowl cleaning tablet (i.e. Harpic Power Plus) is good to drop in just before you leave the property.

Remove all limescale where possible
Scrub away/clean all signs of mould
Clean the bath and remove any marks/scum
Wash the sinks, showers/curtain/screens etc. and polish all taps
Clean the toilet thoroughly (inside and out) with appropriate cleaner
Wipe down all tiles
Clean bathroom cabinet/mirror
Remove all toiletries, toothbrushes, sponges, cleaning material, used toilet brush etc.
Vacuum and mop the floor
Empty bins

It's always a good idea not to leave the end of tenancy cleaning to the last minute. Whether you hire professional cleaners or undertake the task yourselves, make sure you are prepared and have allowed sufficient time to get the job done properly!

Good luck and happy cleaning!