The time to move on from the property you’ve been renting might be soon, and there are a host of things to sort out before you leave. One of the things you’ll need to tick off the list is cleaning. As the tenant, you must leave the property in the best possible state so you can get your full deposit back—so you have a responsibility to clean thoroughly.

It’s important to plan ahead and allow yourself enough time to do the final clean. Make it as near to the move-out inventory as possible. Cleaning after you’ve moved out would be ideal so that you don’t have to clean around your furniture and belongings.

While the cheapest option would be doing the cleaning yourself, your moving experience can be overwhelming, even without any cleaning involved. In this case, it would be better to arrange for a professional end of lease clean from London’s leading company, End of Tenancy Cleaning London.

In the meantime, end of tenancy cleaning for tenants is a huge responsibility, which can also be a stressful experience. Here’s a guide to getting your place ready for the handover to your landlord or their agent.

How to do end of tenancy cleaning

To pass the final inspection, here are the key areas you’ll need to focus on getting spick and span.

– Kitchen

Empty and clean all the cupboards and shelves in the kitchen, and disinfect their handles thoroughly. Remove all the oil spatters, grease and stains from the countertop, stoves and other surfaces.

Pull out all appliances and wash the floors beneath them and the walls behind them. Deep clean the fridge and washing machine soap tray, and the dishwater filter. The back of most appliances is usually dusty and full of cobwebs, so wipe them with a dry cloth.

Remove all food and clean inside the refrigerator and freezer. After cleaning the fridge, switch it off at the mains and leave the door open to prevent mould.

Get rid of any stains and marks from the sink and wipe down faucets. Don’t forget to mop the floor.

– Oven and hob

If an oven isn’t cleaned regularly, thick layers of grime and grease can build up, making it very difficult to clean when it’s time to leave. You must make sure yours is pristine, and here’s how to achieve this:

Shelves: First, wear rubber gloves and check that your oven interior is cool. Take the shelves out and set them aside, then clean the other parts of the oven.
Cavity: Scrape off burnt-on food (avoid scraping the heating elements). Baking soda mixed with little water makes for a good cleaning agent.
Oven door: Wipe off any bits of grime with a damp cloth and use a soft cloth to wipe the glass door.
Hob: Remove the rings and burners, and wash them in hot soapy water.

– Living room

This is most likely the first place every visitor goes to when visiting any home, so a dirty living room creates the wrong first impression.

Clean the furniture and give them a good polish. If there are cabinets or built-ins, dust and clean them. This includes cleaning all the parts where the seats, tables and any electrical appliances have been sitting for a while. Remove any electronics, and dust them off.

Check and tidy the floor—ensure that no dirt is visible. If you have a carpet with stains, you might have to rent a carpet cleaning machine or employ professional carpet cleaners. If there are no stains, simply use a vacuum cleaner to do the carpet job.

Don’t forget to take a good look at the ceiling and check that it’s clean.

– Bedroom

Cleaning your bedroom regularly will ensure that you don’t have too much for the end of tenancy clean. Start by cleaning inside and outside the wardrobe and any other furniture. Vacuum and mop the floors and clean any mirrors. When it comes to cleaning the mattress, it can get tricky—a mattress accumulates a lot of bacteria over time, so we advise you to leave this to professionals like us.

– Bathroom

From the tiles to the sink, bath, toilet and mirror, make sure you scrub everything in the bathroom. You should also clean the drains and make sure water passes through quickly.

Clean any mould and limescale build-up from all surfaces, for example, faucets. It’s a good idea to detach the showerhead and clean it in a vinegar bath too.

– Walls

Cleaning walls can be one of the trickiest chores—it’s incredibly difficult to remove scuff marks, and you can end up spreading the dirt or even damaging the surface.

Your landlord will check the walls, so if it isn’t possible to wash off scuff marks, we suggest you paint them with some emulsion of the same colour. If there are nail holes, fill them with water filler putty.

Clean any mould, but don’t paint over it. Bleach is a great cleaning agent against mould, but wear gloves and a mask when using harsh cleaning agents. It’s also very important to let your landlord know about any mould.

– Windows

Clean all the windows from the inside and outside. Take a look at our guide to cleaning hard-to-reach windows, but don’t over-exert yourself—you might have to book a window cleaner if you cannot easily clean the outside. If there are any cracked pains, make sure you get them replaced (unless these were in this condition in your check-in inventory).

– Furniture

Vacuum your furniture. The upholstery must look pristine, with no marks or odours. You might want to hire an upholstery cleaning service to wash all your upholstery items. When it comes to wooden upholstery, wood polish is the solution. Rub it into the wooded areas to get the furniture looking brand new.

– Curtains and blinds

Check the curtain instructions and, if you can, wash them; otherwise, you might need to have them dry-cleaned. Do this for any fabric blinds. Thoroughly dust the curtain rods and repair any damage if the blind has become unusable.

– Carpets and rugs

Carpets are one of the most visible parts of any room and are often the focus of disputes. The best way to get your carpet looking spotless is by using a steam cleaner. At the very least, vacuum all the carpets and scrub them with a brush to remove any hair trapped in the fibres. This is particularly important if you’ve had pets in the rental.

– Staircases and hallways

The best way to tackle these areas is by vacuuming, mopping, and cleaning light fittings and skirting boards.

– Garden and exterior

Don’t neglect the first thing any prospective tenant will see—the outside of the property. Make sure you clear any rubbish. If there’s a shed, check and ensure that it’s clean. Sweep away leaves and debris from any patios or decking areas and hose down any decking.

Cleaning the whole property is a difficult task

Cleaning can be laborious, especially when you throw in items that are tricky to clean into the mix. If you’re cleaning by yourself, consider whether you’ve got the time and energy to complete the task thoroughly so that you can get your full deposit back—this is the main reason for getting the rental back to its original condition, as well as making sure you don’t incur any charges from your landlord.

Make sure you allow yourself enough time to carry out the deep clean and make sure you’ve got the right cleaning products and the right equipment to hand – here are some of our handy end of lease cleaning tips. It’s also a good idea to create and follow an in-depth cleaning checklist, and be sure to take pictures as you clean as proof for your landlord.

You might clean by yourself if:

You’re an experienced cleaner
It’s a small property
It’s an unfurnished property
You’ve got ample time between moving and returning the keys·

You should hire a tenancy cleaning company if:

You haven’t got the time or energy
You need to get your full deposit back
You need to use professional equipment that you’re unable to operate
You can’t reach areas of the property that need cleaning
You’re allergic to harsh cleaning products

End of Tenancy Cleaning Services is here to help

As we’ve written above, the final clean is a difficult task. Although the above list is extensive, there could be cases where you’d need professional help and an experienced company to take over—especially when you’d risk losing your deposit when it’s not done thoroughly.

At End Of Tenancy Cleaning London, we can save you a lot of time and energy. And if you’re concerned about how much end of lease cleaning costs, it’s helpful for you to know that in the long run, your professional end of tenancy cleaning price may be less than what you could end up spending without a professional clean—any financial issues that may result if your landlord withholds your deposit. for example.

To discuss your situation, don’t hesitate to get in touch and book your end of tenancy clean now.