End of tenancy cleaning guide & expert tips

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Are you a tenant that’s preparing for a house move or in other words – the next chapter of your life?

Moving out is both challenging and thrilling at the same time. It welcomes a whole new journey but can also be daunting, especially when it comes to end of tenancy cleaning. When you leave the property that you’ve rented, one of your first priorities will be to receive your full deposit back from your landlord or letting agent. And the only way to do so is to convince them that the property is in the same condition in which it was on the day that you moved in. In other words – spotlessly clean, fresh, and hygienic.

Yes, there are professional end of tenancy cleaning services that you can rely on if you are willing to spend some extra money. In the long term, the investment is worth it as move out cleaning professionals work with a special EOT cleaning checklist that ensures all essential areas of the house are cleaned to perfection.

However, you can take on the challenge alone and go through a full end of tenancy cleaning session before you move out. In this article, we’ll share a complete ETO cleaning guide and will provide some useful tips that will help you turn the property into a truly fresh environment.

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Why is end of tenancy cleaning important?

Before we move on to the actual guide, it’s worth explaining why after tenancy cleaning is essential in the first place

Get your full deposit back – one of the main reasons why tenants want to either book move out cleaning services or do the cleaning solo is to receive the full amount they’ve given as a security deposit at the start of the tenancy agreement. If the landlord or letting agent approves the condition of the property and confirms that it’s the same as when you moved in, your money will be returned in full.
Prevent conflicts – cleaning after tenancy is one of the main reasons for conflicts and disputes between landlords and tenants. Don’t waste any of your time with such negative experiences by cleaning the property after you leave.
Receive perfect references – getting a good reference from your landlord or letting agent means that you can easily and quickly find a new place to rent as a tenant.
Avoid extra charges – sometimes, the amount of the deposit may not be enough to do all the necessary cleaning after you’ve left. This may lead to extra fees and more money spending.

Do you have to hire an end of tenancy cleaning company?

No, landlords for lettings agents cannot force you to hire a cleaning company if you are willing to do the cleaning yourself. All that matters is that you are able to perfectly clean the property to restore it to its initial condition. There will be an inspection for each room and area of the house to make sure the criteria have been met.

It’s always recommended to keep your itinerary with you when having these inspections. It will provide a snapshot of the condition of the property when you first moved in, at the start of your contract. This information will help you prove a point or solve any different opinions between you and your landlord.

A guide for end of tenancy cleaning

We’re now ready to start the essential part of this article – the end of tenancy cleaning guide. The better prepared you are for this task, the less time you’ll spend and the better results you’ll get. By following this guide and our tips, you’ll be able to get through end of tenancy cleaning like a professional.

Prepare your cleaning supplies early on

Once you start your move out cleaning, you want to make sure you have all the necessary cleaning materials ready to be used. Remember that different types of fabrics will require a specific type of cleaning product. If you’re unsure about how aggressive a cleaning detergent is, always read the instructions carefully to avoid damage to gentle fabrics like leather or synthetic materials. Some of the cleaning products you’ll need include:

Glass cleaner
Sanitiser spray
Degreaser
Oven cleaning spray
Bathroom cleaner
Heavy-duty descaler
Microfiber cloth
Sponge/pads
Mould removal

Organize the cleaning session well

Depending on the size of the property, you may be able to get through the whole end of tenancy cleaning in a day without a problem. However, if you’ve been renting a larger space, it could be useful to start slowly with rooms that are already vacated and free of belongings and clutter. To avoid cleaning twice, never start cleaning a room or an area of the house that you’re still using. Any signs of dirt or imperfections could mean that you’ll need to either go through the cleaning process all over again or you’ll be asked to hire an EOT cleaning company for the job.

Work according to a schedule or an end of tenancy checklist. There are plenty of materials available online but you can also design your own and personalize it however you like.

Don’t forget about your inventory

The inventory is the document that will be used to compare the condition of the property now to “then” or when you moved in. It is also what your landlord will use to determine if the condition of the property is good enough for it to be promoted to new tenants.

Take your inventory with you while cleaning and go from room to room to check all that is listed in the document. Go through every point and make sure that you’re either returning the item or room to the described state or that you’re making it even better via your cleaning techniques.

Have some natural ingredients as your little helpers

No matter how careful you’ve been during your tenancy to avoid creating nasty stains, it’s inevitable that the environment will feel used and will have accumulated scents, dust, marks, and other imperfections. You’ll not only have to go through your bedroom and bathroom, but you’ll also need to deep clean your living room and kitchen areas. Sometimes, a vacuum cleaner and cleaning products from the store won’t be enough. Especially if you want to stick to a certain budget, you’ll need to find other reliable and less expensive cleaners. Luckily, you can do so simply by looking in your cupboards. Here are a few tips on how to use natural ingredients for your end of tenancy cleaning routine:

White vinegar – this is one of the best cleaning hacks of all time. White vinegar can be used in combination with water to literally clean anything. You can use it to get rid of mould, stains, smells, window marks, and more. However, it does leave behind a vinegar-based smell that will take a few days to get rid of. This is why it’s advisable to use white vinegar for your cleaning several days before your landlord inspects the property.
Salt – if you want a substitute for a plastic scourer, simply use salt. You can use it on oily or grimy areas and directly apply it to the dirty zones.
Baking soda – if you’re looking for an all-purpose natural cleaner – baking soda is your new best friend. You can sprinkle it directly onto a smelly surface to eliminate any foul odours, you can use it to clean sinks, toilets, and baths, and you can also combine it with water for different types of cleaning purposes.
Lemon juice – like white vinegar, lemon juice is also often used in the cleaning industry to quickly and efficiently get rid of grease due to its citric acid nature. You can use it to clean your hobs, worktops, and others.

Remember the details

The biggest mistake people make when performing move out cleaning is that they often forget about the details that truly matter. Vacuuming your carpets and cleaning your ovens won’t be enough to satisfy the expectations of your landlord. You’ll also need to remove the accumulated dust from your wardrobes, coffee tables, and other areas, even if you don’t see the dust with a naked eye.

You’ll need to focus on carefully cleaning the frames and windows, your doors, knobs, and other small items. Make sure to wipe clean your drawers on the inside, disinfect your sockets and light switches, make sure carpets are free of stains, clean your walls, sanitise the upholstery, and more. All appliances should be fully cleaned, the bathroom should be sparkling and the bins should be emptied.

Note: Keep in mind that if you have nasty stains on some of your furniture or matresses, it will be best for your to book professional upholstery cleaning in order to treat them effectively.

Does your inventory cover a garden, backyard, or patio?

If the property has an outdoor space, check if it’s included in the inventory. Sometimes, tenants completely forget about spaces that they don’t use but they could be a problem for your landlord that could result in unexpected charges for you.

You can quickly and easily tidy up your garden by removing any fallen leaves, animal hutches, or any other mess. Any objects that can be thrown away can be easily collected and removed. If you’ve put away any items that were originally in the garden, like garden furniture, toys, or decor, make sure to put them back in their original place. Unless you do this, your landlord could assume that they have been broken, thrown away, or sold. In other words, you could be charged for disposing of them.

If necessary, mow the lawn, cut the grass, and wash any patios or decking areas. Make sure all lighting fixtures are working just the way they were when you moved in.

One last check

Once you’ve gone through everything that is on your end of tenancy deep clean checklist, it’s time for a final check around the property. Tick off all of the things that you’ve covered and make sure you’re not forgetting anything. Use your inventory to make comparisons and be fully confident that you’ve done a job similar to the one offered by tenancy cleaning services.

Overall, the following areas should be deep cleaned, with all of the included items, appliances, surfaces, and other objects found inside:

Living room
Kitchen
Bedrooms
Toilets & bathrooms
Hallways
Storage rooms
Gardens/Backyards/Terraces

There we have it – a full guide to end of tenancy cleaning. If you’ve never done apartment move out cleaning by yourself, the task could seem like a nightmare that will take ages. We won’t lie – it’s not an easy job. This is why most tenants prefer to rely on professional cleaning for end of tenancy. End of tenancy cleaning prices are not that expensive and the specialists can truly save you some time and effort.

We hope that this guide will come into use and will help you get through move out cleaning with zero stress.

We can draw a personal quote for you based on your needs and the volume of services you require. Just let us know.