Cleaning instructions for the end of your tenancy

The single biggest cause of deposit deductions at the end of a tenancy is for cleaning, but it can be easily avoided. We’ve compiled some tips to help you carry out an effective clean and have included links to more in depth videos and guides where possible.

Bathrooms

When getting the bathroom looking spick and span, pay attention to these key areas. Check out the videos if you find it more helpful to watch than to read!

• Thoroughly clean the floor, sink, bathtub, toilet, shower curtains, screens and shower head. Wash windows and windowsills. Don't forget to also wipe down and dust the extractor fan.
  
  
• Throw the toilet brush away after you’ve used it and make sure you’ve thrown away all your old shampoo and soap bottles, then empty the bins.
  
  
• You can use a gel cleaner to clean the bathroom tiles, and the grouting between them needs to be soaked in bleach and cleaned down afterwards to get it looking sparkling! We’ve popped this in the bathroom section, but don’t forget to do the kitchen tiles too.
  
  
• Limescale (that hard, off-white substance that often forms around the rim of the toilet bowl and on taps) needs to be removed.
  

• Mould grows on the seals around baths, showers and sinks because of all the moisture produced in bathrooms. Wipe them regularly and use a strong mould and mildew removal product with active bleach, but don’t scrub too vigorously because you may perish the silicone. We recommend Astonish Mould & Mildew Blaster. Bear in mind that textured coatings, such as Artex, may contain low levels of asbestos – a potentially dangerous substance if disturbed. Such coatings are considered safe when not disturbed, and the cleaning of walls and ceilings would not generally be expected to be undertaken in a manner that damages or disturbs surfaces, so any risk of exposure to asbestos is extremely low. We recommend the use of spray-on mould killers, then gently wiping it off using a soft wet cloth.
  
  
• Replace any lightbulbs if needed.
  
  

Kitchens

The kitchen is probably the room that’s seen the most mess over the course of the tenancy…! Tackle it one step at a time:

• Begin by wiping down all surfaces and stubborn stains, appliances, handles, cupboard doors and the outside of the fridge.
  
  
• Clean down sinks and taps thoroughly, getting rid of limescale. Soaking a cloth in vinegar and securing it around the taps for about an hour will help lift the lime scale and make it easier to wipe off. (Here’s a video guide on cleaning a stainless steel kitchen sink).
  
  
• Buy drain un-blockers from your local supermarket – don’t leave the sink blocked!
  
  
• Now it’s time to look inside the cupboards and fridge, again making sure they’re COMPLETELY empty. You can wipe down the insides with a cleaning spray. Defrost the freezer if needed (do not chip away at ice as this causes issues and ensure it doesn't leak when defrosting).
  
  
• Pay special attention to cleaning your oven, inside and out. We recommend using Oven Pride for this.
  
  
• Don’t forget to clean the extractor hood and filter and the hob.
  
  
• Use the tips from the bathroom section on kitchen tiles and grouting.
  
  
• Clean your washing machine inside and out, including the detergent drawer.
  
  
• Replace any lightbulbs if needed.
  
  

Bedrooms & living areas

The key thing here is to leave the bedrooms and living areas clean and completely empty, as plenty of contract-holders have left belongings or rubbish and have been charged to remove them.

• Time to get that mould and mildew remover out again and apply it to any areas on walls and ceilings where mould has built up. Pull furniture away from walls to check if any mould has formed behind it (you should clean behind the furniture while you’re here too).
  
  
• Vacuum the floors (including under beds and furniture, remembering to get into those corners!), dust the room and wipe the insides of any cupboards or wardrobes.
  
  
• Check the walls for Blu-Tack stains or any form of sticky residue and refer to our tips on how to handle these. Take down temporary hooks or command strips and clean any leftover marks.
  
  
• Wash the windows. With any glass surfaces, use cleaners specifically designed for this, with an anti-smudge quality.
  
  
• Take home any furniture that didn’t come with the property (it’s REALLY important you leave nothing behind!).
  
  

• Replace the mattress protector (if one was provided).

• Don’t forget to clean the skirting boards, check the ceiling for cobwebs and dust lamps.
  
  
• Replace any lightbulbs if needed.
  
  

• Return furniture to its original position, if you moved things.

Gardens & exterior areas

• Ensure all bins (inside and outside) are emptied and clean.
  
  
• Tidy and clear garden areas (front and rear).
  
  
• Dispose of any outdoor furniture or items that weren’t originally provided with the property.
  
  
• Remove any personal belongings left outside.
  
  
• Consider arranging a tip run in advance - don’t rely on bin collection after your tenancy ends.

Click here for more information on disposing of waste and unwanted belongings.

Take all of this on board and you should be leaving behind a spotless house! It’s a lot to digest, but it’s really important, so we highly recommended dedicating a specific day and time for your final clean, when every member of your household is available to do their bit and get stuck in.

If you have any questions or concerns, we’re here to help – drop us an e-mail.