The BEST End of Lease Cleaning Checklist (Easily Secure Your Deposit!)

In my last place, I had a ~pesky~ property manager and I was SO worried about losing my deposit. Even though I didn’t *technically* have to deep clean my house before I moved (legally), I knew it was a good idea to make it easier to get my full deposit back, and that I should follow an end of lease cleaning checklist to cover my behind with my property manager.

That’s why I’ve compiled this end of lease cleaning checklist, which is the exact one I used for my last flat to make sure I got my deposit back quickly and in full at the end of my tenancy.

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end of lease cleaning checklist

Cleaning Tips

Before we get into my end of lease cleaning checklist, here are my top tips for cleaning to make sure you get your deposit back!

1. Make sure you take pictures of the finished product.

Dust can accumulate between when you move in and when your tenancy officially ends and you shouldn’t be responsible for that.

2. In addition to pictures, keep a log (like this checklist) of what you’ve done cleaning-wise.

This will help provide evidence should there be any disputes (which, usually the deposit holding company would mediate in the first instance).

3. Deep clean even if they have a professional cleaner coming.

It’s a lot of work, but it’ll make it easier to get your deposit back.

If they say it needs to be professionally cleaned (and you don’t live in the UK, where they can no longer require you to pay for it), DON’T TRY TO CLEAN IT YOURSELF INSTEAD. Just pay someone to do it and make sure you get a proper invoice from them as proof. Seriously, you’re asking for a fight with your landlord over your deposit if you try to do it on your own. You want to remove as many roadblocks as possible to getting your full deposit back.

4. Do a final light clean on the day your tenancy ends.

Make sure you pick up any loose hairs or anything that might’ve accumulated as you’re walking through the final time. (Literally, in my friend’s building, the property managers tried not to give someone’s deposit back because there was a piece of hair on the floor so they said it wasn’t cleaned).

5. Consider specially buying super heavy duty cleaning products for the job.

For day to day cleaning, I was using a lot of natural products, but bought the good stuff for my final clean. Just make sure you ventilate the area (I definitely almost passed out trying to clean my tiny bathroom with mould cleaner oops!). Here are my top cleaning product recommendations:

End of Lease Cleaning Checklist

Now, on to the end of lease cleaning checklist, which I’ve organised by room for convenience.

cleaning checklist for apartment move out

Entire House / Living Areas

πŸ”² Hoover floor, including behind all furniture, skirting, etc.
πŸ”² Scrub floor, including behind all furniture, skirting, etc.
πŸ”² Hoover floor again
πŸ”² Wipe any interior doors
πŸ”² Clean the glass on the inside of all of your windows
πŸ”² Clean all window pulls
πŸ”² Clean the edges / trim on all of your windows
πŸ”² Clean any window shades / blinds / other window treatments
πŸ”² Wipe any bulbs or light fixtures
πŸ”² Wipe all outlets
πŸ”² Clean all radiators
πŸ”² Wipe any railings
πŸ”² Wipe end tables (top, sides, and legs)
πŸ”² Wipe coffee tables (top, sides, and legs)
πŸ”² Wipe any additional living room furniture (top, sides, and legs)
πŸ”² Hoover soft surfaces
πŸ”² Wash cushion covers where possible

deep cleaning a house

Kitchen

πŸ”² Wipe the outside (top, doors, side) of the fridge / freezer
πŸ”² Wipe the inside (top, doors, side) of the fridge / freezer
πŸ”² Wipe the outside of drawers
πŸ”² Wipe the inside of drawers
πŸ”² Wipe the outside of cabinets
πŸ”² Wipe the inside of cabinets
πŸ”² Wipe kitchen walls
πŸ”² Wipe countertops
πŸ”² Wipe cooktop
πŸ”² Wipe backsplash
πŸ”² Wipe extractor fan
πŸ”² Clean outside of oven
πŸ”² Clean inside of oven and racks
πŸ”² Clean kitchen sink
πŸ”² Clean kitchen tap
πŸ”² Clean the outside of the microwave (top, sides, front, and buttons)
πŸ”² Clean the inside of the microwave
πŸ”² Clean the plate inside of the microwave
πŸ”² Wipe the outside of the washing machine
πŸ”² Wipe the inside of the washing machine and door
πŸ”² Wipe the soap tray in the washing machine

cleaning checklist by room

Dining Room

πŸ”² Wipe table (top and legs)
πŸ”² Wipe chairs (seat, top, and legs)
πŸ”² Wash cushion covers where possible

deep cleaning house checklist

Bedrooms

πŸ”² Clean the top of your chest of drawers
πŸ”² Clean the outside of all dresser drawers (including drawer pulls)
πŸ”² Clean the sides of your chest of drawers
πŸ”² Clean the inside of drawers in chest of drawers
πŸ”² Clean the outside of drawers and sides of nightstand
πŸ”² Clean the top of nightstand
πŸ”² Clean the inside of nightstand drawers
πŸ”² Wipe any bulbs or light fixtures
πŸ”² Wipe all surfaces of bed
πŸ”² Make sure mattress is clean (remove loose hairs or anything)
πŸ”² Move the bed and wipe any further dust that has accumulated
πŸ”² Wipe desk and additional chairs (if present)

cleaning checklist bathroom

Bathrooms

πŸ”² Clean any exposed pipes in bathroom
πŸ”² Clean bathroom sink
πŸ”² Clean bathroom tap
πŸ”² Clean outside of bathroom cabinets
πŸ”² Clean inside of bathroom cabinets
πŸ”² Clean exterior of toilet (including under bowl)
πŸ”² Clean interior of toilet
πŸ”² Clean inside of shower door
πŸ”² Clean outside of shower door
πŸ”² Clean trim on shower door
πŸ”² Clean shower tiles
πŸ”² Clean floor of shower
πŸ”² Clean shower drain
πŸ”² Clean any built-in soap dishes
πŸ”² Clean entire shower head
πŸ”² Clean shower cord if shower head is detachable
πŸ”² Clean shower unit (if applicable)
πŸ”² Clean outside of medicine cabinet
πŸ”² Clean inside of medicine cabinet
πŸ”² Clean top of medicine cabinet
πŸ”² Clean the bathroom backsplash
πŸ”² Clean extractor fan

cleaning checklist apartment

Miscellaneous

πŸ”² Wipe inside of front door
πŸ”² Wipe intercom

Okay, so that’s the full end of lease cleaning checklist I used when I moved out of my last place! Let me know below if you used it and found it helpful.

For more flat moving tips, check out this article on mistakes people make moving house in London and this article on what you should buy for your first flat in London.

2 thoughts on β€œThe BEST End of Lease Cleaning Checklist (Easily Secure Your Deposit!)”

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