Moving house is no small feat—it can be downright stressful. There’s a lot to juggle, from sorting out utilities to packing (and then unpacking) what feels like a never-ending mountain of boxes. And then there is the big clean.
If you’re already balancing work, family, and everyday life, adding a big move to the mix can feel overwhelming. And then there’s the final hurdle—cleaning your apartment before handing over the keys. Most landlords expect the place to be spotless for the next tenant, which means getting it back to its original condition.
The thought of deep-cleaning your entire home might seem daunting, but with a little planning and the right approach, you can tackle it efficiently—without losing your sanity in the process.
If you’re looking for simple, practical ways to leave your rental looking fresher than ever, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll share six easy cleaning tips to help you breeze through your end-of-lease clean.
Let’s dive in!
Create a cleaning checklist
Before you dive into the actual cleaning, it’s a good idea to have a game plan. Mapping out a strategy beforehand will help you stay on track and tackle each task efficiently—without feeling overwhelmed.
One of the best ways to stay organized? A checklist. Having a structured list to follow ensures you don’t miss a spot, and there’s something oddly satisfying about ticking off tasks as you go. Plus, with everything laid out, you won’t have to rely on memory alone to get the job done.
Every home is different, so your checklist should be tailored to your space. You can find plenty of cleaning checklist templates online to use as a starting point—then tweak them based on your apartment’s layout and your specific needs.
A solid checklist usually breaks things down by room—bathrooms, kitchen, living areas, bedrooms—and outlines what needs to be done in each space. Some tasks, like dusting and vacuuming, apply everywhere, while others are room-specific (think scrubbing the toilet in the bathroom or wiping down kitchen counters).
As you complete each task, tick it off and move on to the next. Not only does this keep you motivated, but it also makes the whole cleaning process far more manageable—and maybe even a little satisfying.
Divide and conquer your rooms
Another excellent approach to cleaning your rooms before the end of your lease is by cleaning it one room at a time. This approach helps you tackle one section of the apartment at a time, which can make the whole process feel less overwhelming and more organised.
Ideally, you should start cleaning rooms that don’t have much use, like storage units and garages. Then, work your way to higher-traffic zones like the bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. This approach ensures that your entire home gets thoroughly cleaned without a single section getting overlooked.
Furthermore, it’s important to do one cleaning task per room at a time. The best order is to dust the room first, then vacuum it, and then wipe down surfaces. Once you’re done with every process per room, then you can move on to the next room and perform cleaning tasks in the order of your checklist.
By following this system, you won’t unknowingly transfer dirt after each step, making the cleanup process more effective and less likely to result in a mess later on.
Deep clean electrical appliances
It’s not enough to simply scrub the surface of your microwave, oven, fridge, or television when moving out. You need to pay extra attention and care to these appliances, as they have likely accumulated a lot of bacteria and grime throughout the years, assuming that you haven’t been cleaning them regularly.
For kitchen appliances like the oven and microwave, degrease and scrub each and every section of them. Ensure that the inside is free from food buildup or burnt residue. Following that, remove grease stains with a water and soap solution, all while ensuring that the appliance is plugged off.
Towards the end of your stay, start emptying out the fridge and freezer. Ensure that there’s no food build-up anywhere and no icky smells. For non-kitchen appliances, ensure that they’re free from dust and grime and keep them spotless and clean, especially areas that get touched regularly, like the power switch.
By keeping these appliances clean, you’ll leave a good impression on your landlord if you’re leaving these things behind. And if they’re your own stuff, then you’ll enter a new home with the feeling of bringing a spotless set of appliances—which can make the transition feel much more pleasant.
Hire rubbish removal services
Removing rubbish from your home can be a huge time sink, regardless of whether you’re renting a 1-bedroom apartment or a large multi-bedroom house.
If you don’t want to deal with the physical and mental burden of disposing of rubbish while vacating your place, then you can consider hiring rubbish removal services here to conduct your end-of-lease cleaning.
Hiring these removalists not only takes a big load off your shoulders but also ensures that the clean-up process is professionally done.
It’s not uncommon for people to unknowingly dispose of rubbish in the wrong bin—like throwing empty paint cans in the general waste bin. However, by hiring these services, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that all your home’s rubbish is properly and professionally handled.
Furthermore, these removal services may also include additional services to make the move-out even smoother, like repairing damaged walls, restoring furniture finishes, removing fixed areas, and restoring electrical cables in their original state.
So, if you want access to efficient and professional rubbish removal services or want to reduce the environmental impact of moving homes, consider hiring professionals to do the physical work for you.
Remove carpet and wall stains
Throughout your stay in your rental, you have likely accumulated dirt and stains on your flooring and walls.
If you haven’t cleaned these up yet, then do so as soon as you can. This will make your landlord clear your move-out quicker and return that much-needed bond.
To remove carpet stains, start by blotting spills with a cloth mixed with baking soda and vinegar. You may also use a dedicated carpet stain remover. If the stain gets removed, great. If it’s stubborn, then bring the carpet for a steam cleaning session for a deep refresh.
For wallpaper stains, wipe visible marks with a water and soap solution or a magic eraser. Stubborn spots can be removed with a vinegar and water solution.
By keeping these places clean, you’ll ensure that your old apartment is clean and ready for turning over.
Ensure everything is in working order
Keeping your place tidy is one thing; ensuring that everything is working as you left it is a totally different story. Landlords will typically require you to turn over your home with everything in working order.
As such, it’s important to double-check the appliances and equipment in your old place and ensure that they are all functioning properly. Start by testing your lights, power outlets, taps, and plumbing. If any aspect of these appliances is not working optimally, like flickering lights or a dead outlet, then address these problems as soon as you can.
Ideally, you should start inspecting these items early on to give yourself enough time to fix them. If there’s a major problem like a plumbing issue, then you can also inform your landlord about it, as it may indicate an inherent problem in the building’s piping and not something that’s entirely your fault.
Typically, the landlord will give you a list of appliances and electronics that are your responsibility to maintain early on. Check each item carefully before initiating the move-out process and ensure that they’re all in working order. By being proactive, you can leave your rental in excellent condition and get your full security deposit back without a hitch.
We hope these tips will help serve you well in moving house. Best of luck!
Spanning Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and beyond, Kids on the Coast is an online guide and printed free magazine for parents. With kids events and activities, attractions & things to do with kids, schools and education, school holiday guides, health & wellbeing for families, parenting and lifestyle news. Located on Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast & Brisbane, QLD.
