Article -> Article Details

So, you're moving out of your rental and need a bond clean to get your deposit back. But are you moving out of a furnished or unfurnished place? The requirements can differ, so you must be ready for either scenario. If you're in an unfurnished rental, you must focus on the basics - wipe down surfaces, mop floors, clean carpets, scrub bathrooms, wipe out cupboards, etc. 

For a furnished place, though, you have extra work to do. You need to clean around and under furniture, and you also have to clean the furniture itself. Wipe down tables, dust cabinets, vacuum under sofa cushions, clean appliance exteriors, polish wood furniture, and more. 

Either way, come prepared with a bond cleaning checklist and pass it to our bond cleaning Melbourne experts, and stay relaxed until we get it done. If you choose our professional bond cleaning and go in organised, you'll have your place spotless and get that deposit back in your hands. 

Let's get cleaning!

Introduction to Bond Cleaning Checklist for Rentals

There are a few key things to remember to properly clean a rental property and ensure you get your full security deposit back. Whether the rental is furnished or unfurnished, cleaning thoroughly and removing any traces of your occupancy is essential. Let’s discuss deeply about the furnished vs unfurnished apartment and cleaning checklist for both. 

Furnished Rentals

A furnished rental likely comes with major appliances, furniture, linens, and other household items provided by the owner. Professional bond cleaning Melbourne would focus cleaning efforts on:

• Wiping down and sanitising all surfaces like tables, counters, shelves, and windowsills. Use a multi-surface cleaner or glass cleaner and microfiber cloths.
• Vacuuming carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture like couches and chairs, and bare floors like wood and tile. Get into corners and along edges.
• Mopping or sweeping and mopping hard floors.
• Cleaning major appliances inside and out - wipe down exterior surfaces, clean stovetops, ovens, microwaves, refrigerators, and washers/dryers.
• Doing a deep clean of bathrooms, including toilets, showers, bathtubs, sinks, mirrors, and floors. Disinfect and scrub away any grime or mildew.
• Changing all linens like bed sheets, pillowcases, blankets, towels, bath mats, curtains, etc. and washing them before returning them.
• Emptying all trash cans and recycling bins.
• Returning all furniture and decor to its original position.

Unfurnished Rentals

For an unfurnished rental, you'll need to focus on the actual unit rather than the contents. Key areas to clean include:

• Wiping down walls to remove scuffs and marks. Patch any holes or cracks and wipe away debris.
• Dusting and wiping ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, air vents, baseboards, and trim.
• Cleaning windows, screens, tracks and sills thoroughly.
• Sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming all floors. Clean edges and corners.
• Scrubbing down bathrooms - toilets, showers, tubs, sinks, counters, mirrors and floors.
• Wiping and sanitising the kitchen - stovetop, oven, microwave, refrigerator, counters, cabinets, sinks, and floors.
• Taking out all trash and recycling and doing a final sweep to pick up any remaining debris.
• Ensuring all keys, parking passes, storage unit keys, etc., are accounted for to return to the landlord or property manager.
• Doing a final walkthrough to ensure everything is clean and in good working order before officially handing over the keys.

Cleaning Difference for Furnished Vs Unfurnished Rentals

When moving into a new rental, the cleaning checklist will differ depending on whether the property is furnished or unfurnished. Here are some of the key differences between furnished vs unfurnished rentals to keep in mind:

Cleaning Furnished Rentals

If moving into a furnished rental, you’ll want to clean all furniture and soft furnishings provided thoroughly:

• Couches, chairs, tables, lamps, art, decorations, etc. Dust and wipe down all surfaces. Vacuum under and behind furniture.
• Mattresses, bed frames, linens, blankets, pillows. Flip or rotate mattresses. Wash or replace linens and blankets. Vacuum mattresses and bed frames.
• Kitchenware like plates, glasses, cutlery, pots, pans, small appliances, etc. Wash or run everything through the dishwasher. Clean exterior of appliances.
• Storage areas like drawers, cabinets, closets. Empty, wipe down, and vacuum all storage spaces before putting your belongings in.
• Window coverings such as curtains or blinds. Launder or deep clean curtains. Dust and wipe down blinds.

Be very thorough to avoid issues with the rental agency or landlord regarding the condition of their furnished property.  Hire Clean To Shine for bond cleaning Melbourne services and let us handle the process of cleaning a furnished property. Leave the space as close to the move-in condition as possible.

Cleaning Unfurnished Rentals

With an unfurnished space, focus on cleaning the rental from top to bottom, including:

• All floors - sweep, mop, vacuum, scrub tile, linoleum, hardwood, and laminate floors. Clean carpets with a carpet cleaning machine.
• Walls and ceilings - spot clean any stains and marks on walls. Vacuum cobwebs in corners and ceiling vents.
• Windows, tracks and sills - clean inside and out. Vacuum tracks and wipe down sills.
• Doors and trims - dust and wipe down doors, frames, knobs and trim.
• Built-in appliances - clean stovetop, oven, microwave, dishwasher, fridge, washer/dryer, etc. Pull out and clean behind appliances.
• Storage areas - wipe down and sweep out cupboards, closets, utility rooms, attics, basements, etc.
• Light fixtures - dust and clean all lighting fixtures, exhaust fans and air vents.
• plumbing fixtures - scrub down sinks, tubs, toilets, showers, taps, etc.

An unfurnished space allows you to do a very deep clean since there is little furniture to move around. Be meticulous to start fresh in a clean room. Pay extra attention to corners, cracks and crevices where dirt and mould get stuck.

Must-Do's for Bond Cleaning Unfurnished Rentals

When preparing to move out of an unfurnished rental, there are certain areas you’ll want to focus your cleaning efforts on to get your bond back. Here are some must-dos for bond cleaning an unfurnished rental:

• Clean the kitchen thoroughly

The kitchen is one of the most used areas of the home, so give it a deep clean. Wipe down cabinets inside and out, and clean the stovetop, oven, microwave, fridge, and dishwasher. Mop or vacuum the floors; don’t forget to clean behind and underneath appliances. Take out the trash and recycle.

• Scrub the bathrooms

Give the toilets, showers, sinks, mirrors, floors, and counters a good scrubbing: clean soap scum and mildew from showers and bathtubs. Wipe down cabinets and shelves. Mop or vacuum the floors. Don’t forget to take out the trash!

• Vacuum and mop all floors

Vacuum carpets, rugs, and bare floors thoroughly. Mop or wipe vinyl, linoleum, tile, and wood floors. Clean along edges and in corners. Remove scuff marks and stains.

• Dust and wipe down surfaces

Dust tops of doors, windows, cabinets, shelves, ceiling fans, baseboards, air vents, and any other surfaces. Wipe down doors, walls, light fixtures, and switch plates to remove dirt and grime.

• Clean windows and blinds

Wash the inside and outside of all windows, sills, and tracks. Wipe down or dust blinds and curtains.

• Remove debris and clutter

Pick up any remaining clutter, junk, or items left behind. Do a final sweep to get into corners and small spaces. Take out all trash and recycling.

• Air out and freshen the space

Open windows to air out and freshen the space before the final inspection. You can also place bowls of potpourri, scented candles or essential oil diffusers throughout the space.

Following this bond cleaning checklist will ensure you cover all the necessary areas for bond cleaning an unfurnished rental. Putting in the work upfront will help get your bond back and leave you with peace of mind, knowing you will keep the place clean and fresh for the next tenants.

Special Considerations for Furnished Rentals

When renting out a furnished property, there are a few extra things to remember for bond cleaning. Furnished rentals typically come with additional furnishings and decor beyond an unfurnished rental, so cleaning these thoroughly is important.

• Clean and Disinfect Upholstered Furniture

All upholstered pieces like couches, chairs, and ottomans should be vacuumed and spot-cleaned to remove spills or stains. For fabric upholstery, rent a steam cleaner or hire a professional to deep clean and disinfect the entire piece. For leather, wipe down with a damp cloth and mild soap, then condition the leather according to directions.

• Dust and Wipe Down All Surfaces

Furnished rentals include more decorative items like artwork, knickknacks, electronics, and accent furniture. Carefully dust and wipe down each item, including under and behind them. Clean mirrors, TV and computer screens, lamps and their shades. Dust and wipe baseboards, windowsills, staircases and any wood trim.

• Clean All Linens and Bedding

Remove all used linens, bedding, and towels, and have them professionally laundered. This includes mattress pads, blankets, pillows, bath rugs, etc. For mattresses, consider hiring a mattress cleaning or sanitising service. Vacuum mattresses thoroughly to remove any debris before the cleaning.

• Address Any Stains or Damage

Stains or damage to furnishings may require professional cleaning or repair to restore the item in a furnished rental. Check carpeting, rugs, upholstery and mattresses for any spots or stains and have them steam cleaned. Repair or replace damaged furnishings like broken lamps, scratched tables, torn linens, etc. It’s best to check with the property owner for appropriate solutions.

By thoroughly cleaning all furnishings and decor in a furnished rental, you’ll ensure the property is restored to move-in ready condition and have the best chance of receiving your full bond back. Take the time to carefully dust, wipe down, launder, vacuum, steam clean and repair or replace anything necessary. Your tenants and wallet will appreciate the effort.

Hiring our Professional Bond Cleaning Service in Melbourne

Hiring our professional bond cleaning Melbourne to handle your end of lease cleaning is highly recommended. Our move out cleaners have the proper training, experience, and equipment to thoroughly clean your rental to meet the high standards set by property managers and landlords.

• Save Time and Stress

Rather than tackling the massive job of scrubbing down an entire house yourself, let our professionals handle it. We can complete a high-quality bond clean in a fraction of the time it would take you, even with help from friends and family. Outsourcing this tiresome task will save you time and prevent unnecessary stress at the end of your lease.

• High Quality, Guaranteed Results

We use industrial grade equipment and cleaning products to scour surfaces and remove built-up grime in kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, and more. Their work is guaranteed to meet the standards set by most property managers, so you can feel confident you’ll get your full bond back.

• Affordable, Customised Services

While DIYing your bond clean may seem like a cheap option, once you factor in the cost of high-quality cleaning products and the value of your time, hiring bond cleaning pros is often comparably priced or even more affordable. Bond cleaning services offer customisable packages based on the size and condition of your rental. We can concentrate their efforts where needed most to fit your budget.

Leaving your rental in sparkling, pristine condition is essential to having your full bond returned. Hiring a professional bond cleaning service in Melbourne is your best option for an end of lease clean you can trust at an affordable price. Our expertise, efficiency, and high standards will give you peace of mind that the job will be done right. Hand over the keys and let the pros clean your bond—you'll be glad you did!

Final Words

Hence, a comprehensive bond cleaning checklist for furnished and unfurnished rentals. While the tasks differ in scope, the goal is the same: get your full security deposit back.  Remember to connect with Clean To Shine for bond cleaning Melbourne services, and you'll have a spotless place by tackling each area individually and not skipping any steps. Once everything is spic and span, do a final walkthrough to ensure nothing was missed. Take photos or video as evidence of the clean state. Then sit back, relax, and await your full deposit refund in the mail. You earned it! With our proper planning and elbow grease, bond cleaning doesn't have to be such a chore. Good luck and happy moving!