So, you're moving out of your rental property and need to get your bond back? The end of a lease often means scrubbing, mopping, vacuuming and wiping every surface to meet the high standards of a rental inspection. It's not the most exciting way to spend your time, but with some expert bond cleaning tips and tricks, you can breeze through your bond cleaning Melbourne and impress even the pickiest property manager.
Follow these tried-and-tested tricks from professional bond cleaners to get your place spotless and your full bond back in your pocket.
Once you're done, your place will be sparkling from top to bottom - you might not even recognise it yourself! With the help of proven bond cleaning tips and tricks and by tackling the job methodically, room by room, you'll be sipping a celebratory drink with your bond cheque in no time.
Let's dive in!
Start Early and Plan Ahead
Give yourself plenty of time before moving out to deep clean your place. Starting early means you can do a little at a time and avoid feeling overwhelmed. Make a detailed bond cleaning Melbourne plan, breaking down what needs to be done in each room. Consider hiring a professional bond back guarantee cleaning service to handle the significant scrubbing, especially for hard-to-reach areas.
They have the proper equipment and experience to leave your place spotless. If DIYing, work systematically from top to bottom. Clear out and scrub cabinets and drawers, wipe down walls and ceilings, mop and vacuum floors, and clean windows and sills inside and out. Pay extra attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. The earlier and more thoroughly you clean, the more of your security deposit you’ll get back.
Create a Detailed Cleaning Checklist
Creating a detailed cleaning checklist is key to tackling a bond clean without missing anything.
A good checklist should include:
- All rooms: bedrooms, bathrooms, living areas, kitchen, laundry, garage, etc. Don't forget hidden areas like cupboards, pantries and storage rooms.
- Tasks for each room: vacuum and mop floors, wipe down and disinfect surfaces, clean windows and sills inside and out, dust and wipe skirting boards, vents and ceiling fans, empty trash and recycling, clean appliances inside and out.
- 'Extras' like: cleaning range hood filters and exhaust fans, wiping down cabinet doors and hardware, cleaning light fixtures and switches, sweeping patios and porches.
- A schedule to keep you on track. Tackle one area or one task at a time. Start at the top and work your way down.
Crossing completed tasks off your checklist gives you a sense of accomplishment and motivation to keep going. Having an assistant or friend complete a final walk-through using the checklist ensures nothing gets missed. A spotless property and a full bond refund will be your reward!
Using a comprehensive checklist takes the guesswork out of bond cleaning and helps avoid frustration. You'll feel confident in the quality of your work and prepared for any inspection. A few hours of scrubbing and polishing is worth getting your bond money back in full.
Declutter and Organise
Once you’ve done an initial clean of the rooms, it’s time to declutter and organise what’s left. Go room by room and get rid of anything you no longer need or want. Have bags or boxes on hand to sort items into:
- Keep Things you want to move with you.
- Donate: Clothing, books, knickknacks in good condition that you no longer need. Take these to a local charity or shelter.
- Recycle: Paper, plastics, and anything else recyclable in your area.
- Throw away: Broken or unusable items, expired products, and general trash.
Group similar items together on shelves and in drawers and label boxes to make unpacking in your new place easier. An organised move will save you time and reduce stress. If needed, you might want to consider a storage unit for larger furniture and boxes to free up space in your home during the final clean.
A decluttered and organised property shows well to rental agents and new tenants. Make sure any storage areas like the attic, basement, garage or shed are also cleaned out and organised. The time you spend now will pay off in the long run with a quicker bond refund and easier move-out process. Leaving the place spotless is the perfect way to wrap up this chapter and move on to new adventures!
Tackle High-Traffic Areas First
When cleaning a rental property in preparation for a final inspection, focus your efforts on high-traffic areas first. These well-used spaces typically require the most work to get spotless.
Start with the kitchen. Give the stovetop, oven, refrigerator, cabinets, and floors a deep clean. Don’t forget little details like wiping down the hood vent, cleaning the stovetop drip pans, and descaling the kettle. The bathroom is next. Scrub the tub, shower, sink, counters, mirror, floor, and toilet to make them shine. Dust and mop entryways, living rooms, and hallways. Vacuum carpets, sweep and mop hard floors, wipe down baseboards, and clean light fixtures.
Bedrooms are lower traffic but still important. Strip the beds, wash all linens, vacuum and sweep under furniture, wipe down walls, and dust ceiling fans. Closets should be emptied and wiped down. Clean behind and under furniture and appliances in all rooms.
Once the major areas are spotless, move on to less-used spaces like the laundry room, garage, attic or basement. Finish by giving the exterior a quick tidy—rake leaves, mow grass, sweep entryways and patios, wipe down outdoor furniture, and take the trash out.
Following these bond cleaning Melbourne steps will help you maximise your time and get the entire rental sparkling from top to bottom before the final inspection. The effort will be well worth it when your full bond is returned!
Pay Special Attention to Kitchen and Bathrooms
The kitchen and bathrooms require extra attention during bond cleaning. Scrub cabinets inside and out, wiping away built-up grime and splatters. Clean appliances like the stovetop, oven, microwave, refrigerator, and dishwasher. Mop and wipe tile floors and grout. Disinfect sinks, tubs, showers, counters and toilets.
Wipe down mirrors and windows, removing fingerprints and dust. Clean exhaust fans and vents. Empty the trash and recycling and wipe down the bins. Clean light fixtures and switch plates. Dust baseboards and ceilings for cobwebs.
Pay attention to the little details in these high-traffic areas. Clean the stovetop drip pans and knobs. Descale faucets and shower heads. Clean behind and underneath appliances. Wipe down cabinets under sinks. Clean pet bowls and litter boxes. Take out the trash.
A spotless kitchen and bathrooms make a huge impact and are focal points that property managers and renters closely inspect. Put in the extra effort to ensure these rooms shine for a passing final inspection and deposit refund. Thorough cleaning of the kitchen and bathrooms is worth the time and effort.
Address Flooring and Carpets
Vacuuming and mopping alone won’t cut it when you’re bond cleaning. For carpets, rent a carpet shampooer or steam cleaner to lift stains and freshen the pile. Move furniture out of the way to clean the entire carpet. For hard floors like wood, tile or linoleum, sweep, mop and buff them until they shine.
Don’t forget edges, corners and tight spaces where dirt and grime often accumulate. Clean or replace air filters in vacuums, vents and HVAC systems. Tackle baseboards and the bottoms of doors while cleaning floors. Remove built-up dirt and debris from cracks, crevices, and corners around flooring or carpets.
Rent or borrow equipment like buffing and scrubbing pads or wood floor revitalisers to restore and brighten hard floors. Consider hiring a professional carpet cleaning service for heavily soiled or pet-stained carpets. Their high-powered machines and treatments can work wonders.
For the final inspection, check floors at eye level for any spots you may have missed. Run your hand along the baseboards and edges to ensure everything feels clean. Well-cleaned floors and carpets make a huge impact and lasting impression. Don't cut corners here, put in the elbow grease and make your flooring sparkle.
Focus on Windows and Glass Surfaces
Windows and glass surfaces like mirrors are often the trickiest areas to clean when bond cleaning. Give these spots your full attention to avoid missing spots and leaving streaks.
Start by wiping down all windows, inside and out, with a microfiber cloth or squeegee to remove loose dirt and debris. For stuck-on messes, use a razor blade scraper or scrubby sponge. Then, clean the glass with a specialised glass cleaner or a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. Spray the solution onto the glass and wipe clean with newspaper or paper towels.
Newspaper is great for absorbing dirt and leaving windows streak-free. Microfiber cloths also work well. Be sure to use a light touch and wipe in one direction. Buff the glass with a microfiber cloth for an extra shiny finish.
Don't forget about window tracks and sills where grime often builds up. Use an old toothbrush to scrub out dirt before wiping clean.
Mirrors require the same treatment. Wipe them down, spray them with glass cleaner and buff them to a sparkly shine. For stubborn water spots on mirrors, scrub with an abrasive sponge or scrubber.
With some elbow grease and by paying extra attention to the details, you'll have all the windows and mirrors spotless in no time. Your property manager and future tenants will surely appreciate all your hard work!
Don't Forget About Outdoor Areas
Don't stop your cleaning efforts at the front door. For the best chance of getting your full bond back, make sure any outdoor areas are spotless as well.
Clean patios, balconies, and entryways. Sweep away any dirt or debris and mop up any spills. For stuck-on messes, use a commercial outdoor cleaner or degreaser. Scrub down outdoor furniture, BBQs, and fixtures.
Rake up leaves, sticks, and other yard waste. Mow lawns, weed gardens, and trim shrubs. Neaten up landscaping by raking gravel, mulch or stones level and smooth.
Clean garage floors and wash down garage doors. Remove all personal belongings, tools, and decorations that do not belong to the property owner.
Clean up pet droppings and sweep up pet hair in the yard. Dispose of litter box contents and litter. Bathe outdoor pets before the final inspection to remove odours from fur and paws.
Empty and clean outdoor garbage, recycling and compost containers. Replace torn or damaged bins if necessary.
Clean outdoor lights, address numbers, gutters and downspouts. Ensure proper functioning to avoid issues down the road.
Doing a thorough cleaning of outdoor living areas and the yard shows you have taken pride in the entire property during your tenancy. Your real estate agent and property manager will surely appreciate your efforts for a spotless handover.
Seek Professional Help When Needed
If, after trying the DIY approach, your bond cleaning still isn’t up to scratch, it may be time to call in the professionals. Top leading bond cleaning Melbourne companies like Clean to Shine have the proper training, equipment, and experience to handle even the toughest cleaning jobs. They can ensure your place is spotless in time for the final inspection.
Rather than struggling and potentially risking your bond money, hiring pros to take over can give you peace of mind. Professional bond cleaners know all the little details that are commonly missed and the proper techniques to resolve tough issues like:
- Built-up grime in hard-to-reach areas like behind the stove, fridge or in cupboards.
- Stubborn stains in the bathroom, kitchen or on floors that require heavy-duty cleaners.
- Excessive dust, dirt or cobwebs in neglected corners of the garage, attic or shed.
Professional bond cleaners can handle the entire cleaning from top to bottom or just target the problem areas you specify. They work efficiently to get the job done right while you can focus on packing up the remainder of your belongings.
For the best results, hire a reputable guaranteed bond back cleaning company, check online reviews, and get multiple quotes to compare. Your bond money and a spotless property will be worth the investment.
Final Inspections and Touch-Ups
Once you’ve completed the major cleaning, it’s time for a final inspection. Walk through each room with a critical eye, double-checking for any spots you may have missed. Look for smudges on walls or cabinets, streaks on windows and mirrors, and crumbs on the floor. Don’t forget to peek in corners, behind doors, and under furniture.
Do a once over in the kitchen and bathrooms, ensuring all appliances, fixtures, and surfaces shine. Check that the oven, stovetop, refrigerator, microwave, sinks, tubs, showers, toilets, and countertops gleam. Vacuum entryways and wipe down doors and door frames. Dust baseboards and vent covers.
Make any necessary touch-ups to leave the property in pristine, spotless condition. You want to guarantee to pass the final inspection with flying colours. Leaving a spick and-span rental property demonstrates your professionalism and commitment to excellence. Your clients and property managers will surely appreciate your diligent work and attention to detail.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, 10 expert bond cleaning tips and tricks to get your home looking spotless for your bond clean. By following these bond cleaning tips, you'll impress your property manager and maximise your chances of getting your full bond back. Remember, put in the work now for big rewards later. Play some pumping music, roll up your sleeves, and get cleaning! Before you know it, your place will be gleaming.
And for those who want a hassle-free, professional touch, contact Clean to Shine. Our experienced team specialises in bond cleaning Melbourne service, ensuring every nook and cranny is sparkling clean. With state-of-the-art equipment and eco-friendly products, we guarantee exceptional results.
Your satisfaction is our priority. Book now and experience the Clean to Shine difference!
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