End of Lease Cleaning Checklist Melbourne 2026
This end of lease cleaning checklist covers every room in your Melbourne rental property — the same standard property managers use at final inspection. Use it to make sure nothing gets missed and your full bond comes back.
In this checklist
Moving out of a rental property in Melbourne is stressful enough without worrying about whether you've cleaned everything to inspection standard. This end of lease cleaning checklist is built around the same criteria Melbourne property managers use — so if you tick every box, you should have no problems getting your full bond back.
Print tip: Print this checklist and tick each item off as you go. Or, if you'd rather leave it to the professionals, our end of lease cleaning service in Melbourne covers every item on this list as standard.
Before you start your end of lease cleaning
Before you pick up a cleaning product, do these things first — they'll save you time and prevent you from cleaning areas twice.
- Remove all furniture, personal belongings, and rubbish from the property
- Defrost the fridge and freezer the night before (a frozen fridge cannot be properly cleaned)
- Review your original condition report and note any pre-existing damage to avoid disputes
- Check your lease for any specific cleaning requirements (carpet steam cleaning, pest control etc.)
- Gather your supplies: oven cleaner, degreaser, glass cleaner, mould remover, microfibre cloths, mop and bucket, vacuum
Kitchen end of lease cleaning checklist
The kitchen is where most bond deductions happen in Melbourne. The oven, rangehood, and stovetop are the areas inspectors check most closely.
Kitchen
- Oven interior scrubbed — racks, trays, door glass, and walls
- Stovetop and burners degreased and cleaned
- Rangehood filter removed, soaked, and cleaned (or replaced)
- Rangehood exterior and underside degreased
- All cupboard interiors wiped — shelves, walls, and doors
- All cupboard exteriors and handles wiped
- Benchtops wiped down and sanitised
- Splashback degreased and cleaned
- Sink scrubbed, taps cleaned, and drain cleared
- Dishwasher interior cleaned — filter, walls, and door seal
- Fridge interior wiped — shelves, drawers, door seals
- Fridge exterior wiped including top
- Microwave interior and exterior cleaned
- Light fittings and switches wiped
- Skirting boards wiped
- Floor swept and mopped
Common fail point: The oven is the single most common reason for bond deductions in Melbourne. A thorough oven clean using a commercial degreaser (not just a supermarket spray) takes 45–60 minutes alone. Don't rush it.
Bathrooms & toilets end of lease cleaning checklist
Melbourne property managers inspect bathrooms closely for mould, soap scum, and scale. Shower screens are a particular focus — streaks or film will be flagged.
Bathrooms & Toilets
- Shower screen scrubbed and squeegeed — no streaks or film
- Shower tiles and grout scrubbed — mould removed
- Shower recess floor scrubbed
- Showerhead wiped and descaled
- Bath (if applicable) scrubbed inside and out
- Toilet bowl cleaned with toilet cleaner
- Toilet seat, lid, cistern, and base wiped
- Behind the toilet and floor around base cleaned
- Vanity basin scrubbed and sanitised
- Taps cleaned and descaled
- Mirror cleaned — no streaks
- Vanity cupboards inside and out wiped
- Exhaust fan cover removed and cleaned
- Towel rails and toilet roll holder wiped
- Light fittings and switches cleaned
- Skirting boards wiped
- Floor scrubbed and mopped
Bedrooms & living areas end of lease cleaning checklist
Bedrooms & Living Areas
- All wardrobes cleaned inside — shelves, rails, walls, and floor
- Wardrobe doors and exterior wiped
- Skirting boards throughout — wiped clean
- Light switches and power points wiped
- Light fittings dusted and wiped
- Ceiling fan blades and housing wiped (if applicable)
- Cobwebs removed from all corners and ceilings
- Window sills and tracks wiped
- Curtain tracks and rods wiped (curtains laundered if required)
- Blinds wiped — each slat if venetian
- Door frames, handles, and edges wiped
- Any built-in shelving wiped inside and out
- Walls spot-cleaned for scuffs and marks
- Carpets vacuumed thoroughly (steam cleaned if required by lease)
- Hard floors vacuumed and mopped
Windows & walls end of lease cleaning checklist
Windows & Walls
- All interior window glass cleaned — no streaks
- Window frames wiped inside and out
- Window tracks cleaned — remove built-up dirt and grime
- Flyscreens removed, washed, and replaced
- All walls spot-cleaned for scuffs, marks, and stains
- Crayon, pen, or sticky residue removed
- Picture hook holes filled (check your lease — some require this)
- Architraves and door frames wiped
- Skirting boards throughout the property
Laundry end of lease cleaning checklist
Laundry
- Laundry tub scrubbed and taps cleaned
- Tub drain cleared
- Cupboards inside and out wiped
- Washing machine exterior wiped (remove if freestanding and clean behind)
- Dryer exterior wiped and lint filter cleaned
- Behind and beside appliances cleaned
- Walls spot-cleaned
- Floor swept and mopped
Outdoor & garage end of lease cleaning checklist
Outdoor areas are often overlooked but are just as likely to be inspected, especially for houses in Melbourne's North West and South East.
Outdoor Areas & Garage
- Balcony or deck swept and mopped
- Balcony railings wiped
- Outdoor light fittings wiped
- Garage floor swept — oil stains treated if present
- Garage walls spot-cleaned
- Bins emptied and cleaned
- Garden maintained — lawns mowed, edges trimmed (if applicable)
- Letterbox cleared
- Front and back paths swept
Final inspection checklist — do this last
Before you hand over the keys, do one final walkthrough of the entire property using this checklist.
Final Walkthrough
- Walk through every room with your original condition report
- Check all light switches work and globes are functioning
- Open every cupboard and wardrobe — nothing left behind
- Check all windows close and lock properly
- Confirm fridge and freezer are empty, defrosted, and clean
- Check all keys, remotes, and access cards are accounted for
- Take timestamped photos of every room before handover
- Note any pre-existing damage on your copy of the condition report
Take photos: Always photograph every room immediately after cleaning and before you hand over keys. Timestamped photos are your best protection if there's a bond dispute later.
Pro tips from Melbourne end of lease cleaners
After cleaning hundreds of rental properties across Melbourne's North West and South East, here's what our team has learned about passing inspections every time.
Start with the oven — always
Apply oven cleaner first and let it soak while you clean everything else. Coming back to it after 30–60 minutes makes the scrubbing significantly easier and more effective.
Use a squeegee on shower screens
Spray, scrub, then squeegee from top to bottom. Wipe the squeegee blade with a dry cloth between strokes. This is the only reliable way to get a streak-free finish that will pass inspection.
Clean from top to bottom, back to front
Always start at the ceiling (cobwebs, light fittings) and work down to the floor. And always start at the back of the property and finish at the front door — so you don't track dirt over areas you've already cleaned.
Don't forget the window tracks
Window tracks are consistently flagged at Melbourne rental inspections. Use a flat-head screwdriver wrapped in a cloth to clean the corners of the track.
When to call a professional
If your property has a heavily soiled oven, significant mould in the bathroom, or grout that hasn't been cleaned in years, a professional end of lease cleaner is worth the investment. The cost of a professional clean is almost always less than the bond deduction for a failed inspection.
Our end of lease cleaning service in Melbourne covers every item on this checklist as standard, with services available across Essendon, Moonee Ponds, and throughout Melbourne's North West and South East.
Want us to handle the entire checklist for you?
Our end of lease cleaning team covers Melbourne's North West and South East. $55/hr, police-checked staff, free quote within the hour.
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