The exact cleaning requirements can vary between properties, so it is also important to check your tenancy agreement, property condition and any instructions provided for the final handover.
If you would rather arrange professional help, visit our Bond Cleaning Adelaide service.
Quick Answer: A bond clean checklist usually covers the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, living areas, floors, cupboards, doors, skirting boards and accessible window areas. Additional tasks such as carpet, window or detailed floor cleaning may also need to be considered depending on the property.
What Is a Bond Clean?
Bond cleaning refers to detailed cleaning carried out when a tenant is preparing to leave a rental property.
It is generally more thorough than routine weekly cleaning because areas that may receive less attention during normal household cleaning are often addressed before the property is handed back.
These can include:
- Inside accessible cupboards and drawers.
- Skirting boards.
- Doors and door frames.
- Kitchen appliances where required.
- Bathroom fixtures and surfaces.
- Window sills and tracks.
- Areas previously covered by furniture.
- Detailed floor cleaning.
The exact scope will depend on the property and its cleaning requirements.
For a more detailed explanation, read our guide on what bond cleaning is.
Bond Clean Checklist Before You Start
Preparation can make the actual cleaning process much easier. Before starting, walk through the property and identify areas requiring additional attention.
Remove Personal Belongings
Where possible, complete most of your packing before detailed cleaning begins. Removing furniture and personal belongings gives you better access to floors, walls, cupboards and corners.
Check the Property Room by Room
Walk through the property before cleaning and make a note of visible dirt, marks, stains and areas that may have been hidden by furniture.
Prepare Your Cleaning Equipment
Depending on the property, useful equipment may include:
- Vacuum cleaner.
- Mop and bucket.
- Microfibre cloths.
- Sponges.
- Suitable surface cleaners.
- Glass cleaning equipment.
- Scrubbing brushes.
- Gloves.
- Rubbish bags.
Always use cleaning products according to their labels and make sure the product is suitable for the surface being cleaned.
Complete Bond Clean Checklist
Use the checklist below to work through the property systematically. Not every item will apply to every rental, so adapt it to your property and requirements.
Kitchen Bond Cleaning Checklist
Bathroom Bond Cleaning Checklist
If the property has heavily soiled tiles or grout requiring more specialised treatment, see our
Tile, Grout & Hard Floor Cleaning Adelaide
service.
Bedroom Bond Cleaning Checklist
Living Room Bond Cleaning Checklist
Laundry Bond Cleaning Checklist
Windows, Doors and Frequently Missed Areas
Small areas are easy to overlook when concentrating on entire rooms. Before considering the clean complete, check:
- Window sills.
- Accessible window tracks.
- Door handles.
- Door frames.
- Skirting boards.
- Light switches.
- Accessible vents.
- Corners.
- Areas behind or underneath removed furniture.
- Accessible shelving.
If more extensive glass cleaning is needed, see our Window Cleaning Adelaide service.
Carpet Cleaning on Your Bond Clean Checklist
Routine vacuuming should normally be part of the moving-out clean where the property has carpeted areas.
Whether professional carpet cleaning is also required depends on the carpet condition and the requirements relevant to your rental property.
If specialist cleaning is needed, Adelaide SuperMaids provides Carpet Cleaning Adelaide and Carpet Steam Cleaning Adelaide.
Do not assume that professional steam cleaning is automatically required for every rental. Check the requirements that apply to your property before booking.
Outdoor Areas to Check Before Moving Out
Outdoor responsibilities vary significantly between rental properties. Where applicable, check areas such as:
- Balconies.
- Patios.
- Entry areas.
- Outdoor flooring.
- Accessible exterior surfaces included in your responsibilities.
- Rubbish or unwanted belongings.
Only include outdoor maintenance tasks that actually apply to your property and tenancy responsibilities.
Final Bond Clean Inspection Checklist
Once each room has been cleaned, complete one final walk-through rather than assuming the property is finished.
- Have all personal belongings been removed?
- Has rubbish been removed?
- Have cupboards been checked?
- Have floors been vacuumed or cleaned?
- Have kitchens and bathrooms received detailed attention?
- Have skirting boards and door areas been checked?
- Have accessible window areas been reviewed?
- Are there any visible marks or areas that were missed?
- Are any additional specialist cleaning services required?
Walking through the property in daylight where practical can also make overlooked areas easier to identify.
DIY Bond Cleaning vs Professional Bond Cleaning
A DIY bond clean may be suitable if you have enough time, equipment and confidence to work systematically through the property.
However, moving out often means balancing cleaning with packing, transport, utilities and other moving tasks.
Professional bond cleaners can be useful when:
- The property requires detailed cleaning.
- You have limited time before handover.
- Several rooms require attention.
- You need additional carpet, window or floor cleaning.
- You prefer to have the cleaning handled by a professional team.
Adelaide SuperMaids provides professional bond cleaning across Adelaide for rental houses, units and apartments.
Does Following a Bond Clean Checklist Guarantee Your Bond Return?
No. Completing a detailed cleaning checklist can help prepare a rental property for handover, but cleaning alone cannot guarantee that a bond will be returned.
The final outcome can also depend on factors outside the cleaning itself, including the overall property condition, tenancy terms, damage and other matters associated with the tenancy.
For that reason, a bond cleaning checklist should be treated as a practical way to organise the cleaning process rather than a guarantee of the final bond outcome.
Bond Clean Checklist FAQs
What should be included in a bond clean checklist?
A bond clean checklist commonly includes kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, living areas, floors, cupboards, skirting boards, doors and accessible window areas. Additional tasks depend on the individual property.
Should I clean inside cupboards during a bond clean?
If accessible cupboards and drawers need to be returned clean, emptying them first makes it easier to remove crumbs, dust and visible marks from the internal surfaces.
Do carpets need professional cleaning when moving out?
Not automatically in every property. Vacuuming should generally be considered as part of routine moving-out cleaning, while specialist carpet cleaning depends on carpet condition and the requirements relevant to the rental.
When should I start bond cleaning?
Detailed cleaning is generally easier after most belongings and furniture have been removed. If you are cleaning the property yourself, starting early and working room by room can make the process more manageable.
What areas are commonly missed during bond cleaning?
Frequently overlooked areas can include skirting boards, window tracks, door frames, switches, corners, shelving and floor areas that were previously underneath furniture.
Is bond cleaning the same as regular house cleaning?
No. Regular cleaning focuses on ongoing household maintenance, while bond cleaning usually involves a more detailed clean before a rental property is handed back.
Can I do bond cleaning myself?
Yes. A tenant may choose to complete the cleaning themselves where appropriate. The important point is to work systematically through the property and consider the actual cleaning requirements that apply to the rental.
Does professional bond cleaning guarantee my bond return?
No. Professional cleaning can help prepare a property for handover, but the final bond outcome can depend on other factors unrelated to cleaning.
Need Help With Bond Cleaning in Adelaide?
If the checklist feels difficult to complete alongside packing and moving, Adelaide SuperMaids can help with professional bond cleaning for rental properties across Adelaide.
Depending on your property requirements, additional carpet, window and hard-floor cleaning services may also be arranged.
Phone:
0451 787 887
Email:
info@adelaide-supermaids.com.au
Book Bond Cleaning Online
or
Contact Adelaide SuperMaids
to discuss your cleaning requirements.
