The complete end of lease cleaning checklist for Sydney renters

Before your cleaner arrives, remove all personal items, take out the bins, and defrost the freezer. An empty property cleans faster and costs less.

Kitchen: stovetop and drip trays, oven exterior (interior is usually extra), sink and taps, rangehood filter and exterior, splashback tiles, all cupboard and drawer interiors, countertops, fridge exterior.

Bathrooms: toilet bowl, seat, and base, shower screen and tiles (including grout), bathtub, basin and taps, mirror, exhaust fan cover, all cupboard interiors, floor tiles.

Bedrooms: vacuum all carpet and edges, dust windowsills and tracks, wipe wardrobe interiors (shelves, rails, drawers), dust light fittings, wipe power points and switches.

Living areas: vacuum and mop all floors, wipe skirting boards, dust all light fittings and fans, clean window sills and tracks, wipe light switches and power points, remove cobwebs from ceilings and corners.

General: door frames and handles, all window sills, laundry tub and taps, linen cupboard interiors, air conditioning filters (if applicable).

Extras typically charged separately: carpet steam cleaning ($30-60 per room), oven deep clean ($40-80), inside windows ($5-10 per window), balcony or patio ($30-60), garage floor ($40-70), blind cleaning ($10-15 per blind), wall mark removal ($30-60).

Always confirm your exact inclusions in writing before the cleaner starts. The most common bond dispute is scope misunderstanding.