Before you start
Find your check-in inventory and any photos from move-in day. They show the standard you are being measured against.
Do the cleaning last, once your belongings are out. Cleaning around boxes means doing it twice.
- Rubber gloves, microfibre cloths, a scraper for limescale, a mop and a vacuum
- Oven cleaner and a descaler (never mix cleaning products, especially bleach with anything else)
- Bin bags, and a way to reach high shelves and the tops of cupboards
Kitchen
The kitchen is where most disputes start, so give it the most time.
- Oven: inside, racks, glass door and seals. Soak racks in hot soapy water
- Hob, extractor hood and filter: degrease thoroughly
- Fridge and freezer: empty, defrost, wipe inside and the door seals
- Inside every cupboard and drawer, and the tops of wall units
- Sink, taps and plughole: remove limescale and grease
- Dishwasher and washing machine: filter, seals and drawers
- Wipe tiles, splashbacks and the walls around the cooker
- Mop the floor, including under and behind movable appliances
Bathroom
- Toilet: base, behind the pan, under the seat and the cistern
- Bath, shower, screen and tiles: remove limescale and soap scum
- Descale the shower head and taps
- Scrub grout lines and silicone edges (mould, if present, needs bleach-free treatment and ventilation)
- Mirror, cabinet inside and out, and extractor fan cover
- Mop the floor and skirting
Living areas and bedrooms
- Dust everything high to low: light fittings, shelves, picture rails, door frames, skirting boards and radiators
- Wipe light switches, sockets and door handles
- Clean inside windows, frames and sills
- Vacuum carpets and under the furniture that stays; check for marks and treat stains early
- Wipe built-in wardrobes inside, and clean mirrored doors
- Mop hard floors and the corners
Last-day checks
- Walk the property with your inventory and tick off each item
- Take dated photos of every room once you finish
- Remove all rubbish, and check the loft, shed, garden and balcony if they are yours to leave clean
- Return all keys and take a photo or receipt of the handover
When it is worth hiring a professional
Many tenants book a professional end of tenancy clean because it is the most time-consuming part of moving out, and the oven, limescale and windows are the items most often queried. A professional clean follows a check-out standard so the work is done in one visit, which frees up your moving day.
Common questions
Do I have to professionally clean when I move out?
Your tenancy agreement says what is required. Many require the property returned to the condition it started in, allowing for fair wear and tear, and some specify professional cleaning. Check your agreement.
How long does an end of tenancy clean take?
It depends on the size and condition of the property, from a few hours for a small flat to a full day or more for a large house. A quote is based on those factors.
Would you rather we did it for you?
Ample Cleaners offers end of tenancy cleaning across Barking, Dagenham, Romford, Ilford and surrounding areas, with DBS-checked cleaners and a fixed price.