Why cleaning matters for your deposit
An end of tenancy clean is the deep clean you do when you move out of a rented home, so it's handed back in the same condition it was in when you moved in. It matters because cleaning is one of the biggest causes of deposit disputes. The Tenancy Deposit Scheme names cleaning and damage as the main claims made in deposit disputes.
The good news is that cleaning is the part you control. Work through the checklist below, room by room, and you give yourself the best chance of getting your full deposit back.
Before you start
- Find your check-in inventory. It's the standard you'll be measured against. If it has photos, look at them closely.
- Read your tenancy agreement for anything specific about cleaning, carpets or the garden.
- Move out first, clean last. It's far easier to clean an empty home, and you won't undo your work carrying boxes out.
- Defrost the freezer the day before, with towels underneath to catch the water.
- Work top to bottom in every room, so dust falls onto areas you haven't cleaned yet. Do floors last.
Kitchen checklist
The kitchen is where most deductions come from, so give it the most time.
- Inside and outside of every cupboard and drawer, including crumbs in the corners
- Fridge and freezer inside and out, shelves and drawers washed, seals wiped along every fold
- Hob, extractor hood and filter degreased
- Oven cleaned inside and out, including racks and the door glass
- Microwave, dishwasher filter and washing machine drawer and seal
- Worktops, splashbacks and tiles degreased, grout included
- Sink, taps and plughole descaled and polished
- Kickboards, the tops of wall units and the floor right to the edges
Bathroom checklist
Aylesbury has hard water, so limescale is the big one here. Inventory clerks notice white marks on taps, shower screens and around plugholes straight away.
- Limescale removed from taps, shower heads, hoses and screens
- Bath, shower tray, basin and plugholes scrubbed
- Toilet cleaned inside and out, including the base, hinges and behind the pan
- Tiles and grout scrubbed, sealant wiped
- Mirrors, cabinets and chrome polished
- Extractor fan cover and towel rail dusted
For stubborn limescale, see our guide to keeping limescale off taps and showers.
Bedrooms, living areas and hallways
- Inside wardrobes, drawers and built-in storage
- Skirting boards, doors, door frames and the tops of doors
- Light switches, sockets and handles
- Radiators, including between the panels if you can reach
- Windowsills, window frames and inside glass
- Cobwebs from ceilings and corners
- Carpets vacuumed thoroughly, hard floors mopped to the edges
If the carpets were professionally cleaned when you moved in, check whether your agreement asks for the same. Our carpet cleaning can be added to an end of tenancy clean.
Final checks
- Walk round every room with your inventory and compare.
- Take dated photos of each room once it's clean, including inside the oven and fridge.
- Empty every bin and remove all rubbish, including from the garden and any shed.
- Check that bulbs work and smoke alarms are still on the ceiling.
- Leave keys and any manuals where your agent asked.
Short on time? Our end of tenancy cleaning takes care of these jobs for homes across Aylesbury and the surrounding villages. Mention anything specific, like the oven, when you ask for a quote. Beth usually replies within an hour.