A bond clean generally includes a thorough, room-by-room clean of the rental property, using your Entry Condition Report as the main benchmark. Common tasks include cleaning the kitchen, bathrooms, cupboards, floors, windows, tracks, skirting boards, light fittings and ceiling fans. However, there is no universal bond cleaning checklist, so you should confirm the exact inclusions with your cleaner before booking.
What Is a Bond Clean?
If you are preparing to move out of a rental property, bond cleaning is likely to be one of the biggest tasks on your moving checklist.
Also known as end-of-lease cleaning, exit cleaning or vacate cleaning, a bond clean is a detailed clean completed before you return the property and hand the keys back to your property manager or landlord.
It is usually more thorough than regular house cleaning because it covers areas that may not receive attention during your weekly routine. However, Queensland does not have one legally prescribed bond cleaning checklist that applies to every property or cleaning company.
The condition of your rental property at the beginning of the tenancy should guide what needs to be cleaned. Your Entry Condition Report, photographs and tenancy documents are therefore more important than relying only on a generic checklist.
What Does a Bond Clean Include?
When asking “what does a bond clean include?”, remember that the answer depends on the property, its current condition and the written scope provided by your cleaner.
A professional bond cleaning service may commonly cover:
Kitchens and food preparation areas
Bathrooms, toilets and laundries
Bedrooms and living spaces
Cupboards, wardrobes and drawers
Windows, sills and tracks
Skirting boards, doors and frames
Light fittings and ceiling fans
Accessible air-conditioning vents or filters
Carpet vacuuming and hard-floor cleaning
Accessible balconies or outdoor areas
These are common examples rather than guaranteed inclusions. Before booking, request a written cleaning checklist or quotation showing exactly what the service covers.
Kitchen Cleaning
Your kitchen may require significant attention because grease, food residue and dust can build up on appliances, cupboards and surrounding surfaces.
Common kitchen bond cleaning tasks may include:
Cleaning the oven, racks and trays
Degreasing the stovetop and rangehood
Wiping benchtops and splashbacks
Cleaning the sink and taps
Wiping cupboards and drawers inside and outside
Cleaning accessible appliance spaces
Wiping switches and power points
Vacuuming and mopping the floor
Before your cleaner arrives, remove food, rubbish and personal belongings from all cupboards and drawers. Cleaning refrigerators, dishwashers or other appliances should be confirmed separately, particularly when they do not form part of the rental property.
Bathroom, Toilet and Laundry Cleaning
Wet areas are often checked carefully during a final inspection because soap residue, water marks, dust and grime can be easily noticed.
A bond clean may include:
Cleaning the shower, bath and surrounding tiles
Washing shower screens and accessible tracks
Cleaning toilets, basins and sinks
Polishing mirrors and taps
Wiping cupboards and drawers
Dusting accessible exhaust fans
Cleaning laundry tubs and surrounding surfaces
Vacuuming and mopping floors
Cleaning can remove ordinary dirt and residue, but it may not correct permanent staining, deteriorated grout, damaged silicone or maintenance problems. Report unresolved maintenance issues to your property manager in writing before the tenancy ends.
Bedrooms and Living Areas
Once your belongings have been removed, bedrooms and living spaces can be cleaned more thoroughly.
Common tasks may include:
Removing accessible cobwebs
Dusting skirting boards and window sills
Cleaning wardrobes, shelves and drawers
Wiping doors, handles and frames
Dusting ceiling fans and light fittings
Cleaning accessible air-conditioning vents or filters
Vacuuming carpets
Vacuuming and mopping hard floors
Where possible, arrange the cleaning after furniture and boxes have been moved out. An empty property gives your cleaner better access to floors, walls, corners and storage areas.
Are Windows Included in a Bond Clean?
Internal window glass, window sills and window tracks are commonly included in end-of-lease cleaning services. Queensland tenancy guidance also identifies windows and tracks as areas renters should remember when preparing to vacate.
However, external windows, high windows, flyscreens, blinds and shutters may require additional time, equipment or separate pricing.
Ask your cleaner whether the quotation covers:
Internal window glass
External window glass
Window frames and tracks
Flyscreens
Blinds or shutters
Sliding glass doors
High or difficult-to-access windows
Do not assume that every window-related task is included in the standard price.
Are Carpet Cleaning and Pest Control Included?
Carpet steam cleaning and pest control are not automatically part of every bond cleaning package. These services may be available separately or added to your quotation when required.
Your carpet responsibilities generally depend on its condition at the beginning of the tenancy, allowing for fair wear and tear. Your property manager also cannot automatically require you to use a particular carpet cleaning company or pay a predetermined service fee.
However, specific lawful conditions may apply in some circumstances, particularly if you kept an approved pet inside the rental property. Check your tenancy agreement, pet approval conditions and Entry Condition Report before arranging carpet cleaning or pest treatment.
What About Outdoor Areas?
Balconies, patios, garages, lawns and gardens may form part of your end-of-tenancy responsibilities, but they are not necessarily included in a standard professional bond clean.
Depending on your agreement and the property, you may need to:
Sweep balconies or patios
Remove rubbish and personal belongings
Clear accessible cobwebs
Clean garage floors
Weed garden areas
Mow and edge lawns
Remove debris from outdoor spaces
Gardening, pressure washing, large-scale rubbish removal and specialised exterior cleaning should be confirmed separately with your service provider.
Use Your Entry Condition Report as Your Guide
A generic bond cleaning checklist is helpful, but your Entry Condition Report should be your main reference.
Walk through every room and compare its current condition with the notes and photographs recorded when you moved in. You are generally expected to return the premises in substantially the same condition, excluding fair wear and tear.
After cleaning, complete your Exit Condition Report and take dated photos or videos. Pay attention to cupboards, tracks, floors, appliances and corners that may not be visible in wide room photographs.
Keep copies of your condition reports, cleaning receipts and written communication until your rental bond has been finalised.
Confirm What Your Bond Cleaning Quote Covers
Understanding what does a bond clean include can help you avoid unexpected costs and last-minute cleaning before your final inspection.
Before accepting a quote, ask for a written list of inclusions, exclusions and optional services. Provide details about the property’s size, condition, carpets, outdoor areas and any approved pets so the cleaner can prepare an appropriate scope.
Sparkleworks Cleaning Services provides bond cleaning for renters moving out across the Gold Coast. Contact the team to discuss your rental property and confirm which cleaning tasks and optional services should be included in your quote.
This article provides general information only. Review your tenancy agreement, Entry Condition Report and Queensland tenancy guidance for requirements relevant to your property.
