The Complete End-of-Tenancy Cleaning Checklist

Vacate Cleaning · Wellington · 7 min read

This is the room-by-room checklist professional cleaners and property managers work from at the end of a tenancy. Work through it before your final inspection — or save yourself the effort and book a clean that covers all of it. Bookmark this page so it's handy on moving day.

Kitchen

• Oven, racks, trays and grill cleaned inside and out
• Range hood and filter degreased
• Stovetop and splashback wiped down
• Inside and outside of all cupboards and drawers
• Benchtops and sink scrubbed, taps polished
• Fridge/freezer space cleaned (defrosted if staying)
• Dishwasher wiped out (if applicable)
• Floors swept and mopped

Bathroom & toilet

• Shower, screen and tiles descaled and scrubbed
• Bath cleaned
• Toilet cleaned inside and out, including the base
• Vanity, basin and mirror cleaned
• Mould removed from grout and silicone
• Exhaust fan dusted
• Floors washed

Bedrooms & living areas

• Wardrobes and built-in storage wiped inside and out
• Skirting boards, door frames and doors wiped
• Light switches and power points cleaned
• Cobwebs removed from ceilings and corners
• Window sills and tracks cleaned
• Internal windows and glass cleaned
• Carpets vacuumed (steam cleaned if required)
• Hard floors swept and mopped

Throughout the property

• Marks and scuffs removed from walls
• Heat pump / heater filters wiped
• Light fittings dusted
• Mirrors and any glass surfaces polished
• Rubbish and any leftover items removed

Outside areas

• Garage / carport swept
• Balcony or deck swept
• Cobwebs cleared from entryways
• Lawns mowed and gardens tidy (if part of your tenancy)

Remember, you're cleaning the property back to the condition you received it in (allowing for fair wear and tear), using your entry condition report as the benchmark. Tick everything above off and your final inspection should be smooth sailing.