End of Lease Cleaning Checklist Melbourne 2026 — Room by Room
Property managers in Melbourne use a standardised outgoing inspection form. They work through it methodically — and anything missed is a potential bond deduction. This checklist mirrors what agents actually check, based on the standard Victorian outgoing condition report.
Use this before your vacate clean to understand scope, or after the clean to verify nothing was missed before your agent arrives.
Kitchen Checklist
- Oven interior: racks removed and cleaned, tray degreased, door glass (inside and between panes where accessible), door seals wiped
- Rangehood: filter removed and degreased, interior surfaces wiped, exterior cleaned
- Stovetop: burner grates and drip trays soaked and scrubbed, surface degreased
- Dishwasher: interior wiped, filter cleaned, door seal mould removed
- All cupboards and drawers: inside and out, including shelves and runners
- Benchtops and splashback: degreased and polished, no residue
- Sink: limescale removed, drain cleared, taps polished
- Fridge cavity (if appliance removed): walls, floor, and ceiling wiped
- Exhaust fan: cover removed, blades wiped
- Light fittings: covers removed and wiped
Bathroom and Ensuite Checklist
- Shower glass: calcium deposits and soap scum removed — glass clear, no streaks
- Shower tiles and grout: scrubbed and sanitised, mould treated
- Shower head: descaled
- Bath (if present): ring and soap scum removed, taps polished
- Toilet: bowl (including under rim), seat (both sides), cistern exterior, base
- Vanity: basin limescale removed, tapware polished, under-sink cupboard wiped
- Mirror: cleaned streak-free
- Exhaust fan: wiped inside, cover cleaned
- Towel rails and toilet roll holder: wiped and polished
- Floor grout: scrubbed — particularly around toilet base and shower
Bedrooms Checklist
- Wardrobes: interior shelves, rails, drawer faces, and tracks cleaned
- Walls: scuffs and marks spot-cleaned — especially behind furniture positions and near light switches
- Skirting boards: dusted and wiped along entire length
- Door frames and doors: finger marks around handles, top of door frame dusted
- Light switches and power points: cleaned
- Light fittings: globes checked, covers dusted and wiped
- Windows: glass inside, sills, and tracks cleaned and vacuumed
- Blinds: wiped or dusted (depending on type — S-fold, venetian, roller)
- Carpet: thoroughly vacuumed, steam cleaned if required by lease
- Hard floors: vacuumed and mopped
Living Areas Checklist
- Walls: marks cleaned — agents check behind where couches typically sit
- Skirting boards: full perimeter wiped
- Ceiling fans: blades cleaned top and bottom, centre cap wiped
- Air conditioning unit: filters removed and cleaned, exterior wiped
- Windows: glass, sills, tracks
- Blinds or curtains: dusted or wiped
- Fireplace (if present): grate cleaned, glass wiped, surround dusted
- Floors: vacuumed and mopped or steam cleaned
Laundry Checklist
- Washing machine (if included): drum wiped, exterior cleaned, lint filter cleared
- Dryer (if included): lint filter cleared, exterior wiped
- Trough sink: cleaned and drain cleared
- Cupboards: inside and out
- Tapware: polished
Outdoor and Common Areas
- Balcony or courtyard: swept, walls wiped, BBQ cleaned if applicable
- Garage: swept, oil stains treated where possible
- Garden: mown, edges trimmed, garden beds clear of rubbish (check lease obligations)
- Bins: emptied and washed
What Agents Actually Fail Tenants On
Based on common dispute patterns at VCAT and property management forums, these are the areas most likely to generate a bond deduction claim:
- Oven grease. The single most commonly cited cleaning issue on outgoing inspections in Melbourne. A wipe-over is not enough — racks need soaking, the base needs scrubbing, and the glass needs to be clear.
- Shower calcium and soap scum. Takes specialist products and time. Superficial cleaning is visible on glass and grout.
- Floor edges and skirting boards. Especially behind where furniture was — dust accumulates at the wall-floor join and is often missed.
- Carpet not steam cleaned. Many leases specify professional carpet cleaning. Check your tenancy agreement — if it says “professional steam clean required,” you need a receipt to defend a bond claim.
- Windows and tracks. The tracks fill with dust and dead insects. Agents open every window.
- Walls behind furniture. Scuffs accumulate where furniture sits against walls. Agents will move along the walls and note these.
Do You Need to Hire Professional Cleaners?
Since the 2021 Residential Tenancies Act amendment, Victorian landlords cannot require tenants to use a specific professional cleaning company. However, the standard you must achieve remains the same: the property must be returned in the same condition as recorded on the entry condition report, allowing for fair wear and tear.
If you clean yourself, use this checklist as your guide. If you hire professionals, share this list with them and ask them to confirm everything is covered. Either way, photograph every room after the clean before the agent arrives.
End of Lease Cleaning Melbourne — Hire the Professionals
Deep Clean King provides end of lease cleaning across Melbourne with a 100% bond-back guarantee. If your agent identifies any cleaning issue within 72 hours of inspection, we return to fix it at no charge.
Our end of lease clean covers every item on this checklist. We work in empty properties only and bring all equipment and products.