End Of Lease Cleaning Checklist: Walls & Floors Cleaning Tips

End Of Lease Cleaning Checklist: Walls & Floors Cleaning Tips

By : Angelina
The chances of tenants losing their bond due to dirty walls and floors are always high because these areas are among the first things landlords and property inspectors review. Excluding fair wear and tear, if these areas have scuff marks, stains, spots, or mould due to the renter’s negligence during cleaning, you can partially or entirely lose the security deposit paid at the start of the tenancy. A rental bond in Brisbane (Queensland) can be up to four weeks of rent if the weekly rent is $700 or less. If the rent is more than $700, there is no maximum rental bond. Thus, it is a significant amount, and you should pay attention to walls and floors during end of lease cleaning. Hiring professional bond cleaners in Brisbane is one of the best ways to ensure you can get a complete rental bond repayment. However, if you plan to clean yourself, here is an end of lease cleaning checklist with walls and floors cleaning tips. Have a look.

Check For Repairs/Maintenance Work

Before you start the process of bond cleaning, inspect the walls and floors in your home for repairs and maintenance work. Scrubbing or washing a broken or damaged surface can lead to further damage. Therefore, if you notice cracks, paint chipping, lifted floor or any other issue not due to your negligence, inform the landlord and get them fixed. Once the repair work is done, you can focus on removing stains from the walls & floors. Additionally, assess if the walls can return to their pristine condition by cleaning because in many cases, a new paint job is necessary. It can happen when these surfaces are peeling due to water damage or seepage.

Remove Mould Spots

Mould spots are common in rooms with poor ventilation or constantly moist air. Thus, you can find them on walls and floors of bathroom, kitchen, laundry room etc. These spots not only look bad, but they also pollute the indoor air quality and threaten the structural integrity of surfaces. Therefore, get rid of them quickly while end of lease cleaning. You can spray the affected area with white vinegar and let it remain on it for at least an hour. Next, scrub the area with warm water and soap to remove the spots then wash. Furthermore, while scrubbing mouldy areas, always clean at least 50 cm from the edge of the spots. This area can have mould spores invisible to the naked eye and aid in regrowth of mould. Furthermore, Make sure the clean surface is dry and keep the room ventilated to prevent the regrowth of mould. Note: Don’t use vinegar on natural stones as it will erode and damage the surface, causing irreversible damage. The acetic acid in the white vinegar can erode the porous surface of a natural stone which you cannot restore.

Vacuum Thoroughly

Vacuum all the walls and floors in your house to remove dust, cobwebs, debris and other physical contaminants. Clean the walls first, moving top to bottom, which is a professional technique bond cleaners in Brisbane use to ensure the cleaned areas remain uncontaminated. While vacuuming the floors, make a ‘W’ pattern to manage the task effectively and efficiently. Move the cleaner straight ahead, then tilt it at a 45º angle and pull back to get the best results.

Spot Clean The Areas

After vacuuming, focus on removing spots, stains and marks on the walls then floors to sanitise them thoroughly. To do this activity, you need a multi-surface cleaner, microfiber cloths, sponges and a soft-bristled brush. Before using the cleaner, test it on an inconspicuous spot to ensure it doesn’t cause damage. It is a professional trick of bond cleaning in Brisbane to avoid damaging surfaces of rental properties they clean. During spot cleaning, divide floors into four quadrants and clean from the centre to the edges. However, while cleaning walls, start from the top and make your way down.

Wipe Walls With A Microfiber Mop

Wipe them with a microfiber mop to ensure walls are free of dust and debris after spot cleaning. Dampen the mop with a mild cleaner to get rid of smudges, fingerprints or smatters completely. While wiping walls, keep windows and doors open to ensure the room is well ventilated and walls dry while you clean.

Sweep & Mop The Floors

While end of lease cleaning, sweeping and mopping floors is the last activity you should perform before leaving the rental property. Make sure you start from the innermost rooms of the house first, making your way outwards and cleaning the mudroom or entryways last. Many professional bond cleaners in Brisbane employ this technique to avoid re-contaminating cleaned areas. For removing dust, dirt and debris from floors, you can use a broom or a dry microfiber sweeper. Additionally while mopping floors, dampen microfiber mops with a floor cleaning/disinfectant solution. You can use a commercial product or make a homemade cleaner with 50% water, 50% white vinegar and one-two teaspoon of a mild detergent.

Conclusion

Ensuring the walls and floors of your rental property are spotless for the final inspection is essential to get your bond back in full. You can hire professional bond cleaners in Brisbane to deep clean your rental property adequately. However, if you are cleaning yourself, use the end of lease cleaning checklist for walls and floors shared above. It also has cleaning tips to help you manage the process smoothly.