Room-by-Room End of Tenancy Cleaning Guide

Cleaning a whole property for handover is easier when you work room by room, top to bottom. Here's the order and method that works.

Start at the top

Always clean from the highest point down. Dust falls, so ceilings, light fittings and tops of cupboards come first, then surfaces, then floors last. It sounds obvious, but it saves you re-cleaning.

The kitchen

The kitchen is the hardest room and the most scrutinised. Start with the oven — a proper degreaser and plenty of dwell time beats scrubbing. Soak the racks separately. Then the hob, extractor and splashbacks. Inside the cupboards matters as much as outside. Finish with the floor.

The bathrooms

Limescale is the big one here. A descaler with dwell time on the toilet, shower screen and taps will save hours of scrubbing. Check the silicone for mould — a mould spray left to work, then wiped, is far more effective than bleach alone. Don't forget the showerhead.

Living areas

Skirting boards, light switches and door frames collect dust and finger marks all year and are a common deduction. A damp microfibre and a touch of all-purpose cleaner is usually enough. Marks on walls: test a magic eraser on an inconspicuous patch first — they can dull paint.

Floors last

Vacuum first, then mop. Use the right cleaner for the surface — wood, tile and lino all differ. Change the water when it's dirty; mopping with grey water just spreads grime.

Do it in this order and you'll work faster and miss less. Or hand it to a local team who does this every day.