What Does A Bond Clean Include?

So, you’re moving out of a rental, and you want to make sure you get your bond back? That’s understandable, with the soaring price of rent, bond has become very expensive.   

But what does a bond clean include? Is it worth the money and will you be guaranteed to receive your bond back?  

Read on to learn what it is, why it is necessary for renters, and what’s included in a bond clean. 

What Is A Bond Clean? 

A bond cleaning, an exit or end-of-lease cleaning service, involves deep cleaning your rental home before you move out.   

Bond cleaning aims to restore your home to the condition it was in before you moved in, removing any grime that may have built up over the years and getting it ready for a new tenant. It’s the kind of clean that includes cleaning the walls, fans, the floors and depending on the property and your real estate carpet cleaning.  

Properly cleaning your house or flat before handing the keys to your landlord increases your chances of getting your full bond back, which generally amounts to 4 weeks’ rent. 

An Outline Of The Bond Refund Process 

When your lease begins, you, your landlord or property manager will lodge your bond with the proper authority in your state. 

For example, in NSW, this is Fair Trading. 

It remains here until the lease is over when your real estate agent will either refund your bond or make a claim against it. 

Here is a brief outline of the bond refunding process: 

Initial condition report: This document details the rental property’s condition, agreed on by the tenant and landlord. This is so that the initial condition of the property is recorded in writing before you move in. You will have been instructed to check over this condition report and confirm that all existing damage in the property is recorded on that inital report.  

Final inspection: When the lease is up, and it’s time to move out, your landlord or real estate agent will conduct a final inspection, referring back to the initial condition report so that any differences or new damages can be noted. Before this final inspection takes place all your belongings must be removed, and the property must be cleaned to the standard required.  

Release or claim: If it passes the inspection, your landlord or agent will release and refund your bond. If not, they will make a claim against your bond. 

Do I need to get a professional cleaner to perform a bond clean? 

The law requires that you leave your rental property in the same condition it was at the start of your tenancy, minus general wear and tear. A bond or lease cleaning professional will help restore your place to its prior condition. 

Each landlord will have unique exit cleaning requirements and should provide you with an end-of-lease cleaning checklist. You can choose to clean your rental apartment or house yourself or hire a professional bond cleaning service, depending on how much work needs doing. 

If you had pets in your home, you might be legally required to steam the carpets – always check the Residential Tenancies Act if you need clarification on the requirements for your state. 

How long does a bond clean take? 

The time it takes to complete a successful bond cleaning will depend on many factors unique to the property, such as the size, number of rooms, and home tidiness. 

However, you can always expect it to take considerably longer than a regular clean. 

If you plan to professionally get your bond cleaning done, the time will typically range from 3 hours – 2 days.  

If you decide to perform the entire cleaning independently, give yourself at least a week to complete it before moving out. 

You’d be surprised how long it can take to tackle all the build-up of grime, mould, dust and dirt that accumulates over the years by yourself. 

What do bond cleaners do? 

Bond cleaners conduct a thorough deep clean of a property before the tenant occupies it when the lease has ended. 

They use specialised cleaning products and a professional eye for detail to meticulously clean and sanitise every corner of the property so that you get your bond back. 

A bond clean will be much more in-depth than a regular run-of-the-mill cleaning service. 

While the bond cleaning services offered by different bond cleaning companies will vary slightly, many cleaning tasks are often provided by professionals and should be carried out by people who decide to perform their own end-of-lease cleaning. 

Our bond cleaning checklist for a deep clean 

General Cleaning 

Vacuuming and scrubbing the floors + spot cleaning to remove marks 

Dusting and wiping the skirting boards 

Spot-cleaning dirty walls 

Wiping the door handles and light switches 

Dusting light fittings, ceiling fans, and vents 

Washing windows, windowsills, and tracks 

Wiping blinds & curtain rails + cleaning the curtains 

Kitchen Cleaning 

Wiping kitchen drawers, cabinets, and pantry shelves inside and out 

Degreasing and deep-cleaning the oven 

Cleaning the stove hood filter and exhaust 

Deep clean of the fridge and freezer 

Wipe and sanitise all countertops and other surfaces 

Deep cleaning the dishwasher 

Cleaning and sanitising the sink and tap 

Bathroom Cleaning 

Removing soap scum and mould from taps, fittings and bathroom walls 

Deep grout clean 

Deep clean the toilet, sink and bath 

Scrub floor and wall tiles 

Wash shower curtain or wipe shower walls 

Clean the mirrors 

Sweep, sanitise and mop floors 

Outdoor Cleaning  (we don’t complete outdoor cleaning)  

Mowing the lawn 

Weeding of the garden 

Sweeping/mopping decks or patios 

Sanitise and deep clean bins 

Remove any cobwebs 

Sweeping concrete areas 

Other tasks 

Depending on the property’s characteristics and what you and your landlord have agreed upon, additional tasks, such as steam carpet cleaning, may need to be carried out. 

It’s always a good idea to discuss with your landlord what they expect from you regarding bond cleaning when your lease ends. 

Is Professional Bond Cleaning Worth It? 

Professional lease cleaning is worth it for the majority of renters. Here are some of the benefits: 

The cost of a professional cleaning service will be much less than not getting your bond back. 

Although it is possible to do it yourself, a professional is likely to do a better job as they have experience with bond cleans – this will increase the chances of you getting back your deposit. 

It will save time during the already incredibly stressful and busy period of moving homes. 

Find a Quality Bond Cleaning Service with Absolute Domestics 

It is crucial to ensure you get the best quality bond cleaning possible, as you’ll have a lot of money riding on you getting your bond back. 

Absolute Domestics is a cleaning company that offers end-of-lease cleaning services. 

As a reliable agency with over 30 years in the industry, we are sure to provide you with nothing short of a professional-grade bond cleaning service by one of our skilled and trustworthy cleaners. 

Our professional cleaners use high-quality, specialised cleaning materials and have years of experience to help you clean every forgotten corner of your home. 

It takes under a minute to book a cleaning service with Absolute Domestics and will save you time, stress and money in the long run.