Before the cleaning day

Plan the clean after packing and removals wherever possible. A room full of moving boxes is much harder to clean thoroughly, and movers can bring dirt back onto finished floors.

Use the check-in inventory and any agreed handover requirements to build the list. Tell your cleaner about the number of rooms, appliances, furnishings and any heavily used areas. Arrange working water, electricity and a reliable way to enter the property.

  • Remove belongings and unwanted food.
  • Arrange waste removal separately if required.
  • Confirm keys, parking, lift access and the handover deadline.
  • Agree who will defrost the freezer, if needed, and when.

Kitchen: work from cupboards to appliances

Built-in appliances, specialist finishes and difficult-to-reach spaces need particular planning. Do not pull out heavy equipment or dismantle fittings without checking that this is safe and included.

  • Empty cupboards and drawers, then clean their accessible interiors and fronts.
  • Clean worktops, splashbacks, sink and taps using products appropriate to the surfaces.
  • Clean the oven, hob and accessible extractor surfaces to the agreed scope.
  • Clean the inside and outside of empty appliances where included.
  • Finish accessible skirting, switches, door surfaces and floors.

Bathrooms: surfaces, fittings and detail

Work systematically around the shower or bath, basin, toilet, mirrors and storage. Allow suitable products the time specified on their labels, then rinse or remove them as directed. Use separate cloths for toilet areas.

Limescale treatment must suit the material. Stone, plated fittings and damaged sealant can need a different approach from ordinary glazed tiles. Cleaning cannot repair failed grout, mould-damaged sealant or worn finishes.

Bedrooms, living rooms and hallways

Steam extraction, stain treatments, exterior windows, upholstery and high-level work should be agreed separately. Do not assume that every item called a ‘deep clean’ includes the same tasks.

  • Dust accessible ledges, furniture, frames, skirting and fittings.
  • Clean reachable interior glass and mirrors where agreed.
  • Wipe cupboard interiors after they have been emptied.
  • Vacuum floor edges and accessible areas under furniture.
  • Mop suitable hard floors as the final room task.

Leave time for a final walk-through

Check each room against the agreed list, including appliance interiors and cupboards. Let floors dry before the property is locked up. Take clear photographs of the completed rooms and keep a record of any existing damage or inaccessible areas.

A professional clean addresses the cleaning work agreed. Deposit decisions can also involve rent, damage, inventories and other matters, so a clean cannot promise a particular deposit outcome.