End-of-tenancy cleaning – Hallonett’s best tips and checklist

When it is time to move out of your home, the end-of-tenancy clean is often one of the most daunting tasks. It can feel like a large and time-consuming project – where do you even begin?

After seven moves in seven years (which is a little excessive, if you ask me), I have been through my fair share of end-of-tenancy cleans. Over the years, I have collected plenty of tips and learnt what is actually worth spending a little extra time on. Here are my best tricks and advice to keep in mind when it is time to give your home a thorough moving-out clean.

What you need for an end-of-tenancy clean

A thorough end-of-tenancy clean requires both the right products and good tools, especially when you need to work through the entire home from floor to ceiling. Here, I have put together a selection of cleaning products and other practical items that are useful to keep close at hand while cleaning.

Tools and accessories

SINI Bucket 15 L, Cleaning Gloves, Universal Microfibre Cloth, Super Sponge, Scouring Sponge, Magic Eraser, Replaceable Head Dish Brush, Detail Brush, Scrubber, Concealed WC Brush, Scraper, Multipurpose Mop Set with Telescopic Shaft and Window Cleaner and Squeegee Combo.

Cleaning products

Cleaning Stone, Citric Acid, Universal Starter Kit, Kitchen Starter Kit, Bathroom Starter Kit, Floor Starter Set and Dish Soap Starter Kit.

Practical items to bring with you

  • Step stool or ladder – useful if you have high cupboards or other hard-to-reach surfaces.

  • Cordless drill – handy when you come across a forgotten screw, a curtain fitting that needs to be removed or a cupboard door that needs adjusting.

  • Screwdriver, Allen key or similar tool – useful for opening a floor drain or water trap.

  • Bin bags – for rubbish and anything that needs to be thrown away as you work through the home.

  • Scissors – useful to keep close at hand.

  • Kitchen roll – practical when cleaning drains and pipes.

  • Tea towel – useful for drying your hands while cleaning.

  • Toilet roll – this one speaks for itself. An end-of-tenancy clean takes a few hours…

  • Vacuum cleaner – perhaps an obvious one, but definitely essential.

General tips

A smart tip is to tackle the larger cleaning projects a few weeks before the move. This will make the final end-of-tenancy clean much more manageable. For example, you could defrost the freezer, clean the pipes underneath the washbasin or scrub the oven trays in advance.

When you begin the actual end-of-tenancy clean, it can be helpful not to attempt the entire home at once. I usually start in one room and work through it from ceiling to floor. This makes it easier to see what has actually been completed and saves you from running back and forth between different rooms.

Once a room is finished, you can close the door and move on to the next one. This makes the cleaning feel more manageable and reduces the risk of missing something along the way.

Always work from top to bottom when cleaning. This prevents dust from falling onto surfaces that you have already cleaned. The floors should always be cleaned last!

General cleaning throughout the home

  • Remove any picture hooks, stains and stickers from the walls.

  • Clean the windows and wipe down the blinds.

  • Wipe down permanent fixtures such as lights, coat racks and electrical panels.

  • Wipe down radiators, skirting boards, doors, air vents, handles and window sills.

  • Clean light switches and electrical sockets.

  • Wipe out wardrobes, cupboards and drawers.

  • Do you have an open fireplace, wood-burning stove or tiled stove? Make sure that it is cleaned as well.

  • Vacuum and damp-mop all floors.

  • Take one final walk through the entire home to make sure that you have not forgotten anything.

Kitchen

  • Clean the fridge and freezer thoroughly inside and out, including the shelves, racks, drawers and seals. Pull them out if possible and clean behind, underneath and on top. Switch them off when you are finished and leave the doors open so that they can dry properly.

  • Clean the oven and oven door. Do not forget the trays and racks. For stubborn burnt-on food, I use the SINI Scouring Sponge.

  • Clean the extractor hood and filter. Also wipe the surfaces around the extractor hood, where grease and dust can easily accumulate.

  • Clean the hob and the other surfaces of the cooker. Pull the cooker out if possible and clean behind and underneath it. On a glass hob, the SINI Scraper can help remove burnt-on food.

  • Clean the microwave inside and out.

  • Wipe out cupboards and drawers, and do not forget the knobs, handles, plinths and tops of the cupboards.

  • Wipe down worktops, tiles and splashbacks.

  • Clean the sink, tap and strainer. The SINI Cleaning Stone is a great tip for achieving a really shiny sink.

  • Clean the water trap underneath the sink and remove any dirt or food residue. Rinse it clean and put it back securely.

  • Clean the inside of the dishwasher and wash the filter. Do not forget the edges of the door and the rubber seal. Finish with SINI Citric Acid and run the hottest programme. Leave the door open afterwards.

Bathroom and utility room

  • Clean the shower or bath. Use the SINI Cleaning Stone and Super Sponge to clean mixer taps and shower screens. Clear and clean the floor drain as well.

  • Clean the tiles and grout. My best tip is to use the SINI Scrubber.

  • Wipe out bathroom cupboards, shelves and drawers. Polish the mirror as well.

  • Clean the washbasin and tap. Do not forget the area around the tap, where dirt and limescale can easily accumulate. Clean the water trap underneath the washbasin if necessary.

  • Clean the toilet thoroughly, both inside and out. Do not forget the areas around and behind the toilet.

  • Clean the washing machine, both inside the drum and in the detergent drawer. Scrub the inside of the rubber seal with the SINI Detail Brush. Empty the water filter and pull the machine out if possible to clean behind, underneath and on top. Finish with SINI Citric Acid and run the hottest programme. Leave the door open afterwards so that the machine can dry.

  • Clean the tumble dryer inside and out. Pull the machine out if possible to clean behind, underneath and on top. Empty the filter of dust and lint, and leave the door open afterwards.

  • Scrub and damp-mop the floor so that it is free from dirt and dust. My personal favourite is the SINI Bathroom Scourer.

Balcony, storage areas and garden

  • Remove all your belongings from the balcony, storage areas and patio.

  • Wipe down shelves, railings and other surfaces.

  • Clean the windows and glass panels if the balcony is glazed. The SINI Window Cleaner and Squeegee Combo can easily be attached to the Telescopic Shaft, which is ideal for reaching high windows.

  • Sweep or vacuum the balcony and storage areas.

  • Mow the lawn and sweep the patio.

  • Remove rubbish, loose items and anything else that has been left behind in the garden.

Those are my best tips for an end-of-tenancy clean! Once everything has been cleaned, the cupboards are empty and the keys are ready to be handed over, you can finally take a deep breath and move on to the next chapter.

Would you like to see more tips? I have also made a video showing how I clean the washing machine and tumble dryer as part of an end-of-tenancy clean, where I share some of my best tips and products. You can find it HERE!

Best of luck with the move!  

Hugs,

Matilda – @Hallonett on TikTok and @Halloneett on Instagram.

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