The complete room-by-room checklist used by professional cleaners — covering what landlords and inventory clerks actually check, and what tenants most commonly miss.
Deposit disputes over cleaning are one of the most common issues at the end of a tenancy in London. The deposit protection schemes consistently list cleaning as the number one reason for deductions. This isn't because tenants are dirty — it's because the standard expected is significantly higher than most people realise.
This checklist covers every area a professional cleaner addresses, and more importantly, the specific items inventory clerks and landlords check. Work through it methodically, or hand it to a professional cleaning team to work from.
Before You Start: Two Important Points
First: pull out your original inventory report (or check-in photos if you have them). You are only responsible for cleaning the property to the standard you received it. If there was limescale on the taps at check-in, you don't have to remove it — but the report needs to reflect that.
Second: cleaning is judged against a professional standard, not a personal one. "I think it looks clean" won't hold up against an inventory clerk's checklist. If in doubt, book a professional.
Kitchen Checklist
- Oven: inside walls, bottom, door glass (front and inner), racks, and burner rings
- Hob: all surfaces including under removable parts, gas burner caps if applicable
- Extractor fan: filter cleaned or replaced, grease wiped from unit
- Fridge and freezer: defrosted, interior wiped, door seals cleaned, exterior wiped
- Dishwasher: filter cleaned, interior wiped, door seal cleaned
- Microwave: interior and exterior
- Washing machine: drum, door seal (black mould commonly accumulates here), dispenser drawer
- All cupboards and drawers: inside and outside, including door handles
- Worktops: limescale at sink, underneath kettle/toaster spots
- Sink: limescale and water marks removed from basin, tap, and draining board
- Tiles: grease and splatter removed, grout cleaned
- Floor: swept and mopped including behind and under appliances where accessible
- Bin area cleaned
Bathroom Checklist
- Toilet: bowl (including under the rim), cistern exterior, seat and lid (top and underneath), base, and behind
- Bath: all surfaces, taps, overflow, and plug
- Shower: screen or curtain (mould/soap scum), tray, head, and controls
- Sink: basin, taps, and plug hole
- Tiles: limescale and soap scum removed, grout scrubbed
- Mirror: streak-free clean
- Cabinet: interior and exterior
- Extractor fan: dusted and wiped
- Floor: mopped including edges and behind toilet
- Towel rail: wiped
Bedrooms Checklist
- Wardrobes: interior (shelves, rail, base), exterior, and doors including handles
- Drawers: interior and exterior
- Windowsills: dusted and wiped, window tracks cleaned
- Skirting boards: dusted and wiped
- Light fittings: dusted
- Light switches and plug sockets: wiped
- Door and door frame: wiped, handle cleaned
- Floor: vacuumed (under bed if accessible) and mopped
- Mirrors: streak-free
Living Room / Reception Room Checklist
- Skirting boards: full length wiped
- Windowsills and window tracks
- Light fittings and lampshades
- Fireplace: if present, cleaned including hearth and mantelpiece
- All furniture surfaces (if furnished property)
- Floor: vacuumed and mopped or vacuumed throughout
- Door and door handles
Throughout the Property
- All walls: spot-cleaned for marks and scuffs (this is commonly missed)
- All ceilings: check for marks and cobwebs
- Hallway and landing: vacuumed, skirting boards wiped, coat hooks and storage cleared
- Cupboards under stairs: emptied and swept
- Loft space or storage: cleared if items were stored there during tenancy
- Garden or balcony: swept, bins emptied, any items belonging to the property returned
- Garage: swept and cleared
The Items Tenants Most Commonly Miss
Based on inventory clerk feedback, these are the most frequent causes of cleaning-related deposit deductions:
- Inside the oven (especially the inner glass panel)
- Behind and under appliances
- Washing machine door seal (mould)
- Skirting boards
- Inside wardrobes and kitchen cupboards
- Light switches
- Extractor fan filters
- Window tracks
Should You Hire a Professional?
For most tenants, yes. A professional end of tenancy clean by a company that guarantees their work to inventory standard removes the risk entirely. If the agent finds something that was in scope, you're entitled to a re-clean at no cost before any deposit deduction is considered.
Rinse London provides end of tenancy cleaning with a full deposit-back guarantee across Highgate, Hampstead, Highbury, Belsize Park, and Central London. Call 07713 919033 or get a fixed quote online.
