What’s Really Included in a Professional Deep Clean? (The No-BS Sydney Checklist)

Updated July 2024

Let’s be honest—most cleaning companies will sell you a “deep clean” that’s about as thorough as a teenager’s idea of tidying their room (you know, where they shove everything under the bed and call it done), and if you’ve ever paid for what was promised to be an “end of lease Sydney” clean only to have your landlord point out dusty skirting boards, greasy range hood filters, and that mysterious sticky patch behind the toilet you swear wasn’t your fault, you know exactly what I’m talking about (it’s like when you order a “gourmet burger” and get a sad, squashed thing that looks nothing like the menu photo—you feel cheated but you’re too hungry to complain).

Here’s the kicker: a true professional deep clean—the kind that actually passes end of lease Sydney inspections with flying colors—isn’t just about wiping surfaces and calling it a day. After 8 years running cleaning teams across Sydney, I’ve learned the hard way (thanks to that one client who made us reclean her Potts Point apartment three times) exactly what separates a surface-level tidy from a bond-money-saving transformation.

Why 90% of “Deep Cleans” Miss the Mark (And Cost You Your Bond)

As we’ve seen in 2024’s rental crisis, searches for “end of lease Sydney” have skyrocketed by 62% (Source: NSW Tenancy Board Report 2024), but here’s what most cleaners won’t tell you: the average “deep clean” only addresses about 60% of what landlords actually check.

Take “Sarah” (name changed to protect the furious). She paid $450 for a bond clean, only to lose $800 because the cleaners:

• Didn’t remove the oven drip tray (caked with 3 years of pizza spills)

• Missed dust on top of door frames (a favorite inspector spot)

• Left limescale on shower glass (visible when backlit)

Lesson from the trenches:
A proper deep clean isn’t about what’s cleaned—it’s about what’s not missed.

The Professional Deep Clean Checklist (Sydney Standards)

1. Kitchen: Where Grease Goes to Party

• Oven:

  • Degrease interior, door glass, and all removable parts (yes, including that weird tray at the bottom)

  • Clean control panel crevices (Q-tip work)

• Rangehood:

  • Filter soak in degreaser (minimum 2 hours)

  • Wipe inside motor cavity (where no home cleaner ever ventures)

• Cupboards:

  • Exterior wipe + interior empty & clean

  • Top surfaces (the “out of sight, out of mind” zone)

Controversial opinion: If your cleaner isn’t removing shelf liners to clean under them, they’re not deep cleaning.

2. Bathroom: The Mold Breeding Ground

• Shower:

  • Grout scrubbed (not just surface wiped)

  • Glass descaled (streak-free when dry)

  • Drain hair removed (the horror show)

• Toilet:

  • Behind the base (where that mystery smell lives)

  • Under rim jets (toothbrush territory)

• Exhaust fan:

  • Vacuumed internals (most collect years of dust)

By the way: This changed everything for me after discovering my “clean” bathroom fan was blowing ancient dust bunnies back into the room.

3. Living/Bedrooms: The Devil’s in the Details

• Skirting boards:

  • Top edge (where dust builds like snowdrifts)

  • Corners (spider web central)

• Windows:

  • Tracks vacuumed then washed (not just wiped)

  • Both sides of glass (yes, even high windows)

• Light fixtures:

  • Dusted inside (where dead insects go to retire)

Sydney-specific tip: Heritage homes need extra care with:
✔ Cornice dusting
✔ Fireplace cavities
✔ Original floorboard gaps

The 5 Things Even Good Cleaners Forget (But Inspectors Check)

1. Behind appliances (fridge, washer)

2. Inside kitchen drawers (crumbs galore)

3. Laundry sink overflows (mold hotspots)

4. Wardrobe shelves (not just floors)

5. Balcony drains (where leaves become compost)

Pro analogy: It’s like detailing a car but forgetting the trunk—you’ll notice.

When to DIY vs. Call End of Lease Sydney Pros

DIY If:

• You’re obsessive about details

• Have 12+ hours to spare

• Own all the specialty tools (steamers, scrapers, etc.)

Call Pros When:

• Your bond is on the line

• You have tricky surfaces (heritage tiles, delicate wallpaper)

• You’d rather not spend your weekend scrubbing grout

P.S. That “clean” smell some companies use? Usually just masking odors. Real cleaning leaves no scent at all.

Need a Bond-Guaranteed Clean? Our end of lease Sydney team knows every inspector trick. Book online or risk losing your deposit.

(P.P.S. If your cleaner isn’t on their hands and knees at some point, they’re not deep cleaning—they’re surface skating.