Start with the inventory and timing
Compare the current condition with the original inventory. Note existing marks, wear and any cleaning concerns separately. Arrange the main clean after your belongings have been removed where possible: empty rooms make floors, shelves and cupboard interiors easier to reach. Leave a buffer before handing over the keys so you can check the agreed work.
Kitchen: work from cupboards to floors
Empty cupboards and drawers, remove crumbs and wipe suitable interiors. Clean accessible worktops, splashbacks, the sink and taps using products appropriate for the material. Check appliance instructions before cleaning. Agree oven interiors, extractor filters and fridge or freezer interiors separately when booking; they should not be assumed to be included. Defrost appliances only when appropriate and planned in advance.
Bathrooms: check details as well as obvious surfaces
Give attention to basins, toilets, shower screens, baths and accessible fittings. Check mirrors, shelves and reachable corners. Use a suitable product for the surface and follow its label. Do not mix cleaning products. Heavy staining, damaged sealant and persistent mould may require attention beyond an ordinary clean; report these rather than covering them up.
Living spaces, bedrooms and carpets
Work through accessible shelving, skirting boards, switches and door handles before vacuuming or mopping. Check cupboard interiors and the edges of rooms. Mention stairs, carpet spots and previous treatments when asking about carpet cleaning. Cleaning cannot reverse every stain or worn patch, so agree realistic expectations before work starts.
Final handover checklist
Walk through each room in good light. Check that rubbish and belongings have been removed, photograph the condition and keep a record of agreed work. A cleaning service cannot guarantee the return of a deposit: the wider condition of the property and the tenancy arrangements also matter. For a move within Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire or Wiltshire, send Lemon Squeezy your postcode, room count and handover date to check availability.
Product safety: HSE: safe use of cleaning substances.
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