Moving out of a rental in Melbourne? The difference between getting your full bond back and losing hundreds of dollars often comes down to one thing: a thorough, methodical clean that meets the exact standard your real estate agent expects.

Victoria's real estate agents use the REIV (Real Estate Institute of Victoria) standard as a benchmark. Here's exactly what they check — room by room.

Kitchen

Oven interior, grill, and trays: degreased and scrubbed clean (this is the #1 reason bonds are withheld)
Rangehood filters: washed and dried
All cupboards and drawers: wiped inside and out, including handles
Sink and taps: descaled, polished, no watermarks
Benchtops: degreased and sanitised
Splashback: cleaned of any grease or residue
Dishwasher (if present): cleaned inside, filter removed and rinsed
Fridge (if included): defrosted, interior wiped, seals cleaned
Exhaust fan: dusted and wiped
Light fittings: dusted and wiped

Bathrooms & Ensuites

Shower screen: descaled, no soap scum or watermarks — this requires the right acid-based product
Shower tiles and grout: scrubbed, mould treated
Bath (if present): scrubbed including taps and drain
Toilet: bowl, seat, lid, exterior base, and behind the cistern
Vanity: inside cupboards, mirror polished
Exhaust fan: cleaned
Floor: mopped and dried

Bedrooms

Built-in wardrobes: interior shelves, rails, and tracks vacuumed and wiped
Skirting boards: wiped — agents run a finger along these
Window tracks and sills: vacuumed and wiped, no dust
Ceiling fans: blades wiped (commonly missed)
Light switches and power points: wiped
Carpet: professionally steam cleaned if present

Living Areas

All surfaces dusted including shelves, TV units, and picture rail ledges
Blinds: wiped or vacuumed depending on type
Curtains: washed or dry cleaned (check your lease)
Windows: interior cleaned, tracks vacuumed
Floors: vacuumed and mopped or carpet steam cleaned

The Rooms Agents Always Check Twice

In our experience, the areas that cause bond disputes most often are:

The oven — agents open it first. If it's not spotless inside, expect a call.
The shower screen — calcium and soap scum require professional-grade descaler, not regular spray.
Skirting boards — classic white glove test area.
Window tracks — collect dust and dead insects, always checked.
Carpet — most Melbourne leases require professional steam cleaning with a receipt.

DIY vs. Professional Bond Clean

A proper end-of-lease clean for a standard 2BR apartment takes 8–12 hours if done thoroughly. Most people underestimate this and miss key areas that agents specifically check.

A professional bond clean from Central Sea Cleaning comes with a 72-hour guarantee: if your agent raises any issue with our work, we return to fix it at no charge.