The oven is the item most commonly failed at a Queensland exit inspection. Not the bathroom, not the carpets. The oven. Agents open it at every inspection, and it is the single item most likely to generate a re-clean request or a bond claim. Understanding what agents are actually checking, room by room, is what separates a bond clean that passes from one that does not.
This checklist is structured to match the Queensland RTA exit condition report, the document your property manager uses at inspection. Work through it in this order and you will not miss the things that matter. If you are still weighing up whether to book a professional instead, the maths on paying a professional is worth running first.
What Is a Bond Clean in Queensland?
A bond clean, also called an exit clean, is the comprehensive clean required at the end of a Queensland tenancy to return the property to the condition recorded in the entry condition report, fair wear and tear excepted. Your rental bond, held by the Residential Tenancies Authority, is at direct risk if the property fails the final inspection. Other states use different names for the same job, and what the four move-out cleaning names mean sets out which one applies where.
The standard is not perfection. It is return-to-entry-condition. But in practice, Queensland property managers work from a detailed exit condition report that covers every room, every surface, and several Queensland-specific items (particularly A/C filters, ceiling fans, outdoor areas, and fly screens) that interstate checklists do not include.
Verified independent providers on the Urgent Pro bond cleaning network work to a checklist aligned with QLD exit condition expectations. Understanding what that checklist covers helps you book the right scope and know what to check before handing over the keys. For the specific document your property manager works from during that inspection, see what QLD property managers actually check.
Kitchen: The Highest-Risk Room
The kitchen takes the most time and generates the most disputes. Clean it in this sequence to avoid re-soiling surfaces you have already done.
Oven (highest priority): Remove all racks and soak in degreaser. Clean the oven interior walls, base, and roof. Clean the element or gas burners. Remove and clean the door seals. Clean the oven door glass inside and out. Agents hold the door at an angle against the light specifically to check the glass. Replace racks only when clean.
A proper oven clean takes 45–90 minutes on a property that has not been cleaned regularly. Anything faster than that is not a thorough clean. This is the item that catches the most tenants out because it looks clean from a distance and fails up close.
Range hood: Remove the filter and either soak or replace it. Clean the fan blades and housing inside. Wipe the exterior. A grease-saturated filter is a fail in almost every Brisbane inspection.
Remaining kitchen items:
- Benchtops, including the strip behind taps and beside the stovetop
- Splashback: degrease thoroughly, particularly around the stovetop
- All cabinetry inside and out, including hinges and handles
- Drawers: remove and clean the base
- Sink: clean and descale the tapware
- Microwave inside and out, including the turntable
- Dishwasher: clean the filter, door seals, and spray arms
- Stovetop: remove and clean burner grates or elements
- Exterior of fridge (if included in the tenancy)
- Floor mop, including under the kick panels
- Skirting boards
Bathrooms: The Second Most Common Fail
Each bathroom needs to be cleaned to the following standard. Queensland humidity means mould management is a significant part of this. Agents look for it specifically.
Shower:
- Shower screen: remove all soap scum and calcium build-up. Use the right product. White vinegar is not strong enough for heavy soap scum on glass. The screen must be clear.
- Tiles and grout: scrub with an appropriate cleaner. Do not use bleach on coloured grout. Mould in grout lines is a common fail. Treat it correctly.
- Shower base and drain: remove and clean the drain cover. Clean the base corners where mould accumulates.
- Shower door seals and tracks: often missed. Agents check them.
The rest of the bathroom:
- Bath (if applicable): clean, descale, and clean the tapware
- Vanity: clean inside and out, including underneath and the back panel
- Mirror: streak-free
- Tapware: descaled and polished
- Toilet: bowl under the rim, seat and seat hinges, base, and behind the toilet (agents check behind it)
- Exhaust fan: remove the cover and clean the blades (a common miss that Brisbane agents flag regularly)
- Tiles: floor to ceiling
- Floor mop and skirting boards
- Towel rails: wipe down
Mould on silicone: surface mould can be treated with bleach-based products. Mould that has penetrated silicone sealant cannot be fully removed by cleaning. It requires re-siliconing, which is a separate job. If your silicone has deep mould, flag it with your provider before the clean so expectations are set correctly.
Bedrooms: What Agents Check Beyond the Obvious
Bedrooms look straightforward but contain several commonly missed items.
- Wardrobe interiors: shelves, rails, the floor of the wardrobe, and the tracks. Agents open every wardrobe door.
- Wardrobe exteriors and mirrored sliding doors: clean and streak-free
- Ceiling fans: wipe each blade front and back. In Queensland, ceiling fans accumulate significant dust and are checked at every inspection.
- Light fittings: remove covers and clean inside. Replace any blown globes.
- Windows: clean the glass inside, the sill, and the tracks. Clean fly screens: shake or vacuum, then wipe the frame.
- Blinds: wipe each slat. Venetian blinds are time-consuming but agents check them.
- Skirting boards and door frames: wipe down
- Power point covers and light switches: wipe clean
- Carpet: vacuum thoroughly, including under the bed (move it if you can). Carpet steam cleaning is a separate service (see the carpet section below).
Living Areas and Dining Room
- Ceiling fans: same as bedrooms, blades front and back
- Light fittings: clean inside the cover
- Air conditioning filters: in Queensland, A/C is used heavily and filters accumulate significant dust and mould. Remove the filter and clean it. This is a QLD-specific inspection item that many tenants miss entirely. Split-system covers also need to be wiped down.
- Windows: glass, sills, and tracks inside. Fly screens cleaned.
- Blinds: every slat
- Walls: spot-clean marks and scuffs. Fair wear and tear applies: a mark that was there when you moved in should be in the entry condition report. A fresh scuff is your responsibility.
- Skirting boards, door frames, and doors (including the tops of door frames)
- Power points and light switches
- Floor: vacuum and mop. Move furniture to clean underneath where possible.
Laundry
The laundry is short but often missed in its entirety.
- Tub: clean and descale the tapware
- Cabinetry inside and out
- Washing machine: clean the drum, the filter, and the door seal if it is a front-loader. Wipe the exterior.
- Dryer: clean the lint filter and wipe the exterior
- Floor mop and skirting boards
- Visible plumbing: wipe down
Hallways and Stairs
- Skirting boards the full length
- Light fittings and switches
- Banisters and stair rails: wipe down
- Carpet: vacuum thoroughly, including edges
- Hard floors: mop
Queensland-Specific Outdoor Areas
Outdoor areas are part of the exit condition report in Queensland and are more significant than in most other states. Queensland’s outdoor living culture means properties typically have patios, entertaining areas, and sometimes pools, all of which are inspected.
Balcony or patio:
- Sweep and mop the floor
- Clean balcony railings and glass panels
- Wipe down any fixed outdoor furniture or BBQ areas that form part of the property
- Clean sliding door tracks and frames
Garage and carport:
- Sweep the floor
- Remove all rubbish and belongings
- Wipe down any shelving
Garden and lawn:
- Mow the lawn
- Edge along paths and fences
- Remove all rubbish
- The garden should be in a similar condition to the entry report: not necessarily pristine, but maintained
Gold Coast coastal properties: salt residue on balcony glass, window tracks, and fly screens is a specific issue. Salt accumulation in window tracks needs to be flushed out, not just wiped. Tracks and screens are among the window details agents check first.
Carpets: What Queensland Leases Actually Require
Most Queensland leases require carpets to be returned to the same condition as at the start of the tenancy, fair wear and tear excepted. Many leases specify that if carpets were professionally steam-cleaned at the start of the tenancy, they must be professionally steam-cleaned at the end. Whether that term can be enforced depends on the start condition and the circumstances. The RTA’s carpet cleaning guidance says carpets cleaned to a certain standard at the start must be cleaned to that standard at the end, and that a lease cannot require you to buy a service, use a specific cleaner or pay a set fee. A pet approval is a separate case and can include a condition to clean the carpets at the end if the pet is allowed inside. The lease and RTA rules behind this are covered in what Queensland agents expect from bond cleans.
Check your entry condition report. If it states “carpets professionally cleaned” and attaches a receipt, you will be expected to return the carpets to that standard at exit, and a receipt is the simplest way to show it. Carpet steam cleaning is not included in a standard bond clean. It is a separate booking.
If the carpets were professionally cleaned when you moved in, keep the receipt from your end-of-tenancy clean, because the agent is likely to ask for it. Booking carpet cleaning alongside your bond clean and keeping both receipts is the safest approach.
What Is Not Included in a Standard Bond Clean
Knowing what is excluded is as important as knowing what is included. The following items are not part of a standard bond clean and are either separate bookings or variations:
- Carpet steam cleaning: separate booking
- Mould embedded in silicone or sealed grout: cannot be fully removed by cleaning; may require re-siliconing
- External windows above ground level: excluded or priced as a variation
- Full wall washing: spot-cleaning only; full wall wash is a variation
- Garage floor scrubbing (concrete): variation
- Pest control: separate licensed service, not bundled
- Garden mowing beyond light tidy: separate booking
- Large rubbish removal: separate booking
Always confirm exactly what is included in your written quote before the job begins. There are seven checks before you book that cover the rest of what a written quote should state.
What Happens If You Fail the Inspection
A cleaning claim is settled against the entry condition report, so how the entry report sets the standard determines what an agent can actually deduct.
If your agent raises a cleaning-related claim against your bond, the cleaning service warranty on the Urgent Pro network covers re-attendance within the warranty period. If an item was within the agreed scope and was not completed to standard, the provider returns to address it at no additional charge.
The warranty period for bond cleaning runs for up to 14 days from the date of the clean, a window specifically designed to cover the typical timeframe for a Queensland exit inspection to occur, and it closes 72 hours after the agent’s written report if that comes first.
For tenants in Brisbane, the bond cleaning service in Brisbane is available seven days a week and can be scheduled around key handover dates and inspection windows.
FAQs
How long does a bond clean take in Queensland?
A one-bedroom unit in reasonable condition takes 3–5 hours. A three-bedroom house typically takes 6–10 hours. Properties in poor condition or with heavy oven, bathroom, or outdoor build-up will take longer. The clean cannot be rushed without compromising the standard. This is why fixed-price quoting is important. If a quote seems very low, it is usually because the time allocated is insufficient.
Do I have to use a professional cleaner for a Queensland bond clean?
The Queensland RTA does not require tenants to use a professional cleaning service by law. The obligation is to return the property to its original condition, fair wear and tear excepted. However, if the entry condition report notes that the carpets were professionally cleaned at the start, you need to return them to that standard. Whether a lease term requiring professional carpet cleaning can be enforced depends on the circumstances, and a lease cannot require a specific cleaner or a set fee. Check your lease and your entry condition report before making the decision.
Are air conditioning filters included in a Queensland bond clean?
A/C filter cleaning is included in the standard scope on the Urgent Pro network for Queensland properties. Filters are removed, cleaned, and replaced. Split-system covers are also wiped down. This is a Queensland-specific item that is checked at almost every Brisbane and Gold Coast inspection due to the heavy use of A/C year-round.
What happens if there is mould in the bathroom silicone?
Surface mould on tiles and grout can be treated during a bond clean. Mould that has penetrated silicone sealant cannot be fully removed by cleaning. It requires the silicone to be cut out and replaced. This is outside the scope of a bond clean. If your bathroom has deep mould in the silicone, flag it with your provider at booking so it can be assessed and the right approach agreed before the clean begins.
Does Urgent Pro provide a receipt suitable for submitting with my RTA bond refund form?
Yes. Every booking through Urgent Pro generates a tax invoice with the provider’s name, ABN, and the service details. This receipt is suitable for attaching to your bond refund application. If carpet steam cleaning is added as a separate booking, that generates a separate receipt as well.