End of tenancy cleaning – DIY vs Professional
When you rent an apartment or house and when you come to the end of your rental period you need to clean up. Before you leave you need to decide whether you are gong to do a DIY clean or to get professionals in. The homeowner will expect this work to be done to a good standard, so you need to think carefully. In this article we offer you both sides of the argument to help you decide.
DIY vs. Professional End of Tenancy Cleaning: A Comprehensive Comparison

You’ve packed your bags and you’re ready to move out of your rental property but there is one thing left. You have to clean it inside and out. There are two options you want to explore and you’re unsure what to do. While calling the pros is the safer bet, it isn’t always reasonable. Check out this comparison outline of DIY versus professional cleaning to see which one suits you the most. Let’s get started.
Key Takeaways
- DIY and professional end of tenancy cleaning have both several upsides and downsides to weigh in on
- Cleaning experts know how to approach different issues, whereas DIY cleaning can be risky if you don’t know what you’re dealing with
- DIY cleaning is cheaper but it requires lots of physical effort and time
- Professional move out cleaning ensures there are fewer, if any, complaints
DIY Cleaning
To begin with, as everyone perceives cleanliness differently, you may find it difficult to determine what you’re expected to achieve hygiene-wise in your rental. You should know there are certain standards that letting agents and homeowners agree upon. It’s worth checking out what these entail before you proceed.
And while you are free to do the final cleaning yourself, you should not forget that it involves a lot of work. There are a slew of surfaces to dust, clean, and polish. There is no skipping. If you do, you reduce your odds of getting your deposit back (for tenants) or securing new renters (for landlords).
The best way to go is to put together a cleaning checklist that you can stick with as you do the cleaning. This will ensure you cover everything and anything. Essentially, the cleaning will include whatever you want it to include.
Pros & Cons of Cleaning the Rental Yourself
- Pro: You can do it whenever you feel like it
- Pro: It’s less expensive
- Con: You may damage some surfaces due to a lack of expertise
- Con: It will take longer to clean each and every surface by yourself
- Con: It’s a significant physical effort
What’s Included in a Professional End of Tenancy Clean?
An end of tenancy cleaning service is overly detailed, going over every nook and cranny of the property.
Professional cleaners usually abide by pre-established cleaning checklists to ensure that the job is done to a T. Since they do this every day, they have learned to employ various techniques and it’s like second nature to them.
Floors and worktops.
The surfaces your walk on are just as important as the ones you touch and use every day. Move out cleaning makes sure these are free of stains, bacteria, and grime.
Carpets and rugs.
This will be a separate service for many cleaning companies but if you want to do your final cleaning well, you should consider getting your carpets cleaned too. Over time, these trap dust, dirt, pet dander, dead skin cells, stains, bad odours, and whatnot. Ending your tenure is the perfect time to address that problem.
Appliances.
Let’s be honest, electronic appliances are rarely cleaned. A move out cleaning checklist will definitely have this as a top priority.
All rooms + entrance halls.
Professional end of tenancy cleaning doesn’t discriminate. It handles every room, including bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms, balconies, and other common areas.
Doors, light switches, and door handles.
Every room in your home has its own contact points. These are surfaces we touch all the time but rarely remember to clean and disinfect. Move out cleaning takes care of that for you.
Hard-to-reach areas.



Think under the bed, behind the sofa, in that awkward corner next to the TV, between the fridge and the cabinets, on top of shelves, etc.
Windows and ceilings.
An end of tenancy cleaning service will clean your windows on the inside. If they are easily accessible, they can be cleaned externally as well. The cleaners will also remove cobwebs and dust from ceilings.
Light fixtures and ornaments.
Another area that is often skipped during regular cleaning sessions, it has a designated space in professional end of tenancy cleaning.
Pros & Cons of Professional Move Out Cleaning
- Pro: Cleaning is done to professional standards and is often guaranteed
- Pro: Helps minimise damage and improves chances of occupancy
- Pro: Frees up your time
- Pro: Saves money
- Pro: Reduces risk of complaints
- Con: Can be tough on your budget compared to doing it yourself
- Con: The results may be disappointing if you don’t find the right cleaners
How to Make the Final Decision
We realise that it’s not easy to make that final decision, so let us give a few pointers to consider:
Your budget.
Can you afford to book a professional cleaning service? If your budget is limited, you had better do the cleaning yourself. This way you will save some pennies that may be spent somewhere else.
The condition of the property.
This will be a major pointer. If your property has been well kept, there may not be any need to call in the pros. But if its condition has deteriorated significantly, an expert cleaning team should step in. Remember that professional contractors have access to the most cutting-edge equipment and products that can remove stubborn stains and everything you can think of.
Your time.
If you don’t have much time to clean your rental property yourself, you should consider hiring a professional. Move out cleaning requires some dedication on your part. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days depending on whether you want to do it all at once or in chunks. The more areas you have to tackle, the more time and energy it will take to do a good job.
End of tenancy cleaning – Final Thoughts



To sum up, while doing an end of tenancy cleaning yourself may seem like a cost-effective solution, it can be more time-consuming, challenging, and risky than you might expect. Therefore by hiring a professional cleaning company like Skycleaners, you can ensure that your property is cleaned to a high standard using top-notch cleaning products and machines, expertise in stain removal and cleaning techniques, and a guarantee of quality service. Skycleaners, located at 83 Drapers Rd, London E15 2AZ, United Kingdom, and reachable via phone at +44 7879 101049, is one of the best and most affordable cleaning companies in London that you can trust to handle your end of tenancy cleaning needs.
FURTHER READING FOR RENTERS AND LANDLORDS
At Housesitmatch.com we like to offer useful and practical articles on topics for our readers. In this selection we offer you a number of suitable pieces from our own blog on renting, moving and preparing new home.
How to get a rental application accepted
Renting out a property? Consider these points
Thoughts on renting a home and home ownership