Bond clean vs regular clean: what's actually different?
A bond clean is a deep, top-to-bottom clean at the end of a lease. It’s judged against the REIQ inspection standard and it decides whether you get your bond back. A regular clean is lighter upkeep on a schedule. Bond cleans cost more because they cover far more and they have to pass an inspection.
What a regular clean covers
Ongoing upkeep on a schedule: surfaces, floors, bins, the kitchen and the bathroom. The aim is a tidy, hygienic space week to week.
What a bond clean covers
Everything an agent checks before releasing your bond. That means the oven and rangehood degreased, inside every cupboard, walls spot-cleaned and the window tracks, skirting boards and exhaust fans done. Carpet steam cleaning is often part of it too.
Why bond cleans cost more
- More scope and more detail.
- A pass or fail standard, judged by the agent.
- Add-ons like carpet steam cleaning.
- A come-back if the agent flags anything.
The difference is the standard
A regular clean aims for clean. A bond clean has to pass an inspection someone else grades. That’s why a normal clean won’t get your bond back.
Edward O’Rourke
Edward O’Rourke is the founder of Righto Cleaning Services. Righto does bond cleans right across Brisbane plus office and strata cleaning on the Northside.