Maintaining a tidy home is crucial, but all the cleaning services do not serve the same function. Most people confuse bond cleaning and spring cleaning since both entail deep cleaning. However, these two cleaning services are intended for entirely different purposes and using either of the two inappropriately can result in unwanted costs or even worse, loss of your bond.
Depending on whether you are moving out of a rented home or refreshing your living space after winter, you need to understand the differences between these two cleaning services to determine which one you should opt for.
What Is Bond Cleaning?
Bond cleaning is defined as a thorough form of cleaning done prior to the exit of a tenant from a rental property. This kind of cleaning aims at bringing back the property into a clean state that satisfies the criteria provided by the landlord or property manager.
As compared to ordinary cleaning, bond cleaning involves following a long checklist that encompasses every corner of the house. Such cleaning normally includes cleaning the kitchen, bathroom, walls, windows (where possible), cabinets, light fixtures, floors, skirtings, and many more parts of the house that are considered during the final inspection.
The aim of professional bond cleaning services is mainly to increase your chances of getting your bond refunded in full.
What Is Spring/General Cleaning?
Spring cleaning, also known as general deep cleaning, aims at making a house, which is currently occupied, look refreshed and clean. This process involves cleaning not the parts of the house which are regularly cleaned but those which are not cleaned normally. They include behind the furniture, inside the cupboards, ceiling fans, and corners of the rooms.
Unlike bond cleaning, spring cleaning is done not in order to please the landlord or during a rental inspection. The main aim of this process is the improvement of the cleanliness and the removal of dust and dirt which have accumulated in the house.
Those who live in the house, tenants who wish to continue living there, and families getting ready for some events usually decide to do spring cleaning.
Differences between Bond Cleaning and Spring/General Cleaning
Both of these cleaning processes are very meticulous. However, each has a different objective.
The first important point where they differ from one another is their purpose. The first one is meant for inspections and ensuring that the tenants satisfy all the requirements of landlords and property managers before moving out of the house. The second process is conducted for improving the cleanliness and comfort level of a living space without undergoing inspection.
Also, there are different standards used in these two procedures. When performing the bond cleaning service, the cleaning company uses an extensive checklist and takes care of cleaning every spot as per rental standards. In case of spring cleaning, it is much easier to customize your requirements.
Accountability is another point of contrast. Many bond cleaning service providers offer you some sort of guarantee that you will get your deposit back or you will be provided with a re-cleaning service free of charge if the cleaning issue comes up during the inspection. In case of spring cleaning services, this guarantee is not available as they are conducted for maintenance purposes.
Furthermore, the bond cleaning process requires much more time labour, and attention to detail, making it more comprehensive and typically more expensive than general cleaning.
When Should You Choose Bond Cleaning?
There are several situations that may call for bond cleaning. If you are about to vacate a property at the end of your stay there and prepare for an inspection, then bond cleaning should definitely be one of the things on your agenda. This is because the property will have to pass an inspection in order for you to be refunded for your bond.
This is also necessary if your tenancy agreement specifies that you need to do professional end-of-tenancy cleaning. If your tenancy has been rather dirty, then you should consider getting a bond clean.
When Is Spring or General Cleaning Recommended?
Spring or general cleaning is recommended when you do not want to move out of your place but wish to make a change in it. Several people choose to opt for a thorough cleaning service when a new season starts, before hosting any guest, after renovations, or just because they want to live in a more healthy environment.
This service can be chosen by busy people when they need help in doing tasks that cannot be done in regular cleaning services.
Is Spring Cleaning an Alternative to Bond Cleaning?
Not usually. Although spring cleaning can help ensure that your place looks neat and tidy, it isn’t intended for fulfilling all of the conditions set by the end-of-lease inspection.
There are a number of things which will be done during bond cleaning that are likely to go unnoticed when doing regular spring cleaning. If you are going to vacate the premises you have been renting, using the services of professional bond cleaners is the way to go.
What Cleaning Service Should You Choose?
This will depend completely on the situation you find yourself in. In case you are moving out of your house and you need to meet the conditions that will enable you to get back your full bond, bond cleaning is the most suitable service you can choose. Bond cleaning involves an inspection checklist, and its primary aim is to help you get back all your money.
In case you are not moving but wish to clean up your place and live in a cleaner environment, spring cleaning is more suitable than any other service.
Final Thought
Even though bond cleaning and general/spring cleaning both entail deep cleaning, the two services differ greatly when it comes to their objectives. Bond cleaning is a unique service that aims to meet the requirements of rental inspections, and it protects your bond money, while spring cleaning keeps your home hygienic and pleasant all through the year.
Take into consideration your present circumstances and your objective before choosing a type of cleaning service to avoid wasting time, money, and effort. You should select the most appropriate type of cleaning to get the results you wish to achieve. When it comes to leaving your rented property, bond cleaning is the best choice to make.