If there is one thing Perth agents always check first at a bond inspection, it is the oven. A dirty oven is the fastest way to lose part of your bond. A clean oven sets the tone for the rest of the inspection.
Why ovens matter so much
Two reasons. First, a dirty oven is genuinely unhygienic for the next tenant. Second, oven cleaning is hard work and agents know it. If the oven is properly clean, they assume you put effort into the rest of the place too. If it is not, they go through everything with a fine-toothed comb.
What clean actually means
Inside walls and ceiling: no baked-on residue, no grease film. Door glass, including between the panels where the inner glass can be removed for cleaning. Racks: shiny, not crusted. Drip tray and rubber seals: clean and intact. The base where stuff has fallen and burnt on over years: fully removed.
DIY oven cleaning
If you want to do it yourself, here is what actually works. Remove the racks and soak them overnight in a tub of hot water with dishwashing liquid. Apply a proper oven cleaner (Selleys Oven Cleaner or similar) to the inside. Leave it as long as the bottle says, usually 30-60 minutes. Wipe out with paper towel and a scrubber. Repeat for stubborn areas. The door glass usually needs the inner panel removed - check your oven manual.
Expect 2-3 hours for a moderately dirty oven, longer if it has been neglected.
The pyrolytic option
If you have a self-cleaning oven (pyrolytic), use the self-clean cycle 2-3 days before the inspection. Open windows because the smell is intense. After the cycle, wipe out the ash residue. Easy clean.
Professional oven cleaning
If the oven is in really bad condition, a specialist oven cleaner can do it for $80 to $150. They use stronger commercial chemicals and a portable hot tank for the racks. Often worth it just to save the time and the smell.
Bundled with bond clean
Every proper Perth bond clean includes a full oven clean as standard. If your bond cleaner is quoting separately for the oven, ask why. It should be in the base price.