What the Blue Mountains add to house cleaning
Almost all houses
In the 2021 Census, 92% of occupied homes in the Blue Mountains council area were separate houses, 3% were flats or apartments, and 18% were rented. In the ABS's Katoomba and Leura area, 28% were rented.
One long line of towns
Katoomba, Leura, Lawson, Springwood and the rest sit along the Main Western line, and about 70% of the council area is national park. The highway is relatively slow, so give your town, not just the Mountains.
Cold mornings
Katoomba runs about 7 degrees cooler than Sydney on average. July nights average 2.9 degrees, and frost isn't unusual. An empty rental gets cold, so keep the power on and ask for a later start on a frosty day.
Mist and damp
Katoomba has many misty days, and NSW Health says mould can grow in wet or moist areas that don't get enough ventilation. Check wardrobes, bathrooms and any closed-up room, especially in a home that's been empty.
Blue Mountains City Council
The council runs a booked waste service, listed as at-call kerbside collection for residential properties. Check its current limits before you plan a move around it.
Smoke in the house after a Blue Mountains bushfire
Fire is part of life up here. The October 2013 Springwood fire destroyed 193 houses, mainly in Winmalee and Yellow Rock. After a fire, NSW Government advice is to ventilate the home to reduce the smell of smoke.
If you rent and the place is damaged, tell your landlord or agent. If you're insured, talk to your insurer early, because insurers generally have experts for hazardous clean-ups. A cleaning business can help once the home has been made safe.
Blue Mountains cleaning services for owners, renters and hosts
A regular clean suits most owner-occupied homes here. Renting? Some people search for bond cleaning, but in NSW it's the end of lease clean, and it's your choice whether to do it yourself.
Tourism is Katoomba's main industry. If you let your place to visitors, look at a holiday rental clean between guests. Before winter closes the windows, a deep clean is a good reset.
Heating, decks and damp: notes for Blue Mountains cleaners
- Your town, and whether the driveway is steep.
- How the home is heated, so nobody works in the cold.
- Whether there is a wood heater. Clear the ash yourself once it is completely cold.
- Any room that has been shut up or smells damp.
- Stairs, decks and split levels.
Walk the home on a cold morning: our Blue Mountains advice
Walk the home on a cold morning before you book. Note any damp smell, any wardrobe with marks on the back wall and any room that's been shut up. Fix the moisture first, then give the business that list along with your town.
