Move-Out Cleaning Checklist

A landlord’s move-out walkthrough tends to focus on the same handful of details every time. This checklist covers them room by room.

Kitchen

• Clean inside and outside of the oven, including racks and the broiler drawer
• Clean inside the refrigerator and freezer (and leave the doors propped open if it will sit empty)
• Degrease the stovetop, burner drip pans, and range hood/vent
• Wipe down all cabinets and drawers, inside and out
• Clean the sink, faucet, and countertops
• Sweep and mop the floor, including behind and under any movable appliances

Bathrooms

• Scrub the toilet, tub/shower, and tile or grout
• Remove any soap scum, hard water buildup, and mildew
• Clean the sink, faucet, mirror, and medicine cabinet
• Wipe down cabinets and drawers, inside and out
• Sweep and mop the floor

Bedrooms and living areas

• Vacuum carpets thoroughly, including edges and closets
• Mop hard flooring
• Wipe down baseboards, window sills, and window tracks
• Dust light fixtures, ceiling fans, and vents
• Clean interior doors, door frames, and light switch plates
• Remove all nails, hooks, and adhesive strips (patch holes if your lease requires it)

Whole-home details

• Wipe down or replace the furnace/HVAC filter
• Clean interior windows
• Empty and wipe out all closets, including shelving
• Sweep the garage, patio, or any other included exterior space
• Do a final check for anything left behind — closets, cabinets, behind doors, the garage

Before you leave

• Take dated photos of every room once it’s clean and empty
• Compare the condition to your move-in photos, if you have them
• Leave the space odor-free — no lingering smoke, pet, or food smells

A rental returned genuinely clean, not just tidy, is one of the biggest factors in getting your full deposit back without a dispute. If time is tight during a move, this is exactly what a Move-In / Move-Out Cleaning service is designed for.