To get back your deposit, it’s important to take good care of the home while you’re living there, but when you move out, it’s just as important to give it a good, deep cleaning, even if you have maintained it well over the course of your stay. We recommend having it professionally cleaned. If that’s not in the budget, though, take a few hours to go about the house or apartment and clean every nook and cranny.
Follow this moving out cleaning checklist to make sure the home is in great condition to impress your landlord when they do the final walk-through:
Moving Out Cleaning Checklist
Whole House + Misc. Areas
- Clean and vacuum all flooring, including stairs
- Wipe down the walls and baseboards
- Remove nails and screws; repair the walls
- Dust ceiling fans
- Clean air vents
- Clean the windows and dust the blinds
- Get rid of cobwebs
- Clean fireplace
- Clean the washing machine and dryer inside and out; pull them out to clean underneath and behind them
Kitchen
- Clean the cabinets and drawers inside and out
- Wipe down the microwave inside and out
- Wipe down the entire refrigerator; pull it out to clean underneath and behind it
- Wipe down the countertops
- Scrub the sink and faucet
- Clean the oven and stove; pull it out to clean underneath and behind it
Bathrooms
- Scrub the shower and bleach the grout
- Clean out the bathroom drawers and vanity
- Wipe down the countertop
- Polish the mirror
- Dust and clean the exhaust fan
Outdoors
- Cut the grass
- Remove weeds
- Scrub or pressure wash the concrete or pavers
Follow this checklist and you’ll greatly improve your chances of getting back your full deposit.