Move out cleaning checklist: room by room to get your deposit back

When should you start move-out cleaning?

Start about a week before you hand back the keys. Cleaning an apartment properly takes longer than most people expect, and much of it can’t be done until the furniture is gone. Splitting the work keeps the last day to floors, bathrooms and a final pass.

A simple schedule:

• 7 days out: Read your lease’s move-out section. Find your move-in photos and condition form. Book cleaners or a carpet cleaner if you’re hiring. Ask for a pre-move-out inspection if your state allows one.
• 5 to 3 days out: Empty and clean cabinets, closets and storage you no longer need. Defrost the freezer. Patch small holes if your lease allows it.
• 2 to 1 days out: Pack and move furniture. Deep clean the kitchen and bathrooms.
• Last day: Floors, a final wipe of every surface, photos, keys.

The goal is the condition the unit was in when you moved in, not showroom new. California’s courts limit cleaning deductions to what’s needed to make the unit “as clean as when the tenant first moved in.” Your move-in photos are the benchmark.

Kitchen

The kitchen is where cleaning charges most often come from, because grease and food build up where you don’t look.

• Empty, wipe and dry every cabinet and drawer, inside and out
• Wipe cabinet doors, handles and the tops of upper cabinets
• Clean the inside of the oven, including racks and the glass door
• Clean the stovetop, burners, drip pans and knobs
• Wash or degrease the range hood and filter
• Clean the microwave inside and out, including the turntable
• Empty the fridge and freezer, remove shelves and drawers, wash and dry them
• Defrost the freezer if it isn’t frost-free, and mop up meltwater
• Pull the fridge and stove out if you can, and clean behind and beside them
• Run the dishwasher empty, then clean the filter, door seal and edges
• Scrub the sink and faucet, and clear the drain and disposal
• Wipe countertops and backsplash
• Wipe light switches and outlet covers
• Sweep and mop, including corners and under the toe kick

Bathrooms

Bathrooms need the most scrubbing. Soap scum and mildew take time, so leave cleaners to soak.

• Scrub the tub or shower, walls, grout and fixtures
• Clean the shower door or remove your curtain and liner
• Descale the showerhead and faucets
• Clean the toilet inside and out, including the base and behind it
• Clean the sink, faucet and drain stopper
• Empty and wipe the vanity, medicine cabinet and drawers
• Clean the mirror and any glass
• Dust and wipe the exhaust fan cover
• Wipe towel bars, toilet paper holder and light fixtures
• Remove any hooks or adhesive you added, carefully
• Mop the floor, including corners and behind the door

Bedrooms and living areas

Most of the work in these rooms is dust and marks once the furniture is out.

• Empty closets, wipe shelves and rods, and vacuum closet floors
• Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures
• Wipe baseboards, door frames and doors
• Wipe window sills and tracks
• Clean the inside of windows
• Dust or wipe blinds; leave them down and level
• Wipe light switches and outlet covers
• Replace burned-out bulbs if your lease asks you to
• Remove all nails, hooks, command strips and tape you added
• Check smoke detectors are in place and working; report any that aren’t

Floors and walls

Floors and walls are where wear and tear ends and damage begins, so clean them carefully and fix what you can.

• Vacuum carpets thoroughly, including edges and corners
• Spot-treat carpet stains, testing a hidden area first
• Shampoo or machine-clean carpets if your lease requires it
• Sweep and mop hard floors; use the right cleaner for wood
• Spot-clean scuffs and marks on walls with a damp cloth or melamine sponge
• Patch small nail holes if your lease allows it, and touch up only with matching paint from the landlord
• Repaint any walls you painted a different color, if the landlord didn’t approve it
• Clean air vents and return grilles
• Replace the HVAC filter if the lease makes it your job

Outside, balcony and storage

These spaces are easy to forget, and the landlord’s inspection includes them.

• Sweep the balcony or patio and remove plants, furniture and grills
• Wipe balcony railings and the outside of the sliding door
• Clean the sliding door track
• Empty and sweep any storage unit, cage or locker
• Clear your parking space of oil spots, items and trash where you reasonably can
• Empty the mailbox and set up mail forwarding
• Take all trash and recycling out, and don’t leave bulk items by the dumpster unless allowed
• Remove anything you left in the laundry room or shared spaces

Final walkthrough

The final walkthrough is where you build your evidence. Do it after the last clean, with the apartment empty.

• Walk every room with your move-in photos and condition form in hand
• Take dated photos and a slow video of every room, in the same angles as move-in
• Open the oven, fridge, cabinets and closets on camera
• Note the meter readings if utilities were in your name
• Attend the landlord’s inspection if you can, and ask for a copy of any report
• Return every key, fob, garage remote and parking tag, and get a receipt or email confirmation
• Give your forwarding address in writing and keep a copy
• Keep cleaning receipts and any invoices for repairs you paid for

A written forwarding address matters. In some states, the landlord’s deadline to return your deposit doesn’t start until you give one. Our security deposit guide lists the deadlines by state.

What do landlords commonly deduct for?

Landlords most often deduct for damage beyond wear and tear, for cleaning needed to restore move-in condition, and for unpaid rent or utilities. The line between cleaning, damage and wear and tear is where most disputes start.

Usually wear and tear (shouldn’t be deducted)	Usually damage or extra cleaning (can be deducted)
Faded or slightly worn paint	Unapproved paint colors
A few small nail holes	Large holes in walls
Carpet worn thin from foot traffic	Carpet holes, stains or burns
Hardwood that needs refinishing	Gouged or chipped floors
Loose grout or tiles	Missing or cracked tiles
Worn enamel in an old tub	Chipped or broken fixtures
An appliance that wore out with age	A clogged toilet from misuse

These examples come from Idaho Legal Aid’s wear-and-tear guide. Your state may treat them differently. Wisconsin’s rules say routine painting and carpet cleaning generally can’t be deducted without unusual damage. Oregon allows a carpet-cleaning charge only if the written lease says so and the carpet was cleaned before you moved in.

Tenants generally aren’t responsible for things that simply reached the end of their life during the lease, such as very old carpet or appliances. If a deduction seems wrong, ask for the itemized statement and the receipts behind it. If you paid a deposit alternative instead of a cash deposit, the same cleaning still matters: the provider can bill you for the landlord’s claim.

Should you hire move-out cleaners?

Hiring cleaners makes sense if you’re short on time, moving far, or the oven and bathrooms need serious work. Compare the quote with what a landlord would likely charge you for the same cleaning.

Apartment size	Typical move-out cleaning cost
Studio	$90 to $130
One-bedroom	$100 to $190
Two-bedroom	$140 to $210
Carpet cleaning add-on	$40 to $90 per room

These figures come from HomeAdvisor’s June 2026 cost guide, which puts the national average for any home at $360. Thumbtack’s May 2026 data gives a national range of $199 to $354.

When you hire, ask for a written list of what’s included. Some services leave out the inside of the fridge or oven, windows or balconies. Keep the receipt. Nolo lists cleaning receipts among the evidence tenants should bring if a deposit dispute goes to small claims court.

Moving also brings other jobs, like changing your address and setting up utilities. Our moving checklist covers those. It’s a good time to set up renters insurance for the new place too, since many leases require it from move-in.

Bottom line

Start a week out, empty and clean every cupboard, appliance and storage space, and finish with floors and a photo walkthrough. Aim for the condition you moved into, not new. Know the difference between wear and tear and damage, and keep receipts and photos. If you’re short on time, a one-bedroom typically costs $100 to $190 to have cleaned professionally.

Laws change and vary by state and city. This guide is general information, not legal advice.