Move-Out Cleaning Checklist: Get Your Full Deposit Back

Most deposit deductions aren’t for real damage — they’re for cleaning the landlord would rather bill you for than do. An afternoon of targeted cleaning removes those excuses, and the cheap fixes below cost a few dollars each but get billed at 10x if you skip them. Photograph everything when you’re done.

Kitchen (where the biggest charges hide)

• Inside the oven, stovetop, and under the burners — degrease fully
• Inside and behind the refrigerator; defrost the freezer
• Inside the dishwasher and microwave
• Wipe cabinet interiors and fronts; degrease the range hood

Bathroom

• Descale the shower, tub, and glass; scrub grout lines
• Toilet inside and out, including the base
• Clear the exhaust fan of dust; wipe mirrors and fixtures

Every room

• Dust and wipe baseboards, blinds, window sills, and ceiling fans
• Clean interior windows and door/switch plates
• Vacuum carpets; spot-treat stains (routine cleaning is usually normal wear, but do it anyway)
• Sweep and mop hard floors

The cheap fixes landlords bill at 10x

• Nail holes: a $5 tub of spackle vs. a “wall repair” charge. Fill, sand, and touch up. (Note: small nail holes are normal wear in many states — but fix them anyway to remove the argument.)
• Burnt-out bulbs: replace every one; missing bulbs get billed absurdly.
• Missing hardware: re-hang blinds, replace switch covers, return every key, remote, and fob.
• Yard/patio: if it’s in your lease, mow and clear it.

Then document it — same day

Cleaning only protects your deposit if you can prove the condition you left. Do a room-by-room photo walkthrough of the empty, clean unit, and email the report to your landlord the day you hand back the keys. A timestamped move-out record is nearly impossible to argue with — and paired with your move-in photos, it’s a side-by-side comparison that ends most disputes before they start.

Moving out with roommates? Everyone’s deposit depends on the sloppiest person — send them the shared checklist.