When you move out, it is expected that the property will be in move-in condition for the next tenant. Here are suggestions for what to do in order to receive back your full security deposit. This is not an all-inclusive list — use your judgment. If you have any questions, please ask.

Note: If you hire our cleaners to do your move-out cleaning, we guarantee to accept the property as being cleaned satisfactorily.

Entrance

• Clean cobwebs from corners
• Clean door frame (inside and out)
• Wipe down door and door knob
• Dust bulbs, fans, vent openings, blades
• Wash covers (plates), grills, etc.
• Clean receptacle & Switch plates
• Clean switches, etc.

Bedroom

• Clean closet shelves, poles, etc.
• Sweep closet floor
• All areas dusted-on top, on the front and underneath (all items removed and replaced)
• Mirrors cleaned
• Window sills wiped
• Fingerprints washed from all woodwork, doorframes
• Trash emptied
• Baseboards wiped down
• Lamp shades wiped down or dusted
• Floor or carpets vacuumed
• Overall appearance of the room left neat and tidy

Dining Room

• Dust Chandelier or light fixture
• Clean shelves: top & bottom

Pantry

• Clean Shelves: top & bottom

Laundry room

• Clean shelves: top & bottom
• Clean faucet connections/electrical outlets
• Clean list screen (washer & dryer)

Fireplace

• Sweep/vacuum inside
• Clean mantle board
• Clean fire grates, etc.
• Clean floor around fireplace
• Clean spark screen

Patio or Balcony

• Scrub down walls/corner, if necessary
• Sweep
• Clean light globe/fixture
• Sliding Glass Door/French Doors
• Clean track and/or threshold
• Clean frame
• Clean glass: inside/outside

Bathroom(s):

• Remove items from cabinets and drawers
• Shower: Clean walls, shower head, faucets, shower door, curtain rod
• Bathtub: thoroughly cleaned and shiny
• Clean sink & faucet
• Clean vanity top, drawers & underneath sink
• Treat fungused or humid corners with bleach
• Clean toilet, tank, lid, seat, behind tank & toilet.
• Wipe dry cabinet fronts & Doors
• Tiles and chrome cleaned and left shining
• Mirrors cleaned
• Sills wiped down
• Trash emptied
• Baseboards wiped down
• Vacuum and wash floor

Kitchen:

• Tip: don’t use abrasive sponges on metal finishes — it’ll scratch
• Appliances: Remove grease and grime
• Walls: Wipe down walls
• Vent hood: Clean underneath, filters, screens, etc.
• Ceiling fan:  Clean fan blades, light bulbs & fixtures
• Shelves: Clean top & bottom
• Cabinets: Clean inside, doors & door jambs
• Drawers: Remove items and clean inside & out
• Countertops and backsplash: Clean all sides
• Range: Remove racks, broiler pans, etc. Remove top and clean underneath
• Oven: Remove & clean drip pans, surface elements (if possible), drawer
• Remove & clean surface switch & oven control/knobs
• Mirrors: Clean
• Towel & paper racks: clean
• Sinks: clean (including behind sink) and left shining
• Windows: Sills wiped down
• Trash emptied
• Baseboards: wiped
• Floor: Vacuum or mop
• Fingerprints washed from all woodwork, doorframes and switch plates

Refrigerator

• Clean door jamb
• Clean inside freezer 
• Clean outside, top, sides, doors, & kick plate
• Remove, clean and replace all drawers & parts

Dishwasher

• Clean entire outside surface
• Clean door jamb
• Remove objects from racks & bottom of tub
• Clean inside

Microwave

• Clean inside
• Clean outside

Sink(s)

• Clean faucet
• Clean sink(s)
• Clean underneath sink(s) wipe
• Pull spray attachment all the way out, clean hose and spray
• Garbage disposal & pipes

Laundry:

• Remove clothing
• Clean lint screen

All rooms:

• Remove tape, tacks, nails from walls
• Vacuum carpets, mop floors
• Trash emptied
• Make sure the telephone, cable TV, and electrical hookups are in the same condition as when you moved in

Hallways

• Baseboards wiped down
• Fingerprints washed from all woodwork, doorframes, light switches
• Picture frames dusted
• Vacuum and wash floor

Floors

• Tile/Wood Floors or other uncarpeted floor swept and mopped
• Carpets vacuumed

Windows/Drapes/Blinds

• Dust drapes rod/hardware
• Clean windows inside
• Clean windows outside
• Clean window sills
• Clean blinds

All other living areas

• All furniture dusted (all items removed and replaced)
• Sills wiped down
• Cobwebs removed
• Couch and cushions vacuumed and straightened
• Lamp shades wiped down or dusted
• Glass tables cleaned
• Fingerprints washed from all woodwork, doorframes
• Baseboards wiped down
• Floor or carpets vacuumed
• Overall appearance of the room left neat and tidy

Special reminders:

• Take your trash with you. Do not fill the trash can more than halfway or else the next tenant cannot use it and that is not fair to them. If the trash is filled more than halfway, we will hire professional haulers to remove it and subtract the cost from your deposit. They are expensive.
• Remove all furniture. If any items are left behind, we will hire professional haulers to remove it and subtract the cost from your deposit.
• If you intend to leave anything behind for the incoming tenants, obtain our written consent. Generally, we do not want anything left behind and will consider it unremoved trash and have it removed at your expense.

Tips

• The earlier you start your move out, the more likely you are to receive back your full deposit. We've noticed that people who start late don’t have enough time and don’t do a thorough cleaning. (If you start early, you’ll be more relaxed, too, and that is nice.)
• Remove everything before starting to clean. It’s much easier.
• File your change of address with the post office. You can do it online: https://moversguide.usps.com