Short answer: to get your deposit back, the home needs to look move-in ready. That means inside the oven, fridge and cabinets, bathrooms with no soap scum, clean baseboards and floors, and nothing left behind. Use the checklist below room by room, then take dated photos before you hand over the keys.
Kitchen
- Inside and outside of the oven, including racks
- Inside the fridge and freezer (empty, wipe shelves and drawers)
- Inside the microwave
- Inside every cabinet and drawer, plus the pantry
- Range hood, stovetop and burner grates
- Counters, backsplash and sink
- Outside of the dishwasher and appliances
Bathrooms
- Toilet inside and out, including the base and behind it
- Tub and shower: soap scum, hard water spots and grout
- Sink, vanity and inside the vanity drawers and cabinets
- Mirrors and fixtures
- Exhaust fan cover
Every room
- Baseboards, doors, door frames and light switches
- Closet shelves and rods
- Interior windows, sills and tracks
- Blinds and air vents
- Ceiling fans and light fixtures
- Vacuum and mop every floor, including inside closets
Before you hand over the keys
- Take every last thing out, including trash and anything under sinks
- Take dated photos or a video of every room, including inside the oven and fridge
- Check your lease for a cleaning clause. Some require a professional cleaning.
- Ask your landlord or property manager for their move-out checklist
Why landlords keep deposits
Landlords can generally deduct from your deposit for cleaning or damage beyond normal wear and tear. The usual reasons: a dirty oven or fridge, soap scum in the shower, grimy baseboards, and stuff left behind. Those are exactly the spots people skip when they’re exhausted on moving day.
Want it off your plate?
Our move in/out cleaning covers everything on this list, with the oven, fridge and cabinets included. If your landlord gave you a move-out checklist, send it over and we’ll follow it. We also take before and after photos you can keep for your records.
Book it for after the movers leave and before your walkthrough. You can see your price on our booking page in about a minute.
FAQ
What should be cleaned when moving out of a rental?
Clean the inside of the oven, fridge, microwave, cabinets and drawers, the range hood, all bathrooms including soap scum and the toilet base, baseboards, light switches, doors, closet shelves, interior windows and sills, blinds, vents and every floor. Then take everything out to the trash and photograph each room.
Can a landlord charge for cleaning in Tennessee?
Landlords can generally deduct from a security deposit for cleaning or damage beyond normal wear and tear. Check your lease for a cleaning clause, and take dated photos when you leave.
How long does a move-out cleaning take?
For one cleaner, a move-out clean usually takes 4 to 7 hours depending on the size of the home and how much buildup there is. An empty home goes faster.
Should I clean before or after the movers?
After. Schedule the move-out clean once everything is out of the home and before your final walkthrough with the landlord.