The move-out cleaning checklist that gets your deposit back

A security deposit is often the largest sum a renter gets back at the end of a lease, and cleaning is one of the most common reasons part of it goes missing. The good news is that move-out cleaning is predictable. Landlords and property managers check the same places every time.

This checklist walks through the whole home, room by room, so you know exactly what to do or what to hand off.

What landlords and property managers actually inspect

Georgia landlords compare the home's condition at move-out with its condition at move-in, allowing for normal wear and tear. Faded paint and lightly worn carpet are normal. Grease, grime, stains and debris are not.

In practice, inspectors look closely at a handful of places:

• Inside the oven, fridge and microwave
• Stovetop and range hood
• Bathroom tile, grout, tubs and toilets
• Baseboards, floors and carpet
• Windowsills, tracks and blinds
• Closets, cabinets and drawers
• Garage floors and patios

Check your lease and your move-in paperwork for specifics. If your landlord has a written cleaning standard, follow it to the letter.

The room-by-room checklist

Kitchen

• Clean the inside of the oven, including racks and the door glass
• Empty and wipe down the inside of the fridge and freezer, shelves and drawers included
• Degrease the stovetop, drip pans and range hood
• Wipe the inside of the microwave
• Empty, wipe and dry all cabinets and drawers
• Clean the sink, faucet and disposal area
• Wipe cabinet fronts, handles and the backsplash
• Mop the floor and clean the edges

Bathrooms

• Scrub the tub, shower walls, tile and grout
• Descale glass doors and showerheads
• Clean toilets inside, outside and around the base
• Wipe vanity, sink, mirror and fixtures
• Empty and wipe drawers and cabinets
• Mop the floors

Bedrooms and closets

• Remove everything from closets, then wipe shelves and rods
• Vacuum carpet, edge to edge and inside closets
• Wipe doors, frames and closet tracks
• Dust ceiling fans and vents

Living areas

• Vacuum or mop all floors, including under where furniture sat
• Spot-treat carpet marks
• Dust shelves, built-ins and vents

Throughout the home

• Wipe baseboards along every wall
• Clean light fixtures and replace burnt-out bulbs
• Wipe switch plates and outlet covers
• Clean windowsills and tracks, and wipe blinds slat by slat
• Wipe doors, frames and handles
• Remove cobwebs from corners and ceilings

Garage and outdoor spaces

• Sweep the garage and remove oil spots where possible
• Clear shelving and wall hooks
• Sweep patios and porches, and remove debris and trash from the property

Timing it right

Cleaning too early means you will do it twice. Cleaning too late means a rushed job.

1. Move furniture and boxes out first. You cannot clean floors, baseboards or closet corners with furniture in the way.
2. Clean once the home is empty. Do the full clean after the last load leaves, not before.
3. Finish before the walkthrough. Leave a day between the clean and the inspection if you can. That gives you time to fix anything you spot.
4. Do not skip the last pass. A quick walk with a trash bag, a cloth and a flashlight catches what you missed.

Photograph everything yourself

Photos are your best protection if a deduction is disputed. Take them after the clean is complete and before you hand over the keys.

• Every room from the doorway, wide enough to show the full floor
• Inside the oven, fridge, microwave and dishwasher
• Inside closets, cabinets and drawers
• Bathrooms, including tubs, toilets and tile
• Windowsills and baseboards
• Garage and patio
• Any pre-existing damage, such as scuffs or stains, so you can show it was already there

Make sure your phone records the date and time, and back the photos up to the cloud the same day.

When to hand it off

If you are juggling a closing date, a truck rental and a job, a move-out clean is a sensible thing to give to someone else. Our cleaners are vetted independent professionals who are background-checked, and the work is insured and bonded. When the clean is done, we text you before-and-after photos, so your proof is already in hand. Every clean is backed by a 48-hour re-clean guarantee.

Our move-out prices include supplies, insurance and photo proof:

Home size	Move-out clean
Under 1,500 sq ft	$380
1,500 to 2,500 sq ft	$500
2,500 to 3,500 sq ft	$620
3,500 to 4,500 sq ft	$760
Over 4,500 sq ft	Quoted on site

Two items inspectors look at closely are available as add-ons: inside oven ($30) and inside fridge ($30). Interior windows ($45) and a garage sweep ($40) can also be added. There are no contracts, and you can cancel with 24 hours' notice.

Get a number

For an exact price, use the instant quote. If you live in or near Roswell, our Roswell page has more about the area we serve. Property managers and agents with several units can reach us through our contact page, and anyone else with a question can contact us.