Move-Out Cleaning Checklist: Get Your Deposit Back

Moving is stressful enough. The last thing you want is to lose part of your security deposit over a dirty oven or dusty baseboards. In Washington, landlords can deduct for cleaning beyond normal wear and tear, and sellers want the home to show well at the final walkthrough. This checklist covers what to clean, room by room, and what people usually forget.

Before you start

• Remove all belongings and trash first. You cannot clean around boxes.
• Read your lease or check-in report. It shows what condition the home should be returned in.
• Take dated photos when you finish. They are your proof if there is a dispute about the deposit.
• Work from top to bottom and from back to front, so dust falls onto surfaces you have not cleaned yet.

Kitchen

• Inside and outside of the oven, including racks and the door glass.
• Inside the refrigerator and freezer. Remove shelves and drawers and wash them.
• Inside cabinets and drawers, plus the tops of cabinets where grease collects.
• Stovetop, drip pans and the range hood filter.
• Inside the microwave and dishwasher, including the filter.
• Sink, faucet and counters. Wipe the backsplash.
• Floors, including the edges where dirt builds up.

Bathrooms

• Descale the shower, tub and glass. Remove soap scum from tile and grout.
• Toilet inside and out, including the base and behind it.
• Sink, vanity, mirror and inside the drawers.
• Exhaust fan cover, which collects dust.
• Floor, edges and the area behind the door.

Bedrooms and living areas

• Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, vents and window sills.
• Wipe baseboards, door frames and doors. These are the most commonly missed spots.
• Clean closet shelves and rods.
• Spot-clean walls where it can be done without damaging paint.
• Vacuum carpets and mop hard floors. If the carpet has stains, a rental may expect professional carpet cleaning.
• Clean interior windows and tracks.

Whole home details

• Light switches and outlet covers.
• Garage floor and entry areas, if included in the rental.
• Patio or balcony: sweep and wipe railings.
• Replace burned-out light bulbs.

Where DIY usually falls short

The oven, the shower, and baseboards take the most time and the most elbow grease. If you are also packing, driving and handing over keys on a tight deadline, a professional move-out clean is often the better use of your last day. A team arrives with the right products and equipment and works through the whole list in one visit.

Timing

The best time is after the movers are done and the home is empty, and before the final walkthrough. Book a few days ahead, especially at the end of the month, when most leases end.

Move-out cleaning in King and Pierce County

Nomad Cleaning handles move-out and move-in cleaning in Kent, Renton, Federal Way, Tacoma and the surrounding area. Tell us the size of the home and the date of your walkthrough, and we will send a quote. Call or text (425) 738-2823 or visit our services page.