The short answer: a move out checklist for cleaning helps you leave a rental clean enough to pass the final inspection and get your security deposit back.
- Before you start: read your lease and find your move-in photos
- Clean after the furniture is out
- Room by room, then the final walkthrough and deposit notes
- Includes a move in checklist and condition report
- Next step: Get the free move out cleaning checklist (we email it to you); want more? The Moving Planner is $5.99.
A move out cleaning checklist helps you leave a rental clean enough to pass the final inspection and get your security deposit back. This one goes room by room through the kitchen, bathrooms and every other room, then walks you through the final walkthrough and deposit notes. It also includes a move in cleaning checklist and a condition report for your new place. Get the free download and print it before moving day.
Handling the whole move, not just the cleaning? Our moving planner has an 8-week moving timeline, change of address and utilities pages, a box inventory and a moving budget.
Before you start
- Read your lease. Look for cleaning rules, such as professional carpet cleaning or repainting. USA.gov suggests you read your lease carefully and contact your state's tenant rights agency if a dispute comes up.
- Find your move-in photos. Compare them as you clean so you know what was already there.
- Clean after the furniture is out. Empty rooms are faster to clean and you can reach every corner.
- Pack a cleaning box. Keep supplies, trash bags and light bulbs out of the moving boxes.
Kitchen move out cleaning checklist
The kitchen is where most cleaning deductions start, so give it the most time.
- Empty, defrost and wipe the fridge and freezer
- Clean behind and under the fridge
- Clean the oven, racks and broiler pan
- Degrease the stovetop, knobs and hood filter
- Clean the microwave inside and out
- Wipe the dishwasher; clean the filter and door seal
- Wipe inside every cabinet and drawer
- Wipe cabinet fronts, handles and tops
- Scrub the sink and faucet; clear the disposal
- Clean the backsplash
- Sweep and mop, including under appliances
Bathrooms
Cloudy shower doors? Our guide on how to clean shower glass has a vinegar method and what to avoid.
Stained tile lines are easy to miss on a walkthrough; here is how to clean grout before you hand back the keys.
- Scrub the tub, shower and tile
- Clean the shower door or remove the curtain
- Clean the toilet inside, outside and at the base
- Wipe inside the vanity and medicine cabinet
- Clean the sink, faucet and mirror
- Descale the fixtures and showerhead
- Clean the exhaust fan cover
- Remove hair from the drains
- Wipe towel bars and the toilet paper holder
- Mop the floor and wipe the baseboards
Every room
Landlords notice dusty trim. Our guide on how to clean baseboards has a fast method and tips for scuffs and corners.
Smudged glass shows up fast in move-out photos; here is how to clean windows without streaks.
Moving a mattress? Our guide on how to clean a mattress shows how to freshen it before it goes into the new place.
- Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures
- Remove nails and patch small holes (if your lease allows)
- Wipe walls and scuffs
- Wipe switch plates, outlets and door handles
- Clean windows, sills and tracks
- Dust blinds
- Wipe closet shelves and rods
- Wipe baseboards and door frames
- Vacuum carpets and spot-treat stains
- Sweep and mop hard floors
A note on patching: in homes built before 1978, old paint may contain lead. The EPA explains that dust and chips from lead-based paint are a common source of exposure, so don't sand or scrape old paint. Ask your landlord how they want holes handled.
Outside the rooms
- Clean the washer and dryer; empty the lint trap
- Sweep the garage, balcony or patio
- Empty all trash and recycling bins
- Replace burned-out bulbs
- Replace the HVAC filter if your lease requires it
- Clean the entry and the front door
Final walkthrough and deposit notes
Dusty blinds are easy to miss. Our guide on how to clean blinds has a quick method for every type.
- Compare each room with your move-in checklist and photos.
- Take dated photos or video of every room.
- Check that every cabinet, closet and drawer is empty.
- Leave all keys, remotes and garage openers.
- Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing.
- Ask when and how the deposit will be returned.
The PDF has lines for the date you returned the keys, the landlord or manager's name, the deposit amount, the date you got it back, any deductions and reasons, and a follow-up date. Deposit deadlines and rules are set by state law, so check your state's tenant rights information if anything looks wrong. This checklist is a practical guide, not legal advice.
Move in cleaning checklist
Clean your new place before the boxes come in. It is much easier when cabinets and floors are empty.
| Move in task | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Wipe inside cabinets, drawers and shelves | Before dishes and food go in |
| Clean the fridge and freezer | Before you stock food |
| Run the dishwasher empty with a cleaner | Clears old residue |
| Clean the oven and microwave | Before the first meal |
| Scrub the toilet, tub, shower and sink | First night comfort |
| Wipe closet shelves and rods | Before clothes go in |
| Clean windows, sills and tracks | Easier with no furniture |
| Wipe switches, handles and outlets | High-touch surfaces |
| Vacuum and mop every floor | Before rugs and furniture |
| Change the HVAC filter | Fresh start for the air |
| Test smoke and CO alarms | Safety on day one |
| Check locks; ask whether they were rekeyed | Security |
Page 3 of the PDF also has a condition report table for seven rooms with columns for walls and floors, fixtures and appliances, damage noted and photo taken. Fill it in on day one and share a copy with your landlord.
Don't forget the paperwork
Cleaning is only one part of moving out. Update your address with the post office and other agencies; USA.gov explains how to change your address with USPS for $1.10 online and lists other services to update, such as taxes, Social Security and your driver's license. Our moving checklist covers the full timeline.
The Moving Planner is a 10-page printable with a moving timeline from 8 weeks out, a change of address list, utilities setup, a box inventory, mover and truck quotes, a moving budget and a first-week-in-the-new-home page. To keep track of every box, see our guide to a moving box inventory. Once you've settled in, the Cleaning Schedule printable sets up daily, weekly and monthly routines for the new place.
More cleaning checklists
For the twice-a-year jobs in any home, see our deep cleaning checklist. Our kitchen cleaning checklist and bathroom cleaning checklist set up routines once you've moved in, and our cleaning checklist covers the whole house.
For the weeks before you move, our free apartment cleaning checklist keeps a rental clean with weekly, monthly and daily lists.
Make it easier
Tools for this
Printables
Cleaning Schedule
Daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal lists - plus a family chore chart.
Frequently asked questions
What should be on a move out cleaning checklist? A move out cleaning checklist should cover every surface an inspector will check: inside the fridge, freezer, oven, microwave, dishwasher, cabinets and drawers; the tub, shower, toilet, vanity and fixtures in each bathroom; and walls, switch plates, windows, blinds, closets, baseboards and floors in every room. Add the laundry, patio, garage and a final walkthrough with photos.
How clean does an apartment need to be when you move out? Most leases ask you to return the unit in the same condition you received it, apart from normal wear and tear. In practice that means empty, with no trash or belongings left, appliances clean inside, bathrooms scrubbed and floors vacuumed and mopped. Read your lease for any specific requirements, such as professional carpet cleaning.
How long does move out cleaning take? A studio or one-bedroom apartment usually takes four to eight hours to clean once it is empty. A larger house can take one to two days. The kitchen and bathrooms take the most time. Clean after the furniture is out, so you can reach floors and walls, and leave time for a final walkthrough.
Can cleaning help me get my security deposit back? Yes, a clean unit makes it much less likely that a landlord will deduct cleaning costs. Take dated photos or video of every room after you clean, compare them with your move-in photos, give your forwarding address in writing and ask when the deposit will be returned. Deposit rules and deadlines are set by state law, so check your state's tenant rights information.
Should I patch nail holes before I move out? Only if your lease or landlord expects it, so ask your landlord first, because whether you should patch nail holes depends on your lease. Some landlords expect small nail holes to be filled, while others count them as normal wear and prefer to do repairs themselves. If you do patch, use a small amount of spackle and let it dry. In homes built before 1978, avoid sanding old paint, because it may contain lead.
What is often missed in move out cleaning? The most-missed jobs are behind and under the fridge and stove, inside the oven and broiler pan, the dishwasher filter and door seal, the range hood filter, light fixtures and ceiling fans, window tracks, blinds, the tops of door frames, the exhaust fan cover in the bathroom and the lint trap in the dryer.
What is a move in cleaning checklist? A move in cleaning checklist is a list of jobs to do before you unpack in a new home: wiping inside cabinets, drawers and closets, cleaning the fridge before you stock it, running the dishwasher empty, scrubbing bathrooms, cleaning windows, vacuuming and mopping, changing the HVAC filter and testing smoke and CO alarms. Our PDF has 12 tasks.
Why fill out a condition report when moving in? A condition report records any damage that was already there on the day you moved in, such as stains, scratches, broken blinds or chipped tiles. With dated photos, it helps show that you did not cause that damage when you move out. Give a copy to your landlord and keep one in your files.
Should I hire a move out cleaning service? Hire one if you are moving far away or on a tight schedule; otherwise cleaning yourself saves money. A cleaning service can save time in those cases. Get a quote that lists what is included, such as inside appliances and cabinets. Many renters clean themselves to save money. Either way, use a checklist to check the work before you hand back the keys.
What supplies do I need for move out cleaning? Bring an all-purpose cleaner, degreaser, bathroom cleaner, glass cleaner, an oven cleaner or baking soda, microfiber cloths, scrub brushes, a magic eraser for scuffs, rubber gloves, a vacuum, a mop and bucket, a step stool, trash bags and light bulbs. Pack a separate cleaning box so the supplies don't end up on the moving truck.
Is the move out cleaning checklist free to print? Yes, the move out cleaning checklist is free to print. The three-page PDF is free; we email it to you. It includes the room-by-room move out checklist, a final walkthrough with deposit notes, and a move in cleaning checklist with a condition report. Print two copies if you are moving from one rental to another.
What goes on a move out checklist besides cleaning? The final walkthrough and paperwork: compare each room with your move-in photos, take dated photos or video, leave all keys, remotes and garage openers, change your address and give the landlord your forwarding address in writing.
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