Moving out and into a new apartment feels like a reset, a move befitting the spring season. Before you start settling into your new home, leave on good terms by doing thorough move-out cleaning. This will not only end a long landlord-tenant relationship on a positive note, but also help you get your security deposit back.
Use this move-out cleaning checklist to help you get your security deposit back:
Why You Need to Clean to Get Your Security Deposit Back
To get your security deposit back after moving out, you need to leave the apartment in the same condition as when you moved in. Security deposits are often withheld to cover any damage that go beyond normal wear and tear. So, a thorough cleaning leaves your apartment in excellent condition and ready for your landlord. Don’t forget to take pictures and videos once you’re done cleaning to prove the state you left the apartment in.
Before You Start Cleaning
Before you dive into cleaning, there are a couple of preparations that make the process faster and easier.
Get all your belongings out of the apartment
Cleaning your apartment is easiest when it’s empty. While that isn’t always possible due to timing, try to schedule your move-out date after your move-in day. This gives you time to go back and clean when there’s no furniture in the way. Remember to leave cleaning supplies behind or bring them back with you.
Before you start cleaning, do one last walkthrough of every room to make sure the apartment is empty. Look in every drawer, cabinet, closet, and corner to make sure nothing is left behind. It will ensure you don’t forget anything and make cleaning easier since you won’t have to stop to move items.
Use the right tools and supplies
The right cleaning products can make your job ten times easier. Some cleaning must-haves are:
- All-purpose cleaner
- Glass cleaner
- Dish soap
- Paper towel
- Toilet bowl cleaner
- Toilet brush
- Microfiber cloths or rags
- Sponges
- Scrub brush
- Mop
- Vacuum
- Broom
- Disinfecting wipes
Gather your supplies before you start so that you don’t have to interrupt your flow to look for supplies. This also doubles as a quick inventory check. If you’re missing something, you’ll know from the beginning instead of when you’re halfway done.
Wear the right clothes
Cleaning is a physical task, so you want to wear clothes that are easy to move in and breathable. While short-sleeved shirts and shorts will keep you cool, long-sleeved clothing protects you. It helps you clean by preventing contact with harsh cleaning materials.
If you’re working with extremely potent cleaning products or using them for prolonged periods of time, then use additional protective gear. Wear long gloves to keep solutions off your skin and put on eye protection and face masks to prevent anything from getting into these sensitive areas.
Check the move out cleaning requirements for your apartment
Each apartment community has its own cleaning requirements. Some require only a surface clean, while others expect a full deep clean. Review your lease or check with your landlord to verify what’s required before you start cleaning.
How to Clean Your Kitchen
The kitchen is a high-traffic part of the apartment. With so many people coming and going as well as cooking, it can require extensive cleaning, so leave plenty of time to get through this space.
Deep clean appliances
Before you dive into deep cleaning your appliances, wipe down the exterior surfaces to remove grease, dust, and stuck-on residue. Then start cleaning the appliances, but remember that different appliances may require a specific approach and cleaning solution.
- Dishwasher: Run a cleaning cycle with a cup of white vinegar or dishwasher cleaner tablet to get rid of scents and grime inside the dishwasher. For machines without a cleaning cycle, use the hottest cycle possible.
- Refrigerator: Start by removing any shelves and washing them with soap and water. As they dry, use a baking soda and water paste to clean the interior of your refrigerator before leaving an open box of baking soda inside to absorb any smells. Clean out and turn off the ice tray in the freezer, as well.
- Oven: Clean your oven with a non-toxic cleaner or a homemade paste of baking soda and vinegar. Scrub thoroughly, let it sit for at least 15 minutes, then wipe it clean. If your oven has a self-clean cycle, run it after manual cleaning, and clean the racks separately during the cycle. Always verify which products are safe to use, as self-cleaning ovens often have specific restrictions.
- Microwave: Wipe down the inside of the microwave to remove any food scraps. For stubborn food that doesn’t want to come off, heat a bowl of water and vinegar for a few minutes to loosen it.
- Stove: Wipe down the stovetop to remove grease and residue. Clean drip pans if your stove has them, or replace them if they’re too worn or stained to salvage.
- Range Hood: Use a cloth and cleaner to wipe down the inside and outside of the range hood to get rid of any residue from cooking.
Clean cabinets, backsplashes, and walls
Grease and oils spread easily throughout the kitchen, especially around cooking areas. Wipe down all cabinets and walls to remove residue using an all-purpose cleaner or a vinegar-and-water solution. Areas near the stove often need extra attention, so use a scrub brush if the buildup is stubborn.
Clean inside your cabinets and drawers as well. Remove any shelf or drawer liners and wipe the interior down.
Wipe down countertops and sinks
Remove any residue or dirt off countertops and the sink with a general cleaner then disinfect with a spray. Use disposal-cleaning tablets, or pour baking soda and vinegar down the disposal and flush with hot water to break down residue and odors.
How to Clean Your Bathroom
Since this is the last time you’ll be cleaning the bathroom, make sure to get into every nook and cranny, especially ones that aren’t as frequently cleaned.
Clean the toilet
Cover the inside of the toilet bowl in toilet cleaner and let it sit for however long the instructions recommend. Then come back and scrub every inch with a toilet brush. Use a sponge and general cleaning spray to clean the outside of the toilet and the seat.
Thoroughly scrub the tub and shower
Start by removing the shower curtain and liner so they’re out of the way. If you replaced the showerhead while you lived there, reinstall the original one.
Scrub everything, including the tub, drain, fixtures, and tiles, to make them sparkle. Don’t neglect the grout and caulking, but use the right products since they can be tough to clean. Be careful not to scrub too hard, since you don’t want to damage them.
Clean mirrors and glass
For mirrors and glass, use a glass cleaner to clear away anything obscuring or adhering to the surface.
How to Clean the Bedroom and the Living Room
Thankfully, most of your furniture should be out of the way, so cleaning these large rooms should be easier. Check that you have tall or extendable cleaning supplies to get hard-to-reach spots.
Dust everything
Give yourself a debris-free clean slate to start from by dusting everything, from the ceilings to the floors. Don’t forget items like baseboards, ceiling fan blades, blinds, trim, crown molding, and light fixtures.
Clean the details
Just as you dusted all the fixtures and details, you need to clean them as well. Damp cloths work great on baseboards since a lot of dirt can accumulate that needs a stronger touch than a duster to be removed. Give each fixture and outlet a quick wipe so that they’re clean from fingerprints and any other scum.
Clean the windows
Spray and wipe any windows with glass cleaner to leave them nice and clear. Then clean the sill and trim with a general cleaner, since a spotless window stands out from a grimy frame.
Remove anything from the walls
First, start by removing everything from the walls, whether it’s nails or command strips. If you need to, patch and paint any holes or minor damage.
Wipe the walls and doors
Focus on dirty spots before doing a general wipe down of the entire wall. Be careful what cleaning products you use since paint can be delicate. Start by doing a small spot test out of the way to see if the cleaning product removes any paint. If you’re worried, your best bet is sticking to water and mild soap. The details, like the door trim and knobs, need to be cleaned too.
Clean the floors (vacuum, mop, carpet cleaner)
Vacuum every inch and corner to get everything off the floors. If you have carpets, you can rent a carpet cleaner, but check with your landlord as they may prefer to do that themselves. Mop floors with the appropriate solution to avoid damage.
Clean out washer and dryer if they came with the apartment
Run a wash cycle of hot water through the washer. Make sure the dryer is empty and the lint trap is clean. Vacuum around them as well, since the floor can get quite dirty from lint and general usage.
Check your balcony
If you have a balcony, make sure you didn’t forget anything on it. Then sweep it clean and clean the door with glass cleaner or an all-purpose cleaner.
Tips for Move-Out Cleaning
Cleaning is a long and taxing task, so here are some tips to make it easy for you:
Move back to front and top to bottom
Start at the back of your apartment and steadily make your way to the exterior door. That way, you aren’t tracking dirt through already cleaned areas.
Starting at the ceiling and going down to the floor helps for the same reason. Any dropped dirt won’t land on something you’ve already cleaned.
Leave vacuuming and mopping for last
As you clean counters, shelves, cabinets, and drawers, there’s a high chance that dirt is going to fall on the floor. Leave vacuuming and mopping for last so you can pick up anything that was dropped and don’t have to do the task twice.
Decide whether you want to move room by room or task by task
Depending on your preference, you may want to clean room by room or do each task throughout the entire home before moving on to the next one. Decide which method you’ll use, so you don’t skip a step.
Find Your Next Home on Apartments.com
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FAQs
Is it worth it to hire a move-out cleaner?
It can be worth it to hire a move-out cleaner if you are busy with other moving tasks and don’t have the time. They are professionals who should do a great job, which can help you get your security deposit back.
What is considered move-out cleaning?
Move-out cleaning is a deep cleaning of your apartment, which includes cleaning every last inch, from the ceiling to the floor. This leaves the apartment in good condition for your landlord so you can get your security deposit back.
