Rental Move Out Cleaning Checklist – Complete Guide

Congratulations on finally moving out to your new home. But before you pack your bags, have you considered cleaning up your current space for the new tenants? If not, a rental move out cleaning checklist may be your savior. 

The list can help you check all the cleaning tasks you need to perform before you can hand over the keys to your landlord. While a clean home is a blessing for the new tenants, it is also a great way to get all your security deposit from your landlord without any hassle. 

Aren’t these reasons enough to put in a little effort? Dig in for the ultimate move out rental cleaning checklist to make this process seamless. 

What Does a Move Out Rental Cleaning Checklist Contain? 

Whether you are leaving a rented house or an apartment, the tenant move out cleaning checklist is your blessing in disguise. 

Suppose you have lived in a space for a few years, made great memories and have had a good relationship with your landlord. But now you have finally scored an excellent new accommodation, so it’s time to leave. 

You are happy to move out but also want to act as a responsible tenant. In that case, you must do nothing except for leaving your current place clean. That’s what most landlords expect from people who live on rent in their houses or apartments. 

However, when it comes to cleaning a rental apartment before leaving, anyone can get confused about what to do and what not. 

Should you clean every nook and corner of the kitchen? Is it necessary to clean the bathroom floor? Should you thoroughly dust every room? 

How much work should you put into every part of your rented space to make it acceptable for your landlord or their new tenants? 

To help you answer these questions, we have curated a complete rental move-out cleaning checklist. The checklist covers almost all major sections of a property that require a clean-up before you leave it. It also mentions different tasks that must be performed to achieve the ultimate cleaning goal. 

Just go through all its sections. Then, tick off tasks as you complete them before moving to the next ones. This way, you won’t miss out on anything. 

Rental Move-out Cleaning Checklist (PDF)

Here is the rental move-out checklist PDF to download and print if needed. To understand the details of each task, keep reading below. 

Bedroom(s)

• Clean surfaces
• Achieve dust-free and empty closets
• Clean fans, light fixtures, and hangings
• Clean walls and baseboards
• Streak-free mirrors and windows
• Sanitize touchpoints
• Vacuum carpets and rugs
• Wash curtains
• Empty garbage bins

Bathroom(s)

• Deep clean shower walls, bathtubs, toilet and glass doors
• Remove water stains and soap scum
• Clean the sink and the basin’s surrounding area
• Clean mirrors
• Empty cabinets and sanitize
• Empty garbage bins
• Wash and vacuum the floor

Kitchen

• Thoroughly clean all the appliances that belong to the accommodation
• Wipe off all cabinets and countertops
• Scrub the sink 
• Empty the fridge
• Clean the fridge
• Remove trash
• Clean the floors

Living Space

• Clean high and low surfaces
• Clean all mirrors and windows
• Clean fans, light fixtures, and hangings
• Remove marks or scuffs on walls
• Vacuum carpets and curtains
• Clean the existing furniture

Garage and/or Patio

• Empty the garage and patio
• Clean the surfaces
• Sanitize every nook and corner 

Essential Cleaning Supplies for a Move-Out Cleaning

Having the proper cleaning supplies goes hand in glove with an effective move-out clean. A kit should be supplied with microfiber cloths, scrub brushes, sponges, a mop and bucket, and a vacuum cleaner. Meanwhile, all-purpose cleaners, disinfectants, and oven cleaners will help handle stubborn stains while baking soda, vinegar, and plant-based cleaners provide a very safe and viable alternative. It means investing in reusable tools and biodegradable products to assure a clean space while helping nurture a healthier environment. Equipped with the proper supplies, tenants will have little problem deep cleaning every corner of their old abode, paving the way to easily pass that final inspection and secure deposits.

Check out the Cleaning Supplies List for Renters for additional cleaning tips when renting a house or apartment.

How to Prepare an Effective Cleaning Schedule for Stress-Free Move-Out

A detailed cleaning schedule may ease the chaos on moving day. Divide daily, weekly tasks, and make a final checklist of all clean areas. Also, give precedence to deep cleaning the high-traffic areas-kitchen and bathrooms. Allocate precise time slots in your cleaning routine for dusting the floors, scrubbing counters, and also addressing appliances, including stovetops and garbage disposals. Using household items, like vinegar to clean the dishwasher, is cost-effective and efficient. Sticking to a schedule helps tenants stay organized, meet pre-move-out inspection standards, and maximize the chances of getting their security deposit back.

Small Repairs and Maintenance Before Moving-Out

Small repairs before moving out can ensure the entire transition is smooth and might just bring your security deposit back. Start off by filling in and painting over nail holes or places where wall-mounted décor once hung. Scuff marks and stains can be treated with a Magic Eraser or with a light touch-up of paint. Replace any broken or missing light bulbs, switch cover plates, towel racks, and stove knobs. Make sure to clean the vents, ceiling fans, and fireplaces. If it has a patio or balcony, make sure that area is also swept and all debris removed. These little things will go a long way in leaving the property in great shape.

Consideration of Security Deposit before Move-out

A good cleaning after moving out is necessary to get back the security deposit. The landlords would want just that property to be left in the same condition, other than normal wear and tear. Do not leave anything behind, or you could be incurring some more costs to dispose of your garbage. Return keys to avoid the expensive replacement cost of locks. Care for the property can be further demonstrated by attending to minor repairs: patching holes, repainting scuffed walls, and replacing burnt-out light bulbs. To increase your chances of getting your full deposit back, it’s a great idea to meet or even exceed your landlord’s expectations!

Rental Move Out Cleaning Checklist-What to Do At Every Step?

Now that you know what this rental move out cleaning checklist expects you to do, don’t waste time and start working. But before you get your hands on that mop and other cleaning tools, read through the details under each section. 

Besides, if the property doesn’t have a garage, patio, or a living room, leave the boxes empty on the checklist. You can also simply put in NA or non-applicable against the option. 

Move-Out Bedroom Cleaning Checklist 

• Clean surfaces
• Achieve dust-free and empty closets
• Clean fans, light fixtures, and hangings
• Clean walls and baseboards
• Streak-free mirrors and windows
• Sanitize touchpoints
• Vacuum carpets and rugs
• Wash curtains
• Empty garbage bins

You may have spent most of your time in your rented property’s bedroom. Therefore, it might require more cleaning than other areas of the accommodation. 

Before you leave the space, ensure to clean all the floors and surfaces in the bedroom. Enable a pristine environment by removing dust from all corners. You may want to use high-quality floor cleaning products to get satisfactory results. 

As you clean the floors, don’t forget the closets or any drawers in the room that you may leave for the next tenants. Ensure all the closets are empty and well-sanitized. They shouldn’t have any traces of your belongings. 

If the walls have scuff marks, address them with care and attention. However, if there are holes or damage that you can’t handle on your own, the best approach is to communicate it to your landlord. 

Look at all the mirrors and windows in your bedroom. Are they cleaned enough to welcome their new owners? If not, wipe all the stains from them and make the mirrors streak-free. Window stains should also be perfectly removed. 

Don’t leave the space without cleaning or vacuuming the rugs, carpets and curtains. If you don’t have time to clean these essentials yourself, hand the job to professional cleaners. 

Once you have achieved all of the above, remove trash from any bin in the room. Then, wrap up the job by sanitizing all the surfaces. If you really want the next tenants to feel welcomed, put a vase next to the bed with fresh flowers as a nice gesture. 

Follow the same checklist for all other bedroom spaces that you may have in this accommodation. 

Move-Out Bathroom Cleaning Checklist 

• Deep clean shower walls, bathtubs, toilet and glass doors
• Remove water stains and soap scum
• Clean the sink and the basin’s surrounding area
• Clean mirrors
• Empty cabinets and sanitize
• Empty garbage bins
• Wash and vacuum the floor

Ensure that your bathroom(s) look as clean as they did when you first stepped into this accommodation. 

Start with deep cleaning the bathtub, shower walls, toilet and glass doors. Use good quality cleaning products to remove dust, debris and stains from these areas. Meanwhile, clean the sink and the surrounding area to remove soap scum, accumulated hair, or trash. Once done, sanitize your sink so it smells great. 

Empty all the cabinets and drawers in the bathroom. Remove any trash and then sanitize them inside out. Collect the garbage in a bin that you can discard after the cleaning is done. 

Finally, clean the bathroom floor properly so it shines bright. Again, don’t leave this space without sanitizing the surfaces. 

Also, ensure that every corner of the bathroom sparkles and is completely dry before you shut the door for your next task.

Move-Out Kitchen Cleaning Checklist 

• Thought clean all the appliances that belong to the accommodation
• Wipe off all cabinets and countertops
• Scrub the sink 
• Empty the fridge
• Clean the fridge
• Remove trash
• Clean the floors

A sparkling kitchen is one of the best gifts you can give to your landlord and the new tenants before moving out. 

Start off by removing the appliances that you own and then cleaning the ones that belong to the landlord. Clean the insides of the oven, toaster or kettle. If there is a fridge, clean it inside out. Don’t forget to wipe off the surface beneath it. 

Make sure to wipe off countertops and cabinets as well. Remove the stains that may have accumulated on the surfaces over time. Moreover, scrub the sink properly to help it restore its shine. The accumulated grime should be smartly removed without causing any clogs. 

After cleaning all the mentioned spaces, remove the trash and then start cleaning the kitchen floor. Make sure that it not only looks clean but also smells good. 

Move-Out Living Area Cleaning Checklist 

• Clean high and low surfaces
• Clean all mirrors and windows
• Clean fans, light fixtures, and hangings
• Remove marks or scuffs on walls
• Vacuum carpets and curtains
• Clean the existing furniture

After removing everything from the living room to take with you, start making the space tidy to impress. 

Start with cleaning high and low surfaces. These could include any consoles, coffee tables or cabinets present in the room. Make them dust-free! 

Then, if there are any mirrors and windows in the living space, clean them for stains. Wipe off any marks on the walls as well. If there are unnecessary portraits hanging, remove them. 

Perform thorough dusting on the furniture that you plan to leave after moving out. Make sure that the sofas are stain-free with cushions smelling as good as new ones. 

Vacuum the carpets and clean the curtains as necessary. If they are too dirty or tough to handle, do yourself a favor and ask the professionals to handle them. 

Move-Out Garage and Patio Cleaning Checklist 

• Empty the garage and patio
• Clean the surfaces
• Sanitize every nook and corner

Now if the property has both a garage and a patio, you may be in for a long cleaning day. But remember, this is important as you can’t leave the exterior unappealing. It can reduce the property’s appeal.

Therefore, start off by emptying the patio and garage. Remove all the things you need to take with you. If there is a lot of accumulated unnecessary stuff, plan to throw it away or sell it off.

Once both spaces are completely empty, clean their surfaces using high-quality cleaning products. Your garage walls may also require a clean-up, so look for any marks or stains to remove. 

Finally, sanitize both places, especially the touchpoints. 

Rental Move-Out Cleaning Checklist: Why Hire a Professional Cleaning Company to Get All the Work Done Quickly?

So, how did you find the rental move out cleaning checklist? Will it help you perform your desired clean-up before you decide to leave your current property? 

Even if you don’t have the time or energy to tick off all the tasks, don’t fret. Instead of cleaning the accommodation yourself, contact us at Elite Maids NY. With us on board, you don’t have to spend days cleaning your property. 

We help make your moving-out transition as easy as possible. From dusting to wiping and vacuuming, we get all the tasks done while you pack your stuff to move to your new property. 

Book a cleaning service now and witness our professionals create magic!