Move-out cleaning checklist: how to hand over a spotless home

Whether you're a tenant hoping for a full deposit return or a seller preparing for handover, a move-out clean is judged on the details. Here's what a thorough empty-home clean should cover.

Kitchen

• Inside and out of the oven, stovetop, and range hood filter.
• Inside the refrigerator and freezer — shelves, drawers, and seals.
• Inside all cabinets and drawers, wiped clean and dry.
• Sink, faucet, and backsplash descaled and polished.

Bathrooms

• Tile, grout, tub, and shower screen free of soap scum and water spots.
• Toilet cleaned and sanitized, including behind and around the base.
• Vanity, mirror, and fixtures polished; cabinets wiped inside and out.

Throughout the home

• Baseboards, door frames, light switches, and outlet covers wiped.
• Interior windows, tracks, and sills cleaned.
• Closets emptied, shelves wiped, floors vacuumed or mopped.
• Walls spot-cleaned; cobwebs removed from ceilings and corners.
• All floors vacuumed and mopped last, working toward the exit.

If time is tight, a professional move-out clean is often the difference between a smooth handover and a disputed deposit — it's the one clean where the details truly pay for themselves.