Your Easy Move Out Cleaning Checklist

Planning to move out soon? Whether you’re ending a lease or selling a house, it’s important that you leave your former home in tip-top (or at least, acceptable) condition. This means compiling a move out cleaning checklist for yourself or a cleaner. Renters will likely need to conduct a deep clean in order to get their security deposit back. In fact, many landlords require that tenants return the home to its original condition before moving out. Those selling a home will likely need to give it a good cleaning before handing over the keys to the new owners as well. While a deep clean isn’t necessarily a legal requirement, it’s often customary for sellers to do it anyway when moving out.

What’s on the move out cleaning checklist?

Your move out cleaning checklist will depend on the size of the property and how clean it is already. To help you, we’ve compiled a comprehensive move out cleaning checklist that you can use as a starting point.

1. Remove any remaining personal property
   

   First and foremost, remove all personal property from the home. This means everything from furniture and closet items to shelving and wall art. 

2. Vacuum floors
   

   Give the home a once-over with the vacuum. Don’t forget to vacuum closets, stairs, nooks and other hard-to-reach areas.

3. Dust and wipe down surfaces
   

   Using an all-purpose surface cleaner and a roll of paper towels or clean cloth, wipe down kitchen countertops, bathroom countertops, bookshelves, windowpanes, fireplace mantles and other hard surfaces. 

4. Clean inside cabinets
   

   Don’t forget to clean inside all cabinets. Kitchen cabinets, in particular, tend to accumulate food crumbs and other residue from food and cooking products. 

5. Wipe down appliances
   

   Over time, stainless steel appliances become covered in fingerprints and markings. Make sure to wipe down your fridge with either an all-purpose spray or a vinegar and water mixture. Don’t forget to wipe down and clean out the microwave as well.

6. Scrub and clean toilets, sinks, showers and bathtubs
   

   Once you’ve finished vacuuming and dusting, roll up those sleeves and start on the bathrooms. All toilets, showers, bathtubs and sinks should be thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned. Any mold, rust or mildew should also be eliminated from the bathrooms before moving out. 

7. Clean out closets
   

   After you’ve cleared out your clothing and accessories, make sure to wipe down closet shelves and hanging rods. You should also vacuum the closet floors and double-check that all personal items have been removed. 

8. Remove nails and wall anchors screwed into the wall
   

   Unless the landlord or buyer has asked that you leave nails, hooks and wall anchors in the walls, it’s best to remove this hardware prior to moving out. 

9. Fill holes and repair drywall
   

   Once you’ve removed any nails, hooks and dry wall anchors, make sure to patch up unsightly holes in the wall. If any drywall needs to be repaired, consider hiring a professional handyman to do the job.

10. Touch up scratches and markings with paint
    

    Before moving out, head to your local paint store and grab a small sample size of paint that matches your wall. Use this paint to touch up any scratches or markings left on the walls. Be sure to pay special attention to baseboards and other areas with high-gloss paint, as these tend to scratch more easily than walls painted with a matte finish.

11. Clean and sanitize the fridge and freezer
    

    Empty the fridge and freezer of any remaining contents and start cleaning. All surfaces should be wiped down with an disinfectant spray. Make sure to eliminate any and all remaining food crumbs as well.

12. Wipe down oven and stovetop
    

    One of the places where food residue tends to hide is the stovetop. If you have a gas range, be sure to remove the top part of the range and clean underneath all burners. Your oven can also be cleaned with a simple water and baking soda mixture. Combine the water and baking soda to make a paste and apply it throughout the oven. Vinegar can be added as well.

13. Mop floors
    

    Once all surfaces have been wiped down and vacuumed, end your move out cleaning by giving the floors a good mop. A vinegar and warm water solution is a simple and safe floor cleaning mixture. You can also use a Swiffer sweeper with a wet cloth to clean floors.

Should you hire a cleaning service?

To clean the home, you have two choices: you can either clean it yourself or you can hire a professional cleaning service to do it. If you’re renting, and your security deposit depends upon it, then it may be worth it to hire a cleaning service to ensure that you get your money back. On the other hand, if you’re hoping to save as much money as possible, then cleaning the property yourself is probably the most practical option. Those with kids and/or a busy job may not have time to clean a large property and should also plan to hire a cleaning service.

When should you do the move out cleaning?

Not sure when to do the deep clean? We recommend cleaning the home after all of your furniture and personal items have been removed. Not only will this ensure that you’re able to clean every nook and cranny, but it will also make cleaning an easier process. After all, you won’t have to worry about vacuuming under rugs and other personal household items. In addition, packing and moving can be a dirty process – especially if you or movers are tracking dirt in the house. Cleaning the floors and surfaces after the movers have left, and your belongings have been taken out of the house, is the smart way to go. Be sure to schedule your move at least two days before your move out deadline. This will give you plenty of time to clean the property before the new residents move in.

Moving soon?

To help make your upcoming move easier, we recommend hiring professionals to handle the heavy lifting. Fortunately, Astoria Queens Movers company offers complete relocation services, with each move planned to meet the specific needs of our customers. Local moves start at a $385 minimum for 2 movers and a truck. You get your exact price in a free written estimate before moving day. We guarantee your satisfactory. We will do the best we can in order to perform the best quality moving job. Call Us 1-718-782-0272 or Get Free Quote

More Queens moving guides

• Moving out of a Queens apartment: your security deposit
• Before you move: mattresses, fridges and electronics (DSNY rules)