Security deposits are often lost to cleaning, not damage. Landlords walk through with a checklist, and dirty appliances or grimy baseboards are the easiest deductions to justify. Use this guide to leave nothing to argue about.
Before you start
Clean after your belongings are out. Working in an empty home lets you reach every cabinet, drawer and corner, and it prevents re-dirtying floors. Work top to bottom so dust falls onto surfaces you have yet to clean.
Kitchen
The kitchen decides more deposits than any other room.
- Wipe inside and outside every cabinet and drawer
- Degrease the stovetop, range hood and backsplash
- Clean inside the oven, including the racks
- Empty and wipe the fridge, then leave doors propped open
- Descale the sink and polish the faucet
- Wipe the dishwasher door, seals and filter
Bathrooms
- Scrub toilets, tubs, showers and tile grout
- Remove soap scum from glass doors
- Polish mirrors and fixtures
- Wipe vanities inside and out
Bedrooms and living areas
- Wipe baseboards, door frames and light switches
- Dust ceiling fans, vents and window sills
- Clean closet shelves and tracks
- Spot-clean walls to remove scuff marks
Floors last
Vacuum first, then mop hard floors, then vacuum any carpet once more on your way out. Doing floors last means every footprint you make while cleaning disappears.
The details landlords notice
- Light fixtures. A dusty cover with dead bugs inside is a common deduction.
- Window tracks. Florida humidity grows grime here quickly.
- Garage or patio. If it came with your lease, sweep it.
- Photos. Take dated photos of every room when you finish.
When to hire it out
If you are moving between two places on a deadline, a professional move-out clean is often the best value. Our team follows a landlord-focused checklist and typically completes a two-bedroom in a single visit. If anything is missed, we return within 24 hours at no cost.
You can compare what a move-out clean costs with other services on our house cleaning prices page, or read our Palm Beach cleaning service guide to see what each type of clean includes. Moving a business? See commercial cleaning in West Palm Beach.
See exact pricing in our move-out cleaning service page or book your clean now.
The Palm Beach Clean Pro Team
Cleaning experts
The Palm Beach Clean Pro team has cleaned thousands of homes across Palm Beach County. We write what we wish every homeowner knew before hiring a cleaner.
