Move-out cleaning checklist to get your deposit back
A move-out cleaning checklist protects your deposit by hitting the surfaces landlords inspect: inside cabinets and drawers, inside the oven, fridge, and dishwasher, interior windows, spot-cleaned walls, baseboards, and floors. Empty every room first, clean top to bottom, and save floors for last.
- $2M insured
- Background-checked cleaners
- Same cleaner every visit
- Satisfaction guarantee
- No contracts
Why a move-out clean is really about your deposit
A move-out clean is not a regular tidy. It is the deep, detail-level pass a landlord or property manager uses to decide how much of your deposit comes back. They open the oven, pull out drawers, run a finger along baseboards, and check the corners a weekly clean never touches. Miss those spots and the cost of a cleaner comes straight out of your deposit, usually at a markup.
The smart move is to clean the way an inspector looks: empty first, then work each room top to bottom and back to front so dust you knock loose never lands on a surface you already finished. Floors come last in every room. The goal is a place that looks ready for the next tenant, not just clean enough for you to live in.
Move-out cleaning is its own service for a reason. It is the standard clean plus a long list of inside-the-appliance, inside-the-cabinet, and detail jobs that empty out a home for the next tenant, which is why move-out pricing runs about 70 percent above a standard clean. Everything is flat-rate, so you see your price up front with no hourly surprise on the day you are already busy hauling boxes.
The move-out cleaning checklist, room by room
Work this list after the home is fully empty of your belongings. Each line is a place deposits are won or lost, so do not skip the ones that feel hidden.
- Empty and wipe inside every cabinet, drawer, and closet shelf, including the toe-kicks and the tops of upper cabinets where grease and dust collect.
- Clean inside all appliances: the oven and racks, the fridge and freezer (defrosted and wiped), the microwave, the dishwasher, and behind and under the range where crumbs hide.
- Wash the interior windows, wipe the sills, and vacuum the window tracks where pollen, grit, and dead bugs build up over a lease.
- Spot-clean walls and doors for scuffs, fingerprints, and stray marks, and wipe down every switch plate, outlet cover, and door handle.
- Wipe all baseboards, trim, and crown molding, plus the tops of doors and door frames where inspectors love to check.
- Detail the bathrooms: descale the shower and faucets, scrub grout, clean inside and behind the toilet, polish mirrors, and empty and wipe the vanity.
- Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, and HVAC vent covers, and replace the air filter so the next tenant inherits a fresh system.
- Vacuum all carpets edge to edge, then sweep and mop every hard floor last, finishing each room on a clean surface.
Savannah landlords, deposit returns, and the 48-hour scramble
In Savannah, leases often end on a hard date, and the keys-back walkthrough happens fast — frequently within a day or two of you moving out. That leaves a tight window for the deep clean, and trying to do it yourself between a moving truck and a new lease is how spots get missed. A dedicated move-out clean removes that risk so your walkthrough goes smoothly.
Our coastal climate makes the inspection harder than it sounds. Spring oak and pine pollen leaves a yellow film on sills, blinds, and tracks; year-round humidity feeds mildew in bathroom grout and around windows; and salt air dulls glass and fixtures. Landlords notice all three, so a move-out clean here has to treat them, not just dust the obvious surfaces.
Because the first visit with us is always a deep clean, a move-out booking arrives ready for exactly this level of detail. We carry $2M general liability insurance, every cleaner clears a Checkr background check, and the same dedicated cleaner handles your job — no rotating strangers in an empty home you no longer control. If anything is missed, our 24-hour re-clean guarantee covers it before your walkthrough.
Get the printable move-out checklist
We turned this entire room-by-room routine into a one-page printable checklist you can carry through an empty home and check off as you go. Enter your email and we will send it straight to your inbox.
- Every deposit-critical spot, in inspection order
- Inside appliances, cabinets, windows, and walls covered
- Print it once and hand it to whoever cleans
Rather hand the move-out clean to us?
Skip the 48-hour scramble. Move-out cleaning is flat-rate and bookable around your lease-end date, and your first visit is always a deep clean. See your price in about 60 seconds, then pick a time.
FAQ
Common questions
Will a move-out clean really help me get my deposit back?
It directly targets what landlords inspect. Most deposit deductions come from inside appliances, cabinets, baseboards, and bathroom grime that a normal clean leaves behind. A move-out clean hits exactly those spots, and our 24-hour re-clean guarantee means anything missed gets fixed before your walkthrough rather than billed against your deposit.
What is the difference between a move-out clean and a standard clean?
A standard clean keeps a lived-in home tidy. A move-out clean is the deep version for an empty home and adds inside the oven and fridge, inside every cabinet and drawer, interior windows, wall spot-cleaning, and full baseboard detail. That extra work is why move-out pricing runs about 70 percent above a standard clean.
How soon before my lease ends should I book the move-out clean?
Book once the home is empty and before your final walkthrough, which in Savannah often happens within a day or two of move-out. Reserving the slot early matters during busy lease-turnover months. Everything is flat-rate, so you lock in your price when you book rather than guessing at an hourly total.
Do you bring everything needed for inside appliances and windows?
Yes. The move-out service already bundles inside the oven, fridge, and dishwasher, inside every cabinet and drawer, interior windows, and wall spot-cleaning into the flat tier rate. Optional extras such as laundry, a patio or balcony wash, or a garage sweep are the only add-ons, and they are shown up front. You see the full flat-rate price before you confirm the booking.
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