Planning to move out soon? Amid all the chaos, cleaning may be the last thing on your mind rather than being the priority if you want to get your deposit back. 

Having a cleaning checklist will not only give you a better chance of getting your deposit back, but you’ll also be able to avoid getting slammed with surprise fees. 

That being said, if you don’t already have a checklist then it’s time to create one. And this is where we come in! We’re here to guide you with an essential move-out cleaning checklist that will help you get that deposit back. 

So, without further ado, let’s dive right into it. 

11 Things to Clean Before You Move Out

It’s not an easy task to get your house back to the condition it was when you first rented it. Since it’s part of the standard leasing agreement, you’ll have to make sure to get it done as well as you can. 

If you’re unsure as to where or what to start with, here are 11 ways that will give you an idea. Keep in mind, you don’t have to follow the steps in any specific order, but we do recommend leaving the floor cleaning last, for obvious reasons. 

1. Remove Nails and Patch All the Holes

We tend to decorate the walls to make the space feel like it’s our own. For instance, putting up TV mounts, clocks, towel hooks, hat racks, furniture anchors, shower caddies etc. 

No doubt all of these additions needed a lot of nails in the walls. It’s a good idea to remove all the nails and patch up the holes before you do any touch-ups. Use a Sarasota trash pickup service to get rid of your trash quickly and more efficiently.

This will help to make the house look like it was before and maybe impress your landlord into giving your security deposit back! 

2. Repainting  

Most of the rentals use standardized paint colors in their units, so if you’ve made any changes, now is the time to repaint it back to its original color. 

This is a requirement you’ll find in most leases to get the deposit back. However, if your landlord is reasonable enough to let you keep your custom colors, it’s better to get it in writing. 

If you can somehow find what the original paint used to be, then take a sample to the paint store and have them mix up a small batch of a custom match. 

3. Wiping All the Doors

Oftentimes it’s the doors that get neglected when it comes to cleaning routines. So, this time try not to do that and remember to wipe down all the doors. 

This will help make a huge impact on the shimmering factor for the walkthrough with your landlord.

4. Dusting the Ceiling Fans

Many avoid dusting their ceiling fans. Either they don’t notice it or they just don’t want to do it. But if you’re moving out, then this is an important part of your cleaning routine. So, make sure to dust all the fans, even if it feels tiring because this will help immensely to get that deposit back!

5. Squeaky Clean Mirrors and Windows

This can be considered a small detail, but going out of your way to clean the windows and mirrors gives you a better chance at getting your deposit back. Not only that, but it also helps to bring a new and different vibe to the unit. 

You can use newspapers to get that streak-free finish, and don’t forget about cleaning the sills and dusting the blinds as well! 

6. Clearing Out All the Cabinets and Cupboards

Another vital aspect of your cleaning should be to empty every cabinet and cupboard you have used in the kitchen, closets, bathrooms and laundry room. 

Make sure to remove any gunk or crumbs first and then do a full wipe. Also, don’t forget to remove any sticky traps, roach baits or air fresheners. 

7. Deep Cleaning it All 

A grueling task, but you have to dedicate quite some time to deep cleaning the shower and tub in your house. Try to remove as much muck from the drains and grout as possible and do a full scrub of the sinks and faucets. 

Toilet bowls need to be scrubbed thoroughly. And let’s not forget that the lids need to be lifted and cleaned as well, and the outside wiped down. The key is to make everything look shiny, so go and get your gloves ready! 

8. Good as New

This is another area where you have to give all your blood, sweat and tears. Appliances such as the dishwasher, microwave oven, stove and refrigerator can get grimy over long periods. You can hire a professional to do it, or do it yourself. 

Before you start to clean, make sure to turn off and remove everything from your refrigerator. You’ll need to put in a lot of effort, but with hard work, you can make everything look brand new again. 

9. Don’t Forget the Baseboards and Trim!

Another point most people miss easily is the baseboards and trims. It doesn’t take much to get them clean, all you need is to run a wet rag or duster along with them, and it will be done. You’d be surprised what a big difference a little cleaning can do. 

10. A lot of Sweeping, Mopping and Vacuuming

We’ve already mentioned leaving the floors to be cleaned, at last, however, that’s not just limited to a simple broom cleaning. A simple sweep won’t do, it would be in your best interest to go further than that. 

Thoroughly vacuum the carpets and remember to mop up any hardwood, tile or other floors with a hard surface. If you have pets, then that’s all the more reason to make sure that you remove all their fur gathered under the furniture and in the corners. 

It would also be smart to look for any accidental spills that might be on the carpet and do a spot clean to get rid of the evidence. 

11. Take the Garbage Out

It’s important to dispose of all the trash before you move out. Remember to take photos of your house or unit after you’ve cleaned them. This will give you a proper record of the move-out condition and can be used as a reference if there’s an issue in getting back your deposit. 

Hiring Cleaning and Move-Out Services

Now that we’re done talking about all the ways you can clean your house, what happens when you don’t have the time to do all that? Maybe you have other pressing issues on your mind that need taking care of. 

This is where hiring the services of professionals comes in handy. Here are a few ways you can benefit from hiring cleaning and move-out services:

Saving a Lot of Time

When hiring the services of these professional cleaners and movers you can rest assured they’ll get the job done right. They have years of knowledge and experience under their belt. 

Not only do they know how to organize tasks, but they have a keen eye to figure out which task should be handled first. Services like these save you a lot of time, which you can utilize on other important matters that need your attention. 

Conserving Energy

It goes without saying how much energy you have to spend to manually clean your house. To help preserve all that energy, you can appoint the cleaning and moving-out services for this grinding task. 

Trying to clean everything by yourself can get overwhelming fast. The professional cleaners and technicians have a much better idea of spending the right amount of energy on every cleaning task.

A Stress-free Moving Out Experience

Moving out of a house or apartment is more than just rummaging through old belongings, washing, dusting, folding, piling and packing them away in cartons. Not only do you have to do all of that, but you also have to check on your family members or pets as well. 

So, the benefit of hiring professionals exempts you from having to worry or stress the whole process. This gives you the time to focus on your pets, children, or the elderly in your family. 

Time to Spare for Other Activities

Since you’re moving out, it makes sense to spend the last few days of your stay in Sarasota not doing any cleaning. As much as you’d like to take all the responsibility on yourself, it might be a good idea to take a break doing activities you won’t get to do anytime soon. 

For instance, taking a stroll along the beach with a cocktail in your hand and just enjoying the beautiful sunset with your family. Let the professionals handle all the cleaning while you take the time to appreciate how wonderful Sarasota is. 

Final Thoughts 

In conclusion, we’d like to say that moving out can be stressful no matter where you live. It can overwhelm even the best of us and the cleaning can take up a huge time if you’re not sure about where to start from. 

We hope our checklist helps you to get the ball rolling and get you back your security deposit. Let us know in the comments below if you have a cleaning checklist that worked wonders for you!Â