Move-Out Cleaning Checklist: What's Included & How Much It Costs

A professional move-out cleaning costs $280–$550 for a one-bedroom, $450–$850 for a two-bedroom, $550–$950 for a three-bedroom, and $650–$1,100 for a four-bedroom home. These prices cover a comprehensive checklist of every area a landlord or property manager will inspect during a final walkthrough. Understanding what the checklist covers — and why each item matters — helps you verify that your cleaning service is delivering full value and protects your security deposit.

The kitchen is the room landlords inspect most carefully because it accumulates the most visible buildup. A complete move-out kitchen checklist includes: inside the oven (baked-on grease and food residue removed), inside the refrigerator and freezer (all shelves and drawers wiped clean), inside all cabinets and drawers (crumbs, residue, and liner paper addressed), all counter surfaces, stovetop surface and burners or coil covers, sink and faucet (including drain area), microwave interior and exterior, exhaust fan filter, and all appliance exteriors. Missing any of these items is a common reason landlords withhold portions of security deposits.

Bathrooms are the second most closely inspected area during move-out walkthroughs. A thorough move-out bathroom checklist covers: toilet (bowl, seat, lid, base, and the floor behind and around it), bathtub or shower (grout lines, faucet and handles, drain, tile walls), sink and faucet, mirror and medicine cabinet interior, vanity interior shelves and drawers, exhaust fan, towel bars and hooks, baseboards, and the floor thoroughly mopped including corners. Hard water stains, soap scum in grout lines, and mold in caulking are the most common bathroom issues flagged during landlord inspections.

Bedrooms and living areas have a straightforward move-out checklist but require attention to detail that is often missed during DIY cleaning: all closet interiors wiped out (shelves, floors, and walls), closet doors and tracks cleaned, all window sills and tracks cleaned, baseboards along every wall scrubbed, light switches and outlet covers wiped, door frames and doors wiped, ceiling fans (blades and motor housing) dusted, blinds or shutters dusted, and all floors vacuumed and mopped. Bedroom closets with significant scuff marks, dust buildup, or debris are a surprisingly common move-out inspection issue.

The areas most often missed in DIY move-out cleaning — and therefore the most common sources of security deposit disputes — are: inside the oven, grout lines in the shower, baseboards throughout the home, window sill tracks, behind and around the toilet, inside all cabinets and drawers, and light fixtures. These are all standard inclusions in a professional move-out clean from 24 25 Cleaners. Our team works from the same checklist every time, ensuring nothing is overlooked regardless of which member of our team performs the service.

Carpet cleaning is a separate item that frequently appears in lease agreements as a move-out requirement. Professional carpet cleaning costs $50–$100 per room with a $150 minimum. If your lease requires professionally cleaned carpets, this must be documented with a receipt from a licensed company — a rented carpet cleaner from a hardware store typically does not meet this standard. 24 25 Cleaners can include or coordinate carpet cleaning as part of your move-out package. Ask about bundle pricing when booking.

Walls are a move-out gray area. Normal marks and minor scuffs are generally considered normal wear and tear and are the landlord's responsibility to repaint. Significant marks, crayon or pen drawings, large scuff marks, or holes require repair and are typically the tenant's responsibility. 24 25 Cleaners will wipe down walls as part of a move-out clean and remove any surface-level marks that respond to cleaning products. We do not perform wall repairs or painting but can advise on what we observed.

The timeline for move-out cleaning is important. The cleaning should be scheduled after all your furniture and belongings are completely removed from the property and before your landlord's final inspection. Ideally, you want at least one full day between the cleaning completion and the inspection so you have time to address any issues the cleaner flags or that the landlord mentions during the walkthrough. 24 25 Cleaners can often schedule move-out cleans on short notice — call 425-494-5199 (Washington) or 424-484-0180 (California) to check availability.

Getting a receipt and proof of professional cleaning is as important as the cleaning itself. Landlords who dispute deposit deductions often require documentation that the cleaning was performed by a professional company. 24 25 Cleaners provides a detailed service receipt for every move-out clean that documents what was cleaned, who performed the service, and when. This documentation can be decisive in a deposit dispute. We are a licensed, insured, five-star rated company — our service receipt carries weight with landlords and property management companies across our service areas.