Move-out cleaning: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What move-out cleaning is

Move-out cleaning readies an empty home for the next occupant or for a final walkthrough with a landlord or buyer. The cleaner works without furniture in the way, so the job covers the inside of cabinets, closets, appliances and floors that are usually skipped during packing.

Signs you need it

  • Your lease or sale requires the home to be returned in clean condition
  • The oven, fridge and cabinets have grease and food residue that will not come off with a quick wipe
  • You have a final walkthrough coming up and the deposit depends on it
  • The bathroom has hard water stains, soap scum and mildew around the tub
  • You have no time left after packing to scrub floors, baseboards and the stove

What the pro does

  • Walk the empty home with you to note stains, damage, pet marks and areas the landlord checks closely
  • Clean inside cabinets, drawers, closets and the pantry, removing shelf paper if it is loose or sticky
  • Clean inside the oven, degrease the range hood and wipe the fridge and dishwasher interiors
  • Scrub bathroom tubs, toilets, tile and grout, and remove soap scum and mineral deposits
  • Wash baseboards, door frames, window sills and tracks, then wipe light switches and outlet covers
  • Mop or machine scrub hard floors and vacuum edges, closets and corners before the final pass

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Square footage and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in the home
  • Condition of the oven, fridge and cabinet interiors, which often takes the most time
  • Pet odor, pet stains or smoking history, which can require extra products and treatment
  • Whether the home has a garage, basement or outdoor areas included in the walkthrough
  • Deadlines that require the crew to work evenings or weekends
  • Whether carpet or window cleaning is included or booked as a separate service

What a written quote should spell out

  • A room-by-room scope that matches the checklist your landlord or buyer uses, if they shared one
  • Which appliances are cleaned inside and whether the oven and fridge are included
  • The products used on floors, grout and stainless steel, and any extra treatment for odor
  • Whether windows, tracks and screens are included or quoted separately
  • What happens if the landlord rejects the clean and a return visit is needed

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Do you follow the landlord checklist or the one from my lease if I send it to you
  • Will you clean inside the oven, fridge, dishwasher and microwave
  • Do you clean inside the cabinets and remove grease from the range hood filter
  • How do you handle pet urine odor on subfloors or under the baseboards
  • Will you tell me in writing about any damage you find that could affect my deposit
  • Can you come back for a touch up if the walkthrough finds something missed

Red flags

  • A quote that says deep clean without listing what that includes for the oven and cabinets
  • No walkthrough before the job, which means the scope is a guess
  • A promise that the home will pass inspection without any condition on that promise
  • Reluctance to use a stronger product on a known problem such as heavy grease or urine odor

What you can do yourself

You can empty cabinets, remove shelf liner, pull out the fridge and oven drawers and clean the outside of appliances before the crew arrives. Call a professional for a full oven and hood degrease, for mildew on tile and grout, and for odor problems that reach the subfloor.

Licenses and permits

Move-out cleaning is not commonly licensed. Check with your state or local licensing agency for any business registration that applies to a cleaning company.

Move-out cleaning questions

Should I clean before or after the movers leave?

Schedule the cleaning after the last load is out and before the final walkthrough. Empty rooms make it possible to clean the floors and corners properly.

Will a move-out clean guarantee my deposit back?

No company can guarantee that. Ask the landlord for their checklist and bring any condition issues to the cleaner so they can be addressed before the walkthrough.

Do I need to remove the shelf liner?

If it is loose, sticky or stained, yes. Many landlords check under liner, so removing it is often the safer choice. Ask the crew whether they remove it or leave it.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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