Move-Out Cleaning Checklist

Move-out cleaning is judged differently from ordinary cleaning, because there is no furniture to distract from anything. Every surface is visible, every cabinet opens, and the areas that were hidden for the length of the tenancy are suddenly the first thing anyone looks at.

Work in this order

Sequence matters: top-down, dry work before wet work, floors last. Cleaning floors first and then dusting high surfaces means doing the floors twice.

1. 1Empty the property completely, including storage and outbuildings
2. 2High dusting: light fittings, vents, tops of frames and cabinets
3. 3Inside all cabinets, drawers, and built-in storage
4. 4Appliances, including interiors where agreed
5. 5Bathrooms in full: fixtures, fittings, tiling, and glass
6. 6Kitchen surfaces, backsplash, and cabinet fronts
7. 7Skirting, door frames, switches, and handles
8. 8Interior glass, sills, and tracks
9. 9Floors throughout, including edges and behind where furniture stood

The areas most often missed

• Inside and on top of kitchen cabinets
• The oven, including racks and the door glass
• Behind and beneath appliances where they can be moved safely
• Window tracks and channels
• Extractor filters and vents
• Marks on walls where furniture stood
• The inside of the refrigerator, including seals

If a checklist applies to you

Leases and property managers frequently specify their own standard. If you have one, share it — it is far more useful than a generic list, because it is the standard you will actually be judged against.

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