Moving Cleaning Checklist: Move-Out and Move-In

For a move-out clean, work top to bottom, room by room, after the furniture is gone: dust high surfaces and light fixtures, clean inside every cabinet and appliance, scrub the kitchen and bathrooms, wipe walls and baseboards, then do floors last. If you are a tenant, read your lease and move-in report first, since they set what “clean” means for your deposit, and photograph everything when you are done. At the new place, clean before you unpack, focusing on the kitchen, bathrooms and high-touch surfaces, and follow disinfectant labels exactly.

Moving is stressful enough without a deposit dispute or a grimy new kitchen. A plan and a two-week timeline keep the cleaning manageable.

What you need

All-purpose cleaner, dish soap, glass cleaner and baking soda
A bathroom cleaner and a toilet brush
An EPA-registered disinfectant for the new home’s high-touch surfaces, used per its label
Microfiber cloths, sponges, a scrub brush and an old toothbrush
A vacuum with attachments, a mop and a bucket
Rubber gloves, a step stool, trash bags
Your phone for photos

Use one product at a time and rinse with water between products. Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar, toilet-bowl cleaners or other acids; see cleaning products you should never mix. Open windows or run exhaust fans while cleaning, and test products on a hidden spot first.

Timeline

When	What to do
3 to 4 weeks before	Read your lease’s move-out terms and your move-in report; book any required professional cleaning; start decluttering
2 weeks before	Use up pantry and freezer food; clean rarely used spaces (closets, storage, balcony) as you empty them
1 week before	Deep clean the oven and other appliances you can do without; patch small nail holes if your lease allows or requires it
2 to 3 days before	Defrost and clean the fridge and freezer once empty
Moving day (after movers)	Final top-to-bottom clean, floors last, photos and video
New home, before unpacking	Clean cabinets, kitchen, bathrooms, high-touch surfaces; vacuum and mop

Move-out checklist by room

Every room

Dust ceiling corners, fans, light fixtures and vents.
Wipe light switches, outlet covers, door handles and doors.
Clean windows, sills and tracks; wipe blinds.
Spot-clean walls and remove marks gently; see how to clean walls without removing paint.
Wipe baseboards, then vacuum and mop or vacuum carpet last.
Remove all nails, hooks and adhesive strips only if the lease says to, and patch as allowed.

Kitchen

Empty and wipe inside every cabinet and drawer, including shelf edges.
Clean the oven and racks, following the oven manual; our guide to how to clean an oven covers self-clean, baking soda paste and oven cleaner.
Clean the stovetop, burner parts and range hood filter.
Empty, unplug if the manual says so, and clean the fridge and freezer; leave the doors open or as your landlord directs so they do not get musty.
Clean the dishwasher filter and wipe the door seal; see how to clean a dishwasher.
Wipe the microwave inside and out.
Scrub the sink and faucet; run the disposal with cold water.
Degrease backsplash and counters, then floors.

Bathrooms

Scrub the tub, shower and tile; remove soap scum and hard-water marks.
Clean the toilet inside and out, including the base and hinges.
Clean the sink, faucet, mirror and inside the vanity and medicine cabinet.
Dust the exhaust fan cover; wipe the floor and behind the toilet.

Bedrooms and closets

Wipe closet shelves and rods; vacuum closet floors.
Check for forgotten items in drawers and on top shelves.

Outside spaces, if included in your lease

Sweep the balcony, patio or garage; remove trash and anything you stored there.

Getting your deposit back

Rules on security deposits, deadlines for returning them, and what counts as normal wear and tear are set by state, provincial and local laws, and they differ a lot. Check your lease and your local tenant rights guide rather than relying on general advice.

Compare with your move-in report and photos. You are generally expected to return the home in the condition you received it, apart from normal wear.
Photograph and video every room after cleaning, with the date visible on your phone, including inside appliances and cabinets.
Ask for a walk-through with the landlord or manager if possible.
Give a forwarding address in writing so the deposit or any itemized deductions can reach you.
Keep receipts if you hired a cleaner or carpet cleaning that the lease required.

Move-in cleaning and sanitizing

Even a place that looks clean is worth a once-over before your things go in. Empty rooms are much easier to clean.

Clean first, then disinfect where it matters. Wash surfaces with soap and water to remove dirt, then use an EPA-registered disinfectant on high-touch spots: door handles, light switches, faucet handles, toilet handles and seat, and kitchen counters.
Respect the contact time. EPA’s six steps for safe and effective disinfectant use explain that the surface must stay wet for the time on the label. Homemade mixes and vinegar clean but are not registered disinfectants.
Food-contact surfaces: rinse with water after disinfecting if the label says to.
Line or wipe kitchen cabinets and drawers before putting dishes away.
Clean the fridge with warm soapy water before stocking it.
Run an empty hot cycle on the dishwasher and clean the washing machine per its manual.
Replace the HVAC filter and check smoke and CO alarms.
Vacuum and mop floors last.

Wear gloves when the label says so and keep products in their original containers, away from children and pets during the chaos of moving day. If someone swallows, inhales or gets a cleaning product in the eyes, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (US) or emergency services.

Packing tips that cut cleanup

Declutter before packing; every item you do not move is one less to clean around.
Pack a “first night” box with cleaning basics, toilet paper, soap, towels, sheets, chargers and a few dishes.
Bag liquids such as cleaners and toiletries upright in sealed bags inside a bin, so a leak does not soak a box.
Do not pack hazardous products such as gasoline, propane or pool chemicals for movers; many movers will not take them. Use them up or take them to household hazardous waste collection.
Use a doormat and floor protection on moving day to limit dirt tracked in.

Bottom line

Start with your lease and move-in report, then clean top to bottom, room by room, with floors last and photos at the end. Spread the deep cleaning over two weeks, use one product at a time, and never mix bleach with ammonia or acids. At the new home, clean everything before you unpack, and disinfect high-touch surfaces following the label contact time.

FAQ

How clean does an apartment have to be at move-out?

It depends on your lease and local law. A common standard is the condition you received it in, minus normal wear and tear. Your move-in report and photos are the best reference.

Should I hire a move-out cleaner?

If your lease requires professional cleaning, yes, and keep the receipt. Otherwise, it is a time-versus-cost choice; doing it yourself over a few days is very manageable with a checklist.

Do I need to disinfect a new home?

Cleaning with soap and water handles most surfaces. Using a registered disinfectant on bathrooms, toilet handles, door handles and kitchen counters gives extra reassurance in a home previously lived in by others.

How long does a move-out clean take?

It varies with size and condition. A small apartment often takes several hours, larger homes a full day or more, which is why spreading the work over the final two weeks helps.