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Renter Move-Out Checklist
Clean, patch and photograph your rental room by room, the way landlords inspect it.
A real, editable checklist below — tick, tap a line to rewrite, drag to reorder.
Tick the circles, tap any line to change it, drag the dots to reorder.
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You're a renter with the deposit on the line, and the person you're really cleaning for is the landlord on walkthrough day. Bumble Bee Cleaning Services says landlords focus on three areas: appliances, bathrooms and floors, and that in Seattle cleaning accounts for 27% of deposit deductions, second only to damage. This list goes room by room and ends with photos and paperwork. It skips packing and movers, and because deposit rules vary by state, it points you to look up yours.
Why these items are on the list
- Review lease cleaning requirements. Bumble Bee advises booking professional carpet cleaning at least two weeks before move-out, if your lease requires it.
- Compare against move-in photos. Bumble Bee says Washington charges must match the standard documented at move-in, so dig out those photos.
- Empty every room first. Clean after everything's out; boxes moved afterward track dust back across mopped floors.
- Remove nails, patch wall holes. Fill with spackling compound and touch up with neutral paint.
- Repaint or get approval. Bumble Bee advises repainting to neutral, or getting written landlord approval to keep non-neutral colors.
- Clean oven inside thoroughly. Burnt-on food and grease stand out; Asubra calls the oven the most common cleaning deduction.
- Degrease stovetop and range hood. Include burners, drip pans and the range hood filter.
- Empty and clean refrigerator. Wipe shelves with warm water and baking soda; check behind and underneath too.
- Run dishwasher empty with vinegar. White vinegar sanitizes the interior and removes odors; clean the filter too.
- Wipe cabinets inside and out. Landlords open them looking for crumbs, stains and old shelf liners; remove the liners.
- Wipe counters, backsplash, sink. Dried food and grease on backsplashes are visible from a distance.
- Scrub toilet, base, behind seat. Get the base and behind the seat, where odors build up.
- Scrub shower, tub, grout. Use a toothbrush and baking soda paste on grout; sprays alone won't lift discoloration.
- Clean bathroom exhaust fan. Remove the cover and clear dust from the vent and fan blades.
- Polish mirrors and fixtures. Polish chrome and mirrors until they're streak-free.
- Clean baseboards in every room. A thick layer of dust along the trim makes the whole place look neglected.
- Wipe window sills and tracks. Landlords specifically inspect them; grease and dust collect there.
- Wipe switches, door frames, knobs. High-touch spots show fingerprints instantly, so give them a disinfectant wipe.
- Dust fans and light fixtures. Replace any burned-out bulbs while you're up there.
- Clean closets, shelves, rods. Wipe shelves, rods and the floor, then vacuum or sweep inside.
- Vacuum carpets thoroughly. Bumble Bee says stains, burns or pet damage can trigger charges, while normal carpet wear isn't deductible.
- Sweep and mop hard floors. Remove pet hair, dust and water marks, corners and edges included.
- Replace HVAC filter. A small detail, but landlords notice it.
- Clean garage, patio, balcony. Sweep the garage floor and wipe shelves; sweep and mop the patio, railings included.
- Clean behind washer and dryer. If you're leaving them, wipe the lint trap area as well.
- Take timestamped photos of each room. Shoot multiple angles in each room so you can prove the condition if charges are disputed.
- Keep cleaning receipts. A professional cleaning receipt can help dispute unfair deductions.
- Check your state's deposit deadline. Washington 21 (Bumble Bee); Colorado 30 after move-out, 60 if lease says (Denver Maid); Massachusetts 30 from lease end (Asubra).
- Request itemized deductions in writing. Per Book a Denver Maid, Colorado landlords must give a written itemized statement; Bumble Bee says the same for Washington.
Tick it off room by room on your phone, and what's left stays obvious even when you're tired and the boxes are gone.
When to use it
Bumble Bee advises booking carpet cleaning at least two weeks before move-out if your lease requires it, and Book a Denver Maid suggests booking cleaning three to five days before the walkthrough.