Move-Out Cleaning Checklist

Move-Out Cleaning Checklist to Get Your Deposit Back

Moving is stressful enough without losing your security deposit over a cleaning dispute. Most leases require the place to be returned "broom clean" or better, and landlords do inspect. Use this room-by-room checklist to leave it spotless — and know when it's worth handing off to a pro.

Kitchen

Clean inside and outside of all appliances (oven, microwave, fridge — pull it out), degrease the

stovetop and range hood, wipe cabinets inside and out, scrub the sink, and mop the floor.

Bathrooms

Scrub the toilet, tub/shower, and sink; remove soap scum and hard-water stains; clean mirrors; wipe cabinets and drawers; and don't forget the exhaust fan cover.

Bedrooms & living areas

Dust everything including closet shelves, wipe baseboards and window sills, clean interior

windows, spot-clean walls and doors, and vacuum or mop every floor — including inside

closets.

Commonly missed spots landlords check

Baseboards, light fixtures and ceiling fans, blinds, inside the oven, behind appliances, cabinet interiors, and wall scuffs. These are exactly where deposits get docked.

DIY or hire a pro?

If you have the time, this checklist will get you there. But move-out timelines are tight —

especially for renters near Patuxent River on a PCS move — and a professional move-out clean is often cheaper than the deposit you'd risk. It also comes with the itemized result many landlords want to see.

Streaker's Cleaning offers move-in / move-out cleaning across Calvert & St. Mary's County.

Call (301) 259-1138 or request a quote.