The Move-Out Cleaning Checklist: What to Clean Before You Hand Over the Keys

Spring and summer are the busiest moving seasons of the year, and for good reason. The weather cooperates, kids are out of school, and people are finally ready to make the changes they've been putting off since January. If you're in the middle of a move right now, or you have one coming up, cleaning is probably the last thing you want to think about. But it's also the thing that determines whether you get your deposit back, leave on good terms with a landlord, or hand over a property you're genuinely proud of.

This checklist is designed to take the guesswork out of move-out cleaning. Work through it room by room, and you won't miss anything.

Before You Start

A move-out clean is different from a regular maintenance clean. The goal is to return the property to the condition it was in when you arrived (or better), which usually means cleaning things that haven't been touched in months or years. Give yourself more time than you think you need, and do the clean after everything has been moved out. Cleaning around furniture and boxes makes the job significantly harder and means you'll miss things.

A few things to have on hand before you begin:

• An all-purpose cleaner or your preferred surface spray

• Baking soda and white vinegar for stubborn buildup

• A degreaser for the kitchen

• Microfibre cloths in separate sets for bathrooms, kitchen, and other areas

• A vacuum with attachments for edges and vents

• A mop and bucket or spray mop

• Cleaning Gloves

• A step stool for high surfaces

Room by Room Checklist

Kitchen

The kitchen takes the most time and benefits the most from working top to bottom. Start high and work your way down so you're not re-cleaning surfaces you've already done.

• Wipe down the inside and outside of all cupboards and drawers

• Clean the stovetop thoroughly, including the burner grates or drip pans

• Degrease the range hood and filter

• Clean the oven interior, racks included

• Wipe down all appliance exteriors including the fridge, dishwasher, and microwave

• Clean inside the microwave

• Empty and clean the fridge and freezer, including the door seals

• Wipe down the backsplash

• Clean the sink and faucet, including the drain

• Wipe down countertops

• Clean light switches and outlet covers

• Sweep and mop the floor

Bathrooms

• Scrub the toilet inside and out, including the base and behind the tank

• Clean the sink and faucet

• Scrub the tub or shower, including the walls and any glass doors

• Remove soap scum and hard water buildup from all fixtures

• Wipe down the vanity and any shelving

• Clean the mirror

• Wipe down light switches and outlet covers

• Empty and wipe out any cupboards or drawers

• Sweep and mop the floor

Bedrooms and Living Areas

• Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, and the tops of door frames

• Wipe down all window sills, ledges, and locks

• Clean the interior of windows

• Wipe down baseboards throughout

• Check walls for scuffs or marks and spot clean where possible

• Wipe down light switches and outlet covers in every room

• Vacuum all carpeted areas thoroughly, including corners and edges

• Sweep and mop all hard floors

• Empty and wipe out all closets

Easy-to-Miss Areas

These are the spots that get overlooked most often during a move-out clean, and the ones landlords tend to check carefully.

• Inside and on top of the fridge

• The area under and behind appliances if accessible

• Exhaust fans in bathrooms

• Heating vents and cold air returns

• The tracks on sliding doors and windows

• Door handles and hinges throughout the property

• The front and back of interior doors

• Light switch plates and outlet covers in every room

• Inside closets, including the floor corners

• Garage floors and surfaces if applicable

When It Makes Sense to Call a Professional

A move-out clean done properly takes most people four to six hours for an average-sized home with two professional cleaners, and sometimes longer for larger properties or ones that haven't had a deep clean in some time. If you're coordinating a move, managing a job and a family, or working against a tight key handover deadline, that window can be hard to protect.

Peachy Clean offers move-out cleaning for tenants, homeowners, and landlords turning over a property between occupants throughout Bruce and Grey County. We work top to bottom using our own eco-friendly, peach-scented cleaning solutions, and we don't leave until the job is done properly. For landlords managing multiple properties or tight turnarounds, we can discuss recurring availability depending on location and our current schedule.

We're currently operating at capacity in several areas heading into summer, so if you have a move-out clean coming up, reaching out sooner rather than later gives us the best chance of getting you scheduled. Contact us at info@peachycleankincardine.ca or text/call (226) 799-9800.