Move-out cleaning checklist for South Florida renters
The final walk-through is where a move-out cleaning is judged. Landlords and property managers tend to check the same places, and most of them are the ones that get skipped when you are cleaning around boxes.
Use this checklist whether you clean yourself or hire it out. Always check your lease and any move-out instructions from your landlord first; they take priority over any general list.
Before you start
- Move everything out first. Cleaning an empty home is faster and more thorough.
- Keep power and water on until the cleaning is finished.
- Empty, defrost and unplug the fridge a day ahead if you can.
- Take out all trash. Leftover bags and debris are a common walk-through note.
Kitchen
- Inside the oven, racks included
- Inside the fridge and freezer, including drawers and door seals
- Inside every cabinet and drawer
- Counters, backsplash, sink and faucet
- Stovetop and the front of the range hood
- Floors, including the edges along cabinets
Bathrooms
- Toilet inside, outside and around the base
- Tub, shower walls, glass and fixtures, with hard water marks removed
- Inside the vanity and medicine cabinet
- Mirrors
- Floors and grout
Every room
- Closets: shelves, rods and floors
- Baseboards, doors and door frames
- Light switches and outlet covers
- Window sills and tracks
- Blinds
- Floors vacuumed and mopped
Condo and apartment buildings
Many South Florida buildings have rules for move-out days: service elevator reservations, loading hours, vendor registration and parking. Check with management before you book movers or cleaners so nobody is turned away at the door.
When to schedule it
Book the cleaning after the movers leave and before the walk-through, ideally with a day of buffer so you can check the result.
A move-out cleaning from Kaiser Clean Co follows this list. You can see your price in the instant estimate.