How to Clean Your Rental for a Move-Out

Leave your rental property in good, clean condition when you move out of the unit - or you may not get your deposit back.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Financial Calculator
• Cleaning Products
• Cleaning Supplies
• Mops
• Real Estate Attorneys
• Notebooks
• Personal Organizers
• Writing Pens
• Cameras
• Film

1. Combine your efforts. As you pack for the move, clean the bathroom, bedroom and kitchen shelves, as well as any drawers and cabinets that are permanent attachments to the rental property.

2. Remove grease and grime from appliances in the kitchen, and defrost and clean the refrigerator.

3. Clean bathroom sinks, toilets, tubs and showers, remembering to remove all items from medicine cabinets.

4. Wait to vacuum carpets, dust-mop hardwood floors and mop tile or vinyl flooring until after you remove all of your possessions. Make sure the telephone, cable TV, and electrical hookups are in the same condition as when you moved into the rental property.

5. Remove all garbage and left-behind items, such as trash bags and extra clothes hangers, from the property.

Tips & Warnings

• If you intend to leave anything behind for incoming tenants, obtain the written consent of your landlord.

• If you can't bear the thought of cleaning on moving day, consider hiring a cleaning company.

• Photograph the rental property after cleaning just in case you later have to prove that you left the unit in clean condition.