When you are moving out of an apartment, one of the most pressing things to consider is how to get your full security deposit back. After the moving truck is loaded up, your landlord will likely conduct a final inspection of your unit. Based on this assessment, they will estimate the repair costs of any damages they discover and deduct that amount from the security deposit you paid with your lease application. To get your full deposit back, here is a move out cleaning checklist.

1. Purchase the Right Supplies

To clean most efficiently make sure you have plenty of cleaning supplies and equipment. Considering stocking up on the following:

• Disinfecting cleaners
• Dusting cloths
• Vinegar
• Rags and sponges
• Spackle
• Baking soda
• Oven cleaner
• Glass cleaners
• Paper towels
• A vacuum cleaner
• Broom and dustpan
• A scrub brush

For the best results, clean after you have moved everything out of the house.

2. Give All Rooms a Once Over

Start by giving the entire place a once over. Make a pass through each room to do the following:

• Check for holes: Check the walls and remove all nails, coat hangers, screws and hooks. If your picture frames and other décor left dozens of holes in the drywall, you should attempt to repair the damage with spackle.
• Repaint if needed: You might also consider repainting walls if necessary. Many landlords allow tenants to paint, so long as they return walls to the original color before moving out.
• Clean walls & floors: Clean the carpets, vacuum the drapes, and remove all stains from the floors and walls. If you have aggressive stains, you might consider renting a professional-grade carpet cleaner.
• Give the place a dusting: Wipe off the dust from the ceilings, fixtures, baseboards, doors, and fans.
• Clean the windows: Thoroughly clean the window panes and dust off the windowsills.
• Replace lights: Check the condition of the light bulbs and replace the ones that are damaged.

3. Tackle the Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the most highly contested areas when it comes to getting a deposit back. Errors here could cost you hundreds of dollars from your deposit reimbursement.

• Check the kitchen sink: Make sure it is draining properly. You can do this by blocking the drain and allowing water to fill up. Then, release the plug and leave the water to flow freely down the drain. If bubbles form while the water is draining, then it means there is a blockage somewhere. Try running the disposal or using a healthy dose of Draino. If that doesn’t work, you may need to open the underdrain or use a suction pipe to clear the clogged areas.
• Clean the oven: Though it’s one of the most dreaded tasks for most renters, now’s the time to scrub away the residue from all those casseroles and cakes that bubbled over and left a mess at the bottom of the oven. Here are some helpful oven cleaning tips.
• Clean out the fridge and freezer: Toss out any food you didn’t have a chance to eat or stash it in a cooler to take with you. Then, wipe down the shelves and drawers to remove any crumbs or spills.
• Check the microwave: Unless you’re consistent about covering your food when heating it up, you probably have some food splashes here and there that need to be scrubbed off. One easy way to combat microwave grime is to heat up a cup with a cup of water, a wedge of lemon, and a few tablespoons of vinegar inside the microwave. The mixture will steam and adhere to all six sides of the appliance, working its magic. Once it’s cooled down (give it about 15 minutes), you can wipe down using a wet rag or sponge.
• Give surfaces a once-over: Check other parts of the kitchen too. Clean the countertops, faucets, and cabinets.

4. Move on to the Bedroom

Now that you’ve conquered the kitchen, you can move on to the other rooms. The bedroom should be easy:

• Look in the closets: Though you should have already dusted and vacuumed these, look for any remaining dust and debris.
• Final check: Do the last sweep to make sure you’ve removed all your personal effects.

5. Clean the Bathroom

Though it’s the least glamorous room to clean, it’s an important one. Make sure you do the following:

• Scrub the toilet: Bust out those cleaning gloves and some powerful disinfectant and get to work sanitizing the toilet bowl inside and out. If you find yourself combatting hard water stains, check out these tips for easy removal.
• Clean the bathtub or shower: This one takes some elbow grease, but it’s important to scrub away all the mold, mildew, and soap scum lurking on your tub’s surfaces. There are lots of great suggestions for the best way to tackle the job, depending on how dirty your shower is.
• Wipe down the sink and countertop: You’re almost done! Give the sink a careful cleaning, and don’t forget to wipe down the faucet, handles, and countertop while you’re at it.
• Clean the mirror: Get busy with some Windex making the mirror gleam.
• Double check cabinets: Make sure you’ve removed all toiletries from the drawers and shelves and wipe for hair and dust.

6. Clear Out the Garage or Storage Space

If your apartment doesn’t have a garage or storage unit, then skip to the next section.

• Sweep it clean: Make sure the garage is empty. Once you have removed everything, take a broom and sweep it clean.
• Remove oil stains: Use an anti-grease detergent to remove all the oil stains and clear all the storage areas. If there are oil stains on the walls, then you might consider repainting them.

Hopefully, by following this checklist you’ll get your deposit back in-full. While we can’t help you with the cleaning, we can certainly help with any of your moving needs! To request your free moving quote from one of the best moving companies in Austin, please fill out our quote form, use our chat feature, or call us today!

Do you need help with packing, unpacking, storage, or your entire move?

Request a free rapid quote for any moving services you may need. Get started today!