The Move Out Cleaning Checklist Every Michigan Renter Needs

A room-by-room checklist to protect your deposit and pass your final inspection.

Moving out is stressful enough without having to worry about whether the apartment is clean enough to get your deposit back. Most landlords in Michigan will deduct cleaning costs from your security deposit if the home is not returned in acceptable condition. And in a lot of cases, what they charge is more than what a professional cleaning would have cost.

Use this checklist to make sure nothing gets missed before you hand over the keys.

Kitchen

The kitchen is the most scrutinized room during a move out inspection. Landlords check things most tenants forget about.

Inside the oven. Grease buildup inside the oven is one of the most common deposit deductions. Clean or replace the oven racks and scrub the interior.

Inside the fridge and freezer. Wipe down all shelves and drawers. Remove any residue, odors, or spills. Defrost the freezer if needed.

Inside the microwave. Wipe down the interior, the turntable, and the door seal.

Inside cabinets and drawers. Wipe down all surfaces inside. Check for crumbs, grease, and residue along the edges.

Countertops and backsplash. Scrub the entire surface including the area behind the faucet and around the edges.

Sink and faucet. Scrub the basin and polish the faucet. Check for hard water buildup around the drain.

Appliance exteriors. Wipe down the outside of the stove, fridge, dishwasher, and microwave.

Floors. Sweep and mop. Pay attention to the area under the fridge and stove.

Baseboards. Wipe down all baseboards in the kitchen.

Bathrooms

Inside the toilet. Scrub the bowl thoroughly including under the rim.

Outside of the toilet. Wipe down the tank, seat, lid, and base.

Shower and tub. Scrub the tile, tub surface, and fixtures. Pay attention to grout lines and caulk.

Sink and vanity. Scrub the basin and wipe down the entire vanity surface.

Mirror. Clean thoroughly with no streaks.

Inside medicine cabinet. Wipe out any residue.

Floors. Mop and get into the corners.

Baseboards. Wipe down.

Bedrooms

All surfaces. Wipe down windowsills, ledges, shelves, and door frames.

Ceiling fans. Wipe down the blades and the fixture.

Closet interiors. Wipe down shelves and the rod. Sweep or vacuum the closet floor.

Window tracks. These collect a lot of grime and are easy to miss. Use a brush or damp cloth to clean the tracks.

Floors. Vacuum carpets thoroughly or mop hard floors.

Baseboards. Wipe down throughout.

Living Areas

Walls. Check for scuff marks and clean where possible.

Light switches and outlet covers. These get grimy and are always checked during inspections.

Window sills and tracks. Same as bedrooms — wipe down completely.

Ceiling fans and light fixtures. Wipe down the blades and clean any covers.

Floors. Vacuum and mop.

Baseboards. Wipe down throughout.

Throughout the Entire Home

Interior doors and frames. Wipe down both sides of every door and the frame.

Vents and returns. Dust or wipe down all air vents.

Trash. Remove all trash and bags throughout the home.

Garage or storage areas. Sweep out and remove all items.

The Honest Truth About DIY Move Out Cleaning

This checklist is thorough. Done properly it will take most people five to eight hours for a standard two or three bedroom home, and longer if the home has not been cleaned well throughout the lease.

A lot of renters underestimate how long it takes and end up rushing through it or missing the details that landlords actually check. Inside appliances, inside cabinets, and window tracks are the three things that get flagged most often.

If you are short on time or just do not want to spend your last day in the apartment scrubbing, a professional move out cleaning service handles all of this and sends photo confirmation when done so you have documentation.

Move Out Cleaning in Southeast Michigan

Happy Fresh Co handles move out and move in cleanings across Southeast Michigan including Oakland County, Wayne County, Genesee County, and Livingston County. We cover everything on this checklist and send photo confirmation when the job is complete.