Moving in and out
How clean does my apartment need to be when I move out?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Generally as clean as it was when you moved in, allowing for normal wear and tear. Many leases say 'broom clean' or require professional carpet cleaning, so check yours. In practice, clean the appliances, bathrooms, floors and cabinets thoroughly and remove every item and all trash, since those are the most common cleaning deductions.
The areas landlords most often charge for:
- Oven, stovetop and range hood grease
- Inside the fridge and freezer, which should be emptied and wiped out
- Bathroom: tub, toilet, sink, mirror, soap scum and hair in drains
- Kitchen cabinets and drawers, inside and out
- Floors, including where furniture stood
- Baseboards, light switches and marks on walls near doors
- Blinds, window tracks and ceiling fan blades
Keep a few supplies until the very end so you can touch up after the furniture is gone. If you took move-in photos, compare room by room. A landlord generally can't charge you to make the place cleaner than it was when you arrived.
After you finish, take dated photos and a walk-through video, including inside the oven and fridge. If you hire cleaners, keep the receipt. Clauses requiring professional carpet cleaning are enforceable in some states and limited in others.
Want the whole picture? Read Renting Your First Apartment: Applications, Leases and Move-in Costs.