Moving is stressful enough without losing part of your deposit over a greasy oven or a filmy shower. Whether you are a renter trying to get every dollar back or a seller handing off a home, a move-out clean is really about hitting the specific things the next person checks. Here is the room-by-room checklist we use, plus when it is worth handing off to a house cleaning pro. For the ongoing battle with our red desert dust, see keeping a St. George home clean.
What do landlords and buyers actually look at?
Not the whole house equally. Deductions and complaints cluster around a few high-visibility spots: the oven and stovetop, the inside of the fridge, the bathrooms, the floors, and anything left behind. Nail those and you have handled most of what gets flagged.
The move-out checklist
- Kitchen. Degrease the oven, stovetop, and range hood, wipe inside the fridge and microwave, clean cabinet fronts and inside if empty, and scrub the sink.
- Bathrooms. Descale the shower and glass, clean the toilet, sink, and mirror, and wipe the cabinets. Hard-water spots here are the first thing people notice.
- Floors. Vacuum carpet edges and corners, mop hard floors, and spot-treat any stains.
- Walls and doors. Wipe scuffs, fingerprints, and switch plates, and fill small nail holes if your lease asks.
- Windows and blinds. Dust blinds and sills, wipe the interior glass, and clear the red dust out of the tracks.
- Everything out. Empty every closet, cabinet, the garage, and the yard. Leftover items are the easiest deduction of all.
How clean is clean enough?
The standard most leases use is broom clean, plus the appliances and bathrooms genuinely clean, not showroom perfect. In St. George, budget extra time for the two things that make a place look neglected even when it is not: hard-water spots on the glass, and the fine red dust that settles in window tracks and on sills.
Should you do it yourself or hire it out?
If you have the time and it is a small place, a weekend and this checklist will get it done. If you are juggling the move itself, or the deposit is large, a move-out clean is cheap insurance. With Tdooz house cleaning, you book a local pro for exactly the rooms you want, and every pro is background checked, carries proof of insurance, and has been interviewed. Pricing is based on the rooms you choose, shown as an exact, upfront price in the app with no surprise fees.
