A move out cleaning checklist should cover everything a landlord or property manager looks at during the final walkthrough: the inside of every appliance, bathroom fixtures, floors, walls, windows and all storage space. Start once the suite is empty, work from top to bottom, and give the kitchen the most time. Below is the full room-by-room list, the spots people most often miss, and a shorter version for the day you move in.

Before you start

Clean after the furniture and boxes are out: empty rooms go faster, and you will find the dust hiding behind the couch and under the bed. Plan it for the last day or two of your tenancy, since moving day tracks in dirt and packing debris.

Read your tenancy agreement first, since some mention specific items such as carpets, blinds or appliances. For questions about your deposit or how disagreements are handled, check with the BC Residential Tenancy Branch rather than relying on general advice online.

A basic kit:

All-purpose cleaner, degreaser, bathroom cleaner and glass cleaner
Microfibre cloths, non-scratch scrub pads and an old toothbrush for tracks and grout
A vacuum with a crevice tool, plus a mop and bucket
A step stool, rubber gloves and plenty of garbage bags

What landlords usually inspect

The landlord or manager usually walks through the suite with the move-in condition report in hand and compares. Attention tends to go to:

The oven, stovetop and range hood
The inside of the fridge and freezer
The tub, shower, grout, caulking and the base of the toilet
Carpets and the edges of hard floors
Scuffs and marks on walls, doors and around light switches
Windows, sills and tracks
Cabinets, drawers and closets, which should be empty and wiped out

Normal wear and tear is not the same as dirt: the suite does not need to look new, just well looked after.

Move out cleaning checklist, room by room

Kitchen

Empty every cabinet and drawer, vacuum out crumbs, then wipe inside, outside and along the tops of upper cabinets
Degrease cabinet doors and handles, especially the ones beside the stove
Clean inside the oven, the racks and the inside of the door glass
Pull out the drawer under the oven and clean it and the floor beneath
Clean the stovetop, burners and drip pans or glass top
Remove the range hood filter, soak it in hot water with degreaser, and wipe the hood inside and out
Empty the fridge and freezer, take out the shelves and crisper drawers, and wash everything
Wipe the microwave inside and out, including the turntable
Wipe the dishwasher door edges and seal, and clean the filter
Scrub the sink, faucet and drain
Wipe the backsplash, counters, outlet covers and switch plates
Sweep and wash the floor, including the corners and the kickplate under the cabinets

Bathrooms

Scrub the tub, shower walls and doors to remove soap scum and hard water marks
Clean the grout and check the caulking for mildew
Clean the toilet completely: bowl, seat, hinges, base and the floor behind it
Clean the sink, faucet and overflow hole
Empty and wipe the vanity and medicine cabinet
Polish the mirror and wipe the towel bars, toilet paper holder and light fixture
Vacuum the exhaust fan cover, then wipe it
Wash the floor

Bedrooms and closets

Wipe closet shelves, rods and the tops of door frames
Clean sliding or bifold closet doors and their tracks
Wipe baseboards and window sills
Spot-clean marks on walls (test in a hidden spot first, since flat paint can shine or lift)
Vacuum carpets thoroughly, especially where the bed and dressers stood

Living areas and hallways

Dust light fixtures and ceiling fans
Dust or wipe blinds slat by slat
Wipe doors, door handles, light switches and outlet covers
Wipe baseboards and any baseboard heaters or vent covers
Vacuum and wash the floors

Entry, laundry, balcony and storage

Wipe out the front closet and clean the entry floor where wet shoes and umbrellas have been sitting
Wipe the washer and dryer, clean the lint trap, and wipe the rubber door seal on a front-loading washer
Sweep the balcony or patio, wipe the railings and glass, and remove planters and anything else left outside
In condo and strata buildings, empty your storage locker and clear your parking stall

Things people forget

These are the spots most often missed, so check them twice:

The inside of the oven and the drawer beneath it
The rubber gasket around the fridge door, and the top of the fridge
The range hood filter
Window tracks and sliding door tracks
Baseboards and the tops of door frames
Light switches and the area around door handles
The top shelf of every closet
The balcony and the storage locker
The bathroom fan cover

Vancouver damp: check for mildew before the walkthrough

Rain and condensation leave their mark, especially in basement suites and older buildings, where mildew shows up on window tracks, bathroom caulking and inside closets on exterior walls. Before the inspection:

Scrub window tracks and frames, then dry them
Check the wall behind any furniture that stood against an outside wall
Run the bathroom fan and open the windows while you clean so surfaces dry properly

If mould has spread into drywall or will not come out of the caulking, do not paint over it; point it out to your landlord.

Move in cleaning checklist: before you unpack

Even if the last tenant cleaned, do a quick pass before your boxes come in:

Wipe the inside of every cabinet, drawer and closet shelf
Clean the fridge before any food goes in
Run the dishwasher and washing machine empty, on a cleaning or hot cycle
Clean the toilet, sink and tub, and wipe high-touch spots like handles and switches
Vacuum and wash floors before furniture covers them
Photograph any existing stains or damage and keep the photos with your move-in report

For a fuller reset before you settle in, the deep cleaning checklist goes further into vents, grout and the spaces behind appliances.

How much does move out cleaning cost?

A professional move-out clean is priced on the job, not a set number. The main factors:

The size of the suite and the number of bathrooms
Condition, including how long it has been since the oven, fridge and bathroom were properly cleaned
Whether the suite is completely empty
Add-ons such as carpet cleaning, interior windows or wall washing
Access, such as elevator bookings, parking and loading in condo buildings
Pets, which usually mean more hair in carpets, vents and corners

For more on how cleaning quotes are put together, see how much house cleaning costs in Vancouver.

When it makes sense to hire a professional

If you are moving on a tight timeline, or the oven, grout and carpets need more than an afternoon, handing off the cleaning frees up your last day for everything else. C&M Cleaning Service offers move-in and move-out cleaning across Metro Vancouver, working in teams with eco-friendly products and HEPA-filter vacuums. If something is missed, contact them within 24 hours of the service and they will re-clean it at no extra charge.

FAQ

How long does a move out clean take?

It depends on the size of the suite, its condition and whether it is already empty. The kitchen usually takes the longest, because the oven, fridge and cabinets all need to be cleaned inside and out. Start earlier than you think you need to, and leave time for a final check against this list.

Do I have to clean the carpets when I move out?

Check your tenancy agreement first, since some agreements address carpets directly, and look to the Residential Tenancy Branch for anything about deposits or disputes. At a minimum, vacuum thoroughly, including the edges and corners. If there are stains, pet odours or worn traffic lanes, a professional carpet clean is worth considering.

What is the difference between a move out clean and a deep clean?

A move out clean is essentially a deep clean of an empty home, with extra attention on the inside of cabinets, closets and appliances. With nothing in the way, it reaches spots that are hard to get to in a lived-in home, like the floor under the bed. Both go well beyond a regular weekly clean.

Move Out Cleaning Checklist: Room-by-Room Guide for Vancouver