Apartment Move-In and Move-Out Cleaning Checklist

When you're moving in or out of an apartment, the most useful cleaning list does three things. It covers every room, works from top to bottom with floors last, and matches what your lease or property manager actually expects at handover. This guide gives you that list, a supplies list to shop from and a copyable template. It also covers the details to confirm first so your effort goes where it counts.

The Short Answer

Clean once the apartment is empty, or as close to empty as possible. Start with whole-home tasks: dust ceiling fans and light fixtures, clean windows and wipe baseboards. Then work room by room, with the kitchen and bathroom getting the most attention. Clean appliances inside and out, scrub counters, sinks and fixtures, and clear hair from drains. Vacuum and mop at the very end so dust from higher surfaces doesn't land on clean floors. Several renter-focused move-out checklists recommend this same sequence.

What to Find Out Before You Start

A generic checklist can't tell you what your building requires. Collect these inputs first, because they decide what to prioritize, when to clean and which products are safe to use.

Your lease and any move-out instructions: look for cleaning standards, required professional services or rules about repairs.
The property's own inspection or move-out checklist, if one exists. Ask the landlord or management office for it.
Your schedule: when the movers arrive, when the unit must be empty and when keys are due.
Which appliances stay with the unit (fridge, stove, oven, microwave, dishwasher), since those usually need cleaning inside and out.
Surface types: stone or laminate counters, wood or vinyl floors, painted walls, stainless or enamel fixtures. Check any manufacturer or property care instructions you can find.
Product labels for every cleaner you plan to use, including surface warnings and ventilation directions.
Whether water and power will still be on during your final clean.
How and where you can dispose of trash, bulk items and leftover cleaning products in your building.

Use these answers to set priorities. If the lease spells out specific tasks, do those first and in full. If you only have a few hours between the movers leaving and the key handover, do the deep kitchen and bathroom work earlier and save floors and a quick wipe-down for last. If a surface's care instructions are unclear, choose the mildest option and test it in a hidden spot.

Move-Out Cleaning Supplies List

Renter cleaning guides largely agree that a small core kit covers most of the job: an all-purpose cleaner, microfiber cloths, glass cleaner and a disinfectant. Add tools for floors and tough spots as needed.

Item | Typical use

All-purpose cleaner | Counters, cabinets and general surfaces

Glass cleaner | Windows and mirrors

Disinfectant | High-touch spots and bathroom surfaces, used per label directions

Microfiber cloths and paper towels | Wiping, dusting and polishing

Sponges and scrubbing pads | Sinks, tubs, stovetops and stuck-on grime

Scrub brushes | Grout, tracks, corners and fixtures

Dish soap | Gentle cleaning for many surfaces

Oven cleaner | Oven interior, used exactly as labeled

Baking soda | Mild scrubbing and deodorizing

Floor cleaner | Matched to your floor type

Vacuum, or broom and dustpan | Dry debris before mopping

Mop and bucket | Final floor cleaning

Cleaning gloves | Protecting hands from chemicals and grime

Cleaning caddy or bucket | Moving supplies from room to room

Trash bags | Leftover items and cleaning waste

Renter cleaning forums also often suggest a mild abrasive cleanser for kitchen surfaces, melamine foam sponges for scuffs and a wood-specific soap for wood surfaces. These are popular suggestions, not guarantees that a product suits your surfaces. Abrasives and melamine foam can dull some finishes or remove paint, so check the label and the surface's care instructions and test in an inconspicuous area first. Never mix cleaning products unless the label says it's safe, and ventilate as directed.

The Order That Saves Time

Empty first: remove belongings, trash and food so every surface is reachable.
Top to bottom: dust fans, fixtures and high shelves before counters, and counters before floors.
Dry before wet: dust and vacuum loose debris before wiping or mopping.
Let products sit: apply oven or bathroom cleaners per the label, then clean another area while they work.
Floors last: vacuum and mop each room on your way out of it, ending at the exit.

Room-by-Room Apartment Cleaning Checklist

Kitchen

Empty the refrigerator and freezer, then clean shelves, drawers, door seals and the exterior.
Clean the stove and oven inside and out, including burners or the cooktop surface.
Clean the microwave inside and out, if there is one.
Wipe the dishwasher exterior and check the interior for debris, if there is one.
Wipe cabinets and drawers inside and out, including handles.
Clean counters and the backsplash.
Scrub the sink and faucet.
Sweep or vacuum, then mop the floor.

Bathroom

Scrub and wipe down the sink and faucet.
Clean mirrors with glass cleaner.
Clean the toilet inside and out, including the base.
Scrub the tub, shower walls and fixtures.
Clear hair from the sink, tub and shower drains.
Wipe the vanity, cabinets and drawers inside and out.
Wipe counters and other surfaces with an all-purpose cleaner.
Sweep or vacuum, then mop the floor.

Bedrooms and Living Areas

Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures and high shelves.
Empty closets, then wipe the shelves and rods.
Wipe walls carefully and remove marks where possible, testing any cleaner first.
Clean windows, sills and tracks.
Wipe baseboards, door frames, doors and handles.
On move-in day, or if furniture is still in place, clean behind and under the bed and other movable pieces if you can safely shift them.
Vacuum carpets, or vacuum and mop hard floors.

Whole Home and Entry

Wipe light switches and outlet covers.
Clean the inside of the front door and the entry floor.
Check the laundry area, utility closets and storage spaces for leftover items and dust.
Some renter checklists include patching nail holes. Check your lease first, since some landlords want to handle wall repairs themselves.
Remove all trash and cleaning waste.

Fitting Cleaning Around Moving Day

While packing: clean inside cabinets and closets as you empty them, and finish anything you can do while furniture is still in place.
Before the movers arrive: set aside a cleaning kit that will stay behind rather than going on the truck.
After the movers leave: dust high surfaces, clean appliances and bathrooms, wipe walls and baseboards.
Final pass: vacuum and mop every room, working toward the door.
Before handing over keys: walk through each room against your checklist and photograph the condition of every room and appliance for your records.

How Move-In Cleaning Differs

Move-in cleaning uses the same rooms and order, but the goal is to start fresh before your belongings arrive. Clean inside cabinets, drawers, closets and appliances before you fill them, because that's the easiest time to reach them. Before you clean, photograph any existing damage or wear so you have a record of the unit's starting condition. A move-in cleaning checklist should break down every room and what needs cleaning in each one. The room-by-room lists above work for this, too.

Printable Apartment Cleaning Checklist Template

Copy this template into a document or notes app, adjust it to match your lease and unit, and print it or check items off on your phone.

APARTMENT CLEANING CHECKLIST
Unit: ________   Move date: ________   Key handover: ________

BEFORE YOU START
[ ] Lease / move-out instructions reviewed
[ ] Property checklist requested
[ ] Product labels and surface care checked
[ ] Supplies gathered (cleaning kit kept off the truck)
[ ] Trash and disposal plan set

KITCHEN
[ ] Fridge/freezer emptied, cleaned inside and out
[ ] Stove/oven cleaned inside and out
[ ] Microwave cleaned inside and out (if present)
[ ] Dishwasher checked and wiped (if present)
[ ] Cabinets and drawers wiped inside and out
[ ] Counters and backsplash cleaned
[ ] Sink and faucet scrubbed
[ ] Floor swept/vacuumed, then mopped

BATHROOM
[ ] Sink and faucet scrubbed
[ ] Mirrors cleaned
[ ] Toilet cleaned inside, outside, and base
[ ] Tub/shower and fixtures scrubbed
[ ] Drains cleared of hair
[ ] Vanity and cabinets wiped inside and out
[ ] Floor swept/vacuumed, then mopped

BEDROOMS AND LIVING AREAS
[ ] Fans, fixtures, and high shelves dusted
[ ] Closets emptied and wiped
[ ] Walls spot-cleaned (test first)
[ ] Windows, sills, and tracks cleaned
[ ] Baseboards, doors, and handles wiped
[ ] Floors vacuumed/mopped

WHOLE HOME
[ ] Switches and outlet covers wiped
[ ] Entry, laundry, and storage areas checked
[ ] Nail holes handled per lease (if applicable)
[ ] All trash removed

FINAL WALKTHROUGH
[ ] Every room checked against this list
[ ] Nothing left in cabinets, closets, or appliances
[ ] Photos taken of each room and appliance
[ ] Keys returned as instructed

If You Hire Professional Cleaners

Give the cleaning company the same checklist, along with any requirements from your lease or property. Confirm in writing which tasks are included, especially inside appliances, inside cabinets, walls, windows and baseboards, since these are often treated as add-ons. Schedule the service for after the movers leave and before the key handover, and leave time to walk through the unit afterward. If your lease requires professional cleaning, check whether it also requires a receipt.

What This Checklist Can't Settle

Completing this list does not guarantee a full deposit refund or any particular inspection result. Those depend on your lease, the property's standards and the rules where you live, none of which are covered here. It also makes no claim that any cleaner disinfects to a specific standard or works on every surface. For those answers, rely on the product label, the surface manufacturer's instructions and your landlord or property manager.