Move-In / Move-Out Cleaning Checklist
The short version: A move-out clean should leave the place ready for the next person to walk in. Clean inside the fridge, oven and every cabinet, scrub the bathrooms, wash the floors, and clear out every last item. A move-in clean is your chance to start fresh and to record any problems before your stuff goes in. Take photos either way.
What to clean, moving in or out
Do this in an empty unit if you can. It's twice as fast without furniture in the way.
Kitchen
- Inside and outside of the fridge and freezer, including shelves, drawers and door seals
- Inside the oven, the racks, the stovetop and under the burners or drip pans
- The range hood and its filter
- Inside and outside of the microwave and dishwasher
- Inside every cabinet and drawer, plus the cabinet doors and handles
- Counters, backsplash, sink and faucet
Bathrooms
- Toilet, inside and out, including the base and behind it
- Tub or shower, tiles, grout, glass door and tracks
- Sink, vanity and the inside of the vanity cabinet
- Mirror, medicine cabinet and exhaust fan cover
- Floor, including behind the toilet
Every room
- Vacuum and wash all hard floors. Vacuum the carpets, and check your lease for whether professional carpet cleaning is required
- Baseboards, door frames, light switches and outlet covers
- Window sills, tracks and the inside of the glass
- Closets: shelves wiped, floor vacuumed, hangers removed
- Light fixtures dusted, dead bulbs replaced
- Balcony swept, and storage locker emptied if you have one
- All garbage, recycling and leftover items removed. Book a bulk pickup or a trip to a Peel Community Recycling Centre if needed
Moving out
Take dated photos of every room once you're done cleaning. Check your lease and any move-out notes from your landlord or property manager for specific expectations, like professional carpet cleaning. Small scuffs are usually fine to wipe off with a damp melamine sponge. Patching and painting are normally a separate job from cleaning. In a condo, book the service elevator for moving day well in advance.
In Ontario, tenants are generally expected to keep the unit in a state of "ordinary cleanliness," and landlords can't normally take a separate damage or cleaning deposit. Leaving the place properly clean still matters. It avoids disputes, helps you get a good reference, and makes the final walk-through quick.
Moving in
Walk through with this checklist before you unpack. Take photos of anything dirty or damaged and email them to your landlord or the seller's agent so there's a dated record. Then clean the kitchen and bathrooms before your dishes and towels go in. After the furniture is in place, do a quick vacuum and dust to pick up what the move stirred up.
Common questions
Can an Ontario landlord keep my deposit for cleaning?
In Ontario, landlords can generally only collect a last month's rent deposit and a refundable key deposit, not a separate damage or cleaning deposit. Tenants are expected to keep the unit in a state of ordinary cleanliness, and a landlord can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for damage beyond normal wear and tear. Check the Residential Tenancies Act or ask a legal clinic about your own situation.
How long does a move-out clean take?
Plan on four to six hours for an empty one-bedroom condo, and a full day or more for a house, especially if you're doing the inside of the oven and fridge. A two-person professional crew is usually faster.
Moving is enough work already.
We'll match you with a vetted Mississauga cleaning company that does move-in and move-out cleans. Free quote, no obligation. See also move-out cleaning in Mississauga.
Move-Out Cleaning Get a Free QuoteThis is general cleaning guidance, not legal advice. For questions about your tenancy, see the Landlord and Tenant Board or a community legal clinic.