The Ultimate Move-In / Move-Out Cleaning Checklist

Whether you're handing back the keys or picking up new ones, a thorough clean makes all the difference — for getting your deposit back, or for starting fresh in a space that's truly yours. Here's a room-by-room checklist that covers what landlords and new occupants actually care about.

Whole-home tasks

• Dust and wipe all light fixtures, ceiling fans, and vents.
• Clean windows, sills, and tracks inside and out where accessible.
• Wipe down doors, door frames, baseboards, and light switches.
• Spot-clean walls and remove scuffs.
• Vacuum and mop all floors; clean carpets if needed.
• Empty and wipe out every closet and storage space.

Kitchen

• Clean inside and outside of all cabinets and drawers.
• Degrease the stovetop, oven, and range hood.
• Empty, defrost, and wipe down the refrigerator and freezer.
• Clean the microwave, dishwasher, and any small appliances.
• Scrub the sink, faucet, and countertops.
• Wipe down the backsplash and clean the floor, including behind appliances.

Bathrooms

• Scrub and disinfect the toilet, tub, shower, and sink.
• Remove soap scum and hard-water buildup from glass and tile.
• Clean mirrors and any glass surfaces streak-free.
• Wipe cabinets, drawers, and countertops inside and out.
• Clean exhaust fans and floors.

Bedrooms & living areas

• Dust all surfaces, shelves, and blinds.
• Clean inside closets and wipe down shelving.
• Wipe down windows and treatments.
• Vacuum or mop floors thoroughly, including under where furniture stood.

Move-in extras

For a new place, focus on sanitizing high-touch surfaces before you unpack: disinfect kitchen and bathroom surfaces, clean inside cabinets and the fridge before storing food, and give the floors a fresh clean so you're moving into a genuinely blank slate.

Short on time before moving day? Aby's Cleaning Crew offers move-in and move-out cleaning in Sudbury, Ontario — request a free quote and hand the deep clean to us.