A Move-Out Cleaning Checklist for Los Angeles Renters and Landlords

Moving out is a long pile of small jobs, and cleaning is the one most people leave until the last night. A renter wants the deposit back. A landlord wants the unit ready for the next tenant. Either way, a good move-out clean follows an order. This checklist is the order a good crew works in when we do Move-Out & Move-In Cleaning around Los Angeles.

Start when the place is empty

The best time to clean is after the movers and your last box are gone. A room full of furniture hides floors, closet shelves and wall edges. In an empty home every surface is reachable, and you can see exactly what a landlord will see. If you can't clear everything out before the cleaners arrive, tell us what's staying and we'll plan around it.

Always work from the top down. Ceilings, fans and light fixtures come first, then walls and doors, then counters and fixtures, and the floors last. Dust and drips fall, so cleaning the floors once at the end saves you from doing them twice.

The kitchen

• Inside all cabinets and drawers, wiped out and left open to dry
• Stovetop, burners or grates, and the oven interior
• Refrigerator emptied, with shelves and drawers washed and the door seals wiped
• Inside the microwave and dishwasher, including the filter if it comes out
• Sink, faucet and the backsplash behind it
• Floors, including the edges along the baseboard

Appliances are the part landlords tend to check first, because a greasy range is the hardest thing to hide. If the stove hasn't had a serious cleaning in a long time, give it the most attention. A degreaser needs a few minutes to soften baked-on residue, and patience works better than force.

The bathrooms

• Shower or tub walls, glass doors and door tracks
• Grout lines and the caulk along the edges
• Toilet, including the base and behind the tank
• Vanity, inside the drawers and under the sink
• Mirrors, fixtures, towel bars and the exhaust fan cover

Hard water spots and soap film are the usual trouble. Let the cleaner sit on the surface for a few minutes before you scrub. Scrubbing right away mostly pushes the film around instead of lifting it. For grout, a stiff brush and a little patience beat harsh products, which can discolor older grout and leave the bathroom smelling worse than it did before.

Bedrooms, closets and living areas

These rooms look easy because they're empty, but they hide a lot. Wipe closet shelves and rods, track down scuffs on the walls, and clean light switch plates and door handles. Don't skip window sills and tracks, where dust and debris pile up, or the tops of baseboards, which collect a surprising layer.

Floors finish the job. Vacuum carpets slowly in both directions, and sweep then mop hard floors, working toward the door so you don't walk on what you just cleaned. If the carpet needs more than a vacuum, carpet cleaning is a separate service we can add.

What landlords usually look at

Every landlord is different, so read your lease and your move-in paperwork before you start. In general, inspectors look closely at kitchen appliances, bathrooms, floors, and anything that looks neglected. Taking photos on move-in day and again on move-out day helps both sides stay on the same page.

For landlords turning over a unit, the same checklist works, and a fresh clean before the next tenant moves in helps the place show well. A clean unit also tends to lead to fewer arguments at the walkthrough, because there's less to point at.

Booking it without the stress

Schedule the cleaning after the movers finish and before your final walkthrough, and leave a day of cushion if you can. There are no contracts with us, so a one-time clean is simply a one-time clean. You can pay by cash, Zelle, check or Venmo.

When you reach out, share the address, the size of the place, whether anything is staying, and the date your keys are due back. Photos by text help us understand the job before we arrive.

If you'd rather hand the whole list to someone else, call King David Housekeeping at (626) 620-1372 and ask for a free estimate. We work across Los Angeles and within 40 miles of us, we're fully insured, and the work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.