Move-Out Cleaning Checklist for Seattle Renters

Plan the clean around your keys, not your lease date

Move-out cleaning works best on an empty unit. In Seattle, elevator reservations in apartment buildings often fill early in the month, so book the clean for the day after your movers finish rather than the same day.

If your landlord schedules the walk-through immediately after key return, leave at least a half-day buffer so nothing gets rushed.

Kitchen

The kitchen is where most deposit deductions come from, so it gets the most attention.

• Inside and outside of cabinets and drawers, including the toe kick
• Countertops, backsplash, and sink, with fixture bases descaled
• Appliance exteriors, plus inside the refrigerator and oven as add-ons
• Floors cleaned to the edges, including under where the table stood

Bathrooms

• Tub, shower, and glass scrubbed, including grout lines and tracks
• Toilet cleaned inside, outside, and around the base
• Mirrors, vanity, and inside the medicine cabinet
• Exhaust fan cover dusted and wiped

Living spaces and bedrooms

• Baseboards, window sills, door frames, and switch plates
• Closet shelving and rods wiped, floors vacuumed
• Interior windows as an add-on where they are safely reachable
• Carpets vacuumed; we do not shampoo carpets or treat stains

What to handle yourself before we arrive

Remove all personal belongings and trash, and make sure utilities are still on. Water and power are needed for the clean, and lighting matters in older Seattle units with small windows.