Move-Out Cleaning: Complete Checklist and How Much to Charge

A move-out (or move-in) cleaning is the most complete clean: it's done in an empty home and includes the inside of closets, drawers, oven, fridge and cabinets, plus baseboards, vents, windows and walls. The goal is to leave the home ready for the next tenant or owner and help whoever is leaving get their deposit back. It usually costs about 2.5 times a standard clean.

In this article:

• How it differs from other cleans
• Room-by-room checklist
• How long it takes and how much to charge
• Tips to avoid problems

How it differs from other cleans

A move-out clean reaches what the others don't: the inside of everything, because the home is empty.

Task	Standard	Deep	Move-out
Surfaces	✅ Basic	✅ Detailed	✅ Complete
Dusting and vacuuming	✅ Light	✅ All areas	✅ Complete
Kitchen and bathrooms	✅ Wipe-down	✅ Sanitize and degrease	✅ Heavy-duty
Appliances	❌	✅ Outside	✅ Inside and outside
Cabinets and drawers	❌	❌	✅ Inside and out (emptied)
Baseboards and vents	❌	✅	✅ Thorough
Windows and blinds	❌	✅ Basic	✅ Detailed
Wall marks	❌	✅ Light	✅ Complete
Ready to hand over	❌	❌	✅

More details in what each type of cleaning includes.

Room-by-room checklist

Kitchen

• Inside and outside of cabinets and drawers
• Inside the oven, racks and glass
• Inside the fridge and freezer (unplugged and dried if left off)
• Microwave inside and out
• Range hood, cooktop, backsplash and countertops
• Sink and faucet free of hard-water stains

Bathrooms

• Toilet inside, outside and base
• Shower, tub, grout and shower door free of hard-water stains
• Sink, mirror, medicine cabinet and inside cabinets
• Exhaust fan cover

Bedrooms and living room

• Inside closets, shelves and rods
• Windows, frames, sills and tracks
• Blinds and ceiling fans
• Light switches, outlets and handles
• Wall marks (carefully, so you don't remove paint)

Whole home

• Baseboards, door frames and both sides of doors
• Air vents
• Floors vacuumed and mopped, corners included

How long it takes and how much to charge

A 1,500 sq ft home can take one person 6 to 10 hours; price-wise, a move-out runs about 2.5 times a standard clean. With AgendaQuote pricing in Minnesota:

Home	Move-out
1,000 sq ft, 2 bed, 1 bath	≈ $300
1,500 sq ft, 3 bed, 2 bath	≈ $425
2,000 sq ft, 3 bed, 2.5 bath	≈ $510
2,500 sq ft, 4 bed, 3 bath	≈ $615

Prices vary by state: see the Minnesota table or calculate it here:

Tips to avoid problems

• Ask for the home to be empty with power and water on: without lights you can't clean well or see the result.
• Ask whether you need to clean behind the fridge and stove: moving heavy appliances is an add-on (and better with help).
• Take a deposit to hold the date: on moving day, the schedule can't easily change.
• Take before and after photos of every room. When you close the service in AgendaQuote they go into the PDF receipt with the client's signature, very useful proof if the landlord complains.
• Bring your own products, trash bags and a small step ladder.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between move-out and move-in cleaning?

The work is almost the same. Move-out is done when leaving, to hand over the home and get the deposit back; move-in is done before moving in, to start in a clean home.

Does move-out cleaning include exterior windows?

Usually not: windows are cleaned inside, with frames and tracks. Exterior or high windows are usually an add-on.

How much do cleaners charge for move-out cleaning?

As a reference, about 2.5 times a standard clean: around $425 for a 1,500 sq ft home in Minnesota. It depends on size, condition and your state.

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