You know what nobody tells you about moving? The cleaning part is brutal. You’re already stressed about finding movers, changing your address with the post office, and dealing with a million other things. Then you remember—oh yeah, if I don’t leave this place spotless, I’m kissing that security deposit goodbye.
Here in New Jersey, your landlord has a month to either give you back your deposit or send you a list of what they took out and why. And let me tell you, “cleaning fees” show up on those lists constantly. I’ve had friends lose $500, $800, and even more because they underestimated what their landlord expected.
We handle this stuff all the time at Radiant Cleaning Service in Monmouth County, NJ and Ocean County, NJ. So here’s the real deal on what you need to do before you hand over those keys.
Move-Out Cleaning To Secure Your Deposit Return
The Kitchen Is Worse Than You Think
You clean your kitchen all the time, right? This is different. You’re hunting for stuff you’ve been ignoring for months.
Take everything out of your refrigerator—every shelf, every drawer. Wash them in the sink. Wipe down the entire inside. Those rubber seals around the door? Disgusting. Clean them. And yeah, you actually have to pull the fridge away from the wall. I know. The coils back there are dusty and there’s probably some petrified food on the floor. Landlords look back there.
The oven is probably a disaster. Take the racks out and soak them. Then deal with whatever’s crusted on the inside. If you’ve got an electric stove, those drip pans are going to be gross. Clean everything—the stovetop, the microwave, and run the dishwasher if you have one.
Empty out your cabinets and drawers completely. You’re going to find crumbs, sticky mystery spots, and stains you forgot existed. Clean the cabinet fronts too. Cooking grease gets on the handles even when you’re careful. Scrub the counters and backsplash. If there’s tile and grout, get in there. The sink needs to actually sparkle. Polish the faucet. Look under the sink where bottles leak.
Bathrooms Are a Whole Thing
This is where landlords get picky. Soap scum, water stains, mildew—it all shows.
Your shower or tub needs real work. Soap scum sticks to everything. Clean the tiles, the glass, and the grout. Look in the corners for mildew. The showerhead and faucets should look new, not just rinsed off. The toilet—inside, outside, and that gross spot around the base where it meets the floor. Everyone skips that part and it’s obvious.
The sink and counter have toothpaste splattered on them, makeup stains, and product buildup. Get it all. Make the mirror perfect. Mop the floor and actually get into the corners and behind the toilet, where hair and dust pile up.
Everything Else Still Counts
Bedrooms and living rooms seem easier, but there’s still plenty to do.
Look at your walls. See those scuff marks from moving furniture around? The nail holes from pictures? Clean the marks, fill the holes with a little spackle. Run your hand along the baseboards—they’re dusty. Nobody looks at baseboards normally, but during an inspection, they stand out. Take down your light fixtures and ceiling fan covers. There are dead bugs in there. It’s gross, but it has to get done.
Clean your windows, both sides. The sills and tracks are probably full of dirt. Vacuum or sweep everywhere, and mop the hard floors. If you’ve got carpet, your lease might say it needs professional cleaning. Even if it doesn’t, vacuum really well.
Empty every closet. All of them. Coat closet, linen closet, pantry, whatever you’ve got. Wipe down the shelves and rods.
Stuff You’re Probably Going to Forget
Air vents are dusty. Wipe them down. Behind your washer and dryer is probably awful. Clean it. If you have a garage, basement, balcony, or patio, sweep those too. Wipe the light switches and doorknobs. Check the mailbox.
Maybe Just Hire Someone
Sometimes it’s not worth the headache. You don’t have time, or the place is really dirty, or you just want it done right without spending your entire weekend scrubbing.
Professional cleaning costs money, but it’s usually less than what your landlord will charge if they hire someone and take it out of your deposit. We do this at Radiant Cleaning Service all over Monmouth County, NJ and Ocean County, NJ. We know what landlords look for because we’ve seen hundreds of these inspections. We’ve got better equipment and stronger cleaning products than what you’re buying at Target.
Before You’re Actually Done
Finish cleaning the day before your lease ends. That gives you time to catch anything you missed. Take pictures of everything. If there’s a dispute later, you’ve got proof. Try to get your landlord to do a walkthrough with you before you leave. Way easier to deal with problems in person than through angry emails later.
Your deposit is probably at least $1,500, maybe $2,000 or more, depending on where you live. Losing part of it over cleaning is annoying, especially when you could’ve prevented it.
Moving sucks enough already. Don’t lose money on top of everything else because you rushed through the cleaning. Either do it thoroughly yourself or pay someone who knows what they’re doing. Your bank account will thank you.