By The Gen 2 Cleaners team · Updated · 7 min read
The short answer
- Clean an empty home from the top down: ceiling fans and vents first, floors last.
- Inspectors check the inside of the oven, fridge, cabinets, and closets first, so do those thoroughly.
- In Texas, landlords generally must return the deposit, or an itemized list of deductions, within 30 days after you move out and give a forwarding address.
- Landlords can't charge for normal wear and tear, but they can charge for cleaning that goes beyond it.
- A professional move-out clean of an empty home typically takes 4 to 9 hours.
Before you start
- 1Get your lease's move-out instructions or the property manager's checklist. If they give you one, clean to it exactly.
- 2Find your move-in inspection report and photos, so you know which marks were already there.
- 3Clean after the movers leave, when every room is empty. You can't clean behind furniture that's still there.
- 4Keep the power and water on until the cleaning is finished.
Kitchen
- Inside the oven, including racks and the door glass
- Stovetop, drip pans, knobs, and the range hood filter
- Inside the refrigerator and freezer: shelves, drawers, and door seals (unplug only if your lease allows)
- Inside the dishwasher and microwave
- Inside and outside of every cabinet and drawer
- Counters, backsplash, sink, and faucet (descale the faucet base)
- Pull out the fridge and range if it's safe, and clean the floor and walls behind them
- Floors scrubbed, with edges and corners done by hand
Bathrooms
- Tub, shower walls, and doors fully descaled (Houston's hard water leaves visible scale)
- Grout and caulk: remove mildew
- Toilet inside and out, including the base and behind it
- Inside the vanity cabinets and drawers
- Mirrors, fixtures, towel bars, and the exhaust fan cover
- Floors sanitized all the way to the baseboard
Bedrooms, living areas, and the rest of the home
- Ceiling fans, light fixtures, and air vents dusted
- All baseboards, door frames, and doors wiped
- Switch plates, outlet covers, and door handles
- Window sills, tracks, blinds, and interior glass
- Closet shelves, rods, and floors
- Scuffs spot-cleaned from walls (test first, since some paints come off)
- Carpets vacuumed, hard floors mopped
- Garage, patio, or balcony swept if your lease includes them
What inspectors check first
Property managers walk the same route almost every time. These spots cause most cleaning deductions:
- Oven interior and stovetop grease
- Fridge interior and the door gaskets
- Shower glass and tile scale
- Baseboards and blinds
- Cabinet interiors, especially under the sinks
How security deposits work in Texas
Under the Texas Property Code, a landlord generally has 30 days after you surrender the property to refund your deposit or send an itemized list of deductions, and you need to give them a written forwarding address. Landlords can't deduct for normal wear and tear, such as minor scuffs or carpet worn from ordinary use. They can deduct for cleaning and damage beyond that.
Take date-stamped photos of every room after cleaning. If a deduction is disputed, those photos and your move-in report are your evidence. This is general information, not legal advice: your lease and the property code are the final word.
DIY or hire a professional?
A thorough move-out clean of an empty 3-bed, 2-bath home takes one person most of a day, on top of moving. A professional crew does it in 4 to 9 hours with the right products for scale and grease. If the deposit is large, or you're moving out of town, a professional clean is often cheaper than the deduction. Our move in / move out cleaning is built around exactly this checklist, and we'll clean to your property manager's list if you send it.
Frequently asked questions
How clean does an apartment have to be when you move out in Texas?
Generally, it must be returned in the same condition as when you moved in, minus normal wear and tear. In practice that means inside the appliances, cabinets, and closets, bathrooms descaled, and floors clean. Check your lease for a specific move-out checklist.
How long does a move-out cleaning take?
A professional move-out clean of an empty home typically takes 4 to 9 hours, depending on square footage, the number of bathrooms, and condition.
Can my landlord charge me for cleaning?
In Texas, landlords can deduct reasonable cleaning costs when the home is left dirtier than normal wear and tear. They can't charge for normal wear and tear itself. Deductions must be itemized.
Should I clean before or after the movers?
After. An empty home lets you clean behind and under everything, and the movers won't track dirt back in.