Kitchen
- Inside every cabinet and drawer: crumbs out, shelves wiped.
- Inside the oven, racks included, and the stovetop and drip pans.
- Inside the fridge and freezer: empty, wiped, and left the way your lease says (some want it unplugged and propped open).
- Microwave inside and out, dishwasher door and gasket, range hood and filter.
- Sink and faucet descaled, counters and backsplash degreased.
Bathrooms
- Toilet inside, outside and behind the base.
- Tub, shower, tile and grout scrubbed; shower glass and fixtures descaled.
- Inside the vanity and medicine cabinet, mirrors streak-free.
- Exhaust fan cover dusted.
Every room
- Baseboards, door frames, doors, light switches and outlet covers wiped.
- Window sills and tracks cleaned, blinds dusted.
- Closet shelves and rods wiped, floors vacuumed.
- Floors vacuumed and mopped edge to edge, including under where furniture stood.
- Nail holes and wall marks: check your lease before patching or painting.
What Texas law says about your deposit
Under the Texas Property Code, a landlord has to refund the security deposit, or send an itemized list of deductions, within 30 days after you surrender the property (Section 92.103). The landlord isn't required to do that until you give them a forwarding address in writing (Section 92.107). Normal wear and tear can't be deducted, but cleaning that's needed beyond normal wear can be, depending on your lease.
This is general information, not legal advice. Your lease and the Texas Property Code are the final word.
Short on time?
Our move-out cleaning covers everything on this list in an empty home, including inside the appliances and cabinets. Book it after the movers leave and before your walkthrough.