A move-out clean is an empty-home clean: every surface a standard or deep clean covers, plus the inside of the oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, cabinets, drawers, closets and pantry. In Arizona, a landlord has 14 business days after you move out to return your security deposit or send an itemized list of deductions, and cleaning is one of the most common deductions. Use the checklist below to clean in the order an inspector looks, or book a professional move-out clean priced by home size.
Greater Phoenix Cleaning’s move-in / move-out cleaning is a flat fee by home size, confirmed before the visit. See pricing by home size and the published checklist.
What Phoenix Landlords and Buyers Check First
Inspectors open things. The inside of the oven, the refrigerator shelves and drawers, the cabinet interiors, the shower glass and the baseboards get checked before anything else, because those are the surfaces a quick surface wipe leaves behind. Arizona’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (A.R.S. § 33-1321) requires the landlord to itemize any deductions and allows deductions for damage beyond normal wear and tear, which is where cleaning charges land when a home is left dirty.
Before You Start
- Move everything out first. Cleaning around boxes means cleaning twice.
- Keep water and power on through the clean and the final walkthrough.
- Take dated photos of each room when the clean is done. They are your record if a deduction is disputed.
- Schedule the clean after the movers and before the inspection, with time for touch-ups.
The Room-By-Room Move-Out Checklist
Scroll sideways for all columns.
| Room | What gets cleaned | Why it matters at inspection |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Inside and outside of the oven, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher; inside cabinets, drawers and pantry shelves; stovetop, hood vent, counters, backsplash, sink, cabinet fronts, floors. | Appliance interiors and cabinet interiors are the most common cleaning deductions on a move-out statement. |
| Bathrooms | Shower, tub, glass and tracks; tile grout scrubbed; toilet inside and out; mirrors; inside cabinets and medicine cabinet; sills, blinds, baseboards, floors. | Hard-water film on glass and grout stains are easy to spot in an empty bathroom. |
| Bedrooms and living areas | Ceiling fans, light fixtures, switches and knobs; window sills and frames; doors and frames; baseboards; closets; blinds; floors vacuumed and mopped. | Dust on fans, sills and baseboards reads as “not cleaned” during a walkthrough. |
| Whole home | Cobwebs, trash removed, every room checked against the published list before the team leaves. | A room-by-room check is what an inspector does; doing it first avoids a second visit. |
The Order That Saves Time
- Top down. Cobwebs, ceiling fans, light fixtures and the tops of cabinets first, so dust falls onto surfaces you have not cleaned yet.
- Interiors. Oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, cabinets, drawers, closets and pantry shelves.
- Surfaces. Counters, backsplash, sinks, stovetop, cabinet fronts, mirrors, showers, tubs and toilets.
- Edges. Window sills and frames, door frames, switches, knobs and baseboards. These are the lines an inspector runs a finger along.
- Floors last. Vacuum, then mop, working toward the exit.
What Is Usually Not Part of a Move-Out Clean
Carpet shampooing, exterior windows, patching nail holes, paint touch-ups, junk removal and garage sweep-outs are separate jobs. Greater Phoenix Cleaning offers a patio or balcony sweep and a garage sweep as priced add-ons on the pricing page; carpet cleaning and repairs are not cleaning tasks. Check your lease for anything it names specifically, such as carpet cleaning receipts.
Selling Instead of Renting?
Buyers do the same walkthrough a landlord does, and a move-out clean before closing is part of leaving the home in the condition the contract describes. If the home is listed and still furnished, a deep clean ahead of photos and showings covers the detail surfaces; the move-out clean comes after the furniture leaves.
What a Professional Move-Out Clean Includes
Greater Phoenix Cleaning’s move-in / move-out cleaning follows the move column of the published checklist: every standard and deep-clean task, plus the inside of the oven, refrigerator, cabinets, drawers and medicine cabinet, pantry shelves, closets, and blinds and shutters wet-wiped. Each room is checked against the list before the team leaves, and we take before-and-after photos of every job. Pricing is a flat fee by home size, published on the pricing page and confirmed before the visit; homes over about 4,000 square feet get an individual quote.
Book Your Move-Out Clean
Share the address, square footage, the day the home will be empty and your inspection date. We’ll confirm the checklist and price before the visit.
Move-Out Cleaning Questions
How Much Does a Move-Out Clean Cost in Phoenix?
Move-in / move-out cleaning is a flat fee set by home size, published on the pricing page in bands from up to 1,500 square feet through 4,000 square feet, and confirmed before the visit. The price covers the published move checklist.
How Long Does a Landlord Have to Return a Deposit in Arizona?
Under A.R.S. § 33-1321, 14 business days after the tenant moves out and demands the deposit, with an itemized list of any deductions. Cleaning beyond normal wear and tear can be deducted.
Does a Move-Out Clean Include the Inside of the Oven and Refrigerator?
Yes. Appliance interiors, cabinet and drawer interiors, pantry shelves and closets are included in the move checklist. On a standard or deep clean those are add-ons.
Should the Home Be Empty for a Move-Out Clean?
Yes. The move checklist is written for an empty home so cabinet, closet and appliance interiors can be cleaned. If furniture is still in place, book a deep clean instead and the move-out clean after the move.
Does a Move-Out Clean Include Carpet Shampooing?
No. Carpets are vacuumed; carpet shampooing, exterior windows and repairs are separate services. Check your lease for anything it names specifically.
When Should I Schedule the Clean?
After the movers have finished and before the inspection or closing, leaving time for touch-ups. Keep utilities on through the clean and the walkthrough.
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