Moving is expensive enough without leaving part of your security deposit behind. And while you cannot control every line of your lease, you can absolutely control the condition the home is in when you hand back the keys.
What Florida law actually says
Under Florida Statute 83.49, once your rental agreement ends, a landlord has 15 days to return your deposit, or 30 days to send you written notice that they intend to keep some or all of it and why. Cleaning and damage are among the most common reasons deposits get docked, and cleanliness is the one that is entirely in your hands.
To be clear, a spotless home does not guarantee a full refund, and we are cleaners, not lawyers. But walking through a final inspection with a home that looks and smells professionally cleaned removes the easiest reason a landlord has to make a claim.
The move out cleaning checklist
Work top to bottom, back to front, and save floors for last.
Kitchen
- Inside the oven, including racks and the drawer underneath
- Inside and behind the refrigerator, if it stays
- Cabinets and drawers, inside and out, with shelf liner removed
- Sink, faucet, backsplash, and countertops
- Range hood filter and microwave, inside and out
Bathrooms
- Tub, shower walls, and glass, with soap scum fully removed
- Toilet, including the base and behind it
- Mirror, vanity, and inside all cabinets
- Exhaust fan cover
Every room
- Baseboards, door frames, and light switches
- Ceiling fans and light fixtures
- Window sills, tracks, and blinds
- Closet shelves and corners
- Nail holes patched if your lease requires it, and scuffs wiped down
Finish
- Vacuum and mop all floors, including inside closets
- Empty every cabinet, drawer, and appliance one last time
- Take date-stamped photos of every room after cleaning
That photo step matters. If a dispute ever comes up, you want a record of exactly how you left the property.
When to bring in professionals
A full move out clean on an average home takes most people a full day, usually the same week they are packing, working, and coordinating movers. That is why Move In / Move Out Cleaning exists as its own service: it is a deep, empty-home clean built around exactly the items landlords and property managers inspect.
It works on the other side of the move too. Having your new place professionally cleaned before the boxes arrive is the only time in your tenancy the home will be completely empty.
Lock in your move date
Get a free quote by booking online or call 813.922.2110. Mention it is your first cleaning with us and ask about 25 dollars off. Moving dates fill fast at the end of the month, so book your slot as soon as you have your walkthrough scheduled.
Lightning Cleaning Tampa provides Standard Cleaning, Deep Cleaning, Carpet Cleaning, Move In / Move Out Cleaning, Airbnb Cleaning, Post Construction Cleaning, and Commercial Cleaning across the Tampa Bay area.
