A move-out clean is easier when you know what to check and when to do it. This checklist covers the rooms and surfaces that matter most once an apartment or house is empty, plus the building details worth sorting out ahead of time if you are moving in Chicago.
When to clean
Clean after the furniture and boxes are out. Once a room is empty, you can reach the floor along the walls, the inside of closets, and the surfaces that were hidden behind furniture. If you are hiring help, schedule the cleaning for after the movers leave and before your final walk-through or key handoff.
Read your lease or move-out instructions before you start. Some landlords and property managers list specific cleaning expectations, and it helps to have those in hand.
The move-out checklist
Kitchen
- Empty the refrigerator and freezer, then wipe the shelves and drawers inside
- Wipe the stovetop, backsplash, and the outside of every appliance
- Clean inside the oven and microwave
- Empty cabinets and drawers, then wipe them inside and out
- Wipe the counters and clean the sink and faucet
Bathrooms
- Clean the toilet, tub, shower, sink, and faucet
- Empty and wipe the vanity and medicine cabinet
- Wipe mirrors and counters
- Remove anything left in the shower or under the sink
Bedrooms and living areas
- Empty closets and wipe the shelves
- Dust trim, doors, baseboards, and any light fixtures you can reach safely
- Wipe interior window sills
- Check closets, drawers, and corners for anything left behind
Floors and the final pass
- Vacuum and mop every accessible floor, including inside closets
- Take out the last of the trash
- Plan separately for furniture or bulky items you are not taking with you
- Walk through each room once more with the lights on
- Take photos of each room for your own records
Building details to plan for
In apartment and condo buildings, the cleaning is only part of the plan. Many buildings have rules about when and how people come and go during a move. If you are requesting a cleaning quote, tell us about:
- Your unit number and entry instructions
- Building move hours
- Elevator reservations
- Front-desk registration
- Parking and loading rules
- Certificate-of-insurance requirements
- Any other building-management requirements
Sharing these details up front helps us plan the visit around your building.
What our move-out cleaning includes
If you would rather hand this part off, move-in and move-out cleaning in Chicago from Craft Cleaners Chicago includes:
- Clean and sanitize bathrooms
- Wipe counters, cabinet fronts, shelves, and drawers
- Clean appliance exteriors and accessible interiors
- Clean sinks, faucets, stovetop, and backsplash
- Dust reachable trim, doors, baseboards, and fixtures
- Vacuum and mop accessible floors
- Clean interior windows and sills where safely accessible
- Remove light household trash left for disposal
The same service works on the other end of a move. You can book a move-in clean for your new home before you unpack.
Help us plan the visit
- Tell us whether the home will be empty.
- Share the property size and access details.
- Flag appliances, cabinets, or problem areas that need extra attention.
- Let us know about building move hours, parking, elevators, or loading rules.
Move-in and move-out cleaning is quoted after you describe the space. Send the address, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, preferred date, and whether the home will be empty through the quote form.
A note about your security deposit
Cleaning can support a smooth handoff, but no cleaning company can promise the return of a security deposit. The final decision belongs to the landlord or property manager.
What you can control is how the home looks when you leave it. Clean thoroughly, take photos, and read your lease so you know what your landlord or property manager expects.
For more on access, supplies, and scheduling, see our answers to common cleaning questions, or check the areas we serve before you request a quote. You can also call (312) 569-0302.