The move-out clean that passes the walkthrough

Property managers in Oakville check the same five things. Here's the list, in the order they look.

1. Inside the oven

• Usually the first place they look. Baked-on grease is hard to miss.
• If it's bad, start the night before with a baking-soda paste and let it sit.

2. Inside the fridge and freezer

• Defrosted, wiped, door seals cleaned.
• Leave it slightly open so it doesn't smell by the inspection.

3. Inside every cupboard and drawer

• Crumbs in the cutlery drawer and a sticky shelf under the sink make a manager look harder at everything else.

4. Bathroom grout and the toilet base

• Bring an old toothbrush.
• The floor around the toilet and the caulk line in the shower are where "clean" gets decided.

5. Walls, switches and baseboards

• Scuff marks come off with a damp melamine sponge.
• Light switches and door handles wiped. Baseboards, every room.

Pro tip: Book the clean for the day after the furniture leaves, before the walkthrough.

What people forget

• The top of the fridge and the range hood filter.
• The edge of the dishwasher door and the filter at the bottom.
• Window tracks, closet shelves and the balcony floor.
• Light fixtures and the tops of door frames.

Give yourself a realistic amount of time

An empty two-bedroom unit is a full day of work for one person who has just spent the week packing. The oven alone can take an hour. If the walkthrough is the morning after the movers, start on the kitchen before moving day, because it is the room that takes longest and gets looked at hardest.

Take photos when you finish

Once the place is clean, photograph each room, the inside of the oven and fridge, and every bathroom. Dated photos are the simplest way to settle a disagreement about the condition you left it in.

Selling instead of renting?

The same list applies before a closing date. Buyers do a final walkthrough too, and a home handed over clean starts that relationship well. Add the garage and any storage rooms, since those are yours to empty.

Leave it to MaidStar

Our move-out clean works through this exact list, inside every cupboard included. It's billed hourly for a two-person team, and most 2-bedroom condos take three to four hours.