The complete move out cleaning checklist that secures your deposit

A line by line walkthrough used by tenants in Vancouver, Coquitlam, and Surrey to get every dollar back from their landlord.

BC tenancy law is clear: a landlord can only withhold a damage deposit for damage beyond reasonable wear and tear. The problem is reasonable is subjective, and a dirty unit is the easiest reason to deduct. A clean unit shifts the burden of proof back to the landlord. That is why this checklist exists.

Kitchen, in order: empty and wipe inside every cabinet and drawer, descale the sink and faucet, clean the dishwasher gasket and filter, pull the fridge out and clean behind and underneath, defrost and wipe the freezer, scrub the oven interior including racks and the door glass, degrease the range hood and replace the filter if needed, clean inside the microwave, wipe the stovetop and burner pans, sanitize counters, and finish with the floor.

Bathrooms: descale the showerhead and faucets, scrub grout, clean the toilet base and behind it, wipe the exhaust fan cover, polish mirrors, empty and wipe the medicine cabinet, clean inside vanity drawers, and replace the toilet seat if it is stained beyond cleaning.

Bedrooms and living areas: dust ceiling fans and light fixtures first, then walls and trim, then floors last. Always work top to bottom. Wipe baseboards, door frames, light switches, and outlet covers. Clean window tracks with a vacuum brush attachment and a damp cloth. Wash interior windows. Spot clean walls with a magic eraser, but test in a closet first to avoid removing paint sheen.

Flooring is where most deposits die. Vacuum every carpet edge with a crevice tool. Steam clean carpets if you had pets or stays over a year. Mop hard floors twice. For LVP and engineered hardwood, use a barely damp microfiber and a pH neutral cleaner. Never wet mop laminate.

Outside the unit: sweep balconies, wipe railings, pick up cigarette butts, clean the inside of patio door tracks, and bag up everything in storage lockers. Bin areas and parking stalls count too if they are assigned to you.

Book Lastminute for a move out clean and we hand you a signed checklist on completion. We have helped hundreds of tenants across Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Richmond, and Surrey recover full deposits, even on units the landlord had already flagged as problem cleans.