Clean to inspector standard, see the $ at risk, and protect your deposit.
This free move-out (end-of-tenancy) cleaning checklist does two jobs at once. It gives you the complete, room-by-room list of what landlords and inspectors actually check — including the high-frequency hidden spots renters forget — and it turns your progress into a single deposit-protection score plus an estimate of the dollars still at risk. Tell it your unit size and a few details and it tailors the list, weights each task by how often it triggers a deduction, and shows you whether a DIY clean or a pro clean makes more sense.
A renter has a 1-bed flat with carpet, no pets, no smoking, is responsible for the oven, fridge, hob, range hood and microwave, holds a $1,500 deposit, and inspects in 5 days. The tool derives a ~750 sq ft area and builds about 30 applicable tasks. With the kitchen and bathroom done but the oven interior, range-hood filter, limescale on taps, and skirting boards still outstanding, it might read: "Deposit protection: 78% — 4 critical tasks left." The breakdown shows roughly $95–$235 still at risk (about 6–16% of your $1,500 deposit), next to a pro 1-bed clean at about $120–$340. Because the oven cleaner needs soak time, the schedule suggests applying it 2 days out and saving floors and the photo walkthrough for the day of.
You are responsible for cleaning the unit back to move-in condition. You are not responsible for normal aging. Wear and tear (not chargeable): faded paint, lightly worn high-traffic carpet, a few small nail holes, light scuffs, frayed blind cords, loose caulk. Damage (chargeable): large or multiple holes, burns, pet-urine stains, smoke staining, broken fixtures, unapproved paint. Limescale and general dirt are cleaning, not damage — your job to remove.
The most commonly charged, most commonly forgotten items are the oven interior and racks, behind and under the fridge and cooker, skirting boards/baseboards, limescale on taps and showerheads, blind slats and pull cords, extractor/range-hood filters, inside window tracks, light fittings, and wall scuffs. The checklist lists each with a note on what the inspector looks for and the typical charge.
Every applicable task carries a weight by risk level (Critical, High, Medium). The score is the weight of items marked Done divided by the weight of all applicable items. Items marked N/A are removed from the denominator, so your score is not unfairly penalised. It estimates risk; it does not guarantee your deposit's return.
Wear and tear (faded paint, lightly worn carpet, a few small nail holes, light scuffs) cannot lawfully be charged to you. Damage (large/multiple holes, burns, pet-urine stains, smoke staining, broken fixtures, unapproved paint) and failing to clean to move-in condition can be.
The tool shows your remaining dollar risk next to a professional move-out clean for your unit size (roughly $0.15–$0.30/sq ft standard, up to $0.45 deep; typically $120–$420 whole-unit). If your remaining risk is well above the pro-clean cost, hiring out can pay for itself.
Yes. Everything runs in your browser and your check states are saved locally so you can return later. Nothing is uploaded or sold. You can also copy a shareable link that re-loads your inputs.
No. It estimates deduction risk and cleaning cost; it is not legal advice. Actual deductions depend on your lease, your move-in report, and local law. Many areas require itemised, receipted deductions within a set deadline — ask for one.
This tool gives an estimate of deduction risk and cleaning cost — it is not legal advice and not a guarantee your deposit will be returned. Dollar figures are US-market midpoints from 2025 cost data (professional move-out cleaning ~$0.15–$0.30/sq ft standard, up to ~$0.45/sq ft deep; whole-unit clean typically $120–$420; oven deep clean ~$40–$90; carpet stain/replacement ~$200–$800) and vary widely by region and condition — treat ranges as directional. The score reflects only the tasks in this checklist; it cannot see hidden issues or your landlord's strictness. Research indicates property damage beyond normal wear is ~45% of deduction cases and excessive cleaning ~25% — two-thirds of deductions are addressable by a thorough clean plus documentation. Many jurisdictions ban blanket "cleaning fees" and require itemised, receipted deductions within a set number of days; check your local statute.
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