The Move-Out Cleaning Checklist Your Landlord Won't Tell You About
After six years of move-out cleans across Calgary, we know exactly which detail items realtors and landlords flag first. Here's the list.
January 9, 2026
You scrubbed the kitchen, vacuumed every room, wiped down the bathroom, and you still didn't get your full deposit back. Welcome to the move-out walkthrough. Here are the items landlords, property managers, and listing realtors check first, in roughly the order they check them.
The high-frequency deduction list
- Inside the oven. Pulling out the bottom drawer counts. So does the inside of the door, including the glass between the panes if it removes.
- Behind and under the fridge. Coils, floor underneath, and the cabinet edges they touched.
- Range hood filter. Pop it out, soak it in hot soapy water for 20 minutes. This is the #1 surprise deduction in our data.
- Inside every cabinet & drawer. Empty, vacuumed, wiped. Including the upper cabinets you never used.
- Window tracks. Use a flathead screwdriver wrapped in a damp microfiber. Slide it through the track and you'll be horrified.
- Closet shelves & baseboards inside closets. Most people forget these because the doors stay closed.
- Baseboards behind furniture. Once the couch is gone, that strip of dust is a flag.
- Light fixtures and ceiling fans. Bug remains in the dome lights. Dust on the fan blades.
- Vent covers. Both supply and return. Pop them off and wash with soap.
- Wall scuffs. A Magic Eraser handles most. For larger marks, a touch-up paint from the property manager often resolves it without deduction.
- The toilet base joint. The seal where porcelain meets floor, wipe the entire ring, not just the visible front.
- Shower & tub caulk. If it's mildewed, you can scrub or replace it. Replacement is often cheaper than the deduction.
The pre-walkthrough sanity check
Walk the unit at night with the overhead light on AND a flashlight. Most landlords use a phone flashlight during the daytime walkthrough. You'll find every smudge they will.
If you'd rather hand it to us
Our move-out service is flat-rate, includes everything above, and we photo-document the finished state so you have a record before the keys change hands. Most 2-bedroom units take 5–7 hours. Book a move-out clean at least 5 days before your walkthrough.