This move-out cleaning checklist helps London, Ontario renters work through kitchens, bathrooms, empty rooms, floors and the final walkthrough before returning the keys. Start by removing belongings and waste, clean from higher surfaces downward, and leave vacuuming and mopping until the end.

An empty rental reveals jobs that furniture used to hide: dust along baseboards, crumbs inside drawers and marks around door handles. Having a list makes those details easier to finish while you are also managing movers and a handover deadline.

Use the guide for an apartment, condo, townhouse or rented house. If you need help, London Fresh Cleaning Co. offers move-in and move-out cleaning in London with the tasks and timing confirmed for your property.

Your Move-Out Cleaning Checklist at a Glance

Follow this order to avoid cleaning the same area twice:

Confirm the move-out deadline, access arrangements and key-return instructions.
Remove personal belongings, food, donations and unwanted items.
Dust accessible surfaces from high to low.
Work through kitchen surfaces, agreed appliance interiors and bathrooms.
Finish bedrooms, closets, living areas and any private storage spaces.
Vacuum and mop toward the exit, then check for missed tasks.
Photograph the finished rooms and complete the agreed key handover.

If furniture or landlord-owned items must remain, identify them before cleaning. A furnished rental needs its inventory checked as well as its surfaces cleaned.

How Clean Should You Leave a Rental in Ontario?

For tenancies covered by Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act, the Landlord and Tenant Board describes the tenant’s responsibility as maintaining ordinary or normal cleanliness. It also distinguishes damage caused by occupants or guests from deterioration through normal use. LTB maintenance and repairs guidance.

Use the checklist below as a practical cleaning plan. The tasks you need depend on the rental’s condition and your circumstances; every detailed task is not automatically a legal requirement. Review your move-in record and written departure instructions, and raise unclear expectations before moving day.

Cleaning cannot repair a leak, restore worn flooring or fix a broken fixture. Document those concerns separately and discuss them with the property manager before attempting repairs.

Ontario’s rent-deposit rules also differ from generic advice about recovering a damage deposit. Under the Act, a rent deposit is for the final rental period and cannot be used for other purposes, such as repairing damage. Lease terms cannot override the Act. For a disputed cleaning charge or lease clause, consult current Board information or a qualified Ontario legal service. LTB guide to the Residential Tenancies Act.

Room-by-Room Move-Out Cleaning Checklist

Tick off completed tasks and mark anything that does not apply. If you hire a cleaner, agree on who handles each item: this planning list is broader than any automatically included service package.

Kitchen and Empty Cupboards

Remove food and personal items from cupboards, drawers, appliances and storage spaces.
Wipe empty cupboard and drawer interiors where needed.
Clean cabinet fronts, handles and accessible edges.
Remove crumbs and grease from suitable counters and backsplashes.
Clean the sink, faucet and surrounding surfaces.
Clean the stovetop and accessible appliance exteriors using suitable methods.
Clean the oven interior and racks when needed and included in your plan.
Clean the emptied refrigerator interior, shelves, bins and seals when required.
Wipe the microwave interior and turntable, if the appliance remains.
Vacuum or sweep, then mop the appropriate kitchen flooring.

Start with dry crumbs and loose debris before wiping. Clean the upper cupboards before the counter, and leave the sink available until you have finished using it. Check the drawer beneath the oven and the cupboard above the refrigerator for forgotten belongings.

Follow the appliance manual for removable parts, filters and cleaning products. Plan freezer defrosting only when it is needed and consistent with the manufacturer’s and property manager’s instructions. Confirm how the refrigerator should be left at handover.

Avoid moving a heavy refrigerator or stove yourself. Pulling appliances out can damage flooring or disturb electrical, gas or water connections. Ask how inaccessible areas should be handled.

For a professional appointment, oven, refrigerator and empty cabinet interiors must be requested and confirmed. Mention them individually when asking for a quote.

Bathroom

Remove toiletries, bathmats, personal storage and waste.
Clean the sink, vanity counter, faucet and mirror.
Remove soap residue from the tub, shower and suitable glass surfaces.
Clean the toilet seat, hinges, exterior, bowl and base.
Wipe emptied storage shelves, drawers and cabinet fronts as needed.
Wipe accessible doors, handles and baseboards.
Remove loose debris and clean the floor, including accessible space behind the toilet.

Use separate cloths for the toilet and other surfaces. Let the product do the work for the time specified on its label instead of immediately scrubbing harder. If disinfecting is part of the task, follow the product’s surface and contact-time directions.

Check corners and the lower edges of shower glass from more than one angle. Persistent mould, a leak or failed caulking should be reported rather than treated as a stain that must be scrubbed away.

Bedrooms, Closets and Living Areas

Empty closets, shelves and any built-in drawers.
Remove cobwebs and dust safely reachable ledges and fixtures.
Wipe closet shelving and accessible trim.
Clean door handles and suitable switch-plate surfaces without wetting electrical parts.
Wipe accessible windowsills and baseboards.
Gently spot-clean removable marks on washable surfaces after testing an inconspicuous area.
Vacuum carpet, corners and the places where furniture stood.
Sweep or vacuum, then damp-mop suitable hard flooring.

Wall marks need a careful approach. A harsh pad can remove paint or change its sheen, leaving a larger visible patch. Stop if the surface starts to change, and ask about marks that will not lift with a suitable gentle method.

Vacuuming and carpet extraction are different jobs. If staining or odours remain, discuss the condition and any specialist work separately; do not assume extraction or stain removal is included in a move-out clean.

Entrance, Stairs and Private Storage Areas

Empty the entry closet and check behind doors.
Clean accessible door surfaces, handles and trim.
Vacuum stair edges or clean appropriate hard stair surfaces.
Remove belongings from any private locker, basement or garage included in your rental.
Check laundry machines for clothing and wipe accessible exteriors if applicable.
Remove balcony items and loose debris according to building instructions.

Keep stairways and exits clear while working. Do not push balcony debris or cleaning water over the edge. Building hallways, shared laundry rooms and other common areas may have separate arrangements; ask the property manager what applies to your unit.

For a furnished apartment, compare the remaining furniture, remotes and supplied household items with the original inventory. Photograph the final arrangement so there is a record of what stayed.

When to Clean Before Moving Out

The most useful cleaning window is after the movers finish and before the walkthrough or key return. Earlier preparation helps protect that window.

When	What to arrange
As soon as the move is confirmed	Check the handover deadline, ask about building access, arrange unwanted-item disposal and request cleaning availability if needed.
During the final week	Pack unused items, use up food, gather supplies and clean low-use storage areas.
Before the cleaning appointment	Remove belongings and waste; confirm water, electricity, lighting, parking and entry access.
Once the unit is empty	Complete the room checklist, then finish the floors.
Before returning keys	Inspect the result, take photos, collect the last supplies and record the handover.

If your elevator reservation ends at noon, tell the cleaner when the unit will actually be accessible. If key return is the same afternoon, discuss that deadline before booking. The work required and the available cleaning window need to fit together.

When someone is cleaning before every box has left, identify the rooms they can finish first. Keep completed rooms clear so movers do not repeatedly track dirt through them.

Supplies and Cleaning Methods to Prepare

A practical kit includes microfibre cloths, non-scratch sponges, a toilet brush, a vacuum with attachments, a mop, waste bags and products suitable for your surfaces. Keep it separate from packed boxes until the final clean is finished.

Read labels, use any specified protective equipment and work with suitable ventilation. Never mix cleaning products. Keep products in their original labelled containers and follow the directions for use and disposal. CCOHS cleaning-product safety guidance.

Check the care instructions for flooring, stone counters, coated fixtures and painted cabinetry. More product or more water does not necessarily improve cleaning. Work in manageable areas and allow cleaned surfaces to dry before the final inspection.

Plan Garbage and Furniture Disposal in London

An otherwise clean rental is unfinished if unwanted furniture, food or bags of waste remain inside. Sort these before moving day, and confirm where each item can go.

For curbside properties, check your address through the City’s collection tools and review accepted items and preparation instructions. Apartment and condo residents should ask their property manager about the building’s arrangements. London’s Core Area also has location-specific instructions, so a neighbour’s collection routine may not apply to you. City of London collection calendar.

Do not assume a mattress belongs beside a building dumpster or that an appliance can go with ordinary garbage. Use the City’s linked Recycle Coach tool to check the item and disposal route before setting anything out.

Arrange donations, furniture removal and disposal separately from cleaning unless a provider expressly agrees to those tasks. Tell the cleaner in advance if anything will remain in the property.

Final Walkthrough Before Returning the Keys

Walk through the empty rental room by room after cleaning. Open cupboards and closets, check behind doors, and look at floors from the entrance as well as from inside each room.

Confirm personal belongings, food and unwanted items have been removed.
Check kitchen and bathroom surfaces for missed residue.
Recheck floor edges, closet floors and areas behind doors.
Photograph the rooms, appliance interiors and cleaned storage areas.
Record existing damage or unresolved maintenance concerns separately.
Collect all keys, fobs, parking passes and other items to be returned.
Follow the agreed return procedure and keep the confirmation.

Take clear, well-lit photos after the work is complete. Keep wider room views as well as close-ups, and retain the original files with your move-in record and relevant messages.

If a cleaning company completed the work, keep its invoice and agreed checklist with those records. An invoice records the service purchased; photographs help show the condition at departure.

Should You Clean Yourself or Hire Move-Out Cleaners?

Doing the work yourself can suit a manageable rental when you have the tools and enough time after it is empty. Professional help can be useful when several bathrooms need attention, appliance interiors add work, or the move leaves you with limited time or physical capacity.

Move-out cleaning concentrates on an empty property and its agreed turnover tasks. For a broader explanation of routine upkeep and detailed cleaning, see our standard cleaning vs deep cleaning guide.

Before requesting a quote, prepare:

The property type, London postal code and approximate size.
The number of bedrooms, bathrooms and levels.
Whether the property will be empty or furnished.
Current conditions, including grease, pet hair or heavier buildup.
Requested appliance, cabinet, baseboard or interior-window tasks.
The access window and final completion deadline.
Parking, elevator and utility arrangements.

London Fresh Cleaning Co. bases moving-cleaning quotes on property details, condition and the requested scope. Additional information or photos may be needed before the work and pricing are confirmed.

Ask what is included, what requires an additional request and how long the team expects to need. General wall washing, repairs, carpet stain treatment, exterior windows and unwanted-item removal are not automatically included. Availability for additional work must be confirmed.

Move-Out Cleaning FAQs for London Renters

Do I have to hire a professional cleaner when moving out?

The LTB’s general cleanliness standard does not itself require every renter to hire a cleaning company. Choose the approach that lets you complete the work, and get Ontario-specific advice if a lease term or cleaning charge is disputed.

Should the rental be empty before cleaning starts?

Ideally, yes. Empty rooms make floors, baseboards, closets and cupboards accessible. Tell your cleaner about furniture or other items that must remain so the work can be planned around them.

Are the oven, refrigerator and cupboard interiors included?

For London Fresh Cleaning Co., these interiors must be requested and confirmed in the cleaning scope. Empty them before the appointment and describe their condition when asking for a quote.

How long does move-out cleaning take?

The timeframe depends on the property’s size, condition, requested tasks and number of cleaners. Ask for an estimate based on your actual checklist, and allow time afterward for your own walkthrough and key return.

Does a move-out cleaning appointment include furniture removal?

Item and waste removal are not included unless specifically agreed. Arrange the appropriate disposal route and have the property ready for the confirmed cleaning work.

What if some marks remain after cleaning?

Document them and consider whether they involve residue, a damaged finish or a maintenance problem. Avoid increasingly harsh products. Raise unresolved concerns with the property manager and keep your photographs and earlier condition records.

Get Help With Your Move-Out Cleaning in London

Share your rental’s size, condition, requested tasks and handover date with London Fresh Cleaning Co. Request a free cleaning quote to discuss the work and available appointments, or contact our team with questions about access and timing.

Your appointment is confirmed after the cleaning scope, price and schedule are agreed.

Move-Out Cleaning Checklist for London, Ontario Renters