Move-Out Cleaning in Richmond, BC: A Practical Checklist

Moving out is a lot. You’re packing boxes, booking movers, switching over utilities, and somewhere in the middle of all that you also have to clean the place you’re leaving. Most people save it for the last day, when they’re already worn out.

We clean homes in Richmond and Vancouver, so here’s how we’d tackle a move-out clean, room by room. Before you start, check your tenancy agreement or ask your landlord what they expect. It can differ from one rental to the next.

Don’t leave it all for the last day

If you can, split the work. Clean the rooms you’ve already emptied while you finish packing the rest. The kitchen and bathrooms take the longest, so give them real time instead of squeezing them in after the movers leave.

Get set up first

Take everything out. It’s much easier to clean an empty room than to clean around boxes. Then gather your supplies: all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, a degreaser for the kitchen, sponges, microfiber cloths, a mop, a vacuum and gloves. Open a window or two.

One habit saves a lot of redoing: work from top to bottom. Dust and drips fall, so do ceilings, fans and shelves before you touch the floors.

Start with the kitchen

It’s the slowest room, so get it done while you still have energy.

Pull the racks out of the oven, clean inside and wipe the glass door. Empty the fridge and freezer, wipe every shelf and drawer, and don’t skip the rubber seals around the door. Degrease the stovetop and the range hood. Wipe the cabinets inside and out, scrub the sink, then finish with the counters. The microwave and dishwasher get a wipe inside too.

Bathrooms

Landlords tend to look closely here, so slow down a little. Scrub the toilet, including the base and the back of the seat. Deal with soap scum on the tub, shower walls and glass. Wipe the vanity, sink and mirror, clean the exhaust fan cover, and mop the floor last, getting into the corners.

Bedrooms and living areas

Dust the ceiling corners, light fixtures and fans. Wipe baseboards, door frames and light switches (they get grubbier than you’d think). Clean inside the closets, wash the windows and wipe the sills and tracks. Vacuum and mop at the end.

The stuff people forget

Window tracks and blinds. The inside of drawers. The balcony floor. Door handles. Closet shelves. If you only have time for a few extras, do these.

Take photos when you’re done

Once it’s clean, snap a quick photo of each room. If anyone questions the condition later, you’ll have a record of how you left it.

How is this different from regular cleaning?

Regular cleaning keeps a lived-in home tidy. A move-out clean goes further: inside the appliances, cabinets and closets, the places nobody touches week to week. You can see what we offer in our services section.

When it makes sense to hire someone

Doing the whole place yourself takes hours, and moving week already has plenty in it. Hiring a cleaner is worth considering if the place is big, your moving date is tight, or you’d simply rather spend your last days packing. We bring our own supplies and equipment, and you don’t need to be home while we work