Move-Out Cleaning Checklist: How to Get Your Deposit Back in Texas

Moving out of a rental in Dallas–Fort Worth? A careful move-out clean is one of the best ways to protect your security deposit. Here's what to clean, what landlords look at, and a few Texas basics worth knowing.

What Texas law says about deposits (the basics)

Under the Texas Property Code, a landlord generally has 30 days after you move out to return your deposit or send an itemized list of deductions, and you should give the landlord your forwarding address in writing. Landlords may not deduct for normal wear and tear, but they can charge for damage and for cleaning beyond normal use. Check your lease for specific move-out cleaning requirements; this is general information, not legal advice.

Room-by-room move-out checklist

Kitchen

• Inside and outside of cabinets and drawers: empty, wipe and dry.
• Refrigerator: remove everything, clean shelves and drawers, wipe the gasket; leave the door slightly open if it's turned off.
• Oven and stovetop: remove baked-on grease, clean burner pans and the range hood filter.
• Sink, faucet, backsplash and countertops; run and wipe the dishwasher.

Bathrooms

• Toilet inside and out, including the base and behind it.
• Shower, tub and glass: remove soap scum and hard-water spots.
• Inside vanities and medicine cabinets, mirrors and fixtures.

Bedrooms and closets

• Closet shelves, rods and floors.
• Wipe doors, door frames and baseboards.
• Fill small nail holes only if your lease allows it.

Throughout the home

• Light switches, outlet covers, vents and ceiling fans.
• Window sills and tracks; blinds dusted.
• Floors vacuumed and mopped; carpets vacuumed edge to edge. If carpets need more, a carpet cleaning with stain treatment helps.

What landlords check first

In our experience, landlords and property managers look hardest at the oven, refrigerator, bathrooms, inside cabinets and floors. Those are also the jobs that take the longest when you're exhausted from packing.

Tips for an easy move-out

1. Clean after the furniture is out, with water and electricity still on.
2. Photograph every room when you finish, with timestamps.
3. Do a walk-through with the landlord if possible.
4. Leave keys, garage remotes and your forwarding address as the lease requires.

Let a professional team handle it

X-Act Care's move-in / move-out cleaning covers inside cabinets and drawers, closets, bathrooms, baseboards, light switches, vents and floors, and you can add inside the oven and inside the fridge. For a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment of 1,000–1,399 sq ft, a one-time move-out cleaning is $244.00; you see your exact price before you book online.

Wondering about cost first? Read how much a move-out cleaning costs and our move-out cleaning guide for Dallas.