Security Deposit Cleaning Checklist: How to Get Your Deposit Back in Virginia Beach

Moving out is stressful enough without wondering how much of your deposit you'll see again. Most of what a landlord or property manager checks at the final walk-through is simple: does the place look and smell like it did when you moved in? The trouble is that the spots they look at are the ones you stopped seeing years ago, like the inside of the oven, the top of the fridge and the tracks of the sliding door.

Hampton Roads has a lot of renters, and with so many military families on PCS orders, plenty of people here move every few years. Here are the five questions that matter most when you're cleaning a rental in Virginia Beach, Norfolk or Chesapeake to get your deposit back.

1. What do I actually need to clean to get my security deposit back?

Start with your lease. Many leases say the home has to be returned "clean" or in the same condition as move-in, apart from normal wear. Some list specific items, like carpets or the oven. If you kept your move-in checklist or photos, pull them out now. They show you the standard you're being held to.

Then separate dirt from damage. Cleaning fixes grease, dust, soap scum, scuffs and smells. It doesn't fix a hole in the drywall, a burn in the counter or a carpet stain that's set in. Spend your cleaning time on the things cleaning can change, and talk to your landlord about anything that needs a repair.

2. Which spots do renters most often forget when they clean to move out?

The ones you can't see from the middle of the room. These are the places we'd check twice:

• Behind and under the fridge and stove. Once those are pulled away from the wall, a landlord sees years of crumbs and dust at a glance. Only move them if you can do it safely without scratching the floor.
• Inside the oven and the drawer under it. Baked-on grease is one of the most common reasons for a cleaning charge.
• Window and sliding door tracks. In a beach town, these fill with sand and grit fast. A vacuum crevice tool and a damp cloth get most of it out.
• Light switches, door frames and handles. Fingerprints build up slowly, so you stop noticing them.
• The tops of things. Door frames, ceiling fan blades, cabinet tops and the top of the fridge all collect a sticky layer of dust.

3. Should I clean before the movers come, or after the place is empty?

After. It's tempting to clean as you pack, but moving day undoes a lot of it. Boxes get dragged across floors, furniture leaves dust outlines, and movers track in whatever the weather brings.

The order that works best is to pack and move everything out, sweep up the worst of the moving mess, and then clean the empty home top to bottom. Empty rooms are faster to clean, and you can finally reach the baseboards and carpet behind the couch. It's also why our Move-In / Move-Out clean is for empty homes only.

If you can, leave a day or two between moving out and handing back the keys. Trying to finish the cleaning the same night the truck leaves is how spots get missed. Keep the water and power on until the cleaning is done, too.

4. How do I get rid of musty smells and mildew before the walk-through?

This one matters more here than in a lot of places. Hampton Roads summers are humid, and a home that's been closed up during a move can start to smell damp within days, especially closets, bathrooms and any room near the water heater.

• Clean the source, not just the air. Scrub grout, shower corners, the caulk line around the tub and the bottom of the shower curtain or door. That's usually where the smell comes from.
• Check closets and under sinks. Look for spots on the walls and the back of the cabinet. Wipe them, then leave the doors open so air can move.
• Run the AC and bathroom fans. Air conditioning pulls moisture out of the air. Don't shut the system off the day you move out if the walk-through is still a few days away.
• Wipe the vent covers. Dusty vents are easy to spot and make a room feel neglected.

Skip heavy air fresheners. A strong scent can make someone wonder what you're covering up.

5. How do I show the landlord the place was clean when I handed back the keys?

Take photos and a short video once the cleaning is finished and before you lock up. Go room by room, the same way the landlord will. Open the oven, the fridge, a few cabinets and the bathroom vanity. Show the floors, the tub and the toilet. Make sure your phone records the date.

If your landlord offers a walk-through with you present, take it. It's much easier to fix a missed spot on the spot than to argue about it weeks later. Save your photos until your deposit is returned and any questions are settled.

A room-by-room move-out cleaning checklist

Book a move-out clean in Hampton Roads

If you'd rather spend your last days packing than scrubbing, our Move-In / Move-Out clean covers everything in our Deep Clean, including baseboards, vents, ceiling fans, blinds and grout, plus inside all cabinets, drawers and the pantry, inside the oven and fridge, inside closets and vanities, interior windows and tracks, and wall scuffs spot-cleaned. The home needs to be empty. For a one-time visit:

• 1–2 bedrooms, 1 bath: $340–$400
• 3 bedrooms, 2 baths: $430–$510
• 4 bedrooms, 2–3 baths: $530–$620
• 5+ bedrooms, 3+ baths: $640–$800+

Need the outside spaces done too? A patio or balcony is a $35 add-on, and a garage sweep is $50–$75. You'll get a flat price before we start, and we bring all the products and equipment. See all our prices, or our local pages for house cleaners in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Chesapeake. Staying put instead? See the best time to deep clean, or read what to look for in a cleaning service.

Frequently asked questions