Sparklean cleaning notes
Moving Out? What to Clean Before You Hand Over the Keys
November 10, 2026
Clean the empty home room by room, starting with the kitchen and bathrooms. Those are the rooms landlords and buyers look at first. Clean after the movers leave, so you can reach every shelf, corner and floor.
Kitchen
- Inside the oven and the stovetop
- Inside the fridge and freezer, after it is completely empty
- Inside and outside of every cabinet and drawer
- Counters, backsplash and the sink
- Inside the microwave and the outside of appliances
Bathrooms
- Toilet, including the base and behind it
- Tub, shower, glass doors and grout
- Sink, faucet, mirror and counter
- Inside the vanity and medicine cabinet
Bedrooms and living areas
- Closet shelves and floors
- Baseboards, door frames and light switches
- Window sills and reachable inside windows
- Ceiling fans and light fixtures
Floors
Vacuum every carpet, including closets and corners. Then mop hard floors last, working toward the front door.
Tips to protect your deposit
- Read the cleaning section of your lease. Some leases spell out exactly what they expect.
- Take dated photos of every room when you finish.
- Leave time. Cleaning an empty home takes longer than most people expect.
- Book your cleaning for after the movers, not before.
Hiring a move-out cleaning
Sparklean's move-out cleaning covers the inside of the oven, the inside of the fridge (it must be empty), cabinets and drawers inside and out, bathrooms and floors. Reachable interior windows can be added. We do not clean outside windows.
Move-out cleaning starts at $250 to $300 for 500 to 800 square feet. The final price depends on the size, the condition and any extras. Our own background-checked employees do the work, and we bring all the supplies. If we miss anything, we come back and re-clean it.
Read more in how much move-out cleaning costs in Colorado Springs.
Questions
Should I clean before or after the movers?
After. You can't clean inside empty cabinets or under furniture until everything is out.
Do I need to clean the inside of the fridge?
Yes. Most landlords check it. Empty it first, and leave the door open to air out.
How long does a move-out cleaning take?
It depends on the size and condition of the home. A larger home or heavy buildup takes longer.
Do you also clean the new place?
Yes. We do move-in cleaning too, so the new home is clean before your boxes arrive.
Moving soon? Request a free estimate or call or text 719-487-9570.