Move Out Cleaning in Orlando: A Checklist for Renters, Realtors and Property Managers
An empty home shows every crumb, water spot and dusty baseboard. Here is what a move out cleaning should cover in Central Florida, room by room, and how to time it so the keys change hands without surprises.
Landlords, buyers and property managers all walk an empty home the same way: they open the oven, look inside the cabinets and check the bathroom grout. A move out cleaning is about passing that walk-through the first time.
We clean empty homes and apartments across Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties, from apartments near downtown Orlando to family homes in Winter Garden, Ocoee and Apopka. Florida humidity adds its own twist: mildew in shower corners, film on sliding glass doors and dust that settles fast once the AC schedule changes during a move.
Use this guide to plan the clean, whether you are handing back a rental, getting a listing ready or turning over a unit between tenants.
1 When to Schedule a Move Out Cleaning
The best time is after the last box and the last piece of furniture leave, and before the final walk-through. An empty home lets our team reach every closet floor, baseboard and corner that furniture was hiding.
If you are moving out of a rental, book the cleaning one or two days before your lease ends so there is time for a touch-up if the landlord points something out. Realtors usually book right before listing photos, and property managers book between move out and move in.
Timing tip for Florida moves
Keep the power and the AC on until the cleaning is done. A hot, humid empty home makes surfaces dry slowly and can bring back the musty smell you just paid to remove. Ask for a quote at least a week before your date, especially at the end of the month, when move outs pile up.
2 The Room by Room Move Out Checklist
This is the list we work from in an empty home. Use it to check our work, or to compare quotes from any cleaning company.
| Area | What gets cleaned | What inspectors check |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Counters, backsplash, sink, cabinet fronts and handles, outside of appliances | Grease on cabinet fronts, inside the oven and fridge |
| Bathrooms | Toilet, tub, shower walls and glass, sink, mirrors, tile buildup | Soap scum, grout lines, hard water spots |
| Bedrooms and closets | Baseboards, doors and frames, light switches, closet floors and shelves | Dust on baseboards and inside closets |
| Living areas | Ceiling fans, light fixtures, window sills, blinds | Dusty fan blades and blinds |
| Floors | Vacuumed and mopped through every room, carpet edges vacuumed | Corners and edges where furniture stood |
Inside the oven and inside the fridge are add-ons, because many homes do not need them. In a move out, they almost always do. See the full list on our Move In/Out Cleaning page.
3 Who Books a Move Out Cleaning
The checklist is the same, but the goal changes depending on who is booking.
Renters
You want the unit inspection-ready so the walk-through goes smoothly. Clean after the movers leave and before you return the keys.
Homeowners selling
A clean, empty home photographs better and feels newer during showings. Book it before the photographer comes.
Realtors
One call before photos and one before closing. We schedule around your listing and closing dates.
Property managers
Turnovers between tenants on a tight calendar. Send the address, size and the date it needs to be ready.
An empty house hides nothing. The places people forget are the ones the next person notices first: inside the oven, the top of the fridge and the floor of every closet.
Total Cleaning Services team
Moving soon? Get your move out cleaning quote.
Tell us the size of the home and your move date. We usually reply the same day with a clear price.
4 How to Get the Most Out of the Cleaning
Empty the home first
Furniture, boxes and trash out. Our team does not move items over 20 lb, so the emptier the home, the more we can reach.
Leave secure access
A lockbox code, garage keypad or hidden key logged with us before cleaning day. Lockouts are charged 50% of the service.
Keep utilities on
Water, power and AC on until the cleaning is finished.
Walk through within 24 hours
If anything was missed, send us photos within 24 hours and we schedule a touch-up within 5 business days.
5 Move Out Cleaning FAQ
How much does a move out cleaning cost in Orlando?
We price per job, based on the size of the home, its condition and the add-ons you choose, like inside the oven or fridge. Send the size and your date and we usually reply the same day with a clear price.
Do I need to be there during the cleaning?
No. Most clients are already at the new place. We only need secure access, like a lockbox code or garage keypad, logged before cleaning day.
Can you clean on the same day the movers leave?
Often, yes, if the home is empty when our team arrives. Book ahead at the end of the month, when demand is highest.
What areas do you cover?
Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties, including Orlando, Apopka, Winter Garden, Ocoee, Windermere, Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary, Oviedo, Sanford and St. Cloud. See all our cleaning FAQs.
Hello, we are Total Cleaning Services.
Mariana Rocha grew up watching her mother clean homes in Brazil and built Total Cleaning Services on the same idea: treat every home like it is your own. Today our trained, background-checked team cleans homes and offices across Central Florida.
Planning a move? We will give you a clear price and a date that fits your timeline.
Serving Orlando, Apopka, Winter Garden, Ocoee, Windermere and all of Central Florida.
