What Does a Move-Out Cleaning Include and Should You Hire a Professional?
You feel paralyzed as you stand in the hallway, catching glimpses of all the cleaning that needs doing before moving out.
No one enjoys move-outs because everyone understands the level of mess and chaos surrounding it.
But moving doesn't have to be a pressing task if you decide to hire someone.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about move-out cleaning, and if you should hire a professional for your next move.
Table of Contents
What Are Moving-Out Cleaning Services?
Move-out cleaning services ensure your home is cleaned after selling your home or as required by your landlord after you finish moving.
While this type of service can be done by ...
A family member
A friend; or
Yourself
... it's recommended you hire a professional to ensure the cleaning is done properly and to avoid any damage.
What Is the Difference Between a Standard Clean and a Move-Out Clean?
Standard cleaning is usually done on a weekly basis by a cleaning service to make sure the home stays clean.
Move-out cleaning goes beyond the standard cleaning to make your home ready for whoever will move in after you leave. It’s a more expensive service than standard cleaning.
What Is Included in a Move-Out Cleaning?
A move-out cleaning includes all items necessary to make your old home feel like new, which may include:
Dusting
Vacuuming
Sanitizing surfaces
Mopping floors; and
Wiping down cabinets
Keep reading to understand the specifics Tidy Up Portland! offers in our home or apartment move-out cleaning packages.
Kitchen
When you move out of a rental, your landlord may only require you to clean the kitchen, which includes cleaning:
The oven
The floors
Countertops
Inside the dishwasher; and
Inside drawers and cabinets
Tidy Up Portland! will clean under large appliances — such as under the oven, dishwasher, and fridge — if you have already moved the items.
Tidy Up Portland! will not move large appliances.
What's not included in a basic kitchen move-out clean?
Cleaning inside refrigerators is an extra service and cost.
Blinds and walls may be an extra service cost if there is an extensive build-up of grease and dirt.
Bathrooms
A professional cleaning service can take care of everything in the bathroom — from move-out deep cleaning to disinfecting and sanitizing.
Tidy Up Portland! will clean the following in all bathrooms:
The floors
Tubs and shower grout (no walls or floors)
Countertops; and
Inside drawers and cabinets
If there is a lot of soap scum and other build-up on blinds and walls in the bathroom, you may have an extra service cost.
Living Area
A move-out cleaning typically includes cleaning all surfaces in the living areas, including the floors and ceiling fans in:
Bedrooms
Dining room
Living room;
And other common areas
Tidy Up Portland! helps to ensure the residence is free of any harmful bacteria or dust mites and is ready for the next tenant.
Windows
A move-out cleaning includes general cleaning of all glass windows in the home.
Unless it’s requested, Tidy Up Portland! won’t open windows and clean out the tracks in a standard move-out clean.
Blinds
Window blinds can be a pain to clean, having to go behind them and clean the strings, then the fabric.
Blinds will usually just need dusting, but sometimes a wet clean is necessary.
Wet clean services aren't included in the basic move-out cleaning, so there would be an additional cost.
Walls
Tidy Up Portland! will spot clean two or three major scuff marks on walls for move-out cleans.
An extra charge per wall may be added for a full cleaning of walls.
Reasons to Hire a Professional Move-Out Cleaning Service
The last thing anyone wants to do after packing, organizing, and transitioning to a new residence is to do a move-out clean themselves.
The good news is you don't have to.
Here are four reasons you should hire a professional move-out cleaning service.
Reason #1: Getting the Job Done Right
A professional cleaning company will take care to clean every nook and cranny, leaving your home looking spick and span.
Reason #2: Saving Time and Effort
A professional move-out cleaning service can clean your home more quickly and efficiently than you could on your own, saving you time and energy.
Reason #3: Avoiding Damage
A messy move out can lead to damage to your home, so hiring a professional is the best way to avoid any problems.
Reason #4: Making the Move Stress-Free
With a professional move-out cleaning service, like Tidy Up Portland!, you won't have to worry about a thing — we will take care of the work for you.
How Much Does a Move-Out Clean Typically Cost?
Estimates for a move-out cleaning can range from $100-$400, depending on the size and complexity of the job.
If you have cleaned the residence within one to two years, you will most likely get a standard move-out cleaning rate.
How Do You Calculate Move-Out Cleaning?
Calculating how much cleaning is required can be tricky, and can depend on:
The size of the residence
If there were any pets
What condition the residence is in; and
How often the place had been cleaned thoroughly
Standard Move-Out Cleaning Costs
The cost of professional move-out cleaning will vary depending on the size and complexity of the home.
At Tidy Up Portland!, our move-out cleaning costs vary depending on the size of the space and your needs. Most move out cleans range between $350-700.
Additional Move-Out Cleaning Costs
There are a few things you may need to pay extra for when booking a move-out cleaning.
Costs can vary depending on the size of your move and what type of cleaning service you require.
Some common expenses include:
Walls
Windows
Inside the refrigerator; and
Wet-cleaning blinds (to remove grease or soap residue if near a bathroom or kitchen)
Note there are two types of move-out cleanings, and they vary in price:
Empty move-outs for leased homes or apartments
Furnished move-outs for staging homes and Airbnbs
Need Move-In & Move-Out Cleaning? Contact Tidy Up Portland! for Professional Residential Cleaning Services
When you are moving out of a residence, it is important to make sure the property is clean and ready to be re-occupied.
Emotions are usually running wild when getting ready to move out as you spend time organizing and packing.
In the middle of the move-out process, the last thing you want to do is clean.
Consider booking your move-out clean with Tidy Up Portland!.
We will take care of all your move-out (and move-in) cleaning needs.
At Tidy Up Portland!, our professionals are committed to providing the absolute best quality of residential cleaning services to our customers so they can enjoy a stress-free move-in or move-out.
Contact Tidy Up Portland! for professional residential cleaning services today.
