NJ Move-Out Cleaning Checklist (and How to Protect Your Security Deposit)

The checklist, room by room

Do this after the movers leave, when the unit is empty.

Kitchen

• Inside the oven, racks, and broiler drawer
• Stovetop, burners, and drip pans
• Range hood and filter
• Inside the refrigerator and freezer (unplug only if your landlord says so, and leave the door propped open)
• Inside the microwave and dishwasher
• Inside all cabinets, drawers, and pantry shelves
• Countertops, backsplash, sink, and faucet
• Cabinet fronts and handles

Bathrooms

• Tub, shower, tile, and grout (soap scum and hard-water buildup)
• Toilet, including the base and behind it
• Vanity, inside drawers and cabinet
• Mirror, fixtures, and exhaust fan cover

Every room

• Floors vacuumed and mopped, including where furniture stood
• Baseboards, door frames, and doors
• Light switches and outlet plates
• Window sills and tracks
• Inside closets and shelves
• Light fixtures and ceiling fans
• Remove nails or hooks only if your lease asks — patching may be your landlord's job

Don't forget

• Balcony or patio swept
• Washer and dryer wiped, lint trap emptied
• All trash removed
• Keys, fobs, and parking passes returned

Protect yourself with photos

Take dated photos or video of every room, inside every appliance, and any existing damage, after cleaning and before you return the keys. Compare against your move-in photos or inspection checklist if you have them. Keep your forwarding address in writing with your landlord.

NJ security deposit basics

General information, not legal advice:

• New Jersey's Security Deposit Act (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 to 46:8-26) governs deposits for most residential rentals. Some owner-occupied buildings with two or fewer rental units are treated differently.
• Under N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1, a landlord generally must return the deposit plus interest within 30 days after the lease ends, minus any lawful deductions, with an itemized list of those deductions.
• Deductions are for damage beyond ordinary wear and tear and charges owed under the lease — not normal aging of the unit.
• If a court finds a deposit was wrongfully withheld, the law provides for double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus costs, in certain cases.

For details, see the NJ Department of Community Affairs' security deposit guidance, or talk to a lawyer or Legal Services of New Jersey about your situation.

Should you hire it out?

A thorough move-out clean of an apartment often takes four to eight hours — see How long a move-out clean takes. If you're also packing, moving, and working, a professional move-out clean is often worth it. Typical local move-outs start around $300; see Move-Out Cleaning.

Tell our assistant your unit size, move-out date, and walkthrough date, and we'll match you with a local pro. We can't guarantee your deposit — no one honestly can — but a thorough clean and good photos put you in the best position.