Most deposit deductions come from the same short list: a greasy oven, a dirty refrigerator, grime in the bathroom, and floors that weren't cleaned after the furniture came out. Clean those four areas thoroughly and you've covered most of what a move-out inspection looks at.
Start in the kitchen. Pull the refrigerator out if you can and clean the floor behind it, then clean inside the fridge, freezer, and oven. Wipe cabinet interiors and drawers, and don't forget the range hood filter, which collects grease for years.
In bathrooms, focus on build-up: soap scum on the shower walls, hard-water spots on fixtures, and the base of the toilet. Mirrors and cabinet interiors are quick wins that make the whole room look finished.
Finish with the details an empty room makes obvious: baseboards, light switches, door frames, window sills, and the marks on walls where furniture sat. Vacuum and mop last, working from the back of the house toward the front door.
If your lease ends on a weekend, or you'd rather spend moving day moving, we clean empty homes six days a week across Elizabeth City, the Outer Banks, and Hampton Roads.