Move Out Cleaning in Miami: How to Get Your Security Deposit Back

Here's the thing most renters don't realize until it's too late: landlords aren't checking whether your apartment looks clean. They're checking specific spots that tenants almost always miss. The top of the refrigerator. The inside of cabinet drawers. The exhaust fan in the bathroom. The baseboards behind where your couch used to be.

This guide covers what Miami landlords actually look for, gives you a room-by-room checklist if you're doing it yourself, and helps you figure out whether professional move out cleaning makes sense for your situation.

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Why Move Out Cleaning Is Different From Regular Cleaning

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You might be thinking, "I clean my apartment all the time. How hard can this be?" Harder than you'd expect. Regular cleaning maintains a livable space. Move out cleaning returns a property to the condition it was in when you moved in, minus normal wear and tear. Those are very different standards.

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When you live somewhere, you don't notice the slow buildup. The slight discoloration on the wall behind the trash can. The film on the inside of the dishwasher. The dust that's accumulated on top of your kitchen cabinets for three years. You've stopped seeing it because you see it every day.

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Your landlord hasn't stopped seeing it. Neither has the property manager doing the walkthrough with a checklist and a camera.

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Move out cleaning addresses everything, including the stuff you've been walking past for your entire lease.

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What Miami Landlords Actually Check

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Let's get specific. Based on standard property management inspection criteria, here's what's getting scrutinized:

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Kitchen

The kitchen gets the most attention because it's where the worst buildup happens. Landlords check inside the oven (not just whether it looks clean from the outside, but actually inside where grease splatters). They check behind and under the stove, which you probably haven't pulled out in months or years. They open the refrigerator and look at shelves, drawers, and the area underneath where spills migrate. They check inside the dishwasher, the microwave, and the range hood filter.

Cabinet interiors get opened. Drawer tracks get inspected. The area under the sink, where cleaning supplies have been dripping for years, gets examined.

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Bathrooms

Bathrooms are about grime and mildew. Landlords check grout lines in the shower, the area around the base of the toilet, the exhaust fan cover, and inside the medicine cabinet. They look at caulking around the tub and sink. They check the toilet tank (yes, inside it) and the area behind the toilet that's awkward to reach.

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Throughout the Property

Baseboards throughout the entire unit. Light switch plates and door handles. The top edge of doors and door frames. Interior window sills and tracks. Closet shelves and floors. Light fixtures and ceiling fan blades.

If there's a balcony, they're checking the sliding door track, which is probably caked with dirt you've never thought about.

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Floors

Hard floors need to be mopped, not just swept. Carpet needs to be vacuumed thoroughly, and depending on your lease, may need professional cleaning. Check your lease agreement because some landlords require proof of professional carpet cleaning regardless of the carpet's condition.

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The Room-by-Room Move Out Cleaning Checklist

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If you're doing this yourself, work systematically. Start at the top of each room and work down. Do one room completely before moving to the next.

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Kitchen Checklist

Clean inside all cabinets and drawers. Wipe cabinet faces and handles. Clean inside the oven, including racks. Clean inside the refrigerator, including drawers, shelves, and the drip pan underneath. Pull out the stove and refrigerator to clean behind and under them. Clean the range hood and filter. Clean inside the microwave. Run the dishwasher empty with a cleaning agent, then wipe inside. Clean the sink and faucet, including the base where gunk collects. Wipe down all countertops and backsplash. Clean light fixtures. Clean baseboards. Sweep and mop floor, including corners and under the edge of cabinets.

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Bathroom Checklist

Scrub the shower and tub, including grout lines. Clean the toilet inside, outside, behind, and around the base. Clean the sink and faucet thoroughly. Wipe down the vanity and any cabinets. Clean the mirror. Clean the exhaust fan cover (remove it and wash it). Wipe light fixtures. Clean inside any cabinets or medicine cabinet. Wash baseboards. Mop the floor, including behind the toilet.

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Bedroom Checklist

Dust all surfaces including window sills. Clean closet shelves and floor. Clean inside any built-in drawers. Wipe baseboards. Clean light fixtures and ceiling fan if present. Clean windows interior. Vacuum carpet or mop hard floors thoroughly.

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Living Areas Checklist

Dust all surfaces. Clean windows interior and sills. Wipe baseboards throughout. Clean light fixtures and fans. Clean sliding door tracks if applicable. Clean balcony floor and railing if applicable. Vacuum or mop all floors.

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Don't Forget

Interior doors, including the top edge. Light switch plates and outlet covers. Door handles throughout. HVAC vents and returns. Inside the washer and dryer if in-unit. The front door, inside and out.

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How Long Does Move Out Cleaning Take?

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If you're being thorough enough to actually pass inspection, plan for longer than you think.

A one bedroom apartment takes most people 4 to 6 hours doing it themselves, assuming the place is in reasonable condition. A two bedroom takes 6 to 8 hours. A three bedroom house can easily be a full day project or more.

These estimates assume you're working steadily and have all your supplies ready. Add time if you're also packing, doing laundry, or getting distracted by the general chaos of moving.

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Professional cleaning teams work faster because they do this constantly and usually come with two or more people. What takes you all day might take them 2 to 3 hours.

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Professional Move Out Cleaning: What It Costs in Miami

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Professional move out cleaning in Miami typically runs $200 to $400 for an apartment, $300 to $500 for a larger home. The exact price depends on size, condition, and what's included.

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That might sound like a lot until you do the math on your security deposit. If you're renting a $2,500/month apartment in Brickell with a one-month deposit, you've got $2,500 at stake. Spending $300 on professional cleaning to protect that $2,500 is a 12% insurance policy.

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According to the American Apartment Owners Association, cleaning issues are among the most common reasons landlords withhold security deposits. The other big ones are damage and unpaid rent, but cleaning is the one completely within your control.

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Professional cleaners also know exactly what landlords look for because they do move out cleanings constantly. They're not going to forget the inside of the oven or the top of the kitchen cabinets.

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Should You DIY or Hire a Professional?

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There's no universal right answer here. It depends on your situation.

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DIY makes sense if:

You have plenty of time before your move out date. You're physically able to do intensive cleaning. Your place is already in good shape. You're comfortable with the risk that you might miss something. You genuinely don't mind spending a day scrubbing.

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Professional cleaning makes sense if:

Your security deposit is substantial. You're short on time between moving and your lease end date. You want documentation that professional cleaning was done (most companies provide receipts that you can show your landlord).

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Your place needs more than basic attention. You have better things to do with your last weekend in town.

A lot of people compromise. They do the general cleaning themselves and hire professionals for the kitchen deep clean or carpet cleaning that their lease requires.

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Timing Your Move Out Cleaning

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Here's a mistake people make: they clean too early. If you do a thorough cleaning three days before your final walkthrough but you're still living there for those three days, you're going to have to clean again. Bathroom gets used. Kitchen gets dirty. Dust settles.

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The ideal timing is to clean after everything is out but before your walkthrough or key handoff. If you're hiring professionals, schedule them for the day after your move out, before inspection. This does require coordination. You need to be done moving before the cleaners arrive, and the inspection needs to happen after they finish. Build this into your moving timeline from the start.

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Documenting Everything

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This is crucial and most people skip it. Before you hand over keys, photograph everything. Every room, every surface, inside every cabinet. Take photos of the clean oven, the spotless bathroom, the empty closets.

Email these photos to your landlord or property manager before the walkthrough. This creates a timestamp and a record. If there's ever a dispute about the apartment's condition, you have documentation.

If you hired professional cleaners, keep the receipt. Some landlords accept a professional cleaning receipt as evidence that cleaning was done to standard.

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Getting Your Deposit Back

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Once you've cleaned and documented, the rest is up to your landlord. In Florida, landlords have 15 to 60 days to return your deposit depending on whether they're making any claims against it. If they're withholding money for cleaning and you believe the apartment was left clean, you have the right to dispute it. Your photos and any professional cleaning receipts become your evidence.

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Most landlords are reasonable. If the place is genuinely clean, you'll get your money back. The landlords who look for reasons to keep deposits tend to be the ones who expected the apartment dirty. Surprising them with a spotless unit usually works in your favor.

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Ready to Schedule Your Move Out Cleaning?

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If you're moving out of an apartment or house in Miami, professional move out cleaning can save you time, stress, and potentially thousands in deposit deductions. Get a quote early in your moving process so you can schedule the cleaning at the right time and have one less thing to worry about during an already hectic transition.

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Your security deposit is your money. Don't hand it over because you forgot to clean the range hood filter.

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