Move-out cleaning checklist room by room: everything that needs to be included before handover

A move-out cleaning should leave the home completely clean and empty, so that the next owner has nothing to complain about upon handover. In practice, this means that every surface is cleaned inside and out: cupboards and drawers emptied and washed, oven and hob grease-free, bathroom without limescale, windows without streaks, and skirting boards and frames dust-free. If you order professional help, the price depends on the size and standard, and the binding price will be in the quote you receive – published figures are only indicative. If you clean yourself, set aside a full workday or two.

Below you will find a room-by-room checklist. Go through it room by room, tick off as you go, and start with what takes the longest – the oven and bathroom.

Why is move-out cleaning so important for handover?

When selling a home, the seller must deliver the property "tidied and cleaned". If it is not, the buyer can withhold money, demand a re-clean, or deduct from the settlement. Most disputes are about the same things: an oven with burnt-in grease, limescale on the shower wall, or dust on top of door frames. If you take care of these details, you will avoid most complaints.

Remember that the home should be cleaned when it is empty. Clean with the furniture inside, and you will have to do half of it again.

Kitchen: start here, it takes the longest

The kitchen is the room buyers check most thoroughly, and the oven is the first place people look.

What is actually included depends on the service you order. This list is a typical starting point, not a definitive guide. Certain tasks – such as cleaning the oven, windows, balcony, or white goods – may be extras you need to order separately and are not automatically included in all assignments. What applies to your assignment will be stated in the quote and order confirmation. If you are in doubt about anything being included, ask us before the cleaning day.

1. Empty all cupboards and drawers, wash inside and out, including handles and the top of upper cabinets.
2. Clean the oven interior – racks, trays, and glass. Use oven cleaner on burnt-in grease and let it work for 20-30 minutes.
3. Clean the hob, and lift off the plates/grates if you have gas or induction with loose parts.
4. Clean the extractor fan exterior and replace or wash the grease filter. A greasy filter is a classic reason for complaint.
5. Pull out the refrigerator and freezer, defrost, wash inside, and clean the back and the floor underneath.
6. Wash the countertop, tiles above the counter and the grout, and the drain in the sink.
7. Clean the dishwasher: filter, rubber seal, and door edge.
8. Wipe skirting boards, sockets, switches, and finally the floor.

Bathroom: limescale, grout, and drains are key

The bathroom is the second most time-consuming room. Here are two things most people forget: limescale on glass and tiles, and hair in the drain.

1. Remove limescale from the shower wall, mixer tap, and tiles with an acidic limescale remover (vinegar works on light limescale). But never use vinegar or acidic limescale remover on natural stone such as marble, granite, slate, or terrazzo – the acid permanently etches the stone. Use a pH-neutral, stone-appropriate product there.
2. Scrub the grout around the shower and bathtub – use a toothbrush and a little chlorine-based product on discolored silicone. Never use chlorine-based product and vinegar/acidic limescale remover simultaneously or immediately after each other on the same surface – the mixture forms toxic chlorine gas. Rinse the surface thoroughly with water and let it dry before changing products.
3. Clean the drain and plughole: remove hair and sludge, both in the shower and under the sink.
4. Clean the toilet inside and out, including behind the bowl and the fixings to the floor.
5. Polish mirrors, glass shelves, and shower doors until they are streak-free.
6. Empty and wash bathroom cabinets and medicine cabinets inside.
7. Clean the washing machine's drawer, rubber seal, and filter if the machine is included.
8. Wipe skirting boards, door frame, and vent, and wash the floor last.

Bedroom: simple, but don't skip the details

1. Dust window sills, curtain rods, and on top of wardrobes.
2. Empty and wash the wardrobe inside, including shelves and hooks.
3. Clean windows inside (and outside where accessible).
4. Clean skirting boards, sockets, switches, and light fittings.
5. Vacuum and wash the floor, including into corners and under where the bed stood.

Living room: surfaces, corners, and what you don't see daily

1. Dust everywhere, including on top of door frames, skirting boards, and heaters.
2. Clean windows inside and out, and polish window sills.
3. Clean radiators and panel heaters – dust collects between the fins.
4. Wipe switches, sockets, and any recessed spotlights.
5. Wash the floor thoroughly, including under where the sofa and bookshelf stood.

Windows: how to avoid streaks

Dirty or streaky windows ruin an otherwise good impression. Clean on an overcast day – sun dries the water too quickly and creates streaks. Use a squeegee and wipe with a clean microfiber cloth at the end. Remember the inside of the frame and the track where the window closes, where soil and dead insects collect. For a thorough method, see vinduer-uten-striper.

Skirting boards, door frames, and what people forget

These are the details that determine whether the cleaning looks "professional".

1. Wipe all skirting boards and cornices with a damp cloth.
2. Wash doors on both sides, and especially the top edge of the door leaf.
3. Clean door frames and door handles – handles quickly become sticky.
4. Wipe light switches and sockets with a well-wrung cloth (not wet).
5. Brush or wipe dust from vents and extractor grilles.

Storage room, garage, and common areas

1. Empty the storage room completely, sweep and wash the floor.
2. Wipe shelves and walls where there is dust or cobwebs.
3. Sweep the garage floor and remove oil stains with degreaser.
4. Remember common areas you use, such as a basement storage unit or attic storage unit.
5. Empty the mailbox and remove old name labels.

How long does a move-out cleaning take?

The time taken depends on the size and how dirty the home is. The table below is a rough estimate for one adult cleaning thoroughly:

Oven, bathroom, and windows typically take half the time. If there are two of you, you can almost halve the clock time if you divide the rooms between you.

When should you hire a professional?

If you clean yourself, you save NOK 4,000-6,000, but you spend a full day or two – often in the middle of a stressful move. Hire a professional if you are short on time, the home is large or very dirty, or you want a guarantee that the handover will go smoothly. Many agencies offer a free re-clean if the buyer complains within an agreed deadline.

If you order, check that the company is registered in Renholdsregisteret (the Cleaning Register) with the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority. It is illegal to purchase cleaning services from an unregistered business – read more in lovlig-vaskehjelp-renholdsregisteret. If you want to know what a move-out cleaning actually costs, take a look at flyttevask-pris.

We at Vaskeladden offer move-out cleaning in several Norwegian cities, and use a thorough checklist for each assignment so that your home passes the handover.