Move-Out Cleaning Checklist for Connecticut Renters and Landlords (Manchester & Greater Hartford)
Marcos Ortiz
Cleaning Expert
Quick answer
A move-out clean in Connecticut should leave the kitchen, bathrooms, floors, baseboards, cabinets and appliances clean inside and out, with the home empty. Your landlord has 21 days after the tenancy ends, or 15 days after getting your forwarding address in writing if that is later, to return your deposit with interest or send an itemized list of damages.
Move-out cleaning checklist, room by room
This table is what we clean on a move-out cleaning in Manchester, CT job. The Tenant column is what to do before we arrive. The Landlord column is what to look at during the walkthrough.
| Area | What we clean | Tenant | Landlord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Counters, sink and appliance exteriors. Inside the fridge, oven and cabinets are add-ons | Empty the fridge, freezer and every cabinet | Open the oven, the fridge and a few drawers |
| Bathrooms | Full bathroom sanitization | Clear out the medicine cabinet and under the sink | Check the tub or shower, the toilet and the vanity |
| Every room | Baseboards, trim, doors and fixtures | Take down hooks and anything taped to walls or doors | Look along the baseboards and door edges |
| Walls | Walls | Ask your landlord before you patch nail holes | Tell dirt apart from damage |
| Floors | Carpet and floors | Take out rugs and anything left on the floor | Check carpet in the corners and closets |
| Final check | A walkthrough with you when we finish | Be there, or be reachable by phone | Do your own inspection after we leave |
Book the clean for after the movers have taken everything out. We can't clean under a couch that is still there, and boxes left in a closet hide the floor your landlord will look at.
What landlords usually inspect
Most landlords walk the unit and compare it to how it looked when you moved in. The kitchen and bathrooms get the closest look. Expect them to open the oven and the fridge, pull out a drawer or two, and check the tub, the toilet and the floor around it.
After that they look at floors, walls and baseboards, and at anything you left behind. A bag of trash in the garage or a shelf of old paint cans can end up on the list of charges.
Cleaning can't fix damage. A burn in the counter or a broken blind is a repair, and no amount of scrubbing changes that. What a good clean does is take dirt and grime off the list, so the walkthrough is about the condition of the home and not the state of the oven.
If you own or manage rentals, our turnover cleaning service is the same kind of clean between tenants. We coordinate with your maintenance team and provide photos of the completed work for your records.
What Connecticut law says
Connecticut's rules on security deposits are in section 47a-21 of the General Statutes, and the Department of Banking publishes a plain-language guide to them. Here is what matters when you move out.
- The deadline: your landlord must return the deposit with interest, or the balance plus a written statement itemizing the damages, within 21 days after the tenancy ends or 15 days after receiving your forwarding address in writing, whichever is later.
- The penalty: a landlord who misses that deadline can be liable for twice the amount of the deposit. If the only thing missing is the interest, the penalty is $10 or twice the interest, whichever is greater.
- The cap: a landlord can't ask for more than two months' rent as a deposit. For a tenant 62 or older the limit is one month's rent. A tenant who turns 62 after paying a bigger deposit can ask for the amount above one month back.
- The interest: landlords must pay interest on deposits. The rate for 2026 is 0.49%. It is paid each year on the anniversary of the tenancy, either to you or as a credit on the next month's rent. You lose the interest for any month you were more than 10 days late on rent, unless your landlord charged a late fee.
The Department of Banking also suggests a few steps that make the deposit easier to get back. Write down the condition of the place when you move in and confirm it with your landlord in writing. Give your forwarding address in writing, and it recommends certified mail with a return receipt. Walk the unit with your landlord before you leave if you can, and return the keys the day the tenancy ends.
Sources: Connecticut Department of Banking, Rental Security Deposits and Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-21.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Move-in cleaning
A home is easiest to clean when it is empty. With no furniture, rugs or boxes in the way, we can reach every corner, baseboard and closet shelf. That is why a move-in clean is worth doing before your things arrive.
"Broom clean" from the last tenant or owner usually means the floors were swept. Dust settles in empty rooms, and kitchens and bathrooms hold on to grease and grime. You don't want to stack clean dishes on a dusty shelf.
On a move-in clean we:
- Sanitize high-touch surfaces: handles, switches, counters and the other things you touch every day.
- Remove the last occupant's dust: and builder dust, if the home is new construction.
- Prep the kitchen and bathrooms: a detailed clean, appliance exteriors included.
- Wipe down closets and shelving: so your clothes and dishes go onto clean surfaces.
Book it for a day or two before the moving truck comes. The house is empty, we can get into every room, and you walk into a clean home on moving day.
What a move-out clean costs
Our move-in/move-out clean costs $240 to $460 before tax, depending on bedrooms and bathrooms. These are the move-in/move-out prices in our quote tool as of September 2026. A move-in clean costs the same as a move-out clean.
| Bedrooms | 1 bath | 2 baths | 3 baths | 4 baths | 5+ baths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | $240 | $280 | $280 | $280 | $280 |
| 2 bed | $280 | $300 | $320 | $320 | $320 |
| 3 bed | $340 | $360 | $380 | $400 | $400 |
| 4 bed | $340 | $340 | $380 | $400 | $420 |
| 5 bed | $380 | $380 | $400 | $420 | $440 |
| 6+ bed | $420 | $420 | $420 | $440 | $460 |
For example, a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home is $360. Connecticut's 6.35% sales tax adds $22.86, so the total is $382.86.
All prices are before the 6.35% sales tax. "6+ bed" covers six or more bedrooms. Add-ons are extra: inside the fridge, oven or cabinets is $35 each, a finished basement is $45, and interior windows are $10 each. For our other services and add-ons, see our house cleaning cost guide for Manchester.
Prices are current as of September 2026 and may change without prior notice. Our instant quote always shows the current price for your home.
The price depends on home size, not the town. We do move-out cleans across Greater Hartford, including East Hartford, Vernon, New Britain and Hartford.
Book early if you move at the end of the month
The Department of Banking notes that normal rental periods start on the first day of a month and end on the last day, so a lot of moves land in the same few days. If your lease ends on the 31st, plan the clean for after the movers leave and before you hand in the keys. Leave yourself a buffer in case the truck runs late.
We offer same-week and next-day appointments when we can, but don't count on that at the end of the month. Book as soon as you know your move date.
Frequently asked questions
What does a move-out cleaning include?
Our move-out clean covers appliance exteriors, full bathroom sanitization, baseboards, trim and doors, walls, and carpet and floors. We finish with a walkthrough with you to confirm everything is done. Inside the fridge, oven and cabinets are add-ons at $35 each.
How much does move-out cleaning cost in Manchester, CT?
A move-out clean costs $240 to $460 before tax, depending on bedrooms and bathrooms. A 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home is $360, or $382.86 with Connecticut's 6.35% sales tax. A move-in clean is the same price.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Connecticut?
21 days after the tenancy ends, or 15 days after the landlord receives your forwarding address in writing, whichever is later. By then the landlord must return the deposit with interest, or send the balance with a written, itemized list of damages.
What happens if my landlord doesn't return my deposit on time?
Under Connecticut law, a landlord who misses the deadline can be liable for twice the amount of the deposit. The Department of Banking notes that tenants can pursue this in court. Keep your lease, rent receipts and a copy of the forwarding address you sent.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Connecticut?
No more than two months' rent. For tenants 62 or older, the limit is one month's rent.
Should I clean before or after the movers leave?
After. A move-out clean works best in an empty home, so book it for once the last box is out. For a move-in clean, book it before your furniture arrives.
Price your move-out clean
Pick your bedrooms and bathrooms and you'll see your price before tax. Then choose a date that works for your move.
