Short answer: Before you hand back the keys in Ontario, clean the empty unit top to bottom: inside every cabinet and drawer, the oven and fridge, bathrooms, baseboards, wall marks, windowsills and floors. Plan four to eight hours for a two-bedroom. A professional move-out clean in Ottawa costs about $179–$590; at BlueGuard it is the standard price plus $179.
Moving is stressful enough without arguing with a landlord about a greasy oven. This checklist walks through every room the way an inspector or property manager looks at it, so you can leave the unit in the condition your lease expects — and move on.
What Ontario landlords can expect
Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act makes tenants responsible for the ordinary cleanliness of their unit. That does not mean "better than when you moved in," and normal wear and tear is not your responsibility. It does mean leaving the unit reasonably clean: no food in the fridge, no grease build-up in the oven, no mould in the shower, no garbage left behind.
Two Ontario-specific points worth knowing:
- Landlords in Ontario generally cannot collect a damage deposit. They can hold a last-month's-rent deposit and a refundable key deposit. A clean unit simply keeps the relationship smooth and protects your reference for the next rental.
- Take dated photos of every room once you are done. If there is ever a dispute, photos are your best evidence.
If you are moving in Québec (Gatineau, Montréal, Laval or Longueuil), the same checklist applies — and with so many leases ending on July 1, book your cleaning early.
Before you start
- Book the cleaning for after the movers leave — you cannot clean inside cabinets that are still full.
- Keep a small kit back from the moving truck: vacuum, microfibre cloths, all-purpose cleaner, degreaser, glass cleaner, toilet brush, garbage bags and a step stool.
- Defrost the fridge the night before, with towels underneath.
- Patch small nail holes only if your lease asks for it.
The room-by-room move-out checklist
Kitchen
- Empty, wipe and dry the inside of every cabinet and drawer
- Clean the inside of the fridge and freezer, shelves and drawers; leave the door ajar if it is unplugged
- Degrease the inside of the oven, racks and broiler drawer
- Clean the stovetop, burners, drip pans and knobs
- Wipe the range hood and its filter
- Clean the microwave inside and out
- Wash the backsplash and countertops
- Scrub and shine the sink and faucet
- Wipe the dishwasher door, edges and filter
- Pull out the fridge and stove (if safe) and clean behind and under them
Bathrooms
- Scrub the tub, shower walls and doors; remove soap scum and hard-water spots
- Clean grout lines and caulking; treat any mildew
- Clean and disinfect the toilet, including the base and behind it
- Clean the sink, vanity top and inside the vanity drawers and cabinet
- Polish the mirror and medicine cabinet, inside and out
- Wipe the exhaust fan cover
- Wash the floor, including corners and behind the door
Bedrooms and living areas
- Wipe closet shelves, rods and doors
- Dust ceiling corners and light fixtures
- Spot-clean wall marks and scuffs
- Wipe baseboards, door frames, doors and light switches
- Clean windowsills and window tracks
- Vacuum carpets thoroughly; wash hard floors
Throughout the unit
- Dust and wipe vent covers and return grilles
- Clean interior windows and patio-door glass
- Wipe blinds
- Clean the entry: closet, door, mat area
- Remove all garbage and recycling according to your building's rules
- Balcony: sweep and remove planters and debris
Don't forget
- Laundry machines: wipe the drum, the detergent drawer and the lint trap
- Storage locker or garage spot
- Keys, fobs, garage remotes and mailbox keys returned
- Forwarding address given to the landlord
How long does a move-out clean take?
For a careful DIY job in an empty unit:
- Studio or 1 bedroom: 4–6 hours
- 2 bedrooms: 6–8 hours
- 3+ bedroom house: a full day or more
A two-person professional crew is much faster because they bring the right products and split the rooms.
What a professional move-out clean costs
Across Ottawa, published move-out cleaning prices range from about $179 to $590, depending on size and what is included.
BlueGuard prices a move-in or move-out clean as the standard price plus $179. That covers everything in a deep clean, plus inside all cabinets and drawers, closets and shelves, the oven and fridge, vent covers and wall spot-cleaning. Examples before tax:
| Unit | Move-out clean |
|---|---|
| 1 bed, 1 bath, under 1,000 sq ft | $353 |
| 2 bed, 1 bath, under 1,000 sq ft | $378 |
| 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,200 sq ft | $423 |
| 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,500 sq ft | $468 |
Useful add-ons for move-outs: interior windows and tracks (from $39), blinds ($8 per blind, $40 minimum) and wall washing ($59 per room). If the carpets are stained, carpet steam cleaning is $45 per room ($149 minimum). Ontario tax is 13% HST.
See what is included on the move-in and move-out cleaning page.
Tips from our crews
- Start high, finish low. Dust falls — clean ceiling corners and fixtures before floors.
- Let products work. Spray the oven and tub first, then clean other rooms while the product loosens the grime.
- Don't use magic erasers on flat paint. They can leave shiny patches that look worse than the mark.
- Check the lighting. Inspect rooms with the lights on and the blinds open; that is how the landlord will see them.
- Leave a clean slate for the next tenant. A spotless unit is the easiest way to get a good landlord reference.
Common move-out cleaning mistakes
- Cleaning before the furniture is out. You will miss the dust and marks under the couch and bed, which are exactly where a landlord looks.
- Forgetting the appliances. The oven, fridge, range hood filter and dishwasher filter are the most common complaints at move-out inspections.
- Using too much water on floors. Soaking laminate or hardwood can cause swelling that looks like damage.
- Leaving cleaning to the last evening. After a full day of moving, nobody does a good job of scrubbing a tub. Book the clean for the day after the move if you can.
- Skipping the photos. Without dated photos, it is your word against theirs.
For landlords and realtors
Turning over a unit between tenants or preparing a listing? The same checklist applies. BlueGuard works with landlords and realtors across Ottawa, Kingston, Durham Region and Montréal. For listings, our pre-sale and staging clean adds photo-ready detail to a deep clean.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to clean the carpets when I move out in Ontario?
Thorough vacuuming is the normal expectation. If there are stains beyond normal wear, a professional carpet clean is the safest way to avoid a dispute. Check your lease.
Can you clean on the same day I move out?
Yes, if there is availability. Same-day or next-day bookings carry a $40 rush fee.
Do I need to be there?
No. You can leave keys in a lockbox or with the concierge. You pay only after the clean is done, by e-Transfer, debit/credit card or cash.
What if the landlord finds something?
Tell us within 24 hours of the clean and we will come back to re-clean the missed items for free.
Book your move-out clean
Get your instant price, choose a time after your movers, and hand back the keys with confidence. Book a move-out clean.