By Emeka Ogbonna, Founder of San Antonio Maid Services LLC · Published September 28, 2026

Getting your full security deposit back comes down to one thing: cleaning the spots your landlord actually checks, not just the spots that look dirty to you. Most disputes come from the same short list of overlooked areas, like inside the oven, behind the fridge, baseboards, and window tracks, not the parts of the home you clean every week.

Here is exactly what to clean, room by room, plus what Texas law actually requires from your landlord once you hand back the keys.

A printed move-out cleaning checklist on a clipboard resting on a windowsill in an empty room with labeled moving boxes

Key takeaways

Landlords focus on the spots a normal weekly clean skips: inside the oven, inside the fridge, cabinets, baseboards, and window tracks.
Texas landlords have 30 days after you surrender the unit to refund your deposit or send an itemized deduction list, once they have your forwarding address (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103).
Normal wear and tear cannot be deducted from your deposit; damage from negligence or abuse can (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.001(4)).
A move-out clean and a regular house cleaning are not the same job. See the comparison below.
Our Move-In / Move-Out Cleaning service covers every item on this checklist.

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What should be on a move-out cleaning checklist?

A move-out cleaning checklist should cover every surface a landlord or property manager can open, not just the surfaces you can see. That means inside cabinets and drawers, inside the oven and refrigerator, window tracks and sills, baseboards, light switch plates, and closet shelving. These are the areas a regular weekly clean usually skips because furniture and belongings are still in the way. Once a home is empty, those areas are exposed and are the first thing an inspector looks at.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Texas?

In Texas, a landlord must refund your security deposit, or send a written itemized list of any deductions, within 30 days after you surrender the unit, but that 30 day clock only starts once you have given the landlord a forwarding address in writing (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103). Without a forwarding address on file, the landlord has no legal deadline to act. If your landlord misses the 30 day window after receiving your address, they lose the right to keep any part of the deposit, and if they withheld it in bad faith you may be able to recover 100 dollars, three times the amount wrongfully withheld, and your attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109).

This is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute over your specific deposit, the Texas State Law Library and a local tenant rights organization are better resources than a cleaning company's blog.

What counts as normal wear and tear vs. damage?

Texas law defines normal wear and tear as deterioration from ordinary use, things like minor carpet fading or a worn spot on a doorframe, and it specifically excludes deterioration caused by negligence, carelessness, accidents, or abuse (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.001(4)). A landlord can charge you for a stained carpet or a hole in the wall, but not for the general fading and wear that happens over a normal lease term. Cleanliness is judged separately from wear and tear: a landlord can withhold cleaning costs for a dirty unit even if nothing is technically damaged.

What do San Antonio landlords and property managers actually inspect?

Move out walkthroughs in San Antonio typically follow a short, predictable list: inside the oven and refrigerator, under and behind large appliances, inside every cabinet and drawer, baseboards and door frames, window tracks and blinds, bathroom grout and hard water buildup on fixtures, and the inside of closets. These are the areas most likely to get missed when you are cleaning it yourself under time pressure, packing and coordinating movers at the same time.

Room by room move-out cleaning checklist

Kitchen

Inside the oven, including the racks
Inside the refrigerator and freezer (and unplugged with the door propped open if it's being left empty)
Inside the microwave
Cabinets and drawers, inside and out
Counters, backsplash, and all appliance exteriors
Sink, faucet, and garbage disposal
Floor vacuumed and mopped, including under the toe kick where reachable

Bathrooms

Cabinets and drawers, inside and out
Tub, shower, and glass, with hard water buildup removed
Toilet, base and behind it
Sink, faucet, and mirror
Exhaust fan cover dusted
Floor vacuumed and mopped

Bedrooms and living areas

Closets wiped down, including shelves and the rod
Baseboards and door frames
Window sills and tracks
Light switch plates and outlet covers
Ceiling fans and light fixtures, dusted within reach
Floors vacuumed and mopped throughout

Whole home

Cobwebs removed from corners and ceilings
Trash and any leftover packing debris hauled out
Air vents and returns wiped down
Garage floor swept, if included in your lease terms

What's the difference between a move-out clean and a regular house cleaning?

A move-out clean goes into places a regular cleaning skips, because a regular clean works around furniture and daily life, while a move-out clean happens in an empty home where every cabinet, drawer, and appliance interior is accessible. A weekly or biweekly cleaning maintains a home you live in; a move-out clean is a single, thorough reset meant to satisfy a landlord's inspection or get a home ready for its next occupant. Our Move-In / Move-Out Cleaning service is built for exactly that job.

What's cleaned	Regular house cleaning	Move-out cleaning
Inside the oven and fridge	Not included	Included
Inside cabinets and drawers	Not included	Included
Baseboards and window tracks	Light dusting	Fully wiped down
Closets	Not included	Wiped down, empty
Works around furniture	Yes	No, home is empty
Typical use	Ongoing, weekly or biweekly	One time, at move out

Should you clean it yourself or hire a professional?

Cleaning it yourself works if you have a full day free, no time pressure from a moving truck, and don't mind climbing on a step stool to reach the tops of cabinets and ceiling fans. Hiring a professional makes more sense when you're managing movers, a closing date, or a lease deadline at the same time. The areas on this checklist take longer than people expect, especially with a full oven or a kitchen that has a lot of cabinets, and a rushed job is exactly what leads to a deposit dispute over cleanliness.

How much does a professional move-out cleaning cost in San Antonio?

Cost depends on your home's square footage, number of bathrooms, and which appliances or cabinets you want cleaned inside, since an empty home with two bathrooms takes less time than an occupied one with four. The most accurate way to see your price is our instant online quote tool. There's no call required and no guessing. What you see is what you pay.

Get your move-out cleaning booked

San Antonio Maid Services LLC is a licensed and insured, residential only cleaning company with background checked cleaning professionals on every job. Our Move-In / Move-Out Cleaning service covers everything on this checklist, and if anything is missed, tell us within 24 hours and we'll come back and make it right at no extra charge. Have a pricing or scheduling question first? Check our FAQ or reach out at (210) 405-7040.