Georgia Move-Out Cleaning Checklist: Get Your Deposit Back

To get a Georgia security deposit back, hand over an empty unit that is clean inside the appliances, cabinets and bathrooms, not just on the surface. Landlords inspect the kitchen and bathrooms first and most closely, then the spots renters usually forget: blinds, window tracks, baseboards and the tops of door frames.

Below is a room-by-room checklist built around what Georgia property managers look for, plus how to document your work and what to do if you would rather hand the job to a professional team.

What Georgia law says about deposits

Under Georgia's landlord-tenant statute, O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34, a landlord generally has one month after the lease ends and the unit is surrendered to return the security deposit or provide a written, itemized list of the reasons for keeping any part of it. Deductions are meant for damage and excess dirt beyond normal wear and tear.

• Normal wear and tear usually means light scuffs, faded paint, minor carpet wear in walkways and small nail holes from pictures.
• Chargeable cleaning usually means grease on the stove and hood, a dirty oven or fridge, soap scum and mildew, stains and trash or belongings left behind.

Georgia law also expects a move-in inspection list of existing damage. Find your copy before you clean, because it is your baseline for the move-out walkthrough. This is general information, not legal advice; laws change, so check the current statute or a Georgia tenant resource if a deduction is disputed. Our guide to Georgia tenant move-out rights goes into more detail.

Before you start cleaning

Move-out cleaning works best in an empty unit, so schedule it after the movers leave and before the walkthrough. Have these ready:

• All-purpose cleaner, degreaser, glass cleaner and a bathroom cleaner that handles soap scum.
• Microfiber cloths, a non-scratch scrub pad, a grout brush and a step stool.
• A vacuum with attachments, a mop and bucket, and heavy-duty trash bags.
• Replacement light bulbs and smoke detector batteries if your lease requires them.

Work top to bottom in every room so dust falls onto areas you have not cleaned yet, and finish each room by backing out toward the door.

Kitchen checklist

The kitchen is where most cleaning deductions start. Give it the most time.

• Oven interior, racks, door glass and the drawer underneath.
• Stovetop, burner grates or drip pans, knobs and the range hood filter.
• Refrigerator and freezer inside and out, including shelves, drawers and door seals. Unplug and prop open only if the lease or landlord says so.
• Dishwasher filter, door edges and gasket.
• Microwave interior and turntable.
• Every cabinet and drawer inside and out, including the shelf edges.
• Backsplash, countertops, sink, faucet and drain.
• Top of the refrigerator and cabinets, where grease and dust collect.

Bathroom checklist

Georgia humidity means bathrooms collect mildew faster than in drier states, and inspectors know to look for it.

• Toilet inside and out, including the base and behind the seat hinges.
• Tub, shower walls and doors with soap scum and water spots removed.
• Grout and caulk lines scrubbed, with early mildew treated.
• Sink, faucet, mirror and medicine cabinet.
• Drains cleared of hair.
• Vanity cabinets and drawers wiped out.
• Exhaust fan cover dusted.

Bedrooms, living areas and floors

• Ceiling fans, light fixtures and vents dusted.
• Blinds wiped slat by slat, window sills and tracks vacuumed and wiped.
• Interior glass cleaned.
• Closets emptied, with shelves and rods wiped.
• Doors, door frames, switch plates and outlet covers wiped.
• Baseboards cleaned along every wall.
• Scuffs spot-cleaned on walls, tested first in a hidden area so paint does not lift.
• Carpets vacuumed thoroughly, hard floors swept and mopped.

If carpets have stains or pet odor, a professional carpet clean from $45 per room is usually far cheaper than a replacement charge.

The spots renters miss most

A second pass on these areas often separates a full refund from a deduction:

Area	Why it gets missed	Quick fix
Inside the oven	Takes dwell time, so it gets left until last	Apply cleaner first thing, finish it at the end
Behind and beside appliances	Out of sight	Slide out only if safe, vacuum and wipe the floor
Tops of door frames and cabinets	Above eye level	Use a step stool and a damp cloth
Blinds and window tracks	Tedious	Vacuum tracks, then wipe with a damp cloth
Washer and dryer, if provided	Assumed to be self-cleaning	Wipe the drum, gasket and lint trap housing
Light fixtures	Dead insects collect inside	Remove covers carefully, wash and dry

Document the handover

Good documentation turns a dispute into a short conversation.

1. Photograph or video every room after cleaning, with date stamps turned on, including inside the oven, fridge and cabinets.
2. Compare the unit against your move-in inspection list and note anything that was already there.
3. Keep the receipt and checklist if you used a professional cleaner.
4. Return every key and get written confirmation of the date you surrendered the unit.
5. Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing so the deposit or itemized list can reach you.

If you would rather hand it over

When the move itself is taking every spare hour, a professional clean is often the better use of money. Our move-out cleaning starts from $190, with published ranges from $190 to $260 for a studio, $320 to $480 for three bedrooms and $500 to $750 for five bedrooms. Across 616 move-in and move-out cleans we completed in 2026, the median job total was $551, since many were three- and four-bedroom homes with appliance interiors included.

Teams bring their own supplies, the price is confirmed before you book, and if your landlord flags something within 36 hours we come back free under our re-clean guarantee. We have cleaned in 67 Georgia towns and cities this year, including Atlanta, Decatur, Marietta and Alpharetta; see our Georgia locations or book for the day after your movers leave.