Move-Out Cleaning Checklist Ottawa — Get Your Deposit Back

Move-out cleaning in Ottawa must meet the standard required by the Ontario Residential Tenancies Act to avoid damage deposit deductions. Landlords in Ottawa are permitted to deduct cleaning costs from a deposit only if the unit is left in worse condition than when you moved in.

The areas most commonly failed in Ottawa move-out inspections:

1. Inside the oven — grease buildup
2. Bathroom grout and caulking — mildew staining
3. Inside kitchen cabinets and drawers
4. Window sills and tracks
5. Carpet staining

Address all five of these and you will pass the vast majority of Ottawa landlord inspections.

Kitchen

• Inside oven — full degreasing (use oven cleaner, allow 20+ minutes)
• Inside microwave — wipe walls, ceiling, turntable
• Inside fridge — all shelves, drawers, door seals, cleaned and dried
• Fridge coils wiped (pull unit out if accessible)
• Inside all cabinets and drawers — wipe all surfaces, remove shelf liner
• Cabinet faces — grease and fingerprints
• Countertops and backsplash — including grout
• Sink — inside, under rim, drain strainer
• Range hood — grease filter removed and cleaned
• Floor — including behind appliances if accessible

Bathrooms

• Toilet — inside bowl, under rim, tank exterior, base and floor around base
• Shower/tub — tiles, grout, caulking, showerhead
• Sink — bowl, drain, faucet (descale if needed)
• Mirror — streak-free
• Vanity — all surfaces inside and out
• Floor — including behind toilet and corners
• Exhaust fan cover — dust removed

All Rooms

• Inside all wardrobes and closets
• Window sills and tracks
• Baseboards — entire perimeter of each room
• Light switches and outlet covers
• Door frames — both sides
• Walls — spot clean marks and scuffs
• Floors — vacuum then mop all hard floors, vacuum all carpet

Outdoor (if applicable)

• Balcony or patio swept and wiped
• Garage swept and cleared

Under the Ontario Residential Tenancies Act, a landlord can only withhold a damage deposit for cleaning if:

• The unit requires cleaning beyond normal wear and tear
• The landlord provides receipts for professional cleaning
• The issue was documented in the move-in inspection report

Protect yourself: Take photos and video of every room on move-out day, before and after cleaning. Keep a copy of your move-in inspection report. If your landlord disputes the cleaning, you can escalate to the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) in Ontario.

A professional cleaning company can provide a dated receipt that documents the cleaning was performed — useful if disputes arise.

2 weeks before move-out: Book professional cleaning. End-of-month dates in Ottawa are extremely busy — book 2 weeks ahead minimum.

1 week before: Focus on decluttering and repairs. Patching nail holes, replacing light bulbs, and addressing any damage is your responsibility separately from cleaning.

Day before move-out: The unit should be emptied of furniture. Move-out cleaning works best in a fully empty unit.

Move-out day: Professional clean performed after furniture is removed. Take move-out photos after cleaning.

Clean 613 provides move-out cleaning across Ottawa and surrounding communities. We clean to Ontario RTA deposit-return standards and provide receipts. Call (613) 801-9613 to book — see our move-out cleaning service.