Move-Out Cleaning Checklist for Colorado Renters (Free Printable)

In Colorado, a landlord generally has one month to return your security deposit — up to 60 days if your lease says so — and must give you a written, itemised statement for anything they keep. Cleaning is the single most common deduction, and it is also the easiest one to eliminate. Work this list room by room and there is nothing left to itemise.

General information, not legal advice. Read your lease, and check the current Colorado Security Deposit Act for the rules that apply to your tenancy.

Before you start

• Clean after the last box leaves — an empty unit is the only way to reach what gets inspected
• Photograph every room, empty and clean, with a timestamp
• Re-read the move-out section of your lease; some Colorado leases specifically require carpet cleaning receipts
• Replace burnt-out bulbs and missing outlet covers — both are routine deductions
• Patch small nail holes; ask before painting, since mismatched touch-ups cost more than the holes

Kitchen

• Inside the oven, including the racks and the door glass
• Inside and behind the refrigerator; empty and clean the drip tray
• Inside the dishwasher, plus the filter and the door gasket
• Every cabinet and drawer, inside and out, including the toe kicks
• Range hood filter, backsplash and any grease on the wall behind the stove
• Sink, faucet, garbage disposal and the caulk line at the counter
• Pull the stove and fridge out and clean the floor underneath

Bathrooms

• Shower and tub, including grout lines and the door track
• Hard-water buildup on fixtures, glass and shower heads
• Toilet — bowl, tank, base, and the floor behind it
• Mirror, medicine cabinet interior, vanity drawers
• Exhaust fan cover, dusted and wiped
• Any mildew at the ceiling line or around the tub caulk

Every room

• Baseboards, door frames, doors and light switch plates
• Closet shelves, rods and floors
• Window interiors, sills and tracks; wipe blinds slat by slat
• Ceiling fans, light fixtures and vent covers
• Walls spot-cleaned for scuffs and handprints
• Carpets vacuumed, then professionally cleaned if the lease requires it
• Hard floors mopped last, working toward the door

Outside and shared spaces

• Balcony or patio swept, including the railing
• Garage or storage unit swept out and emptied
• Assigned parking space checked for oil stains
• Trash and recycling fully removed — do not leave bags in the unit
• All keys, fobs, garage remotes and mail keys returned together

Get the printable version

There is a clean, print-friendly copy of this whole checklist you can take with you and tick off as you go — or hand straight to your landlord at the walkthrough.

A professional move-out clean for a 2-bed/2-bath Denver-metro apartment runs roughly $320–$435 — usually less than a cleaning deduction, and it comes with a walkthrough checklist you can forward to your property manager.