A practical, room-by-room checklist for Orlando apartments and homes — written to help you pass the final walkthrough and get your full security deposit back.
Licensed & insured Apartments & single-family
How to get your deposit back in Florida
Under Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 83.49), your landlord has 15 days to return your deposit after move-out, or 30 days if they intend to make deductions. Most disputes come down to one thing: the unit wasn't returned in the condition it was rented in, minus normal wear and tear. A thorough clean removes the easiest, most common deductions from the table.
Photograph every room after cleaning, with timestamps.
Compare against your move-in inspection sheet — clean to that baseline.
Keep receipts if you hire a professional cleaner; they're strong evidence in a dispute.
Room-by-room checklist
Kitchen
Empty and wipe inside all cabinets and drawers, including under the sink
Degrease stovetop, drip pans, knobs, and range hood filter
Clean oven interior, racks, and glass door (self-clean or manual)
Pull out the fridge, vacuum coils, and wipe the floor and wall behind it
Empty, defrost, and wipe the freezer; clean fridge shelves and gaskets
Run an empty dishwasher cycle with cleaner; wipe seals and filter
Scrub the sink, faucet, and disposal; polish stainless steel
Wipe backsplash, counters, and small appliances left behind
Bathrooms
Descale shower glass, tile, and grout; remove soap scum from fixtures
Scrub tub, including the caulk line and drain
Clean and disinfect the toilet — bowl, tank, base, and behind it
Wipe vanity, sink, faucet, and mirror streak-free
Empty and wipe inside drawers and medicine cabinet
Clear hair from drains and replace anything you damaged (shower curtain, plunger)
Wipe exhaust fan cover and light fixtures
Bedrooms & Living Areas
Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, vents, and the tops of doors
Wipe baseboards, window sills, and door frames
Clean interior windows and sliding-door tracks
Wipe closet shelves and rods; vacuum closet floors
Spot-treat wall marks with a magic eraser (test first)
Vacuum carpet edges and under where furniture stood
Sweep and mop all hard floors
Laundry & Utility
Wipe inside and outside of washer and dryer
Clean the dryer lint trap and the vent opening
Wipe utility sink, shelves, and floor
Whole-Home Finish
Replace burned-out light bulbs and smoke-detector batteries
Patch small nail holes (landlords in Florida commonly deduct for unpatched holes)
Take out all trash and recycling to the curb or dumpster
Wipe the front door, thresholds, and any patio or balcony floor
Do a final walkthrough with your move-in inspection sheet in hand
Apartment move-out cleaning: what leasing offices in Orlando actually check
Property managers around Downtown Orlando, Lake Nona, Winter Park, and Baldwin Park tend to focus on the same handful of items during the final walkthrough:
Oven, stovetop, and range hood — grease is the #1 deduction we see.
Refrigerator interior and freezer — must be defrosted and odor-free.
Bathroom grout, tub caulk, and shower glass — Florida humidity leaves mildew fast.
Baseboards, blinds, and ceiling-fan blades — dust here is an easy deduction.
Carpet — vacuumed at minimum; some leases require professional cleaning receipts.
Rather have us handle it?
Belamar's Orlando move-out cleaning covers this entire checklist. Licensed, insured, and backed by our re-clean guarantee.