The Cleaning Registry · Guides
Your lease is ending, the truck is booked, and somewhere between the packing and the paperwork sits one or two months of rent that you'd like back. Move-out cleaning is the last thing standing between you and that deposit — and the frustrating part is that most renters lose money not because they were dirty, but because they didn't know where the line was. This guide shows you exactly where Georgia law draws that line, gives you a free room-by-room checklist to work through, and tells you which three things cost renters their deposits more than anything else.
Before you scrub anything, understand the rules — because they're more in your favor than most renters realize. Georgia's security deposit rules live in O.C.G.A. § 44-7-30 through § 44-7-37, and three provisions matter most on your way out the door:
This is the whole ballgame. The difference isn't how dirty something looks; it's whether the condition came from ordinary living or from neglect. Here's the line:
| Normal wear and tear (not chargeable) | Damage or filth (chargeable) |
|---|---|
| Faded paint; minor scuffs on walls | Unauthorized paint colors; large gouges |
| Small nail holes from hanging pictures | Anchor holes, large holes needing patching |
| Carpet worn thin along traffic paths | Torn, burned, or heavily stained carpet |
| Scuffed or dulled baseboards | Sticky grime, pet damage, chewed trim |
| Appliances aging with normal use | Oven caked with grease; fridge left with food |
| Loose hinges; minor fixture wear | Broken fixtures, missing hardware, cracked tile |
| Grout dulling over time | Mildew buildup, soap scum, hard-water crust |
Your benchmark is simple: hand the unit back at least as clean as you got it. If you have your move-in inspection report or photos from move-in day, that document is your strongest evidence — it's the agreed-upon baseline both parties signed.
Across Georgia rentals, deductions cluster around the same three culprits — and none of them are the ones renters worry about:
Budget most of a day. Work top to bottom in each room (dust falls), and finish everything before your walkthrough so you can fix anything flagged on the spot. Copy this and check items off as you go.
MOVE-OUT CLEANING CHECKLIST
Unit: [address] Move-out date: [date] Walkthrough: [date/time]
BEFORE YOU START
[ ] Re-read your lease + any move-out letter for specific clauses
(professional carpet shampoo? oven clean? blinds? filters?)
[ ] Find your move-in inspection report / move-in photos — that's your baseline
[ ] Photograph EVERY room before you clean (timestamped)
[ ] Confirm walkthrough date and ask to be present for it
WHOLE UNIT
[ ] Remove all personal property and trash (nothing left in closets/attic/patio)
[ ] Patch small nail holes; touch up paint ONLY if lease requires it
[ ] Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, vents, and door frames
[ ] Clean light switch plates and outlet covers
[ ] Wipe down all doors, handles, and trim
[ ] Clean interior windows, sills, and tracks
[ ] Wash or dust blinds; replace any broken slats
[ ] Vacuum all carpet; mop all hard floors (edges and corners too)
[ ] Replace HVAC filter; replace any burned-out bulbs
[ ] Wipe baseboards throughout
[ ] Clean out fireplace if present
KITCHEN (inspectors start here)
[ ] Oven — inside, racks, door glass, under the drawer ← most-skipped item
[ ] Stovetop, burners, drip pans, hood, and filter
[ ] Microwave inside and out
[ ] Refrigerator — empty, defrost, wipe inside, clean coils/underneath
[ ] Dishwasher — run empty w/ cleaner; wipe seals and filter
[ ] Inside AND outside of every cabinet and drawer
[ ] Countertops, backsplash, and sink (descale the faucet)
[ ] Garbage disposal — run w/ ice + citrus to deodorize
[ ] Sweep and mop floor, including under/behind appliances if movable
BATHROOMS (deductions hide here)
[ ] Toilet — bowl, seat, base, and behind the base
[ ] Tub/shower — remove soap scum, mildew, hard-water buildup
[ ] Scrub grout and re-caulk if moldy (check lease first)
[ ] Sink, faucet, and drain — descale
[ ] Mirrors and any glass — streak-free
[ ] Inside all cabinets, drawers, and medicine cabinet
[ ] Exhaust fan cover — dust and wipe
[ ] Sweep and mop floor, including behind the toilet
BEDROOMS & LIVING AREAS
[ ] Closets — shelves, rods, and floors wiped; nothing left behind
[ ] Walls spot-cleaned (scuffs, handprints, marks)
[ ] Carpet vacuumed thoroughly; treat any spots
[ ] Windows, sills, tracks, and screens
LAUNDRY / UTILITY
[ ] Washer/dryer wiped inside and out; lint trap cleared
[ ] Behind and underneath machines if movable
[ ] Utility sink and surrounding floor
EXTERIOR / GARAGE (if applicable)
[ ] Sweep patio, balcony, or porch
[ ] Garage swept; oil stains treated
[ ] Remove anything left in yard/storage
PET HOMES — DO NOT SKIP
[ ] Deep-vacuum all carpet, including edges and under furniture spots
[ ] Address odor at the source (not with air freshener over the top)
[ ] Consider professional carpet/upholstery treatment for set-in odor
[ ] Check baseboards and door frames for scratches/chew marks
AFTER YOU FINISH
[ ] Photograph EVERY room again (same angles as your "before" photos)
[ ] Keep receipts for any professional cleaning (carpet especially)
[ ] Return all keys, fobs, remotes, mail keys — get a receipt
[ ] Provide forwarding address IN WRITING (the 30-day clock mails here)
[ ] Attend the walkthrough if you can; don't sign a damage list you disagree with
[ ] If you dispute the list, put objections in writing, dated, and keep a copy
— End of checklist —
The cleaning matters, but the evidence is what wins disputes. Photograph every room before you clean and again after, from the same angles. Keep receipts for any professional work. Provide your forwarding address in writing, since that's where the 30-day statement gets mailed — a deposit can't come back to an address your landlord doesn't have.
If you're handed a list of damages, you generally have a short window to inspect and respond, and you should never sign a damage list you disagree with — signing it means you're agreeing the charges are accurate. Put any objection in writing, be specific about each disputed item, date it, and keep a copy.
A professional move-out clean in the Atlanta metro runs roughly $250 to $500 in 2026, depending on size and condition — with move-out work priced above a standard clean because it's judged against an inspection checklist rather than a tidiness standard. (For how that compares to routine service, see our Woodstock & Canton house cleaning price guide.)
The math is usually simple. If your deposit is one or two months of Cherokee County rent, a few hundred dollars to protect it — and to walk in with a receipt and a completed checklist — is cheap insurance. If your unit is small, pet-free, and you've kept it up, a thorough DIY day with the checklist above is often enough. The deciding factors are almost always the same three: carpets, pet odor, and the oven.
Only for cleaning beyond normal wear and tear. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34) says no security deposit shall be retained to cover ordinary wear and tear resulting from the intended use of the premises, provided there was no negligence, carelessness, accident, or abuse. Routine turnover cleaning is the landlord's cost of doing business. Excessive filth, heavy staining, or pet damage is yours. The distinction is condition, not tidiness.
Thirty days. Under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34, a landlord must return the full deposit within 30 days after obtaining possession of the premises, or provide a written statement identifying the exact reasons for retaining any portion, along with payment of the difference. When retention is based on damage, that statement must include the itemized list prepared under § 44-7-33.
The natural deterioration of ordinary day-to-day use: faded paint, small nail holes from hanging pictures, carpet worn thin along traffic paths, minor baseboard scuffs, appliances aging with use. Damage is different in kind: large holes, torn or heavily stained carpet, pet odor, burns, broken fixtures, and filth left behind. A landlord cannot deduct for the first category.
Georgia law provides real remedies. Under § 44-7-35, a landlord who retains a deposit in bad faith can be liable for three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees, and disputes can be pursued in magistrate (small claims) court. Your photos, your move-in inspection report, and your cleaning receipts are the evidence that makes that case. Some provisions apply differently to landlords with fewer than ten units, so review your lease alongside the statute — and consider consulting a Georgia attorney or a local tenant resource for your specific situation.
It depends on your deposit and your time. A professional move-out clean in the Atlanta metro runs roughly $250 to $500 in 2026. If your deposit is one or two months of rent, that's a small fraction of what's at risk — and you get a receipt and completed checklist to show the landlord. If your unit is small and well maintained, a thorough DIY day with this checklist is often enough. Carpets, pet odor, and oven condition usually decide it.
The Cleaning Registry lists move-out and deep cleaning companies across Cherokee and North Fulton County — with owner-claimed profiles, real Google review counts, and insurance-verified badges on premium listings, so you can check who's insured before you book.
See move-out cleaners →The legal requirements in this guide come directly from the Georgia Code itself, not a secondary summary. Pricing reflects 2026 national cost data narrowed to the Atlanta metro. You can verify each at the source:
Statutes change and apply differently depending on the number of units a landlord owns and how they're managed. Confirm the current law for your situation before relying on it.
The Cleaning Registry is a directory, not a law firm. This guide is general information for Georgia renters and is not legal advice — for questions about your deposit or a dispute with your landlord, consult a Georgia attorney or a local tenant resource. Deposit rules are summarized from O.C.G.A. § 44-7-30 through § 44-7-37; verify the current statute and your own lease terms before acting. Published by The Cleaning Registry, locally operated in Cherokee County, Georgia. · thecleaningregistry.com