Moving out is stressful enough without the worry of losing hundreds of dollars from your security deposit. In Georgia, landlords have 30 days after you vacate to return your deposit — or send an itemized list of deductions. The most common deductions? Cleaning fees.
After hundreds of move-out cleans across the Atlanta metro area, we've seen exactly what landlords flag during walkthroughs. This guide walks you through everything you need to address before handing over your keys.
Why Landlords Deduct for Cleaning
Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-33) allows landlords to deduct for damages beyond normal wear and tear. Dirty appliances, grimy bathrooms, stained carpets, and greasy kitchen surfaces are almost always classified as tenant responsibility — not normal wear.
The tricky part: what feels "clean enough" to you may not meet the move-in condition documented in your lease. Most leases require you to return the property in the same condition you received it, professional cleaning included.
The Landlord Walkthrough Checklist
Based on our experience with property managers in Atlanta, Marietta, Smyrna, and surrounding areas, here's what gets checked most often:
📦 Kitchen — Highest Scrutiny
- Inside oven and oven door glass (grease buildup is the #1 deduction)
- Stovetop burners, drip pans, and range hood filter
- Inside refrigerator including shelves, drawers, and door seals
- Inside microwave — ceiling, walls, and turntable
- Inside all cabinets and drawers (crumbs, spills, liner residue)
- Under the sink — check for moisture stains or debris
- Dishwasher filter and door seal
- Countertops and backsplash grout
🚿 Bathrooms — Always Flagged
- Toilet inside and outside, including base and behind the tank
- Shower/tub grout and caulk lines (mold is an automatic deduction)
- Shower door tracks and glass (soap scum)
- Exhaust fan cover (dust buildup)
- Mirror, vanity, and cabinet interiors
- Floor grout lines
🛏 Bedrooms & Living Areas
- Carpet stains (professional extraction may be required)
- Walls — scuff marks, holes, crayon or pen marks
- Blinds — dust and bent slats
- Window sills and tracks
- Ceiling fan blades and light fixtures
- Closet shelving — wiped clean, no residue
- Baseboards along every wall
🏠 Whole-Home Items
- All light switch plates and outlet covers
- HVAC vents and return air grilles (dusty vents are commonly flagged)
- Garage floor — oil stains, debris
- Laundry room including inside washer drum and dryer lint trap area
- Front door and entry — marks, dirt, cobwebs
- Patio or balcony swept and wiped
The Areas Tenants Always Miss
In our experience, even tenants who clean thoroughly tend to overlook these spots:
- Inside the oven drawer — crumbs and grease accumulate here unseen
- Refrigerator coils and drip pan — dusty coils are a health issue and a deduction
- Inside the dishwasher filter — food debris collects in the removable filter at the bottom
- Door frames and tops of doors — dust and fingerprints accumulate on horizontal surfaces
- Bathroom exhaust fan — remove the cover and wipe the fan blades
- Window tracks — these collect dirt, dead insects, and mold
- Behind and under appliances — especially the refrigerator and stove
DIY vs. Hiring a Professional
A DIY move-out clean can work if you have 2–3 days, the right supplies, and no major staining issues. But for most people balancing moving logistics, work, and family, it's simply not realistic to clean at the level landlords expect.
A professional move-out clean typically runs 3–6 hours for a standard apartment or home and covers every item on the landlord's checklist. The cost almost always comes in well under a single deduction from your deposit.
At patycleans4u, our move-out service is built specifically around what Atlanta-area landlords check. We've helped hundreds of tenants get their full deposit back — and we stand behind our work.
What to Do After You're Done
- Do a final walkthrough yourself — walk room to room with your move-in checklist and photos
- Take date-stamped photos and video of every room before handing over the keys
- Request a joint walkthrough with your landlord — Georgia law gives you this right
- Get written confirmation of the handover date and any items discussed
- Follow up in writing if you don't receive your deposit within 30 days
Moving out in Atlanta?
Let patycleans4u handle the move-out clean. We cover everything landlords look for — and help you get your full deposit back.
Book a move-out clean →