A move-out cleaning checklist for a Scottsdale rental starts with your lease, not your mop. Read what it says about the condition you must leave the home in, ask your landlord when the move-out inspection will happen, then clean room by room. If you would rather hand it off, Ladybug Cleaning Co. now takes bookings in Scottsdale and Phoenix.
This guide covers what to check before you clean, a room-by-room list you can use yourself, what a Ladybug Move-In/Out clean includes, and what to have ready if you book one.
Quick summary
- Read your lease first. It, not a generic list, sets what “move-out clean” means for your home.
- Ask your landlord in writing when the move-out inspection will be. Arizona law says you may be present.
- Clean an empty home from the top down and finish with the floors.
- Use Ladybug’s Move-In/Out checklist as a reference. Confirm what is included for an Arizona home before you book.
- Cleaning does not decide what happens to your deposit. The lease and the landlord’s inspection do.
What should you check before you start cleaning?
Check three things before you buy supplies: what your lease says about move-out condition, when you must hand back the keys, and when the landlord will inspect. These decide how much cleaning you need and when it has to be finished.
- The lease. Look for a move-out section or a cleaning clause. If it lists specific tasks, such as carpets, appliances or walls, put those on your list first.
- Your move-in form. Arizona’s security-deposit statute says that at move-in a landlord must give the tenant a signed copy of the lease and a move-in form for noting existing damage. If you have that form, use it. It shows what was already worn when you arrived.
- The inspection. The same statute says the landlord must tell the tenant in writing that the tenant may be present at the move-out inspection, and must say when the inspection will happen if you ask. Ask, and put the answer in a message so you have a record.
This is general information, not legal advice. For your own rental, read the lease and A.R.S. § 33-1321 yourself, and ask the landlord or a legal professional if something is unclear.
What order should you clean an empty home in?
Clean from the top of each room to the floor, and work from the back of the home toward the front door. Dust falls, so ceiling fans and vents come before counters, and floors come last.
- Take everything out. Clean around nothing.
- Dust air vents, ceiling fans and light fixtures.
- Wipe cabinets, shelves and closets, inside and out.
- Clean the kitchen: appliances, counters, sink and stovetop.
- Clean the bathrooms: tub, shower, toilet, mirrors, counters and faucets.
- Wipe doors, handles, light switches and window sills.
- Vacuum, then mop. Start in the farthest room and finish at the door.
- Walk through once more with the lease and your move-in form in hand.
What does a room-by-room move-out checklist include?
A room-by-room list keeps you from missing a spot in an empty home. Use this as a starting point, then add anything your lease names.
Kitchen
- Empty the refrigerator and freezer, then wipe shelves and drawers
- Clean the oven and the stovetop, including the knobs
- Wipe the microwave inside and out
- Wipe cabinets and drawers inside and out
- Clean counters, the sink and the faucet
- Wipe the outside of every appliance
- Sweep and mop the floor to the edges
Bathrooms
- Scrub the tub, shower walls and shower glass
- Clean the toilet inside, outside and around the base
- Clean the sink, counter and faucet
- Wipe mirrors and light fixtures
- Wipe cabinets and drawers inside and out
- Empty the trash and wipe the bin
Bedrooms and living areas
- Dust ceiling fans, vents and blinds
- Wipe baseboards, door frames and light switches
- Clean window sills and wipe the glass you can reach
- Wipe closet shelves and rods
- Vacuum carpets and mop hard floors
Entry, garage and outdoor spots
- Sweep the entry and wipe the front door and handle
- Remove trash and anything left in the garage or storage space
- Check any patio or balcony that came with the home, if your lease includes it
What does a Ladybug Move-In/Out clean include?
Ladybug’s Move-In/Out clean is built for empty or nearly empty homes. The Move-In/Out cleaning page and the Move-In/Out tab of the cleaning checklist describe it for Las Vegas customers. That tab lists kitchen tasks such as a deep clean of the oven interior and exterior, a deep clean of the refrigerator inside and out, and wiping cabinets inside and out. It lists bathroom tasks such as a thorough scrub of the tub and shower walls, a deep scrub of shower glass, tracks and door frames, and cleaning inside and behind the toilet. In every room it lists window sills and tracks, hand-cleaned baseboards and vacuuming and mopping the floors. Items marked “extra detail included” are cleaned with more time and care than a typical surface clean.
The Scottsdale and Phoenix page says Ladybug will confirm what is included for your Arizona home before anything is scheduled. It also says to ask before you book if you want extras such as the inside of the oven or refrigerator. So treat the Las Vegas checklist as a reference, not a promise for your address. Actual scope may vary based on the home’s condition.
How do you book a move-out clean in Scottsdale?
You book a Scottsdale or Phoenix clean through Ladybug’s online booking form, where you choose the cleaning type, your home’s size and a visit time. You can also call the main Ladybug number, (702) 287-7474, or send a message through the contact page. The number has a Las Vegas area code because it is the main Ladybug line.
Ladybug has not set exact coverage inside Scottsdale or Phoenix, so it does not list neighborhoods or ZIP codes. If you are not sure your address is covered, send it first and Ladybug will tell you where it stands before anything is scheduled.
Have these details ready:
- Your address, so Ladybug can confirm it is in the Scottsdale and Phoenix service area
- Your home type and rough size: a house, townhome or condo
- Your move dates and who will give the team access
- Whether the water and electricity will be on
- Any room that needs extra attention, such as a stained tub or heavy buildup on the oven
- Anything about getting in: a gate or building entry, and where to park
For how a visit runs from start to finish, see how Ladybug’s cleaning process works.
When is a move-out clean worth handing off?
A move-out clean is worth handing off when the date is tight, the home is large for the time you have, or you are traveling for the move. The work itself is mostly time and detail: the oven, the refrigerator, the shower glass, the baseboards and the floors. Be honest about how much of that you can finish in an empty home before the inspection. Ladybug cannot promise what happens with your deposit. That depends on your lease and on the landlord’s inspection, not on a cleaner.
If you are leaving a Las Vegas home instead, use the Las Vegas move-out cleaning checklist.
FAQ
Should I clean before or after the landlord’s move-out inspection?
Before. Finish the clean first, then ask when the inspection will be. Arizona’s security-deposit statute says the landlord must give you written notice that you may be present at the move-out inspection, and must tell you when it will be if you ask. Check the date against your key return date.
How soon does the landlord have to itemize deductions?
The statute says that within fourteen days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and other legal holidays, after the tenancy ends, possession is delivered and you demand it, the landlord must give you an itemized list of deductions and any amount due. Read the statute and your lease for the exact terms, or ask a legal professional about your case.
Do I have to clean the oven and refrigerator?
Check your lease. Both are easy to reach once they are empty, so they are common items to add to your own list. If you book Ladybug, ask before you book whether the oven and refrigerator interiors are included for your Arizona home. Ladybug will confirm that.
Can I book a move-out clean in Scottsdale or Phoenix?
Yes. Ladybug’s online form takes Scottsdale and Phoenix addresses, and a move-in/move-out clean is one of the types you can choose. If you want to confirm your address first, send it through the contact page or call (702) 287-7474.
Ready to hand off the clean?
Tell Ladybug your address, your move dates and what kind of home it is. Get an Instant Quote or call (702) 287-7474.
Sources
- Arizona Revised Statutes § 33-1321, Security deposits, read 2026-11-03
- Ladybug Cleaning Co., “House Cleaning in Scottsdale & Phoenix”
- Ladybug Cleaning Co., “Our Cleaning Checklist”
- Ladybug Cleaning Co., “Move-In/Out Cleaning”
Related guides
- move out cleaning checklist Scottsdale
- Phoenix
- move-out cleaning