How Much Cleaning Should You Do When Moving Out? Restoration Rules and Room-by-Room Tips

It is easy to be unsure how much cleaning you should do when moving out, but the key to maximizing your security deposit refund is to understand the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's guidelines on restoration to original condition and to focus your cleaning on the areas that fall under the tenant's responsibility.

How much cleaning should you do when moving out?

In most cases, professional house cleaning will be done after you move out, but because it is a matter of courtesy to the landlord and has a direct impact on the amount of your security deposit refund, it is important to do at least a basic level of cleaning.

Prioritize cleaning the areas that are the tenant's responsibility under restoration to original condition

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism guidelines, "damage or wear caused by a tenant's intentional act, negligence, breach of duty of care, or use beyond the scope of normal use is the tenant's responsibility". Cleaning these areas can reduce the additional amount deducted from your security deposit.

Which areas does the tenant not need to handle?

Deterioration over time and wear from normal use do not require restoration to original condition. Specifically, this includes discoloration of walls and wallpaper caused by sunlight, dents and marks on floors caused by furniture placement, and electrical burn marks on the wall behind a refrigerator.

Why does cleaning lead to a larger security deposit refund?

House cleaning costs may be paid out of the security deposit, so the better the condition of the unit, the lower the cleaning cost deducted and the higher the refund amount.

Move-out cleaning points by area

Kitchen

The kitchen is an important area that affects the overall impression because grease tends to build up easily.

• Grease around the gas stove：Apply baking soda, cover with paper towels, leave for 10 minutes, then wipe clean
• Range hood：Remove all detachable parts and wash them with baking soda
• Water scale in the sink：It becomes easier to remove if you neutralize it with citric acid water and scrub it

Bathroom

The main types of dirt are pink mold, black mold, body oil buildup, and slime in the drain.

• For mold, leave a commercially available mold cleaner on for the specified time and then rinse with water
• Body oil dirt (acidic) can be removed with bathtub cleaner or baking soda
• For slime in the drain, apply baking soda and citric acid (2:1) in sequence, then let it foam with hot water and clean

Toilet

The target areas are dirt inside the bowl and splash marks on the floor and walls. Carefully wipe the underside of the seat and the floor with toilet cleaning sheets.

Flooring

If there are no noticeable stains or dirt, vacuuming is sufficient. If you find dirt during the move, wipe it away on the spot.

Windows and window frames

Clean in the order of wet wiping followed by dry wiping. If there is mold on the window frame packing, remove it with a mold remover.

Walls and ceiling

Remove dust from the ceiling first, then remove dirt from the walls with a wall cleaner. Since nail and screw marks are the tenant's responsibility, use wall hole repair material to make them less noticeable. Sun fading is the landlord's responsibility.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Which areas are especially important when cleaning before moving out?

A. The most important areas are the kitchen, where grease tends to accumulate easily, especially around the stove and range hood, and the bathroom, especially mold and the drain. These are highly visible areas that can easily affect the inspection assessment.

Q2. If professional house cleaning will be done anyway, do I still need to clean myself?

A. House cleaning costs may be deducted from your security deposit. By cleaning yourself in advance, you may be able to reduce the deducted amount and increase your refund.

Q3. Do I need to repair wall discoloration caused by sunlight myself?

A. No. Sun fading is considered normal deterioration over time and is therefore the landlord's responsibility, so the tenant does not need to repair it.

Q4. Is it okay to repair wall holes myself with filler before moving out?

A. If the holes are small, such as nail or screw holes, using a commercially available wall repair filler often helps avoid a lower assessment. For larger holes, consider asking a professional contractor.

Q5. How much may be charged if move-out cleaning is neglected?

A. Depending on the size of the room, house cleaning costs can range from tens of thousands of yen to well over one hundred thousand yen. In particular, air conditioner cleaning, range hood cleaning, and bathroom mold removal often cost around 10,000 to 30,000 yen each on their own.