Moving
What Does Move-Out Cleaning Include? Walls, Windows, Appliances and More
What does move-out cleaning include? A professional move-out clean usually covers the inside and outside of all cupboards and wardrobes, a full kitchen degrease, descaled and sanitised bathrooms, interior windows and tracks, wiped walls, doors and switches, and detailed floor cleaning. What it often doesn't include by default are exterior windows on upper floors, appliance interiors such as the oven or fridge on some quotes, soft furnishings, and anything that's really repair work, such as filling holes or repainting. The simplest way to avoid surprises is to ask for the scope in writing before you book.
What does move-out cleaning include, area by area?
Every company's list is slightly different, but a full move-out clean should cover these as standard.
Walls, doors and fixtures
- Walls spot-cleaned for fingerprints, marks and light scuffs
- Doors, frames and handles wiped on both sides
- Light switches, sockets and thermostats wiped
- Skirting boards dusted and wiped
Spot-cleaning is not the same as washing every wall from floor to ceiling. If walls are heavily marked, ask whether full wall washing is included or priced separately.
Kitchen and appliances
- Cupboards and drawers inside and out
- Hob, extractor hood and splashback degreased
- Sink and taps descaled
- Appliance exteriors wiped
Oven, fridge and freezer interiors are often included in a move-out clean, because landlords check them, but confirm it. An oven with heavy baked-on grease takes much longer than one that's been looked after.
Bathrooms
- Toilets, basins, showers and baths cleaned and sanitised
- Limescale removed from taps, shower heads and glass
- Tiles and grout cleaned
- Mirrors and cabinets inside and out
Bedrooms and living areas
- Inside wardrobes and built-in units
- Shelves, ledges and light fittings dusted
- Floors cleaned edge to edge, including corners
Balcony and AC grilles
- Balcony swept and washed
- AC grilles wiped
Does move-out cleaning include windows?
Usually, yes, but with a distinction:
- Interior glass, frames, sills and sliding tracks are normally included. In Sharjah, the tracks matter: they fill with fine sand, and a landlord will notice.
- The balcony side of sliding doors is normally included where it can be reached safely.
- Exterior glass on upper floors that can only be reached from outside is usually not included, for safety reasons. In apartment buildings, that glass is often cleaned by the building itself.
For villas, ask specifically about upper-floor and stairwell windows, and whether outside glass is part of the job.
Common extras, priced separately
| Extra | When you might need it |
|---|---|
| Carpet cleaning | The landlord's carpets are staying, or your contract asks for it |
| Curtain cleaning | Curtains belong to the property |
| Sofa or mattress cleaning | Furnished flats where these were supplied |
| Pet-odour treatment | You had pets and soft furnishings or carpets hold the smell |
| AC duct cleaning | The contract requires it, or the system is visibly dusty |
| Pest control | The contract requires it at the end of the tenancy |
At Tip Top, sofa, mattress, carpet and pet-odour treatment are priced per item, and AC duct cleaning and pest control are quoted after assessment.
What cleaning can't fix
Cleaning isn't repair. A move-out clean removes dirt, grease and limescale. It won't fill nail holes, repaint walls, fix broken fittings, remove permanent stains in grout or reverse burns and scratches. If your contract requires repainting or repairs, arrange those separately and before the clean.
What's not included because it shouldn't be there
A cleaning team expects an empty home. Most will not:
- pack or move your belongings and furniture
- dispose of large items, furniture or bulky rubbish
- clean around boxes that are still in the property
Book the clean for after the movers have gone, so nothing blocks access.
How the price is worked out
Move-out cleaning is priced like a deep clean, by property size and condition. As a guide, Tip Top's deep cleaning starts from around AED 199 for a studio, roughly AED 299–599 for a 1–2 bedroom apartment and AED 999+ for villas. Extras are added per item. We confirm the final price after a quick on-site or photo-based assessment, so you see the full scope and cost before any work starts.
Five questions to ask before you book
- Are the oven, fridge and freezer interiors included?
- Are interior windows and sliding tracks included? What about exterior glass?
- Is it spot-cleaning or full washing of walls?
- Which extras do I need, based on my tenancy contract?
- What happens if the landlord finds something missed?
At Tip Top, if anything is missed, we re-clean it free. To check the work yourself, use our printable move-out cleaning checklist, and for the full handover process, see move-out cleaning in Sharjah. Moving straight into a new place? Our guide to move-in cleaning explains why it's worth cleaning before you unpack.