Under Oregon law, a landlord can only deduct from your deposit for damage beyond normal wear and tear — and for cleaning, only if the home is left dirtier than when you moved in. That means a thorough move-out clean is usually the difference between getting your full deposit back and losing hundreds of dollars.
The kitchen (where most deposits are lost)
- Inside and outside of the oven — the single most-checked item in Oregon rentals.
- Inside the refrigerator and freezer, emptied, wiped and deodorized.
- Inside all cabinets and drawers, free of crumbs and grease.
- Stovetop, range hood and filter degreased.
- Sink and faucet descaled and shined; dishwasher wiped inside and out.
- Behind and under appliances pulled out and cleaned.
Bathrooms
- Toilet scrubbed inside, outside and behind the base.
- Shower, tub and tile free of soap scum, mildew and hard-water stains.
- Vanity, mirror and medicine cabinet cleaned inside and out.
- Exhaust fan vent dusted.
- Floor mopped, including around the toilet base.
Every room
- Baseboards, door frames and light switches wiped.
- Windows cleaned inside, tracks and sills wiped out.
- Blinds dusted slat by slat.
- Closets emptied, shelves wiped, floors vacuumed.
- Carpets vacuumed edge to edge; hard floors mopped.
- Walls spot-cleaned; nail holes handled per your lease.
- All trash removed — anything left behind can be charged as a hauling fee.
Protect yourself with paperwork
- Take dated photos or a video of every room after cleaning, including inside the oven and fridge.
- Compare against your move-in condition report — you only have to match that condition, not exceed it.
- Oregon landlords must return your deposit or an itemized deduction list within 31 days. Keep your forwarding address with them in writing.
When to bring in a professional
If the oven hasn't been touched in a year or the whole place needs a top-to-bottom reset, a professional move-out clean often costs less than the deposit deduction it prevents. Our Move-In / Move-Out Clean follows the selected package checklist, including inside oven, fridge and cabinets. Typical-room, one-time examples are $406 for 2 bedrooms / 1 bathroom and $514 for 3 bedrooms / 2 bathrooms, including shared home spaces, supplies, equipment and package travel. Your date, scope and optional extras determine the final fixed total; this rental checklist also contains tasks beyond the package.
You can also compare with our Medford move-out checklist for local landlord specifics, or book your move-out clean online — $0 today, with no hidden fees. Questions? Call (541) 414-8724 between 8 AM and 5 PM.
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