Moving out of a Long Island apartment means one thing before everything else: your security deposit is on the line. In Nassau County, where rents routinely run $2,000–$4,500/month, that's a serious amount of money sitting in your landlord's hands. New York State allows landlords to deduct for cleaning, and they will — for a dusty blind, grease inside the oven, or limescale around the tub faucet.
This checklist covers every room and surface that Nassau County landlords and property managers actually inspect. Work through it before your final walkthrough — or hand it to a professional cleaning service and let them handle it.
Why Long Island Security Deposit Deductions Happen
Most deposit disputes aren't about damage — they're about cleanliness. Under New York law, landlords can deduct for cleaning costs if the unit isn't returned in the same condition it was rented. The standard is "broom clean," but in practice, most professional property managers inspect at a much higher standard.
The most common deduction triggers in Nassau County:
- Oven not cleaned inside (grease and burned-on food)
- Refrigerator interior left with spills or odors
- Bathroom grout and tile not scrubbed (mold, soap scum)
- Blinds left dusty or stained
- Inside kitchen cabinets and drawers not cleaned out
- Baseboards with visible dust buildup
- Floors not mopped — especially in corners and along edges
- HVAC vents with heavy dust accumulation
A professional move-out clean in Long Island typically costs $260–$520 depending on apartment size. Compare that to what a landlord can legally charge — often $300–$800+ for cleaning — and the math is easy.
Room-by-Room Move-Out Checklist
Kitchen
- Inside oven: Degrease all surfaces, remove burned-on food, clean oven racks
- Stovetop & burner grates: Scrub off grease and food buildup
- Inside refrigerator: Remove all food, wipe all shelves and drawers, deodorize
- Inside microwave: Clean walls, ceiling, and turntable
- Inside all cabinets & drawers: Vacuum crumbs, wipe down all surfaces
- Under the sink: Wipe down, check for mold or moisture damage
- Backsplash: Scrub off grease splatters and stains
- Counters: Disinfect and wipe clean
- Dishwasher interior: Run a cleaning cycle, wipe down door seal
- Floors: Sweep and mop, including the area under the refrigerator if accessible
Bathrooms
- Shower & tub: Scrub tile and grout, remove soap scum and mold, clean drain cover
- Toilet: Clean inside bowl, exterior, behind the base, and under the rim
- Sink & faucet: Remove limescale buildup, scrub basin, polish fixtures
- Mirror: Clean streak-free
- Inside vanity cabinet: Wipe down shelves
- Shower door or curtain rod: Clean tracks, wipe door edges
- Exhaust vent: Dust cover, wipe surrounding ceiling area
- Floor: Scrub grout lines, mop entire floor including edges
Bedrooms & Living Areas
- Closets: Sweep/vacuum floor, wipe shelves, remove any left items
- Blinds: Wipe each slat or dust thoroughly — one of the most commonly missed items
- Window sills & tracks: Wipe out dust, dead insects, and debris
- Baseboards: Hand-wipe throughout every room
- Light switches & outlet covers: Wipe down in every room
- Doors & door frames: Wipe scuffs and fingerprints off all doors
- Floors: Vacuum carpets thoroughly; sweep and mop hardwood or tile
- Walls: Remove any adhesive residue from hanging items
Throughout the Apartment
- HVAC vents & returns: Vacuum and wipe all vent covers
- Light fixtures: Dust and wipe down
- Ceiling fans: Wipe each blade (accumulated dust falls during inspection)
- Smoke & CO detectors: Dust the covers
- Front door interior: Wipe down, clean peephole
- Trash removed: All bags out, trash cans wiped clean
Document Everything
Before you leave the unit, take photos of every room after cleaning — timestamped. Photograph inside the oven, inside cabinets, the bathroom, floors, and windows. In New York, the burden is on the landlord to prove deductions are legitimate. Your photos make that much harder for them to dispute.
Save your cleaning receipts too. A professional cleaning invoice shows good faith and is difficult for a landlord to argue against.
Should You DIY or Hire a Professional?
If you have time, the right supplies, and the energy after packing and moving — DIY is possible. But most renters underestimate how long a move-out clean actually takes. A thorough clean of a 1-bedroom Long Island apartment takes 4–6 hours for a single person, and that's without tackling the oven or bathroom grout.
A professional move-out cleaning service brings the right tools, knows exactly what landlords check for, and typically comes with a re-clean guarantee if the landlord finds anything within 24 hours. For most renters, the cost is less than a single hour of their professional billing rate — and far less than the deposit deduction they're trying to avoid.
Alliance Maid Services handles move-out cleaning across Nassau County and Long Island — Rockville Centre, Freeport, Oceanside, Merrick, Valley Stream, Lynbrook, Baldwin, Elmont, and more. All cleaners are background-checked and insured. We bring all supplies. And if your landlord flags anything within 24 hours, we come back for free.
Ready to get your deposit back? Book your move-out clean online or call us directly.