Student move-out cleaning checklist in London, Ontario

A student house after a full school year needs more than a quick tidy. Use this list room by room, and check the "easy to miss" section before you hand over the keys.

If your lease ends April 30, book a cleaner by April 1. The last week of April is the busiest of the year in London.

Before you start

• Remove all personal belongings
• Empty all garbage and food items
• Unplug and empty appliances
• Open windows if possible for ventilation

If you’re not sure what to do with large items or garbage, the City of London provides guidelines for waste collection, bulk pickup and recycling. It’s worth checking their garbage schedule before move-out day.

Split it with your roommates

Each person cleans their own bedroom. Do the kitchen, bathrooms and living room together. Those shared spaces are where most deposits are lost.

Kitchen

• Clean inside and outside of the fridge (shelves, drawers, doors)
• Clean inside the oven and stovetop
• Wipe the microwave inside and outside
• Clean the dishwasher (inside and door)
• Wipe cabinets and drawers (inside and outside)
• Clean countertops and backsplash
• Scrub sink and faucet
• Remove grease or buildup from surfaces

Bathroom

• Clean toilet (inside, outside and behind)
• Clean sink and vanity
• Clean mirror
• Scrub shower or tub (tiles, grout, glass doors)
• Remove soap scum and buildup
• Wipe cabinets and drawers
• Clean floor

Bedrooms and living areas

• Dust all surfaces
• Clean closets (shelves and floors)
• Wipe baseboards and trims
• Clean windows (inside), sills and tracks
• Dust blinds or curtain rods
• Wipe doors, handles and frames
• Clean light switches
• Remove marks from walls if possible
• Vacuum carpets or mop floors

Details that are easy to miss

• Behind appliances (fridge, stove)
• Baseboards throughout the home
• Corners and edges of floors
• Inside all cabinets and drawers
• Window tracks
• Door handles and high-touch areas

What to do with furniture and items you don’t need

A lot of students run into the same issue: you don’t want to take everything with you, but you also can’t just leave it behind. Here are a few options:

• Check donation and move-out resources from Western University (they often provide guidance for students moving out of residences and off-campus housing)
• Fanshawe College also shares student support resources, including housing transitions and community options
• Use the City of London for bulk item pickup, recycling centres and proper disposal of furniture and mattresses

Planning this ahead of time can save you a lot of stress on your last day.

Final check

• Vacuum and mop all floors
• Double-check each room is empty
• Do a final walkthrough
• Take photos after cleaning (recommended)

Rather hand it off? Western and Fanshawe students get 10% off their first clean with us. Show a valid student card at the walkthrough. Every quote is confirmed on site before we start.