Your damage deposit in Manitoba is typically half a month's rent, plus interest. Whether you get it back mostly comes down to one document: the move-out condition report. Manitoba's Residential Tenancies Branch allows landlords to claim cleaning costs from your deposit when a unit isn't left reasonably clean, and "reasonably clean" gets decided room by room at the final walkthrough.

After hundreds of move-out cleans across Winnipeg, we know exactly where deposits are won and lost. Here's the checklist, in the order landlords actually look.

Kitchen: where most deductions start

• Oven interior — the single most-checked item in any walkthrough. Degrease racks, walls, and the door glass.
• Fridge and freezer — empty, defrost if needed, wipe shelves and door seals. Pull it out and clean behind/under if it moves.
• Inside every cabinet and drawer — crumbs and shelf liner residue count against you.
• Counters, backsplash, and a descaled sink.
• Range hood filter (soak it, don't just wipe it).
• Floors washed, including edges under the toe-kicks.

Bathrooms: the second stop

• Toilet, including the base and behind, exactly where inspection eyes go.
• Tub and shower descaled; glass doors polished free of water spots.
• Vanity emptied and wiped inside; mirror streak-free.
• Exhaust fan cover dusted (a favourite "gotcha" item).
• Floors washed with corners detailed.

Bedrooms and living areas

• Closets emptied, shelves wiped, mirror doors cleaned.
• Baseboards, trim, and door frames wiped down.
• Light fixtures, switch plates, and outlet covers.
• Window sills, tracks, and interior glass.
• Walls spot-cleaned for scuffs. Cleaning, not painting: normal wear is the landlord's responsibility, but marks that wipe off should be wiped off.
• Floors vacuumed and washed.

Entry, laundry, storage

• Entry closet and shoe zone (winter salt stains show on tile).
• Washer/dryer exteriors and the lint trap area.
• Storage lockers or rooms swept out; balcony swept.
• Cobwebs, ceiling corners, and the tops of door frames.

The paperwork step renters skip

Bring your move-in condition report to the final walkthrough. Deposit deductions are justified by comparing the two reports, so anything marked dirty or damaged at move-in cannot fairly be charged to you at move-out. Photograph every room after cleaning, timestamped photos have settled more deposit disputes than any argument.

Doing it yourself vs. booking it

This list takes most renters a full day, usually the same day the truck is loaded and everyone's patience is gone. If your schedule (or back) says no, our move-out cleaning in Winnipeg covers this exact checklist at deposit standard, scheduled against your possession date, with a flat written price. Condos start around $250 and full houses around $430.

Next step

Moving this month? Get your flat move-out quote with your unit size and key-handover date, or see what house cleaning costs in Winnipeg for the full pricing picture.