Move-out cleaning is more extensive than ordinary cleaning because it has to be approved by a landlord or a buyer: the oven, the fridge, the insides of cupboards, a limescale-free bathroom and the windows normally have to be included. So allow considerably more time than for a normal visit. Here is the checklist, a realistic number of hours — and what you need to know about the tax deduction once you have moved out.
Here is a room-by-room checklist, an estimate of the hours needed — and an important detail about the servicefradrag (the Danish tax deduction for household services) that many people overlook.
Start with the requirements, not the cloth
Before you plan anything at all: dig out the move-out requirements. Landlords often have a specific list (newly-renovated standard, descaled bathroom, cleaned white goods), and in a sale it is the transfer agreement that applies. That list is what the cleaning must be measured against — not a general feeling of 'clean'.
Take photos when the cleaning is done. That is your documentation in case of a dispute about the deposit.
Checklist: kitchen and bathroom — where it's decided
The two rooms that most often draw complaints:
- Oven and baking trays: cleaned of burnt-on grease (set aside plenty of time — it is often the single longest task)
- Fridge and freezer: emptied, defrosted and cleaned inside and out
- Extractor hood incl. filters, and kitchen cupboards inside and out
- Bathroom: complete descaling of tiles, taps, shower and toilet
- Drains cleared and visibly clean
Checklist: the rest of the home
Bedrooms and common rooms are quicker, but the details must be covered:
- Windows cleaned on the inside, window sills and frames wiped down
- Skirting boards, door frames, switches and radiators
- Built-in wardrobes emptied and wiped inside and out
- Floors vacuumed and mopped — including under whatever gets moved last
- Hallway, balcony and any basement/attic storage remembered
How many hours — and what does it cost?
Move-out cleaning is considerably more extensive than regular cleaning. For a smaller flat you should expect at least 4-6 hours, for larger homes and houses 6-10 hours or a job spread over two visits. Condition matters more than square metres — limescale and the oven are the big time sinks.
As a package deal from traditional companies, move-out cleaning of a flat typically costs DKK 1,500-7,000. At Hilfr you instead book hours with a specific cleaner at that cleaner's hourly rate — describe the size of the home and the landlord's requirements in the messages beforehand, so you can agree on a realistic number of hours.
The servicefradrag: check the rules before you count on it
The servicefradrag applies to cleaning carried out in your home or holiday home. With move-out cleaning you have typically already moved out of the property — and then it is no longer clear-cut whether the deduction applies. The rules depend on the specific situation.
Our honest advice: check the current conditions on skat.dk (the Danish tax authority) before you factor the deduction into the budget for a property you have moved out of. Cleaning in the home you are moving into, on the other hand, is on safe ground.
Moved in? Keeping the new home clean
The move-out cleaning is a one-off job — but the new home needs keeping clean from now on. A new home is the easiest place to settle into a rhythm, precisely because everyday life is being laid out from scratch anyway. A recurring arrangement with Hilfr has no commitment: the same hilfr, e.g. every other week, and you can stop at any time.
Still have questions? Find answers on our FAQ page — or see whether Hilfr covers your area.
