# Move-out cleaning: Hallway and entryway ### What “move-out clean” usually means here - No visible dust in ceiling corners, on skirting boards or above the door frame. - No dark scuff marks on walls near the door, wardrobe or shoe storage. - Door, handle, switches and doorbell or intercom are free of fingerprints. - Wardrobes and shelves are empty and wiped clean inside and outside. - The floor and doormat are cleaned, especially from salt and sand. - The room smells neutral and fresh. ## Equipment and products ### Useful minimum equipment - Vacuum cleaner with crevice and brush attachment. - Microfiber cloths. - Dry mop or telescopic duster. - Floor mop and bucket or spray mop. - Soft sponge and non-scratch scrub pad. - Small detail brush. - Step stool. - Trash bags. ### Product principles - Mild all-purpose cleaner for most surfaces. - Dish soap for greasy fingerprints. - Glass cleaner optionally for mirrors. - Mild floor cleaner if you know the floor type. ## Workflow ```mermaid flowchart TD A[Ventilate and turn on good lighting] --> B[Clear the hallway] B --> C[Dry cleaning from top to bottom] C --> D[Details: door, switches, frames, skirting] D --> E[Wardrobes and shelves] E --> F[Wall marks and salt residue] F --> G[Mirror or glass] G --> H[Vacuum floor] H --> I[Mop floor] I --> J[Smell check and photos] ``` ## Time estimate | Task | Time | Level | Main time factor | |---|---:|---|---| | Tidying items | 10–35 min | Easy | Amount of stuff | | Dust and cobwebs | 10–25 min | Easy | Height and moldings | | Door, handle, switches, intercom | 10–30 min | Easy | Fingerprints | | Wardrobes and shelves | 20–60 min | Medium | Number of surfaces | | Wall mark removal | 15–45 min | Medium | Matte paint and scuffs | | Doormat or runner | 10–35 min | Easy–medium | Material and salt | | Vacuuming floor | 10–30 min | Easy | Sand and stones | | Mopping floor | 15–45 min | Medium | Floor type and salt | | Final control | 10–20 min | Easy | Thoroughness | **Typical total:** 1.5–4 hours. ## Step by step 1. **Ventilate and clear the space** - Air the area out and remove shoes, jackets, bags and baskets. - Empty storage compartments and vacuum out small debris. 2. **Dry cleaning first** - Remove cobwebs from ceiling corners and lamps. - Dust the tops of frames, moldings and upper shelves. - Vacuum the floor roughly to remove sand and grit before wet cleaning. 3. **Clean the details that define the final impression** - Wipe the inside of the entrance door, handle and lock area. - Wipe around switches and sockets with a lightly damp cloth. - Clean the intercom or bell area carefully without getting liquid into electronics. 4. **Wardrobes and storage** - Vacuum shelves, corners and drawer runners. - Wipe inside with lightly damp microfiber and mild cleaner. - Wipe again with clean water and dry thoroughly. 5. **Wall marks and salt residue** - Start wall cleaning with water and microfiber. - Use mild cleaner only if needed. - For salt or slush marks on robust floors, use lukewarm water and change the water often. 6. **Mirror and glass** - Clean mirrors carefully and dry them with a dry cloth for a streak-free result. 7. **Floor** - Vacuum again carefully along skirting boards and under shoe racks or benches. - Mop according to floor type and keep water use low. - Wipe away water gathering near thresholds or skirting. 8. **Final inspection** - Do a smell check after stepping out and in again. - Use angled light to inspect the door, skirting and floor near the threshold. - Take photos. ## Common mistakes - Wet-mopping before removing sand and grit. - Using too much soap and leaving a film. - Forgetting the top edge of the door frame. - Scrubbing matte walls too hard. - Covering odor instead of removing the source. ## Gentle stain and damage handling ### Wall scuff marks - Start mildly with water and microfiber. - Use a small amount of mild cleaner if needed. - Stop if the paint starts looking shiny. ### Salt and slush - Salt dissolves in water but spreads easily, so change your cloth or rinse water often. - Finish with a final wipe using clean water. ### Rubber marks on the floor - Try microfiber and lukewarm water first. - Avoid strong solvents unless you know the floor can handle them. ## Printable final checklist - [ ] All loose items removed - [ ] Ceiling corners and lamp free of dust and cobwebs - [ ] Door, frames and handles cleaned - [ ] Switches and sockets wiped around - [ ] Wardrobes, shelves and drawers emptied and cleaned - [ ] Mirror or glass streak-free - [ ] Doormat or runner cleaned - [ ] Floor vacuumed along skirting and in corners - [ ] Floor mopped correctly for the floor type - [ ] Area aired out and neutral-smelling - [ ] Photos taken ## Sources and useful links - Tenancy Act section 10-2 (Lovdata): https://lovdata.no/nav/lov/1999-03-26-17/kap10 - HTU - Move-out: https://www.htu.no/rettigheter-og-plikter/utflytting - HTU - Required condition at handover: https://www.htu.no/artikler/i-hvilken-stand-ma-boligen-vaere-ved-tilbakelevering - HTU - Tenant did not clean properly: https://www.htu.no/vanlige-uenigheter/leietaker-har-ikke-vasket-ordentlig - Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority - Cleaning work and chemicals: https://www.arbeidstilsynet.no/risikofylt-arbeid/kjemikalier/renholdsarbeid-og-kjemisk-pavirkning/ - FHI - Ventilation and airing out: https://www.fhi.no/sm/luftveisinfeksjoner/nyventilasjon-og-inneklima-og-risiko-for-smitte-av-luftveisinfeksjoner-side/ # Move-out cleaning: Hallway and entryway ### What “move-out clean” usually means here - No visible dust in ceiling corners, on skirting boards or above the door frame. - No dark scuff marks on walls near the door, wardrobe or shoe storage. - Door, handle, switches and doorbell or intercom are free of fingerprints. - Wardrobes and shelves are empty and wiped clean inside and outside. - The floor and doormat are cleaned, especially from salt and sand. - The room smells neutral and fresh. ## Equipment and products ### Useful minimum equipment - Vacuum cleaner with crevice and brush attachment. - Microfiber cloths. - Dry mop or telescopic duster. - Floor mop and bucket or spray mop. - Soft sponge and non-scratch scrub pad. - Small detail brush. - Step stool. - Trash bags. ### Product principles - Mild all-purpose cleaner for most surfaces. - Dish soap for greasy fingerprints. - Glass cleaner optionally for mirrors. - Mild floor cleaner if you know the floor type. ## Workflow ```mermaid flowchart TD A[Ventilate and turn on good lighting] --> B[Clear the hallway] B --> C[Dry cleaning from top to bottom] C --> D[Details: door, switches, frames, skirting] D --> E[Wardrobes and shelves] E --> F[Wall marks and salt residue] F --> G[Mirror or glass] G --> H[Vacuum floor] H --> I[Mop floor] I --> J[Smell check and photos] ``` ## Time estimate | Task | Time | Level | Main time factor | |---|---:|---|---| | Tidying items | 10–35 min | Easy | Amount of stuff | | Dust and cobwebs | 10–25 min | Easy | Height and moldings | | Door, handle, switches, intercom | 10–30 min | Easy | Fingerprints | | Wardrobes and shelves | 20–60 min | Medium | Number of surfaces | | Wall mark removal | 15–45 min | Medium | Matte paint and scuffs | | Doormat or runner | 10–35 min | Easy–medium | Material and salt | | Vacuuming floor | 10–30 min | Easy | Sand and stones | | Mopping floor | 15–45 min | Medium | Floor type and salt | | Final control | 10–20 min | Easy | Thoroughness | **Typical total:** 1.5–4 hours. ## Step by step 1. **Ventilate and clear the space** - Air the area out and remove shoes, jackets, bags and baskets. - Empty storage compartments and vacuum out small debris. 2. **Dry cleaning first** - Remove cobwebs from ceiling corners and lamps. - Dust the tops of frames, moldings and upper shelves. - Vacuum the floor roughly to remove sand and grit before wet cleaning. 3. **Clean the details that define the final impression** - Wipe the inside of the entrance door, handle and lock area. - Wipe around switches and sockets with a lightly damp cloth. - Clean the intercom or bell area carefully without getting liquid into electronics. 4. **Wardrobes and storage** - Vacuum shelves, corners and drawer runners. - Wipe inside with lightly damp microfiber and mild cleaner. - Wipe again with clean water and dry thoroughly. 5. **Wall marks and salt residue** - Start wall cleaning with water and microfiber. - Use mild cleaner only if needed. - For salt or slush marks on robust floors, use lukewarm water and change the water often. 6. **Mirror and glass** - Clean mirrors carefully and dry them with a dry cloth for a streak-free result. 7. **Floor** - Vacuum again carefully along skirting boards and under shoe racks or benches. - Mop according to floor type and keep water use low. - Wipe away water gathering near thresholds or skirting. 8. **Final inspection** - Do a smell check after stepping out and in again. - Use angled light to inspect the door, skirting and floor near the threshold. - Take photos. ## Common mistakes - Wet-mopping before removing sand and grit. - Using too much soap and leaving a film. - Forgetting the top edge of the door frame. - Scrubbing matte walls too hard. - Covering odor instead of removing the source. ## Gentle stain and damage handling ### Wall scuff marks - Start mildly with water and microfiber. - Use a small amount of mild cleaner if needed. - Stop if the paint starts looking shiny. ### Salt and slush - Salt dissolves in water but spreads easily, so change your cloth or rinse water often. - Finish with a final wipe using clean water. ### Rubber marks on the floor - Try microfiber and lukewarm water first. - Avoid strong solvents unless you know the floor can handle them. ## Printable final checklist - [ ] All loose items removed - [ ] Ceiling corners and lamp free of dust and cobwebs - [ ] Door, frames and handles cleaned - [ ] Switches and sockets wiped around - [ ] Wardrobes, shelves and drawers emptied and cleaned - [ ] Mirror or glass streak-free - [ ] Doormat or runner cleaned - [ ] Floor vacuumed along skirting and in corners - [ ] Floor mopped correctly for the floor type - [ ] Area aired out and neutral-smelling - [ ] Photos taken ## Sources and useful links - Tenancy Act section 10-2 (Lovdata): https://lovdata.no/nav/lov/1999-03-26-17/kap10 - HTU - Move-out: https://www.htu.no/rettigheter-og-plikter/utflytting - HTU - Required condition at handover: https://www.htu.no/artikler/i-hvilken-stand-ma-boligen-vaere-ved-tilbakelevering - HTU - Tenant did not clean properly: https://www.htu.no/vanlige-uenigheter/leietaker-har-ikke-vasket-ordentlig - Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority - Cleaning work and chemicals: https://www.arbeidstilsynet.no/risikofylt-arbeid/kjemikalier/renholdsarbeid-og-kjemisk-pavirkning/ - FHI - Ventilation and airing out: https://www.fhi.no/sm/luftveisinfeksjoner/nyventilasjon-og-inneklima-og-risiko-for-smitte-av-luftveisinfeksjoner-side/