How Often Should You Deep Clean Your Atlanta Home?
Most Atlanta homeowners underestimate how often a deep clean is truly needed. Here's a practical gui...
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Moving6 min readApril 20, 2025
DG
By Danielle Godoi · Owner, DG Atlanta Cleaning ServicesSecurity Deposit Cleaning in Dunwoody, GA: What You Need to Know
Dunwoody property managers have specific move-out expectations. Here's what they actually look for during inspections — and how to make sure your deposit comes back in full.
Why Dunwoody Renters Lose Their Deposits
Dunwoody has a large and active rental market, with significant concentrations of apartment complexes along Ashford Dunwoody Road and near Perimeter Center. Many of these properties are managed by large professional management companies — which means move-out inspections are thorough, consistent, and documented with photos.
The most common reasons Dunwoody renters lose part of their security deposit:
1. Kitchen grease and oven residue
2. Bathroom grout and caulk discoloration
3. Dirty baseboards and window tracks
4. Carpet stains (if applicable)
5. Dirty appliance interiors
All of these are preventable with the right cleaning approach.
Georgia Law and Your Rights
Under Georgia Code § 44-7-34, your landlord must return your security deposit within 30 days of your move-out date. If they make deductions, they must provide an itemized written statement explaining each charge. If they fail to do so within 30 days, they forfeit the right to keep any portion of the deposit.
This means documentation matters on both sides. Before you move out, take timestamped photos of every room after cleaning. This protects you if there's a dispute.
What Dunwoody Property Managers Inspect
Based on standard move-out inspection forms used by Dunwoody-area property management companies, here's what gets checked:
| Room | Key Inspection Points |
|---|
| Kitchen | Oven interior, refrigerator (including coils), cabinet interiors, grout, sink drain |
|---|---|
| Bathrooms | Grout, caulk, toilet (including base), exhaust fan, mirror |
| Bedrooms | Baseboards, closet shelves, window tracks, ceiling fan blades |
| Living room | Baseboards, light fixtures, blinds, behind furniture |
| Laundry | Washer/dryer interiors, lint trap, floor |
How to Clean Your Dunwoody Rental for Full Deposit Return
Start with the kitchen — specifically the oven. Baked-on grease is the most common deduction and the hardest to clean. Use a commercial oven cleaner the night before your move-out and let it soak overnight. For the refrigerator, pull it away from the wall and clean the coils and the drip pan underneath — this is almost always missed by renters doing their own cleaning.
In the bathrooms, focus on grout. A grout brush with a bleach-based cleaner will remove most discoloration. If the caulk around the tub is moldy or peeling, it may need to be replaced — your landlord will likely charge for this if you leave it.
Throughout the unit, wipe down every baseboard, every window sill, and every light switch. These are small details that signal whether a cleaning was thorough or rushed.
The Easiest Solution
If you're managing a move while also trying to clean to landlord standards, hiring a professional is often the smartest financial decision. DG Atlanta Cleaning Services provides move-out cleaning throughout Dunwoody and the Perimeter area. We know what local property managers look for, and we clean to that standard. Get a free quote — most jobs can be scheduled within 48 hours.