Move out without a trace: the bathroom checklist to get your deposit back

The boxes of dishes are taped up, the van is booked, and all that's left is… the bathroom. And it's often the room that costs you at the move-out inspection: limescale, blackened sealant, holes in the tiles. To get your full security deposit back, here's the checklist to follow, nook by nook.

First things first: dig out your move-in report

That's your benchmark. The place has to be handed back in the condition you got it, apart from normal wear and tear over time. Reread what was noted about the bathroom (sealant, faucets, tiles, mirror) and look at your photos if you took any. Anything that was already damaged when you moved in can't be held against you.

How long to get your deposit back

Timelines depend on where you live. In France, for example, the landlord has one month to return the deposit if the move-out report matches the move-in one, and two months if there are differences. Hence the point of doing everything you can to make the two documents look alike.

Step 1: put the original fittings back

• Shower head and hose: if you replaced the originals, put them back and take yours with you. Check there's a seal in each nut.
• Shower filter: unscrew it and screw the hose straight back onto the faucet.
• Curtain, rod, light bulbs: same idea. Everything that's yours leaves with you, everything that belongs to the place goes back where it was.

Threw out the old shower head? In that case, better to leave a simple model in good condition than to take yours and leave a bare faucet behind.

Step 2: remove adhesives cleanly

1. Warm the adhesive for a few moments with a hair dryer.
2. Slide some dental floss behind the mount and work it back and forth.
3. Roll off the leftover glue with your thumb, then finish with a little oil or adhesive remover.
4. Degrease, rinse and dry.

On tiles or ceramic, there should be no trace left. That's the whole point of not drilling.

Step 3: banish the limescale

• Faucets: wrap a cloth soaked in hot white vinegar around the faucet, let it work, scrub and rinse.
• Shower walls and door: spray with white vinegar, let it work, then squeegee.
• Shower head: a white vinegar bath to unclog the nozzles.
• Tiles: a non-abrasive sponge and diluted vinegar.

Safety reminder: never mix vinegar and bleach.

Step 4: deal with the sealant

Blackened sealant is a classic reason for deductions. Start with a vigorous clean using an old toothbrush and baking soda. If the silicone sealant around the shower tray or bathtub is really moldy, you can redo it yourself: in many places, keeping sealant in good shape counts as one of the small repairs the tenant is responsible for. A tube of bathroom silicone, a utility knife and a bit of patience are all you need.

Step 5: unclog and deodorize

• Pull the hair out of the shower drain and the sink.
• Pour in baking soda, then white vinegar, let it fizz, then rinse with hot water.
• Check that water drains normally everywhere.

Step 6: the rest of the room

• Mirror and glass: streak-free.
• Sink and toilet: descaled.
• Vanity cabinet: emptied and cleaned inside.
• Air vent: dusted. Everyone always forgets it.
• Floor and baseboards: washed.
• Light bulbs: all working.

Step 7: check for leaks

Turn on every faucet, let it run, then look under the sink and around the shower fittings. A small leak spotted before the inspection means a seal to replace. Spotted during it, it means a note on the report.

On the day

Take dated photos of the whole bathroom right before the inspection. During the walkthrough, stay with the inspector, reread every line before you sign, and don't hesitate to ask for clarification on anything too vague, like “fair condition”.

The express checklist

• Original fittings back in place
• Adhesives removed, no trace
• Limescale gone everywhere
• Clean sealant
• Drains unclogged
• Air vent dusted
• No leaks
• Photos taken on moving day

And for your next place, think about moving-out day from the moment you move in. That's the Showrz philosophy: a shower rail that sticks on with no drilling, a shower head and hose that screw on by hand, a filter that unscrews with a flick of the wrist. It all installs in minutes and it all goes back in a box, without leaving a trace on the tiles.