Moving Out of a Rental With Pets: Hair and Odours
On this page
Moving out of a rental with pets starts with removing their bedding and belongings, then cleaning high surfaces, edges and floors. Check for remaining hair and odours before the walk-through, and keep Ontario’s deposit rules separate from cleaning.
Inspect the edges and fabrics before you start
Start with an inspection rather than the mop. Look along baseboards, inside closet corners, beneath radiators and around vent covers. Check under appliances, on window sills and between blind slats, then look at carpet edges and the places where your pet slept.
Make a room-by-room note of what needs attention. Use the vacuum’s crevice attachment for narrow gaps and its appropriate surface attachment for fabric or blinds. Leave inaccessible areas on your list to discuss rather than trying to reach them by pulling fixtures apart.
Include carpets, curtains and soft furnishings in your odour check, even when they look tidy. Rather than relying only on a familiar room’s smell, ask someone who does not live there to help check it. Identify which fabrics belong to you and which stay with the rental, so your plan covers both packing and cleaning.
In Real Homes’ pet odour advice, Lina DaSilva says dealing with pet odours in small spaces requires a combination of regular cleaning, strategic odour management and an understanding of pet behaviour; in its section on bedding and furniture, she also calls washable covers and removable liners ideal for easy maintenance.
Use your pet’s habits to guide the inspection: check the window ledge they watched from, the corner behind their bed and the curtain beside their resting spot.
Before the final clean: the pet’s things first
Prepare the pet’s belongings before starting the final room-by-room clean. Leave only what your pet needs until departure, and keep those items together so you can remove them before the last floor pass.
Follow this preparation order:
- Wash pet beds, blankets, washable covers and removable liners according to their care labels. Pack clean bedding, toys and grooming supplies separately from items still awaiting washing.
- Empty and remove the litter box, bowls, crate and feeding mats. Collect loose food or litter before vacuuming.
- Clean the floor beneath each station using a method suited to its finish. Check the adjacent baseboard and wall instead of stopping at the outline of the mat.
- Arrange for your pet to be elsewhere during the final clean, or settle them in a closed room.
- Clean that last room after your pet leaves, taking their remaining belongings with them.
Keep the pet’s room out of the main packing route. If furniture is still being carried through the unit, save the final floor pass until it has gone. The complete move-out cleaning checklist can help you combine these pet-specific steps with the rest of the handover work.
Cleaning it out, room by room
Work top down: reachable fan blades and light fixtures first, then blinds, sills, walls and trim, with floors last. Gather a vacuum with attachments, cloths, a lint roller or rubber glove, and a mop before starting.
Open the windows to air the unit while you clean, once your pet is elsewhere. Work through the rooms with the windows open, then close and check each window during your final walk-through. Keep airing the unit as a separate task from removing hair and cleaning the fabrics on your list.
Floors and carpets
Vacuum carpets and rugs slowly in crossing directions, adjusting the attachment for the surface. Work along the perimeter with the crevice tool, including closet corners, thresholds and stair edges. Move belongings out of the way rather than vacuuming around their footprint.
For hair left on fabric, try a lint roller or a lightly damp rubber glove on a discreet area first. Follow the fabric’s care instructions, collect loosened hair and check seams and folds. Inspect curtains that remain with the unit and follow their care labels rather than assuming they can be machine-washed.
On hard floors, vacuum loose hair before using a damp, not wet, mop suited to the flooring. Work towards the doorway and check the edges as you go. Revisit the former feeding and litter areas after the broader floor clean.
Walls, trim and vents
Wipe baseboards, door frames and low walls for hair and nose prints, using a cloth and cleaning method appropriate to the finish. Test a discreet spot first, and keep the cloth lightly damp rather than soaking painted surfaces. Check glass at your pet’s height as well as at eye level.
Vacuum accessible vent covers with the brush attachment, then wipe their exposed surfaces. Clean reachable fan blades and the tops of door frames before doing the floor beneath them. Under radiators, use an attachment that fits the available gap without forcing it.
Kitchen, bathroom and balcony
Vacuum under and behind the fridge and stove wherever accessible. Use the gap attachment before wiping exposed floor; arrange help with moving appliances rather than pulling on connections. Clean the feeding spot, surrounding cupboard exteriors and nearby trim.
In the bathroom, remove hair from the tub after pet baths and clean the tub, floor and edges. Check behind the bathroom door and beside the vanity. Include the toilet, sink and mirrors in the general final clean.
If you have a balcony, remove your pet’s belongings and collect loose hair and debris from the floor. Clean the exposed floor with a method suited to its surface, including the corners and the area beneath any feeding mat.
Deposits and wear and tear: what Ontario says
Cleaning, deposits and the condition of the unit are separate parts of the handover. The Government of Ontario’s standard lease guidance says an additional lease term requiring deposits, fees or penalties the act does not permit, such as damage or pet deposits, is void and cannot be enforced.
The City of Toronto’s renter information says it is illegal for a property owner to charge a damage deposit or other additional charges, and a key deposit cannot exceed the cost of replacing the key.
The Landlord and Tenant Board’s guide to the tenancy act says the rent deposit can only be used as rent for the last month or week before moving out, not for repairs or anything else, and the landlord must pay interest on it annually. The Board also says tenants must maintain ordinary cleanliness and repair or pay for damage caused by themselves, their guests or others living there, but are not responsible for normal wear and tear, such as carpet worn after years of normal use.
After cleaning, note scratches, chewed trim and remaining stains by room and location. Photograph the overall room and take closer views of those areas. Compare them with your move-in record, and keep the description factual rather than deciding responsibility from appearance alone.
Arrange a final walk-through with the landlord once belongings are removed. In homes in Downtown Toronto, where the housing mix includes condos, rental high-rises, lofts and row houses, adapt your photographic record to the unit itself. Photograph each room, level or distinct living area, including closets and the areas previously covered by pet beds or furniture.
When to bring in help
Book help after pets and belongings leave if the empty unit needs a thorough pass. Toronto Shine Cleaning’s move-out cleaning service covers kitchens, bathrooms, baseboards, vents and fans. A pet that sheds a lot? Add the pet-hair extra.
Move-out cleaning base rates are:
- $224 before HST for Studio or 1 bedroom, 1 bath, under 600 sq ft.
- $287 before HST for 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 600 to 1,199 sq ft.
- $367 before HST for 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,200 to 1,999 sq ft.
- $458 before HST for 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2,000 to 2,499 sq ft.
Call (647) 424-0355.
Frequently asked questions
What should I tell the cleaner about my cat or dog?
Describe the shedding and where your pet spent time. Add useful details to your booking notes, such as a favourite sleeping corner or a feeding area inside a closet, so those spots are easy to identify in the empty unit.
Should I keep cleaning supplies out of the moving truck?
Yes, keep a separate cleaning kit accessible. Pack the vacuum attachments, cloths and mop together rather than across several moving boxes, and reserve a bag for used cloths so you can take everything away after the final check.
Can I add inside-fridge cleaning to a move-out booking?
Yes. Inside fridge is an add-on, as are inside oven and inside cabinets. Choose the extras for the empty unit you are handing over, and clear those spaces before the visit so their interiors are accessible.
