The only thing worse than moving all of your belongings from one apartment to the next is having to clean when you move out.

It’s something we all have to do, and even though it’s possibly worse than going to the dentist, there’s no way to get around it if you want that deposit back.

Ah, the deposit. Those hundreds of dollars that disappeared before moving into your apartment. How well you clean before moving out could determine whether those dollars hop back into you pocket or not.

First things first, talk with your building management and see what their guidelines for cleanliness are. After that, follow this checklist so absolutely nothing slips your mind.

Everywhere

Here are some of the little things that can be easily overlooked when moving out and cost you more than just a couple of bucks.

• Start by taking out all of the nails and screws from the walls that held up your posters and decorations. Holes and marks on the walls are an easy target for apartment managers to keep some of your deposit. Try using toothpaste to fill in the holes and scrape the excess off with a playing card.

• Get off scuff marks by using toothpaste or rubbing alcohol. If you’re going to use rubbing alcohol, make sure to dab instead of rub, so you don’t take off the paint. If you’re going to use toothpaste, use a rag and scrub the toothpaste over the mark and wipe it off with warm water.

• Carpet stains can be a big ticket item for money out of your deposit. Just grab some baking soda, vinegar, water, a scrubber and a vacuum. Start by covering the stain with baking soda. Make a mixture of half vinegar and half water and spray it over the baking soda. Let it sit a few hours, scrub the baking soda and vacuum to see the spotless results.

• Dust everywhere. The ceiling lights, fans, ledges, baseboards, doorknobs and wherever else you can.

• Vacuum your carpet and mop all of the hard floors.

Bathroom

Bathrooms may be the worst part about cleaning your apartment. All the grime and crud that accumulated can be hard to get off.

• Use 20 Mule Team Borax from for the crud in the shower. Your shower will be spotless, guaranteed.

• To clean the toilet, pour a cup of baking soda into the toilet and scrub the crud away.

• Don’t forget about the drawers either. Take a damp cloth and wipe the inside of the drawers to get rid of any hairs that were lingering behind.

• Use surface cleaner to scrub the sink and mirror to make the bathroom  squeaky clean.

Kitchen

The same place that is the hot spot for all of the food is also the hot spot for old bugs too.

• Clean out cabinets and wipe the inside and outside with a wet rag.

• Clean the countertops with a surface cleaner.

• To clean the refrigerator, take out all of the shelving and set it aside for later. Use a rag and some dish soap to clean the inside of the fridge and freezer. Make sure to dry the inside completely so no ice spots build up. The shelves can usually be washed in the sink with dish soap, but make sure to dry them off completely as well.

• Don’t disregard the outside of the refrigerator either. Use warm water and dish soap for the exterior and scrub the rubber gasket seal around the door. Grime can easily build up here. If you have a stainless steel refrigerator, use a window cleaner or vinegar to make sure it stays shiny and has a polished look.

• To clean the oven, all you need is baking soda, water and a stiff bristled brush. Start by sprinkling a little water and baking soda into the oven and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Use the brush to scrub the baking soda until the crud is an orange wet glob. Use a rag to wipe up the glob and your oven should look as good as new.

• Take off the burners and soak them in soapy water. Wipe down the stovetop with surface cleaner.

• To clean the sink, use baking soda and a brush to scrub up all of the scum and rust in the drain and around the faucet.

There are many chemicals that you can use to clean your apartment, but they can be somewhat pricey. These easy home remedies are cheap, and more often than not, work better than the expensive store-bought chemicals.