Most deposit deductions come from the same handful of places: the inside of the oven, the refrigerator, bathroom grout and shower glass, the inside of cabinets and drawers, and baseboards. An inspector opens doors. A quick surface clean doesn't.
Start with the kitchen. The oven, range hood filter and refrigerator should be cleaned inside and out, with shelves and drawers washed. Cabinets and drawers need to be emptied and wiped, including the shelf edges and the underside of upper cabinets.
In bathrooms, hard-water scale on the shower glass and fixtures is the most common flag. So are toilet bases and the floor behind them. Mirrors, vanity drawers and exhaust fan covers are quick to miss when you're packing boxes.
Finally, walk every room for baseboards, door frames, light switches, window sills and closet shelves, then vacuum and mop last. When we do a move-out clean, we photograph each room when we finish, so you have a record to share with your landlord or property manager if a question comes up.