Most deposit deductions come from the same handful of places, and nearly all of them are cleaning, not damage. Knowing where landlords look saves you money and a lot of back-and-forth.
In the kitchen: inside the oven, the stovetop and range hood filter, inside the fridge and freezer, inside every cabinet and drawer, and the sink and faucet. In the bathrooms: the tub or shower, grout, the toilet base, mirrors, and the exhaust fan cover.
Everywhere else: baseboards, light switches, door frames, window sills and tracks, closet shelves, and the floors. Carpet is the big one. Many leases require professional carpet cleaning at move-out, so check yours and keep the receipt.
If you're short on time, hand off the jobs that need equipment: carpet steam cleaning, tile and grout, and windows. A full move-out clean in one visit means you can return the keys on schedule and focus on the move.