Tenants who leave their property in a clean and damage free condition upon vacating have a better chance of getting their security deposit back. Carpets should be cleaned and vacuumed, floors mopped, and all appliances and fixtures such as refrigerators and toilets should be properly cleaned. A tenant and landlord should both acknowledge any existing damage at the start of a lease; this protects the tenant from being forced to pay for existing damages. A tenant is usually entitled to get their security deposit back if it is not used for cleaning or other repairs. Laws concerning how long a landlord has to return a security deposit vary by state; generally a landlord must refund any unused security deposit money within thirty days, though the time frame can often be longer or shorter. In most cases a landlord must also provide a tenant with a list of itemized deductions if any portion of the security deposit is withheld. If a tenant does not get the security deposit back within the legal time frame, they may be able to sue the landlord in small claims court.