Move-Out Cleaning in Baltimore and the Maryland DC Suburbs (2026): What Renters Actually Pay

Across 13 Maryland move-in and move-out cleans we completed between May and October 2026, the median job total was $596, add-ons included. They ran from apartments near College Park to townhouses in Bowie and family homes around Annapolis and Waldorf. This guide shows what Maryland customers actually paid by home size, the extras that change the price, what Maryland landlords check, and how to keep the bill down.

What move-out cleaning costs in Baltimore and the DC suburbs

Our move-out cleaning starts at $190 for a small apartment. Real totals depend on bedrooms and bathrooms, the condition of the home and the extras you add. Where we have enough jobs to show a home size, these are the totals Maryland customers paid:

Maryland move-in and move-out cleaning, completed jobs, May–October 2026, add-ons included

Home size	Median paid	Range paid	Jobs
2 bedrooms	$408	$300–$698	5
3 bedrooms	$721	$550–$834	5

The step from a 2-bedroom ($408) to a 3-bedroom ($721) is bigger than one extra bedroom explains. Three-bedroom homes in Maryland are usually townhouses or houses with a second or third bathroom, stairs and often a basement, and those are what add hours. The ranges are wide because condition matters as much as size: a well-kept home with an empty fridge costs far less than one with a greasy oven and years of bathroom build-up. Your own price is always confirmed in writing before you book.

The extras Maryland movers add most

Out of 13 Maryland move jobs, 12 added appliances cleaned inside and out and 5 added walls and ceilings wiped. 3 added pet hair removal and 3 added exterior windows. Those are the areas a landlord’s inspection picks up first, so they are worth including from the start rather than paying for a second visit.

• Inside the oven and fridge: the most common item on a move-out damage list
• Walls and ceilings: scuffs along stairs and halls, cooking film in kitchens
• Pet hair: along baseboards, on stairs and in vents
• Windows: sills, tracks and glass, which also matter for lead inspections in older rentals

What Maryland landlords check

Maryland landlords have 45 days after the tenancy ends to return the deposit with an itemized list of any damages, and you have the right to be there for the move-out inspection if you sent notice by certified mail. Our checklist covers what they look at:

• Kitchen: inside the oven, fridge, microwave and cabinets, range hood degreased, sink and counters
• Bathrooms: tub and tile descaled, mildew removed from grout, caulk and ceiling, fixtures polished
• Window sills and tracks, sliding-door tracks and blinds
• Vents, ceiling fans, baseboards, doors, frames and switches
• Closets, shelves and drawers wiped inside
• Basement and laundry room: washer and dryer tops, utility sink, floor
• Floors vacuumed and mopped throughout

See the full move-out cleaning checklist and our Maryland deposit guide.

Older rentals and lead inspections

Maryland rentals built before 1978 must be registered with the Maryland Department of the Environment, and unless a home is certified lead-free, the owner needs a lead inspection certificate at each change of tenant. Inspections test for lead dust on floors and window sills, which is one reason landlords of older Baltimore rowhouses and garden apartments care about dust on sills and floors at move-out. A thorough clean with damp cloths and a HEPA vacuum is part of getting a home ready; sanding or scraping paint is not something a cleaning team should do.

Rowhouse, garden apartment or house

• Baltimore rowhouses stack the space over two or three floors, with steep stairs, radiators and a basement laundry. Stairs and sills add time.
• Garden apartments and condos in Silver Spring, College Park, Hyattsville and Laurel are usually quickest per bedroom; the time goes on kitchens, bathrooms and balconies.
• Townhouses and single-family homes in Bowie, Columbia, Gaithersburg, Annapolis and Waldorf add bathrooms, finished basements and more glass, which is why larger homes sit at the top of the table.

Mention the number of floors, the basement and anything unusual such as a second kitchen when you ask for a quote. It is the quickest way to get a price that won’t change on the day.

What a move-out clean doesn’t cover

A move-out clean is a thorough clean of an empty home. It isn’t painting, patching holes, repairs, pest treatment or hauling furniture and trash. If a lot of belongings are still in the home, that is a heavy-duty clean-up instead; we will tell you which fits before anything is booked. Carpet cleaning is offered only in northern Harford County near the Pennsylvania line, so elsewhere in Maryland ask your landlord whether the lease requires it and how they want it handled.

Pets and move-out cleaning

Pets add time to any clean. Hair settles along baseboards, on stairs, in vents and on window sills, and crates and litter areas leave marks on floors. If you have a dog or cat, add pet hair removal to the quote so the price covers it from the start, and tell us about any accidents on floors so the team brings the right products. Where carpet cleaning isn’t offered, vacuum carpets thoroughly and ask your landlord how they want them handled.

Is a professional clean worth it?

Do the deposit math first. A Maryland deposit is now generally up to a month’s rent, and the landlord can list each item left dirty with a cost and supporting paperwork. A move-out clean usually costs a fraction of that, follows a checklist built around what inspections pick up, and with us comes with a promise to return within 36 hours if anything was missed. If you have the time and energy after moving, clean yourself with our checklist and give the kitchen, bathrooms and sills the most attention. If you are short of either, booking the clean is usually the cheaper option.

Moving within Maryland? Clean both ends

Many people moving between Baltimore, the DC suburbs and Annapolis book a move-out clean at the old home and a move-in clean at the new one, from $180. It sanitizes kitchens and bathrooms and wipes inside every cabinet, closet and drawer before your things go in, and it clears the musty smell a closed-up home picks up in humid weather. Ask for the move-in inspection within your first 15 days, and take dated photos before the clean.

When to book

9 of our 13 Maryland move cleans fell in May and June, when many leases turn over. Book one to two weeks ahead in late spring and at month-end, and schedule the clean after the movers leave and before the inspection. Beltway traffic can move arrival times, so leave a little slack on the day.

How to keep the price down

• Empty the home completely, including the basement, closets and storage
• Defrost and empty the fridge the day before
• Send photos with the quote request so the price is confirmed first
• Point out problem areas in advance: heavy grease, mildew, pet hair
• Reserve parking or a loading spot in apartment buildings and on rowhouse blocks

What to do next

Tell us the size of the home and your move date and we will confirm a price before anything is booked: get a free quote, or see the Maryland areas we cover for move-out cleaning, including Baltimore, Silver Spring, College Park and Annapolis.