Move-Out Cleaning Cost in Northern Virginia (2026): What Renters Actually Pay

Across 13 Virginia move-in and move-out cleans we completed in 2026, the median job total was $588, add-ons included. These are Virginia-wide figures: some of those jobs were outside the Northern Virginia area we cover today, so use them as a guide to what move cleans cost rather than a price list for Arlington or Fairfax. This guide shows what Virginia customers actually paid, the extras that change the price, what Northern Virginia landlords check, and how to keep the bill down.

What move-out cleaning costs in Virginia

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 Virginia customers paid:

Virginia move-in and move-out cleaning, completed jobs, 2026, add-ons included

Home size	Median paid	Range paid	Jobs
3 bedrooms	$606	$389–$944	6
4 bedrooms	$631	$566–$878	3

Three- and four-bedroom homes came out close together ($606 and $631), and the ranges are wide. That is because condition and extras matter as much as size: a well-kept four-bedroom with an empty fridge can cost less than a three-bedroom with a greasy double oven, pet hair and a finished basement. Smaller apartments and condos usually come in well below these figures. Your own price is always confirmed in writing before you book.

The extras Virginia movers add most

Out of 13 Virginia move jobs, 10 added appliances cleaned inside and out and 8 added walls and ceilings wiped. 2 added a double oven, which is common in larger Northern Virginia kitchens. Those are the things a landlord’s move-out report picks up first, so they are worth including from the start.

• Inside the oven and fridge: the most common item on a move-out list
• Walls and ceilings: scuffs along stairs and halls, cooking film in kitchens
• Double ovens and second fridges: mention them when you ask for a quote
• Pet hair: along baseboards, on stairs and in vents

Carpet cleaning is not offered in Northern Virginia, so vacuum carpets thoroughly and ask your landlord how they want carpets handled if your lease mentions them.

What Northern Virginia landlords check

Virginia landlords have 45 days after the tenancy ends to return the deposit with an itemized list of deductions, and you can ask to attend the move-out inspection, held within 72 hours of handing back the keys. 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
• Vents, ceiling fans, baseboards, doors, frames and switches
• Window tracks, sliding-door tracks and blinds
• Closets, shelves and drawers wiped inside
• Basement and laundry room, garage swept if included in the lease
• Floors vacuumed and mopped throughout

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

Condo, townhouse or single-family home

• High-rise and garden condos in Arlington, Alexandria and Falls Church are usually quickest per bedroom: one level, stacked laundry, balcony doors. Elevator bookings and loading rules matter more than square footage.
• Townhouses in Reston, Fairfax, Centreville, Woodbridge and Alexandria stack the space over three levels, often with a walk-out basement; stairs on every level add time.
• Single-family homes in Ashburn, Leesburg, Gainesville and Bristow add more bathrooms, bigger kitchens, finished basements and more glass, which is why larger homes sit at the top of the table.

Mention the number of levels, the basement and anything unusual 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.

If the move is also a chance to downsize, our organizing and decluttering service can sort closets, basements and garages into keep, donate and dispose before moving day, so you pay movers to carry only what you are keeping and the clean can start on an empty home.

Is a professional clean worth it?

Do the deposit math first. A Virginia deposit can be up to two months’ rent, and the landlord can itemize every item left dirty against it. A move-out clean usually costs a fraction of that, follows a checklist built around what inspections notice, and with us comes with a promise to return within 36 hours if anything was missed. If you have time and energy after the move, clean yourself with our checklist and give the kitchen, bathrooms and tracks the most attention; if not, booking the clean is usually the cheaper option.

Pets and move-out cleaning

Pets add time to any clean. Hair settles along baseboards, on stairs, in vents and in the tracks of sliding doors, and crates and litter areas leave marks on floors. Add pet hair removal to the quote so the price covers it from the start, and mention any accidents on floors so the team brings the right products.

How to compare cleaning quotes

• Ask whether the price is fixed or hourly, and what happens if the job takes longer
• Check what is included: inside appliances, cabinets, walls and baseboards are often extras
• Ask whether supplies and equipment are included
• Check the company can meet your building’s insurance certificate rules if required
• Get the price in writing before you book

Moving within Northern Virginia? Clean both ends

Many people moving within the region book a move-out clean at the old home and a move-in clean at the new one, from $180. In a new build, it clears the drywall dust the builder’s clean leaves in vents, cabinets and tracks. Virginia landlords must give you a written report of existing damage within five days of move-in, and you have five days to object in writing; take dated photos before the clean so your record is complete.

When to book

11 of our 13 Virginia move cleans fell between June and August, with July the busiest month. Book one to two weeks ahead in summer and at month-end, and schedule the clean after the movers leave and before the inspection. Beltway and I-95 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, garage 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 the elevator or a parking spot in condo buildings and HOA communities

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 Virginia areas we cover for move-out cleaning, including Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax and Ashburn.