Move-Out Cleaning Cost: Can Landlords Charge and Tenants Avoid?

The move-out cleaning cost is one of the first things on landlords’ and tenants’ minds. Moving out means more than just packing boxes; it requires a comprehensive cleanup of the entire property. This means scrubbing kitchen counters, cleaning inside ovens, vacuuming carpets, and wiping down windows.

Knowing what move-out cleaning entails and the average cost of move-out cleaning helps both landlords and tenants prepare. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of everything landlord and tenant need to know about professional cleaning, moving out, and the associated costs.

What is Move-Out Cleaning?

Move-out cleaning is a thorough scrub of an empty home that occurs after tenants have removed their belongings. It is much harder than a weekly tidy because tenants must clean "hidden" dirt. For example, tenants have to scrub inside sticky refrigerator drawers and wipe thick dust from the top of the door frames. Tenants must also scrub black grease off the stove drip pans.

This process resets the unit for the next person. Many tenants ask, can an apartment charge us for cleaning? Yes, they can if tenants skip this step. So, completing this deep clean is vital because it ensures to protection of tenants' security deposit.

How Much Does Move-Out Cleaning Cost?

The average move-out cleaning costs are around $100 to $750, depending on the types of rental is is the big question on everyone's mind. However, the final move-out cleaning cost is rarely a single, fixed number, as it varies based on the specific home and the level of mess the tenant leaves behind. Landlords need to understand these figures to set appropriate deposits, while tenants need to be aware of them to save money. 

When budgeting for total property management costs, landlords often factor in turnover expenses; however, cleaning fees are typically the tenant's responsibility if the unit is not returned in good condition upon vacating. We break down the actual numbers below, so tenants can plan their budget effectively.

Average Move-Out Cleaning Costs

We see a wide range of prices in the market, but the average cost of move-out cleaning usually falls between $100 and $750. This range typically encompasses the entire job. If tenants hire a professional cleaning moving-out crew, they often charge by the hour, so they can expect to pay $25 to $50 per cleaner, per hour.

Think about the size of the home. A small studio is quick to clean, so it might cost around $150. In contrast, a large three-bedroom house can take all day to finish, meaning the bill can easily reach $400 or more. Specific add-ons also raise the price. Do tenants need carpet shampooing? That can add $100 to the total. Do tenants need windows washed from the outside? That might add another $100.

Notes: Always ask for a "flat rate" quote first. Avoid paying by the hour if possible. If the cleaners work slowly, an hourly bill can grow very high, but a flat fee protects tenants’ wallet from unexpected costs.

Factors Affecting the Price

Why is one bill higher than another? Several factors directly affect the price of move-out cleaning.

• Property Size: This is the biggest factor. An apartment move-out cleaning cost is naturally lower than a house cleaning cost because there are more rooms to clean, which means more floors to mop and more walls to dust. As we discuss in our guide on furnished apartments vs unfurnished rentals, cleaning furniture adds significant time and cost to the bill.
• Dirt Level: Deep grime costs more money. If the stove has burnt food, it takes extra time to scrub it clean. If the bath has mold, it needs special chemicals and effort to remove it.
• Location: Prices change by state. For instance, the housing cleaning fee in Arkansas might be $25 per hour, but in a big city like New York, it could be double that amount.
• Leftover Items: A professional cleaning service will charge a disposal fee plus labour, which can add $100 to the bill instantly.
• The Cleaner: A private person might wonder how much to charge for a move-out cleaning and ask for less than a big agency would. Yet, agencies carry insurance, which is safer for the landlord. Landlords hiring help should also check if coordination fees are included in how much property managers charge for their services.

Notes: Lower the difficulty level for the pros to save cash. Throw away all of the trash first and wipe the easy surfaces themself. If tenants leave the house tidy, the cleaners finish more quickly, which lowers the final price.

What Does a Move-Out Cleaning Service Include?

When tenants are required to pay for a professional move-out cleaning service, they expect a flawless result. So, what does a move-out clean include? It includes a total reset of the home. It is much more than a quick weekly tidy because it requires a deep scrub of every surface. 

At LeaseRunner, we recommend using a move-in checklist for the apartment guide in reverse to track their work. This ensures that the professional cleaning moving out crews clean "hidden" areas tenants often ignore to make the unit ready for a new family.

Cleaning Kitchen and Bathrooms

These rooms take the most time, which drives up the move-out cleaning cost.

• The Kitchen: Grease is the main enemy here. Cleaners degrease the range hood because it gets very sticky over time. They clean inside the oven to scrub burnt food off the metal racks. They also wipe inside the microwave and empty the cabinets to wipe crumbs from every drawer. They usually pull the fridge out to sweep the dust behind it.
• The Bathroom: Pros fight soap scum here. They scrub the glass shower doors to remove the white chalky buildup. They bleach the grout lines to kill mold and polish the sink faucets to remove water spots. They also clean the base of the toilet, where dust tends to collect.
• Useful Advice: Defrost the freezer two days in advance and wipe up any water. This saves the cleaners' time. It might save money on the hourly rate. Also, run the dishwasher one last time so it smells fresh for the final walk-through.

Carpet and Floor Cleaning

Floors show the most use. A standard clean involves vacuuming, but a move-out clean is deeper.

• Carpets: Services often steam clean them to lift dark stains and remove pet smells. Be cautious here, as landlords cannot charge for normal wear and tear. Worn paths are acceptable, but red wine stains are not.
• Hard Floors: The crew sweeps the corners where dust hides. They mop with a fresh scent to make the wood or tile shine. They also clean the transition strips between rooms.
• Useful Advice: Vacuum the carpet in two directions before the pros arrive. Go North-South, then East-West. This picks up loose hair. It lets the cleaners focus on deep stains rather than surface dirt.

Wall and Window Cleaning

Walls get dirty when tenants move furniture. Apartment move-out cleaning cost quotes often include spot cleaning.

• Walls: Cleaners look for black scuff marks to gently wipe them off. They clean the light switches because they hold many germs. They also dust the baseboards near the floor, as they tend to collect dust that falls from above.
• Windows: They wash the inside glass to remove fingerprints. They wipe the window sills where dead bugs often collect. They also remove cobwebs from the top corners.
• Useful Advice: If tenants clean scuffs themselves, avoid scrubbing flat paint too hard, as this may cause the paint to rub off. Use a soft sponge. If the tenant used nails, fill the holes with white putty for a smooth finish.

Key Differences Between Deep Cleaning and Move-Out Cleaning

This table highlights the primary distinctions to help landlords and tenants understand service expectations and associated costs.

Can a Landlord Charge a Cleaning Fee?

Yes, they can. But they must follow strict rules. It depends on the lease agreement. It also depends on the landlord-tenant laws in different states. In most places, a landlord can take money from the tenants’ deposit for cleaning. Yet, they can only do this if tenants leave the place in a state of disarray. They cannot charge the tenant for normal wear and tear.

Think about the difference. A little dust on a high shelf is usually okay. But sticky soda spills on the kitchen floor are not okay. Burnt food in the oven is not okay. If tenants leave these messes, the landlord will have to hire a cleaner. They will pass that move-out cleaning cost to tenants.

Here are clear examples of when tenants pay:

• Leave trash bags in the hallway.
• Leave a dirty, stained carpet.
• Leave mold growing in the shower grout.
• Leave an old mattress or furniture behind.

To avoid this, read the lease. Look for a "non-refundable cleaning fee." If tenants do not see one, they can clean it themselves. Do the work. Scrub the toilet. Wipe the baseboards. Then, ask landlords for their move-out inspection checklist. If the landlord sees that it is clean, they cannot charge tenants for the fee..

How Long Does a Move-Out Cleaning Take?

It usually takes between 4 and 8 hours. This time changes based on the size of the rental home. It also depends on how much dirt is there. Tenants need to know how long a move-out cleaning takes so they can plan their moving day accordingly.

Consider the specific, challenging tasks. The kitchen always seems to consume the most time. Tenants must thoroughly scrub the oven, both inside and out. Removing black, burnt grease from the racks can take up to an hour. 

You must also wipe down the fridge, and taking out the shelves to wash them in the sink adds another 30 minutes. Do not forget the small details. Wiping dust from every single blind slat is slow work. Scrubbing white soap scum from the shower glass takes muscle and time.

A professional cleaning moving out team works faster than the tenants themselves. Two pros can often finish a standard 2-bedroom apartment in 3 to 5 hours. They work in pairs. Yet, self-cleaning is likely slower. A tenant doing it alone often needs a full Saturday. Tenants may need 10 hours to prepare a 3-bedroom house.

This time connects directly to the move-out cleaning cost. If tenants hire hourly help, working fast saves cash. If tenants do it themselves, start two days early, since this keeps you on schedule.

How Tenants Can Ensure a Full Refund of Their Deposit?

These proactive steps reduce disputes and support tenants in securing their deposits. Getting tenants’ full deposit back is the main goal. To do this, tenants must meet the lease rules. They must leave the place spotless. We have some clear tips to help them succeed.

• Step 1 - Decide on the cleaning method. Tenants can hire professional cleaning and moving out services. This is the easiest choice. Pros have strong tools. They can steam clean carpets to remove stains. They can scrub deep grime from the shower.

This ensures the job is done right. If they want to save money, they can do it themself. But it  must be thorough. They cannot just sweep. They must clean "hidden" areas. Wipe the dust off the ceiling fan blades. Scrub the inside of the oven until the grease is gone.

• Step 2 - Use a list. Look at a move-in checklist apartment form. Use it in reverse. Go through every room. Check the blinds. Check the inside of drawers. This list ensures to miss nothing.
• Step 3 - Create proof. Use tenants’ phone to take photos. Picture the clean floors. Open the fridge and picture the clean shelves. This evidence protects them. It proves tenants left the unit in good shape.
• Step 4 - Talk to the landlord. Schedule move-out inspections a week early. Walk through the empty rooms with them and ask specific questions. For example, if they point out a dirty stove, tenants can clean it right then. This is better than a surprise bill later.
• Step 5 - Fix small damages. Did tenants hang pictures? Fill the small nail holes with putty. Did tenants break a blind slat? Replace it. They must address damage that is not normal wear and tear. These steps lower the move-out cleaning cost. They help tenants keep their hard-earned money.

Tenant's Responsibilities in Move-Out Cleaning

As a tenant, if you want your full deposit back, and we want that for you, too. To achieve this, tennats must clean the unit thoroughly so they can lower the potential move-out cleaning cost for the landlord. A dirty unit causes disputes, but a clean unit makes everyone happy. Here is exactly what tenants must do to ensure a smooth handover.

In General

Tenants must take all their things and remove every piece of trash. Do tenants have to clean when moving out? Yes, they do, because most leases say the unit must be "broom clean." This means they need to sweep the floors and wipe the surfaces. 

Ensure that electricity and water remain on during cleaning. Check what utilities are included in the rent to see if tenants need to keep accounts active for the final day. In addition to utilities, be mindful of large items; please do not leave old furniture behind, as the landlord will incur significant costs to hire a team to remove it.

Tenants will pay for that labour and the dump fee, so it becomes very costly. Avoid this by reading specific lease rules. The rules for renting a home vs an apartment often differ, and houses usually have stricter requirements regarding the overall property condition.

In Kitchen

This room gets very dirty because grease is the main enemy here. Tenants must lift the stove top to scrub the burners and wipe the hood fan, as it can get sticky. What does a move-out clean include for the oven? Tenants must clean the inside to remove burnt food that has a bad smell. Don't forget to wipe the fridge too. Remove the shelves, wash them in the sink, and dry them thoroughly.

Then, pull the fridge out gently so they can sweep the dust underneath. How much does it cost to have an apartment cleaned if the kitchen is in poor condition? It costs extra because cleaners charge more for heavy grease. Tenants should do this work themselves with a strong degreaser to save money.

In Bathroom

The bathroom must shine. Scrub the toilet bowl and clean the base to ensure it is sanitary. Look at the shower, as soap scum builds up and appears chalky. Scrub it off with a stiff brush. Tenants must also check the grout lines for mould. 

End-of-tenancy cleaning prices increase if there is mould, so use bleach if the tenant notices dark spots. Clean the mirror to remove streaks, and wipe the sink faucet to remove water spots. A clean bath demonstrates tenant care and proves to the landlord that the tenants have maintained the unit well.

In Floors

Floors show dirt easily, so tenants must sweep every room, including the corners and edges. Mop the hard floors with a good cleaner that has a fresh scent. Apartment move-out cleaning cost estimates often list carpet cleaning. Tenants must vacuum well in different directions to pick up more dirt. 

Look for stains to see if it is dirt or damage. Deep clean vs move-out clean rules apply here. If the carpet is very dark, consider renting a steamer to thoroughly clean it. Note the normal wear and tear rule; tenants do not pay for worn paths, but tenants do pay for spills.

In Repairs

Cleaning is not enough; tenants must also fix small damage. If tenants hung pictures, fill the nail holes with putty. If a light bulb burns out, replace it with one of the same wattage. Can a landlord charge a cleaning fee for a broken blind? No, they charge a repair fee, but it still comes from the deposit. 

Fix it now because it is cheaper. However, ensure you, as a tenant,  are not paying for old problems. Landlords should be aware of the timeframe within which they must repair a pre-existing issue, so they don't unfairly charge the tenant..

In Exterior

If you are a tenant and you rent a house with a yard, you have more work. What is move-out cleaning for a house? It includes the outside, so mow the lawn and weed the garden. As noted in comparisons of single-family home vs multi-family home living, you are likely responsible for mowing the lawn and sweeping the patio.

Sweep the patio and clean the sliding door glass. Remove pet waste because this is very important. Hose down the trash bins if they smell in the heat. This creates curb appeal and ensures a smooth final inspection.

Conclusion

Understanding the move-out cleaning cost helps tenants avoid unexpected fees, and landlords maintain the cleanliness of their properties. Cleaning kitchens, bathrooms, floors, and windows thoroughly, or hiring professionals for house cleaning when moving out, ensures that tenants can receive their full deposit back. 

Landlords can only charge fees for cleaning beyond normal wear and tear. Knowing how much to charge for a move-out cleaning and landlord-tenant responsibilities makes moving out easier and fairer for everyone.

FAQs

Can an Apartment Charge You for Cleaning? (For Tenants)

Yes. If you leave the unit in a messy state, they will charge you. For instance, leaving trash bags or a dirty stove allows them to bill you.

Do Cleaning Fees Affect the Security Deposit?  (For Tenants)

Yes. If you fail to clean, the landlord deducts the move-out cleaning cost from your deposit. They use this money to hire a cleaning crew. If you leave deep carpet stains, they might deduct the average move-out cleaning cost of $200 or more to fix them. This reduces the amount of cash you receive back.

Is Professional Cleaning Worth It?  (For Tenants)

Yes. Hiring professional cleaning and moving out services saves you stress. Instead of scrubbing toilets on moving day, you can focus on your new home. Paying end-of-tenancy cleaning prices also provides a receipt. You can show this to the landlord to demonstrate that the house cleaning and moving-out job met professional standards, thereby preventing disputes.

Can Tenants Avoid Cleaning Fees?

Yes, they do. To pay nothing, they must return the unit to its original state. Clean "hidden" areas, such as blinds and fan blades. If you are subletting, review how to rent out a room in your house to ensure your subtenant understands their cleaning duties as well.

How much do apartments charge for leaving stuff behind? (For Tenants)

Leaving items is expensive. They do not just throw it away because they must hire a professional haulier, so you have to pay for that labour and the truck fee. You also pay the dump fee. A single mattress might cost you $100 to remove. A sofa could cost $200 or more. It is much cheaper to donate these items yourself before you leave.

What is the difference between deep cleaning and move-out cleaning?  (For Tenants)

A deep clean occurs while you are still living there with your furniture. You clean around your items. A move-out clean happens in a completely empty house. You scrub inside the cabinets and drawers. You clean inside the oven and fridge. One refreshes your home, while the other resets it for a new tenant.

What is the going rate for house cleaning in Arkansas?  (For Tenants)

It is usually lower than in big coastal cities. You might pay $20 to $30 per hour there. In expensive states like New York, that rate often doubles. Always check local quotes to get the best deal for your area.

Can an apartment charge you for cleaning?  (For Tenants)

Yes, they can. They will charge you if you leave a mess. If you leave trash bags, sticky spills, or burnt food, they will bill you. However, they generally cannot charge for simple dusting unless your lease has a specific "non-refundable cleaning fee."

Do tenants have to clean when moving out? 

Yes, they must do this. Most leases require the unit to be "broom clean." This means they must sweep the floors and wipe the counters. They must also remove all trash. If tenants skip this step, the landlord will deduct the cost from their security deposit.

How much does it cost to get an apartment cleaned?

The price varies based on size. For a small studio, the cost is approximately $150. For a large three-bedroom unit, it can reach $400 or more. It also costs more if the unit is very dirty or requires heavy scrubbing of appliances.