Move-out cleaning costs $250 to $600 for most homes, or $0.15 to $0.35 per square foot. It is priced above a deep clean because the home is empty, which means every surface is exposed: inside every cabinet, drawer, closet, and appliance.
It is also the clean that decides whether a security deposit comes back. Below is what it costs, what the full checklist covers, and the specific items landlords and property managers actually inspect.
Move-out cleaning cost
| Home size | Square feet | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 500 to 900 | $150 to $300 |
| 2 bedrooms | 900 to 1,200 | $220 to $400 |
| 3 bedrooms | 1,200 to 2,000 | $300 to $550 |
| 4+ bedrooms | 2,000 to 3,500+ | $450 to $900+ |
Per square foot, expect $0.15 to $0.35. Northeast markets including New Jersey run in the upper half of that range.
What pushes the price up
- Carpet condition. Heavy staining may require separate carpet treatment, which is priced on its own.
- Inside the oven. A neglected oven can add an hour of labor by itself.
- Pets. Hair in baseboards, vents, and carpet edges adds real time.
- Wall marks. Spot cleaning walls is often billed separately from the base price.
- Garage, basement, or attic. Frequently excluded from the base quote. Ask directly.
- Time since the last real clean. The single largest variable, as with any deep clean.
Is it cheaper than losing the deposit?
Almost always. Security deposits in New Jersey commonly run one to one and a half months of rent. Cleaning deductions for an unclean unit routinely run $200 to $500, and landlords are not obligated to hire at the price you would have paid. Paying $350 to protect a $2,500 deposit is straightforward math.
Move-out cleaning checklist
Work through the home in this order, and do it after the last box is out. Cleaning a room that still has furniture in it means cleaning it twice.
Whole home, every room
- Dust and wipe ceiling fans and all light fixtures, including inside the glass covers
- Wipe down all walls for scuffs, handprints, and marks
- Clean baseboards on every wall, all the way around
- Wipe door frames, doors, and the tops of doors
- Clean all light switches and outlet covers
- Clean interior windows, sills, and window tracks
- Wipe or wash blinds
- Remove all nails, hooks, and anchors, and patch the holes
- Clean and vacuum inside every closet, including shelves and rods
- Wipe air vents and replace the HVAC filter
- Vacuum all carpet, including edges and corners
- Sweep and mop all hard floors
Kitchen
- Inside the oven, including racks and the door glass
- Under the stovetop and the drip pans
- Inside the refrigerator and freezer, including shelves and drawers, then leave the door propped if the unit is being shut off
- Behind and underneath the refrigerator and stove
- Inside and outside of every cabinet and drawer
- Cabinet tops, which collect grease and are almost never cleaned
- Inside the microwave and dishwasher
- Run a cleaning cycle in the dishwasher
- Range hood and filter, degreased
- Backsplash and countertops
- Sink, faucet, and garbage disposal
- Pantry shelves, emptied and wiped
Bathrooms
- Toilet: bowl, tank, seat, lid, base, and the floor and wall behind it
- Tub and shower, including scrubbing the grout
- Descale the showerhead and faucets
- Shower door tracks
- Sink, counter, and vanity, inside and out
- Mirror and medicine cabinet, inside and out
- Exhaust fan cover
- Towel bars and hardware
- Floors, including behind the toilet
Laundry and utility
- Inside the washer and dryer
- Clean the dryer lint trap and the vent opening
- Behind and under both machines
- Utility sink
Outside the unit
- Sweep the porch, patio, balcony, or entryway
- Clean the garage floor and remove anything left behind
- Empty and clean all trash and recycling bins
- Remove everything from the yard, shed, or storage area
What landlords actually check first
Inspections are not random. In practice, deductions cluster around the same handful of items:
- Inside the oven. The most commonly cited item on move-out deductions, and the most commonly skipped.
- Inside the refrigerator. Especially the seals and the drawers.
- Bathroom grout and shower doors. Visible from the doorway, and hard to fake.
- Baseboards. The fastest way for an inspector to judge how thorough the rest of the clean was.
- Cabinet and drawer interiors. They get opened, every time.
- Carpet edges and corners. Where a rushed vacuum job shows.
- Nail holes and wall marks. Patch them, and match the paint if you can.
Take dated photographs of every room once the clean is finished. If a deduction is disputed later, photographs taken on the day of handover are the only evidence that carries weight.
Move-out cleaning vs deep cleaning
They overlap, but they are not the same job.
| Deep clean | Move-out clean | |
|---|---|---|
| Home occupied | Yes | No, empty |
| Inside cabinets and drawers | Where accessible | All of them, fully emptied |
| Inside oven and refrigerator | Usually | Always |
| Inside closets | Floors only | Shelves, rods, walls |
| Walls spot-cleaned | No | Yes |
| Nail holes patched | No | Commonly requested |
| Typical cost | $240 to $500 | $250 to $600 |
See our deep cleaning service for comparison, or the full breakdown in our guide to house cleaning costs.
Timing: when to book
- Book two to three weeks out. The end of the month is the busiest window for every cleaning company, because most leases end then.
- Schedule for after the movers finish and before the final walkthrough, ideally with a full day of margin.
- Confirm utilities stay on. Cleaning requires running water, hot water, and power. Utilities shut off a day early is the most common reason a move-out clean has to be rescheduled.
- Have the keys sorted. Someone needs to let the crew in and lock up.
Frequently asked questions
How much does move-out cleaning cost?
Move-out cleaning costs $250 to $600 for most homes, or $0.15 to $0.35 per square foot. A studio or one-bedroom runs $150 to $300; a four-bedroom home runs $450 to $900 or more.
What is included in a move-out clean?
A move-out clean covers the entire empty home: inside all cabinets, drawers, and closets, inside the oven and refrigerator, behind appliances, baseboards, door frames, walls, window tracks, blinds, light fixtures, vents, full bathroom detail including grout, and all floors.
Do I need a move-out clean to get my deposit back?
Not legally, but leases almost always require the unit be returned in clean condition. Cleaning deductions commonly run $200 to $500, which usually exceeds the cost of booking the clean yourself.
How long does a move-out clean take?
Four to eight hours of labor for a two to three bedroom home. A team of two typically finishes in three to four hours.
Should I clean before or after moving out?
After. Clean once the home is completely empty. Cleaning around furniture and boxes means cleaning those areas a second time, and it is the most common reason a move-out clean fails inspection.
Is carpet cleaning included?
Usually not. Carpet shampooing is a separate service with separate equipment, and many leases require it specifically. Confirm whether your lease demands professional carpet treatment before you book.
Book a move-out clean in Monmouth County
Maison Mop Stars handles move-in and move-out cleaning across Monmouth County, New Jersey, including Freehold, Manalapan, Marlboro, Middletown, and the rest of the county.
See our move-out cleaning service, or request a free estimate. Call or text (732) 268-0803.
