If you're moving out of a home in Durham Region, you've probably realized the cleaning is the part nobody warns you about. You're already drowning in boxes, the truck is booked, and now there's a landlord or a real estate closing date staring at you — and the place needs to be spotless. So what does it actually cost to get a professional move-out clean in Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, or Oshawa? Let's get into it.
The short answer
For most Durham Region homes, a professional move-out clean starts around $349 and runs up to about $799 for larger homes. That's a starting estimate based on home size — the final price is confirmed before the clean, since move-outs vary a lot depending on the condition of the home.
These are starting estimates. Move-out cleans depend heavily on how the home was left, so we always confirm your final price before we start — no surprises on the day.
Why move-out cleaning costs more than a regular clean
People are often surprised that a move-out clean costs more than their usual standard cleaning. Here's why: a move-out clean is essentially a deep clean of an empty home, done to an inspection-ready standard. There's no "we'll get it next time." It has to be perfect once, because someone — a landlord, a property manager, a buyer, or a real estate agent — is going to inspect it.
That means we're cleaning things a regular clean skips: inside every cabinet and drawer, inside the oven and fridge, baseboards, light fixtures, window tracks, closet shelving, behind appliances, and every corner of every bathroom. An empty home actually takes longer in some ways, because there's nowhere to hide and every surface is exposed.
What's included in a Klova move-out clean
Here's what a proper move-out clean covers. If a company quotes you a suspiciously low price, check whether they actually include all of this:
Kitchen
- Inside and outside of all cabinets and drawers
- Inside the oven, including racks
- Inside and behind the fridge
- Range hood and filter
- All countertops, backsplash, and sink descaled
- Floors mopped including under where appliances sat
Bathrooms
- Toilets, tubs, showers, and sinks fully descaled and disinfected
- Grout scrubbed
- Glass shower doors descaled
- Inside vanity cabinets and drawers
- Mirrors, fixtures, and vent covers
Whole home
- All baseboards wiped
- Light fixtures and ceiling fans dusted
- Window sills and tracks cleaned
- Closet shelving wiped
- Switch plates, door frames, and handles wiped
- All floors vacuumed and mopped
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What affects your final move-out price
Your starting estimate is based on home size, but the final price — which we confirm before the clean — can shift based on a few things:
Condition of the home
A home that's been reasonably maintained cleans faster than one that hasn't been deep cleaned in a year. Heavy grease in the kitchen, mould in the bathrooms, or built-up grime takes more time and product. This is the single biggest factor.
Number of bathrooms
Bathrooms are the most labour-intensive rooms in any move-out clean. A home with three full bathrooms is a noticeably bigger job than one with a single bathroom, even at the same square footage.
Inside the fridge and oven
These are standard in our move-out cleans, but if they've been neglected, they add time. An oven that hasn't been cleaned in two years is its own project.
Carpet cleaning
Some leases require professional carpet steaming. That's a separate service from cleaning, so factor it in if your lease demands it.
How to actually get your security deposit back
This is the real reason most tenants book a move-out clean. In Ontario, the rules around deposits are specific — landlords can't withhold your last month's rent deposit for normal wear and tear, but they absolutely will push back if the place is left dirty. Here's how to protect yourself:
- Book the clean for after you've moved everything out. Cleaning around boxes never works. Empty first, then clean.
- Take dated photos after the clean. This is your evidence if there's ever a dispute.
- Get a receipt from your cleaning company. A professional move-out cleaning receipt is strong proof you left the place in good condition.
- Do a final walkthrough. Check the spots inspectors always look: inside the oven, behind the toilet, window tracks, and inside cabinets.
Realtors and landlords across Durham refer clients to us specifically because an inspection-ready move-out clean protects everyone — the tenant gets their deposit, and the property is ready to show or re-rent immediately.
Move-out cleaning by city
We do move-out cleans across all of Durham Region, and the demand varies by area. Whitby and Ajax see a lot of family-home move-outs tied to real estate closings. Pickering has a high volume of condo and townhouse move-outs around Bay Ridges and the GO corridor. Oshawa and the Clarington area see a mix of student rentals and family homes.
Wherever you are in Durham, the move-out process is the same: get a starting estimate, we confirm the final price before we arrive, and we leave the home inspection-ready.
Common questions
How far in advance should I book a move-out clean?
As early as you can, especially during peak moving season (May through September). We can often accommodate 24–72 hour turnarounds for urgent closings, but booking a week ahead guarantees your slot.
Do I need to be there during the clean?
No. Most move-out cleans happen in empty homes. You just need to arrange access — a key, a lockbox code, or a building concierge.
Is the price I see the final price?
The calculator gives you a starting estimate. Because move-outs vary so much based on condition, we confirm the final price with you by phone before the clean. You always know the price before any work starts.
Does HST get added?
Yes. Any registered cleaning business in Ontario charges 13% HST on top of the cleaning price.
Can you do same-day or next-day move-out cleans?
Often, yes — depending on the day and our schedule. Call us at (289) 799-8993 and we'll tell you honestly what we can do.
The bottom line
A professional move-out clean in Durham Region starts around $349 and is one of the smartest moves you can make when leaving a rental or selling a home. It protects your deposit, keeps your real estate closing on track, and takes one massive task off your plate during an already stressful time.
Get a starting estimate in about a minute with our calculator, and we'll confirm your final price before we clean. No deposit required, and you pay after the job is done.
Klova Cleaning Services is a family-run cleaning company serving Durham Region — Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Oshawa, Clarington, Bowmanville, Courtice, and Newcastle. Reach us at (289) 799-8993 or get an instant estimate on our move-out cleaning page.