Cleanouts
Apartment Cleanout Services
An apartment cleanout looks small on paper and then turns out to involve a freight elevator you have to reserve, a loading zone you get for two hours, a building manager who wants a certificate of insurance, and a couch that came up the stairs in 2019 and has no intention of going back down. Junk Rhinos clears apartments on fixed dates within building rules. You tell us what leaves, we carry it out, haul it away and leave the unit swept for the walk-through.
We work for tenants at the end of a lease, students at the end of a semester, landlords turning over a single unit, and building managers dealing with what a departed tenant left behind. One visit is usually enough.
- Insured, uniformed crews
- Free on-site estimate
- No deposit, no hidden fees
- Same or next-day in most areas
- We donate & recycle first
Why apartment cleanouts are their own kind of job
In an apartment building, the truck might park around the corner while the crew rides a shared elevator with your neighbor's groceries. Every load passes through hallways and lobbies that belong to somebody else, and the building has rules about all of it: move-out hours, elevator bookings, which entrance to use, where the truck can stand, and whether the crew needs to show proof of insurance before they are allowed upstairs.
None of this is difficult, but all of it has to be arranged before the crew arrives. That is why our apartment cleanout service starts with the building, not the furniture.
What our apartment cleanout service includes
Estimate and building check
Send photos or book a free on-site estimate. We ask about the floor, elevator access, parking and any move-out rules, and confirm a firm, all-in price before any work starts.
Building paperwork and scheduling
If the building needs a certificate of insurance, an elevator reservation or a set time window, we sort that out with you or the management office ahead of the job.
Keep and leave walk-through
On arrival, the crew confirms what goes and what stays. That includes the appliances, which in most rentals belong to the landlord and should not leave with your futon.
Careful carry-out
Furniture is taken apart where needed, hallways and elevators are protected, and the crew works quietly and quickly so the neighbors barely notice.
Swept and ready for inspection
Once the unit is empty, we sweep the floors and do a final walk with you or the manager, so the space is ready for the move-out inspection or the next tenant.
Apartment cleanouts we handle
Most apartment jobs come with a date attached. These are the ones we see most.
The lease ends Friday
You have found the new place, the movers are booked, and there is a pile of furniture that is not making the trip. Maybe the new apartment is furnished, maybe the sectional will not fit through the new door. We take what you are leaving behind on your last day, or the day after the movers go, so the unit is empty when you hand back the keys.
Move out trash removal: the last-day pile
Every move produces one: flattened boxes, a broken lamp, bags of clothes, a desk chair with one wheel. Building dumpsters are rarely big enough, and bulky items left beside them can earn a fine or a deposit deduction. We load the whole pile, boxes and bags included, in one trip.
Students at the end of the semester
Shared apartments empty all at once in May. Roommates leave on different days, and the futon, the TV stand and the mini fridge belong to everyone and no one. One booking clears the lot. Usable furniture goes to donation, which is a better ending than the curb.
A landlord turning over a single unit
A tenant moved out and left half the furniture, a mattress and a closet full of boxes. If you own or manage one or a few units, we clear it in one visit so painters and cleaners can start. Managing a portfolio, handling evictions or bank-owned properties? Our property cleanout services are set up for that work.
Building managers and abandoned contents
When a tenant leaves belongings behind, the building usually has to follow its state's rules on abandoned property before anything is removed. Once the owner or management company authorizes removal in writing, we clear the unit, set aside documents and personal papers for you, and leave it ready to turn.
Moving across the country
Shipping a bookcase 1,500 miles costs more than the bookcase. Many tenants ship boxes, sell what they can, and have us clear the rest on moving day. If you have already left, the building can give the crew access and we will confirm when the unit is clear.
Building rules, elevators and insurance
Certificates of insurance
Many apartment and condo buildings will not let a crew upstairs without a certificate of insurance on file, often naming the building or management company. Ask your management office what they need and send us the details when you book. We provide a certificate on request, ideally a few business days before the job.
Elevator bookings and move-out hours
If the building has a freight elevator or a service elevator schedule, reserve it for our arrival window. Many buildings restrict moves to weekdays or set hours, and we schedule to fit.
Walk-ups and stairs
No elevator is fine. Stairs add time and labor, which the crew prices into the firm quote at the estimate, so a fourth-floor walk-up never comes with a surprise.
Parking and loading
Tell us where a truck can legally stand: loading dock, alley, driveway or street. In tight city blocks, a short window in a loading zone is often all we need.
The move-out inspection and your deposit
An empty, swept unit is the first thing a move-out inspection looks for, and leftover furniture is one of the easiest deductions a landlord can make. We get the unit empty and swept. We are not a cleaning company, though, so scrubbing the oven, cleaning the bathroom and shampooing carpets are a job for you or a cleaning service once we leave. Book us first, the cleaners second. And check your lease before removal day: it usually says which items belong to the unit, such as the refrigerator, stove, blinds, and sometimes a dishwasher or window air conditioner. Point them out at the walk-through, because hauling away the landlord's appliance is a fast way to lose a deposit.
Straight talk
Before we arrive: what you need to do
Tell the management office
Let the building know the date and time. Book the elevator, ask about the certificate of insurance, and confirm the entrance the crew should use.
Separate what stays
Pack and set aside everything you are keeping, or mark it clearly. Anything unmarked in the unit is assumed to be leaving.
Empty the fridge and drawers
Loose food, toiletries and drawer contents slow everything down. Bag them and leave the bags for us.
Set aside anything hazardous
Paint, cleaning chemicals in quantity, lighter fluid and fuel canisters cannot go on the truck. Your local household hazardous waste program takes them.
What we take and what we do not
We take nearly everything that fills an apartment:
- Sofas, sectionals, futons, recliners and beds
- Mattresses and box springs
- Dressers, desks, bookcases, TV stands and dining sets
- Your own appliances: mini fridges, washers, dryers, microwaves and window AC units
- TVs, computers and other electronics
- Boxes, bags, clothing, linens and kitchen contents
- Rugs, lamps, mirrors and wall decor
- Balcony furniture, grills without the propane tank, and plant pots
What we do not take: paints, solvents, chemicals, fuels, propane tanks and anything containing asbestos. We also leave the landlord's property exactly where it is.
What does an apartment cleanout cost?
Apartment cleanout cost follows the volume that actually leaves, not the number of rooms or the hours on the job. Move-out leftovers, meaning boxes, bags and a few pieces, usually take a quarter to half of the truck. A fully furnished studio fills about half to three-quarters, a furnished one-bedroom three-quarters to a full truck, and a furnished two-bedroom about one full truckload. A three-bedroom, or a unit packed with boxes and storage, can run to two. A unit where you are moving most things yourself is smaller still.
Walk-ups, long carries from the elevator to the truck and furniture that needs taking apart can add labor, which the crew includes in the firm, all-in price confirmed free on-site before any work starts. Our pricing page explains how the truck-space tiers work.
- Priced by the truck space your load fills
- Firm, all-in price confirmed free on-site
- No deposit, and nothing owed until it is done
- Labor, hauling and disposal fees all included
How long does an apartment cleanout take?
A studio or one-bedroom usually clears in two to three hours. A furnished two or three-bedroom unit can take most of a morning or afternoon, more if the elevator is shared or the stairs are many. We will tell you the expected window at the estimate, which helps when the building only gives you a few hours for the elevator.
What happens to the furniture and everything else
Apartment furniture is often in better shape than people think, especially when it is only a few years old. Usable furniture, kitchenware and household goods go to local charities. Electronics go to e-waste recycling, metal frames and appliances go to recyclers, and cardboard from the move is recycled. Only what cannot be reused or recycled goes to disposal.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an apartment cleanout cost?
It depends on how much of the truck your load fills, plus any extra labor for stairs, long carries or furniture that has to come apart. A pile of move-out leftovers is a small load, while a furnished one-bedroom is closer to a full truck. The firm, all-in price is confirmed free on-site before we start.
Can you provide a certificate of insurance for my building?
Yes. Ask your management office what wording they need, send it when you book, and we will provide the certificate before the job.
Do I need to reserve the elevator?
If your building takes elevator reservations, yes, please book it for our arrival window. We schedule around the building's move-out hours.
Will you carry furniture down the stairs?
Yes. Walk-ups are a normal part of this work. Extra stair labor is included in the firm price at the estimate, not added afterward.
Can you clear the apartment on my last day?
In most areas, yes. Same-day and next-day slots are often available. Give us your lease end date when you book and we will hold a time.
Will an apartment cleanout help me get my security deposit back?
It removes one of the most common deductions: belongings and junk left in the unit. We leave the unit swept, but deep cleaning is still needed for most move-out inspections.
Can a landlord hire you to clear a tenant's abandoned belongings?
Yes, once the owner or management company has followed its state's process for abandoned property and authorizes the removal in writing. Personal documents found in the unit are set aside, not discarded.
Do I need to be there?
Not necessarily. If the building or a property manager can give the crew access, we can clear the unit and confirm with photos when it is done.
Do you take mattresses and box springs from apartments?
Yes, along with bed frames and everything else in the bedroom. Many buildings do not allow mattresses at the dumpster, so they go on the truck instead.
Do you offer local apartment cleanout service in my city?
We have local crews in most areas. Check our locations page or call to confirm availability for your building.
Ready when you are
Hand back the keys to an empty unit, not a pile of furniture and a deposit deduction. Call (877) 283-1595 or request a free estimate online, and we will plan the job around your elevator booking, your building's hours and your lease end date.