Whether you are moving out, getting ready to sell, clearing out after a tenant, or just tackling years of accumulated clutter — a house or apartment cleanout in Fairfax County has some specific rules and options you should know before you start. This checklist walks you through the whole process step by step.
Before — a typical Fairfax County garage cleanout. The kind of accumulation that happens over years.
Before You Start
Before you pull a single box off a shelf, spend 20 minutes planning. This will save you hours and prevent you from accidentally throwing away things you need or donating items someone in the family wanted.
- Decide on a deadline — move-out date, listing date, or just a goal date
- Get help — a cleanout goes 3x faster with two people
- Get supplies — boxes, garbage bags, markers, labels
- Create three zones: Keep, Donate/Sell, Junk Removal
- Check with family members before discarding shared or sentimental items
- Check HOA rules — some communities restrict when and where you can place bulk items
- Schedule your junk removal pickup before you start so everything is ready to go at once
💡 Fairfax County Tip
If you plan to use Fairfax County bulk pickup for large items, schedule it before you start your cleanout — wait times can be 1–3 weeks. If you need things gone sooner, call us for same-day junk removal instead.
Room-by-Room Cleanout Checklist
Living Room
- Sofa, loveseat, sectional — keep or junk removal
- Coffee table, end tables, TV stand
- Electronics — TV, stereo, gaming consoles (recycle, don't trash)
- Bookshelves and books — donate if in good condition
- Rugs and curtains
- Decorative items, artwork, mirrors
Bedrooms
- Bed frame and headboard
- Mattress — cannot go in regular trash; schedule junk removal or county pickup
- Dresser, nightstands, wardrobe
- Clothing — donate wearable items, trash the rest
- Closet contents — go through everything, don't just leave it
- Lamps, mirrors, décor
Garage cleanout in Northern Virginia — same day, fully cleared.
Kitchen
- Appliances — donate working ones, junk removal for broken
- Refrigerator — Freon unit, requires certified disposal
- Cabinets — dishes, cookware, food items
- Pantry — toss expired food, donate sealed non-perishables
- Cleaning supplies — hazardous items cannot go in regular trash
Bathrooms
- Medications — use Fairfax County drug take-back program, never flush
- Toiletries and personal care items
- Towels and linens — donate if clean and in good condition
- Cabinets and shelving
Garage & Basement — The Hard Part
For most Fairfax County homeowners, the garage and basement are where the real work is. These are the spaces where things go "just temporarily" and stay for a decade. Budget extra time and extra junk removal capacity here.
A real Fairfax basement cleanout — everything loaded and ready for haul-away in one trip.
- Tools and hardware — keep what you use, donate the rest
- Lawn equipment — donate working mowers, trimmers; junk removal for broken
- Paint cans — old paint is hazardous waste, not regular trash (I-66 Transfer Station accepts it)
- Batteries, fluorescent bulbs — hazardous, use county drop-off
- Boxes of "stuff" — go through every box, not just the labeled ones
- Furniture stored in the garage or basement
- Sports equipment, bikes — donate usable items
- Old electronics — cannot go in trash under Virginia law; recycle at Best Buy or county drop-off
⚠️ Hazardous Items — Do Not Trash
Paint, motor oil, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, pesticides, and pool chemicals cannot go in regular trash or with junk removal. Fairfax County's I-66 Transfer Station accepts household hazardous waste on specific days. Check the county website for the current schedule before your cleanout.
Fairfax County Bulk Pickup Rules
Many Fairfax County homeowners don't realize that you can't just leave large items at the curb — you have to schedule a bulk pickup in advance.
- Schedule online at fairfaxcounty.gov before placing items at the curb
- Items must be at the curb by 7:00am on your scheduled day
- Maximum 4 bulk items per pickup request
- Single-family homes and townhouses only — apartments and condos not eligible
- Refrigerator doors must be removed or secured before curbside placement
- Wait time: typically 1–3 weeks
💡 Faster Option
If you have more than 4 items, are in an apartment, or need things gone before the county can schedule you — a junk removal company like DMV Go Junk can usually come the same day. Text us photos and we will give you a price in minutes.
What to Do With Each Category
Donate
Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and Purple Heart all accept donations in Northern Virginia. Goodwill and Habitat offer scheduled home pickups for larger items, but only if they are in sellable condition. Call before scheduling — they will decline worn or damaged items.
Sell
Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor are the fastest ways to move items locally. List furniture for free and watch it go within hours. Give a pickup deadline ("gone Sunday or going to junk removal") to create urgency and avoid no-shows.
Recycle
Electronics must be recycled — not trashed. Best Buy accepts most electronics for free (TVs over 32" have a $29.99 fee). Fairfax County's I-66 Transfer Station also accepts electronics for free on weekdays.
Junk Removal
Everything that doesn't donate, sell, or need special recycling — junk removal handles it. One call, one trip, everything gone. Works for apartments, condos, multi-floor homes, and any access situation.
When to Call Junk Removal
You have more than 4 bulk items, you are in an apartment where county pickup does not apply, you are on a tight timeline, or you simply do not want to make a dozen trips to donation centers and the transfer station. That is when junk removal makes the most sense.
At DMV Go Junk, we handle full house and apartment cleanouts across Fairfax County — Fairfax City, Reston, Herndon, Vienna, Chantilly, Oakton, and everywhere in between. Same-day available. We carry everything out — you do not need to move anything to the curb or driveway.
Owner on every job. We carry it out, load it up, and haul it away — Fairfax County and all of Northern Virginia.
Ready to Clear Out? We're Same-Day.
Text us photos of what needs to go — we'll give you a price in minutes. Fairfax County and all of Northern Virginia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most single-family home cleanouts take 2–6 hours depending on how full the home is. A one-bedroom apartment typically takes 1–2 hours. A 4-bedroom house with a full basement can take a full day. We handle same-day cleanouts across Fairfax County.
Fairfax County offers bulk item collection by appointment for single-family homes and townhouses. Schedule online, items at curb by 7am, limit of 4 items per pickup, wait time 1–3 weeks. Apartments and condos are not eligible — use junk removal or the I-66 Transfer Station.
Yes. DMV Go Junk offers same-day house and apartment cleanout service across Fairfax County — Fairfax City, Reston, Herndon, Vienna, Oakton, Chantilly, and surrounding areas. Text us a photo and we will give you a price in minutes.
Not much. Sort items into keep and go piles if possible, make sure we have clear access, and let us know about any items needing special handling. We carry everything out — you don't need to move anything to the curb.
A partial cleanout (one or two rooms) starts at $199–$399. A full single-family home cleanout runs $599–$849+. Text us photos of what needs to go and we'll give you an exact price before we schedule.