Junk Removal & Moving: questions, answered with sources
Each answer cites the public sources it was checked against, with the date it checked them. Jobs that need a licensed pro in Virginia say so, and explain the job instead of teaching it.
Appliance & Mattress Removal
3 answers
How do I get rid of an old refrigerator in Virginia?
Ask the store delivering your new refrigerator to haul the old one away, or check whether your electric utility runs a turn-in program. Otherwise book your locality's appliance or bulk pickup, or take it to a county drop-off site, where many Virginia localities charge a small refrigerant fee. Before it sits anywhere unattended, take the doors off, as Virginia law requires.
How much does appliance removal cost in Virginia?
Often little or nothing. Store haul-away with a new appliance is often included or a small add-on, and when we checked on October 27, 2026, Virginia county drop-off fees ran about $10 to $19 per appliance, with some residents paying nothing. A hired hauler costs more, driven by the number of items, refrigerant, stairs and any gas disconnection.
Will the store take my old appliance when I buy a new one?
Often, yes, but only if you arrange it when you order. Many appliance retailers haul the old unit away with delivery, sometimes included and sometimes for a fee, and the terms depend on the store, whether you bought online or in a store, and the type of appliance. Gas units need a qualified professional to disconnect them first.
Appliance Removal
1 answer
Construction Debris
3 answers
How do I dispose of drywall and lumber after a remodel?
Sort it first: set aside reusable doors, cabinets and good lumber for a reuse store, keep treated wood and anything painted before 1978 separate, and never burn scraps. The rest is construction waste. Most curbside trash service will not take it, so haul it covered to your local landfill or transfer station, rent a container, or hire a hauler.
How much does construction debris removal cost in Virginia?
There is no set price in Virginia. A quote is built from the volume and weight of the debris, the labour to load it, the truck trip and the landfill's per-ton fee, which differs by locality: the Montgomery Regional Solid Waste Authority charged $53 per ton for construction waste and Fairfax County $98 per ton for solid waste when we checked in October 2026.
Should my contractor haul away the debris or should I rent a dumpster?
If a contractor is doing the work, letting them haul the debris is usually simpler: they size the container, load it and deal with the landfill, and the cost sits in one written price. Renting your own makes sense when you are doing the tear-out yourself, several trades share the site, or the contractor's hauling charge is high. Either way, put it in the written contract.
Donation Pickup
1 answer
Dumpster Rental
5 answers
What size dumpster do I need for a cleanout or remodel?
Size by both volume and weight. A 20-yard roll-off suits most home cleanouts and single-room remodels, a 30-yard a whole-house cleanout or large renovation, and a 40-yard a big remodel or construction job. Heavy debris such as concrete, dirt and shingles reaches the weight limit long before the box looks full, so it belongs in a smaller container.
How much does it cost to rent a dumpster in Virginia?
Haulers set their own dumpster prices. A quote is built from the container size, rental days, weight allowance and the per-ton disposal fee, which differs by locality. When we checked in October 2026, it was $53 a ton for construction waste at the Montgomery Regional Solid Waste Authority and $98 a ton for solid waste at Fairfax County's facilities. Permits and surcharges add to it.
Do I need a permit to put a dumpster on the street in Virginia?
Usually yes. A dumpster on a public street, sidewalk or alley needs permission from whoever controls that street, and there is no single statewide permit. Alexandria, Richmond and Norfolk each require a right-of-way permit, Fairfax County does not allow dumpsters on the public right-of-way at all, and VDOT handles roads in its system. A container kept on your own driveway is outside these street rules.
Why did my dumpster rental come with extra fees?
Extra charges on a dumpster bill usually come from going over the weight allowance, keeping the container past the included days, items the landfill charges extra for such as appliances with refrigerant and tires, an overfilled or prohibited load, a wasted trip when the truck could not reach the box, or a street permit. Compare each line with your written quote and the scale ticket.
What can't you put in a dumpster in Virginia?
Keep these out of a rented dumpster in Virginia: car and other lead-acid batteries, which state law bars from mixed trash; lithium-ion batteries; paint, solvents, pesticides, motor oil, fuel and other household chemicals; propane tanks; tires; refrigerators, freezers and AC units still holding refrigerant; and building material you suspect contains asbestos. Your hauler's agreement and local landfill usually add items of their own.
Estate & Property Cleanout
4 answers
How do I start cleaning out a house after a parent dies?
Start by finding out who has legal authority over the estate, then secure the house and search it for the will, any list of who gets what, and financial papers before anything is thrown out or given away. Only then sort room by room into keep, sell, donate and discard, dispose of medicines and hazardous products properly, and book haulers last.
How much does an estate cleanout cost in Virginia?
There is no statewide price. An estate cleanout is quoted on how much the house holds, how heavy it is, how much sorting the crew does and which items carry disposal fees. Public fees set the floor: for July 2026 to June 2027, Fairfax County charged residents $98 a ton for unbagged trash and $17 each for items such as a sofa or a mattress set.
Should I hire an estate sale company or a cleanout service?
Hire an estate sale company when the contents are worth enough to sell and you have a few weeks; it turns them into money but leaves the leftovers behind. Hire a cleanout service when speed matters or little is worth selling; you pay it to empty the house. Many families use both: the sale first, then a cleanout for what did not sell.
What should I do with a house after the estate cleanout?
Treat the empty house as something that still needs care until it is sold, rented or moved into. Tell the insurer it is vacant, change the locks, keep the heat at 55°F or higher in winter, shut off outdoor faucets, keep the yard cut and the curb clear, and check on it regularly. Then deep clean and decide whether to sell, rent or keep it.
Furniture Removal
3 answers
How do I get rid of an old couch?
If the couch is clean and unbroken, offer it to a charity that picks up furniture or give it away. If not, book your locality's bulk pickup or haul it to a transfer station, where some Virginia localities charge a small fee per item or by weight. For stairs, heavy sleepers or a same-day deadline, hire a hauler. Never leave it on a roadside.
How much does furniture removal cost in Virginia?
It ranges from free to a few hundred dollars or more. Many Virginia localities collect furniture free or for a small fee, and drop-off sites charge per item or by weight, such as Fairfax County's $17 per sofa in 2026. A hauler's price depends on how much there is, stairs and carrying, disposal fees and timing, so compare written quotes.
Who picks up old furniture for free?
Charities such as Habitat for Humanity ReStores and the Salvation Army often pick up clean, unbroken furniture for free. Many Virginia localities also collect bulk items free on a schedule, such as Fairfax County's five free special pickups a year for county customers. Worn-out or infested furniture usually needs a bulk pickup, a drop-off fee or a paid hauler.
Garage Cleanout
4 answers
How do I clean out a garage in one weekend?
Plan the haul-away before Saturday: book a crew, a dumpster or a dump run, and look up your locality's hazardous waste site. On Saturday, empty the garage onto the driveway and sort everything into keep, donate, sell, trash and hazardous piles. On Sunday, haul off the trash and donations, clean the bare floor, and put back only what you are keeping, grouped by use.
How much does a garage cleanout cost in Virginia?
There is no statewide price. A garage cleanout is quoted on how much of the truck the load fills, how heavy it is, how much sorting the crew does and which items carry disposal surcharges. Public fees set the floor: for July 2026 to June 2027, Fairfax County charged residents $98 a ton for unbagged trash and $17 for a sofa or mattress set.
Should I hire a junk removal company to clean out my garage?
Hire one when the garage is full, the items are heavy, or you have no truck and no free weekend. Do it yourself when the load is small and your trash service's bulk pickup takes most of it. If you hire, get a written all-in quote, ask what the crew will not take, and ask where the load goes, because Virginia penalizes illegal dumping.
How do I set up a garage so it stays organized?
Give everything a zone and a home off the floor: wall rails and hooks for tools and bikes, labelled bins on sturdy shelves, and a clear lane around the car and the door into the house. Keep fuel, paint and pesticides in their own safe spot, put a donation bin by the door, and spend a short session each season clearing out what has crept back.
Hoarding Cleanouts
4 answers
How do I help a family member clean out a hoarded house?
Start with the person, not the piles. Agree on small goals together and never throw anything away without their consent, because forced cleanouts cause serious distress and rarely last. Make the house safe first: doors that open fully, clear stairs and bedroom windows, a 3-foot path and working smoke alarms. Bring in professionals for rodents, large mold, animal waste or sagging floors.
How much does hoarding cleanup cost in Virginia?
No public source sets a price for hoarding cleanup in Virginia. The cost depends on how much has to go, how heavy it is, how carefully it must be sorted, and whether pests, mold, animal waste or damage need specialist work. Disposal fees set a floor: Fairfax County charges residents $98 a ton for bulk trash from July 2026 to June 2027.
What should I look for in a hoarding cleanup company?
Look for a crew that works with the person who lives there, not around them: one that agrees in writing what may be thrown away, sorts for valuables, and handles pests, mold and waste safely. Check the paperwork too. Repairs or remediation over $1,000 need a DPOR-licensed contractor, and in Fairfax County a refuse hauler needs a county Certificate to Operate.
How do I keep a home from becoming hoarded again after a cleanout?
Treat the cleanout as the start, not the finish. Relapse is common without ongoing treatment, so keep therapy, coaching or a support group going. Agree on simple house rules, such as a home for every item and one thing out for each new thing in, and check in regularly. Keep the safety basics in place: clear exits, a wide path and working smoke alarms.
Hot Tub Removal
4 answers
How is an old hot tub taken apart and hauled away?
First the power is cut and the hard-wired circuit is disconnected by an electrician, and the tub is drained to wherever your locality allows. Then the crew either rolls the tub out whole, lifts it out with a crane, or cuts it into sections where it sits. Metal parts usually go for scrap and the rest goes to a landfill or transfer station.
How much does hot tub removal cost in Virginia?
There is no published statewide price. A quote depends on the tub's size, how hard it is to get out, whether it must be cut up or craned, the electrician's disconnect, and disposal. Disposal is the one dated public number: in Fairfax County, for July 2026 to June 2027, unbagged bulk trash costs $98 a ton with a $39 minimum.
Who will take away an old hot tub?
Junk removal companies and hot tub removal specialists do most of this work, and some spa dealers remove the old tub when they deliver a new one. A working tub can go to a new owner with a hot tub mover. Curbside trash pickup rarely takes one whole, and a licensed electrician usually has to disconnect the tub first.
How do I restore the yard after a hot tub is removed?
Start with what the tub left behind: have an electrician deal with the old circuit, then decide whether the concrete pad stays as a patio or comes out, with a VA 811 locate request before any digging. Bare, compacted ground then needs a soil test, loosening and seed or sod at the right season, which in Virginia is late summer to mid-fall for cool-season grass.
Junk Removal
5 answers
How do I dispose of old paint in Virginia?
It depends on the type. Latex (water-based) paint can usually be dried out completely and put in the household trash, as Fairfax County and the Montgomery Regional Solid Waste Authority both advise. Oil-based paint, stains, varnish and thinners go to your locality's household hazardous waste drop-off or collection event, never down a drain or into the trash while liquid.
How much does junk removal cost in Virginia?
There is no statewide price: haulers quote by how much of the truck your load fills, how heavy it is, how hard it is to carry out, and what the local landfill charges them. Public fees set a floor. In Fairfax County, for July 2026 to June 2027, trash costs $98 a ton to dump and a sofa or mattress set $17 at the county's drop-off sites.
What should I ask a junk removal company before booking?
Ask for an all-in written price and what can change it, which items they refuse or surcharge, where the load goes and whether they keep disposal receipts, whether they carry liability insurance, and when payment is due. Where your town requires it, ask about local hauler permits: Fairfax County, for example, requires refuse collectors to hold a Certificate to Operate.
Why won't the trash company take my bulky items?
Bulky items are usually not part of weekly trash pickup. Most Virginia localities and private haulers collect them separately, on a set schedule or by appointment, with limits on size and lists of refused items such as tires, construction debris, paint, propane tanks and appliances still holding refrigerant. Check who collects your trash, schedule a bulk pickup, or take items to a drop-off site.
How do I keep my house from filling up with clutter again?
Give things a regular way out, not just a way in. Keep a donation box by the door, use a one-in-one-out rule for bulky things, put your locality's bulk pickup or drop-off dates on the calendar, and do a short sweep of the usual pile-up spots each month. Keep exits, windows and the space around heaters clear as a safety baseline.
Loading & Unloading Only
3 answers
How do I load a moving truck so nothing breaks?
Load the heaviest things first, against the front wall of the box, and build tight tiers from floor to ceiling back toward the door. Keep the weight balanced side to side, put mattresses and sofas along the walls, strap each tier with tie-downs, fill every gap with soft items, and finish with light, fragile boxes on top. Nothing should be able to slide or tip.
How much do moving helpers cost per hour in Virginia?
No Virginia rate schedule covers moving helpers who only load and unload, so the price is whatever each crew quotes. Most charge by the hour, per worker or for the crew, with a minimum number of hours and sometimes a travel fee. Stairs, long carries, heavy items, disassembly and how ready you are move the total. Compare written quotes built on the same list.
Should I hire movers or just loading help?
Hire loading help when the move is short, you are comfortable driving a rental truck, and most of the load is boxes and ordinary furniture. Hire a full moving company when you do not want to drive, the move is long, or you are moving heavy specialty items. A mover that hauls your goods for pay in Virginia needs DMV authority unless exempt; a loading crew does not drive them.
Local Moving
5 answers
How do I plan a local move?
Start four to eight weeks out: pick a date, clear out what you will not take, get written quotes from movers that hold Virginia DMV authority, and order boxes. Pack room by room with labels, set aside essentials and batteries, file a USPS change of address, reserve parking or elevators, and update your Virginia driver's licence address within 30 days of moving.
How much do local movers cost in Virginia?
There is no state price list for a local move. Virginia does not make movers file rates for moves under 31 road miles, so the price is whatever the company quotes, usually driven by crew size, hours, travel time, stairs and long carries, packing, and specialty items. Longer in-state moves must follow the rates in a tariff filed with DMV. Get written quotes on the same inventory.
Do movers need a license in Virginia?
Most do, but from the Virginia DMV, not a contractor board. A company hauling household goods for pay in Virginia needs DMV operating authority: a permit for moves under 31 road miles, or a certificate of fitness for longer in-state moves. Moves inside one city or town, and moves using only light vehicles, are exempt from that requirement. Moves across state lines fall under federal rules.
What do I do if movers damage my furniture in Virginia?
Note the damage on the delivery paperwork before you sign, photograph it, keep the broken item and packing, and send the mover a written claim. Virginia gives household goods carriers 30 days to acknowledge a written claim and 120 days to pay, decline or offer a settlement. If that fails, complain to DMV or the Attorney General, or consider small claims court.
How do I protect floors and walls on moving day?
Clean the floors first so grit is not ground in, lay runners or hardboard along the main path, and pad door frames, banisters and corners with blankets or guards. Put felt pads on furniture feet, carry or dolly heavy pieces instead of dragging them, and keep the path clear. In a pre-1978 home, take extra care with painted trim.
Long Distance Moving
5 answers
How do I plan a long-distance move?
Start eight to twelve weeks out. Cut down what you own, get written estimates from movers registered with FMCSA after each one sees your things, choose your liability coverage, and pin down firm pickup and delivery dates. Pack and label by room, keep documents and batteries with you, forward your mail, and sort out your driver's licence in the new state.
How much does a long-distance move from Virginia cost?
It depends mostly on the weight of your shipment, the distance, and extras such as packing, stairs, long carries, storage and liability coverage. Interstate movers price from a published tariff, so the reliable number is a written estimate after a survey of your home. Under a non-binding estimate the mover cannot demand more than 110 percent of it at delivery.
How do I check if an interstate mover is registered?
Get the company's USDOT number, which federal rules require in its advertising, and look it up in FMCSA's free mover search. Confirm the name and address match, the registration is active, and whether it is a carrier or a broker. Read its complaint history, and check that the carrier named on your bill of lading is the one you looked up.
What can I do if a moving company holds my belongings hostage?
On an interstate move, federal rules say the mover must deliver once you pay 100 percent of a binding estimate or 110 percent of a non-binding one, plus any extra services you asked for and capped charges for difficult access. Offer that amount in the agreed form of payment, in writing, then call FMCSA at (888) 368-7238 and file a complaint with Virginia's Attorney General.
How do I protect furniture in a long-distance move?
Photograph each piece, take off legs, shelves and glass, and empty drawers. Wrap every piece in at least one moving blanket and hold it with stretch wrap over the blanket, never on bare wood. Box mirrors and glass with tape and corner guards, check the condition notes on the mover's inventory, choose coverage that fits what the furniture is worth, and inspect it before signing at delivery.
Mattress Disposal
3 answers
How do I dispose of a mattress in Virginia?
If you are buying a new mattress, ask the store to haul the old one away. Otherwise book your locality's bulk or special pickup, or drive it to a county or city transfer station or convenience center, where some Virginia localities charge a small per-item fee. Slash a mattress with bed bugs before it goes out, and never leave one on a roadside.
How much does mattress removal cost in Virginia?
It depends on the route. Some Virginia localities collect a mattress at no extra charge on a scheduled bulk pickup, and drop-off fees are small: when we checked on October 27, 2026, Chesterfield County charged $9 a mattress and Fairfax County $17 a mattress and box spring. Store haul-away ran about $30 a piece. A hired hauler costs more, driven by stairs, pieces and timing.
Will a mattress store take away my old mattress?
Often, but usually only when the store delivers a new mattress to your home, usually for a fee, and one old piece for each new one. When we checked on October 27, 2026, Mattress Warehouse charged $29.99 a piece and IKEA from $30 for in-store purchases. Stores can refuse a stained mattress, and a mattress shipped in a box often comes with no haul-away.
Moving to Storage
2 answers
How do I pack a storage unit so I can find things later?
Decide what you will need to reach, then load the unit in layers: big, rarely used pieces along the walls, the things you will want again nearest the door. Leave an aisle about one or two feet wide down the middle, label every box on at least two sides, and keep an inventory of what is in which box.
How much does it cost to move belongings into a storage unit in Virginia?
There is no set Virginia price. The cost is the unit rent plus the move itself, and the move depends on whether you drive a rental truck or hire a crew, how much you own, and how far you carry it. For household goods moves under 31 road miles, DMV's property carrier permit carries no tariff requirement, so compare written quotes on one inventory.
Packing & Unpacking
3 answers
How do I pack dishes for a move?
Wrap each dish on its own in plain packing paper, stand plates on edge instead of stacking them flat, and pack them in a small, sturdy box with a thick layer of cushioning on the bottom and around the sides. Put heavier pieces low and glasses on top, fill every gap until nothing moves, then tape the seams and mark the box fragile on several sides.
How much do professional packers cost in Virginia?
There is no standard Virginia price for packing. Each company sets its own, usually as crew hours plus materials, and the total depends on how much you own, how much of it is fragile, whether they pack everything or only the kitchen, and whether you want unpacking too. Get written estimates that list packing labour and materials as separate lines for the same inventory.
Is it worth paying movers to pack for me?
Often, for the kitchen and anything fragile, and for the whole house when time is short or the move is interstate. Professional packers are fast at the slow, breakable rooms, and federal rules say improper packing of boxes you pack yourself can limit a mover's liability. Books, clothes and linens are cheap and quick to pack yourself, so a partial pack is often the best value.
Pianos & Specialty Items
3 answers
How do movers move a piano safely?
A good crew never carries a piano's full weight by hand. They pad and strap it, roll an upright on a heavy dolly, take a grand's legs off and lay it on its side on a padded piano board, and put people above and below it on stairs. Your part is to measure the route, clear it, and choose a spot away from heat and sun.
How much does piano moving cost in Virginia?
It depends on the piano and the house more than the miles. A grand costs more than an upright, every flight of stairs adds work, and a long in-state move is priced from the tariff the mover files with Virginia DMV. Get an itemised written estimate from two or three piano movers, and check what each will pay if the piano is damaged.
Do I need special movers for a piano?
In practice, yes. A piano is heavy and easy to damage, so use a mover that handles pianos regularly. In Virginia, the licence that matters is the mover's DMV operating authority, not a piano title, so book a company that moves pianos regularly, holds DMV authority or a clear exemption, brings a piano board and dolly, and puts its price and its damage coverage in writing.
Scrap Metal Pickup
1 answer
Shed & Playset Removal
3 answers
How do I get rid of an old swing set?
Give a sound set away first. Otherwise take it apart with a helper from the top down, free the ground anchors, and sort the pieces by material. Metal can go to a scrap buyer or a metal pickup, wood and plastic to bulk pickup or the landfill. Never burn old treated wood, and call 811 before digging out concrete footings.
How much does it cost to remove a shed in Virginia?
There is no set price: each company quotes from the shed's size and material, what it sits on, what is inside, how easy it is to reach, and the disposal fees. A small metal or resin shed on gravel costs least; a wood shed on a concrete slab with power to it costs most. Disposal is often the smallest part of the bill.
Who removes old sheds and playsets?
Junk removal companies take down and haul most sheds and playsets. A licensed contractor is the better fit for a shed on a slab, one attached to something, or a large teardown, and a licensed electrician must disconnect a shed with power. A sound shed or playset can go to a new owner, and local bulk pickup takes only the pieces.
Shed & Structure Teardown
5 answers
What does tearing down a shed involve?
Tearing down a shed means emptying it, having any power or gas disconnected, checking for a permit and calling Virginia 811, and checking old materials for asbestos, lead paint or treated wood. Then a crew takes the building apart, usually roof first, sorts metal from wood and trash, hauls it to a landfill or transfer station, and deals with the floor or slab left behind.
How much does shed demolition cost in Virginia?
There is no single price. The bill is mostly labor, hauling and disposal by weight, plus any permit, electrician, asbestos testing or slab removal. Public fees are small: when we checked in October 2026, Montgomery County charged $45 for a demolition permit and its regional transfer station $53.00 a ton for construction material. Get written quotes that list each part.
Do I need a permit to tear down a shed in Virginia?
Often, yes. Virginia's building code requires a permit to demolish a building or structure, and although it exempts small sheds of 256 square feet or less, localities differ on whether that covers tearing one down. Call your building department first. State law also requires a Virginia 811 locate request before any demolition, and wiring, plumbing or asbestos bring their own permits.
How do I know if an old shed is worth saving?
An old shed is usually worth saving when its problems are on the surface: paint, siding, a door or roofing, with a sound floor frame, square walls and a base that has not sunk. It is usually time to tear it down when rot or termites have reached the floor frame, sills or studs, the building leans, or repairs would cost close to a new shed.
How do I clear the ground after a shed is torn down?
Clearing the ground means removing whatever the shed stood on, such as skids, blocks, gravel, piers or a slab, then picking up nails and buried wood, filling and grading the spot, and replanting. Anything dug out needs a Virginia 811 locate first. Keep children and pets off soil under an old treated-wood shed, and plant grass in late summer to mid-fall for the best results.
Specialty & Piano Moving
1 answer
Storage Unit Cleanout
1 answer
Yard Debris Removal
4 answers
Can I burn brush and yard waste in Virginia?
Sometimes. The state allows burning leaves and yard trimmings on your own property in some areas only where no regular collection service serves your street, and your county, city or town may ban it or require a permit. Between February 15 and April 30 you cannot burn before 4 p.m. near woods or dry grass. Call your fire department before you light anything.
How much does yard debris removal cost in Virginia?
There is no statewide price. A hauler prices a yard cleanup by the size of the load, how far the debris must be carried and where it is dumped. For comparison, when we checked on October 27, 2026, Fairfax County charged $20 to $28 for a pickup load of brush at its disposal sites and Richmond charged $100 for a 24-hour bulk and brush pickup. Get written quotes.
Will my county pick up yard waste in Virginia?
It depends on your locality, because yard waste pickup is set locally, not by the state. Fairfax County collects yard waste from its collection customers, Richmond collects bulk and brush every other week, and the Montgomery regional authority takes clean brush for a fee. Call your locality or trash company and ask about bags, bundle length and collection days.
How do I keep a brush pile from becoming a pest problem?
Keep it small, keep it away from the house, and do not let it sit. Fairfax County's health department lists eliminating brush piles among its ways to keep ticks at bay, and the EPA says not to pile wood debris next to the house because of termites. Chip or haul the brush promptly, and never leave it holding water.