Probably better in the DC forum, but I find the DC Metro to be reasonably clean. Cars are of all different ages so sometimes you'll notice the older ones which are quite worn. They are due for a complete overhaul over the next 7-10 years. The escalators? yea those are always broken. Elevators are also constantly out of service.

Did you use Metro on the weekend? It's extremely inconvenient on the weekends with all the maintenance they do. It's a system that is designed for the commuter and it's a big issue for WMATA on how to match the needs of riders who rely on Metro to get around.

Also - driving in DC is a nightmare.