Quick answer: Across LA, move-out deep cleans usually run $200 to $600 depending on size and condition. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready is flat priced at Studio $225, 1 Bedroom $255, 2 Bedroom $335, and 3BR or larger $425, done in 48 hours, and it includes a 12-point photo report. You can book online in under a minute.
Cheap apartment cleaning in Los Angeles means two things: a fair price and a unit that is actually rent-ready. Across the market you will see one-time deep cleans from $200 to $600 for typical units, with separate add-ons and variable timing. TurnOver LA runs fixed pricing by bedroom count, a 48-hour turnaround, and includes floor detailing and photos so you have documentation that supports deposit deductions.
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What does “cheap” apartment cleaning actually cover in LA?
Most low quotes you see for Los Angeles are standard maid visits or hourly rates for light maintenance. That is dusting, wipe-downs, and a quick vacuum. A move-out or rent-ready clean is different. It should include appliance interiors, bath descaling, grout and caulk attention, cabinet interiors, baseboards, door frames, and floors that pass a showing test. Miss those and you lose days of rent waiting to fix callbacks.
TurnOver LA’s Make Ready is a deep clean designed for turnovers. It includes a 12-point photo report and floor detailing folded into the base scope, so you can review condition remotely and market the unit with confidence. If the fridge, oven, or shower glass needs extra time, it is included in the fixed Make Ready rate by unit size. That is how you keep costs predictable and vacancy days low.
How much does it cost to pay someone to clean an apartment in LA?
Across Los Angeles, one-time deep cleans for move-outs usually land here:
- Studio: $150 to $350
- 1 Bedroom: $200 to $450
- 2 Bedroom: $300 to $600
- 3 Bedroom: $400 to $750
TurnOver LA is not hourly. We price by unit size and deliver in 48 hours. Here is a side-by-side to help you benchmark.
| Unit size | Typical LA deep clean | TurnOver LA Make Ready | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $150 to $350 | $225 | 48 hours |
| 1 Bedroom | $200 to $450 | $255 | 48 hours |
| 2 Bedroom | $300 to $600 | $335 | 48 hours |
| 3BR or larger | $400 to $750 | $425 | 48 hours |
Make Ready includes a 12-point photo report you can save for your files, which helps with charge documentation under California Civil Code §1950.5. If you also need paint touch-up, junk haul, or a lock rekey, those are flat priced add-ons so you can keep the whole turnover on a single timeline.
Is $50 an hour for cleaning good in Los Angeles?
It depends on scope. At $50 per hour, a 1 bedroom deep clean often takes 4 to 6 hours, so you are likely at $200 to $300 before supplies or add-ons. If the vendor bills for fridge and oven interiors, blinds, or shower descaling, the total creeps toward $350 to $450 fast. Hourly is fine for ongoing housekeeping, but move-out work has more variables.
TurnOver LA avoids the hourly guesswork. A 1 bedroom Make Ready is a flat $255 with floor detailing and a 12-point photo report, completed in 48 hours. No rush fee. That is predictable for owners and managers who need a rent-ready handoff and cannot risk a surprise six-hour bill on a slow day.
What is the 80/20 rule in house cleaning and how do you use it for move-outs?
The 80/20 rule says 20 percent of the tasks deliver 80 percent of the visible result. For showings, that means hitting the buyer’s-eye items first. In LA apartments, the make-or-break spots are kitchen appliances, bath surfaces and glass, floors, baseboards and door faces, and odor sources.
Our crews sequence in that order so the unit is showable even if access windows are tight. Grease removal on the range, oven interior, and hood, then shower glass and grout, followed by floor detailing and edge vacuuming. Cabinets and drawers get wiped inside so new tenants do not complain on move-in. This is why a Make Ready passes first showings more often than a generic maid service.
Is 2 hours a week enough for a cleaner?
For a lived-in unit, two hours weekly can hold surfaces between deeper visits. For a move-out, two hours is usually not enough. Expect 3 to 6 labor hours for a studio or 1 bedroom deep clean and 5 to 8 for a 2 bedroom, depending on grease, hard water, and pet hair.
If you are paying hourly, short slots lead to callbacks and second trips. A fixed-scope Make Ready avoids that. Studio is $225, 1 bedroom $255, 2 bedroom $335, and 3 bedroom or larger $425, completed within 48 hours. That is usually faster than coordinating two different visits and it keeps vacancy loss off your books.
When is a cheap clean not actually cheap for landlords and managers?
Two places. First, vacancy loss. In LA submarkets, a day empty costs about $80 to $200. If a low-bid cleaner misses the oven or shower scale and you need a redo, you can easily burn one to two extra days, which is $160 to $400 gone. Second, documentation. Without photos, you lose leverage on deposit deductions and you risk a dispute.
TurnOver LA bakes both into the base package. We finish within 48 hours, no rush surcharge, and provide a 12-point photo report so you can prove condition when you mail deposit statements under California Civil Code §1950.5. With AB 12 (2023) capping many security deposits at one month, clean documentation matters more than ever.
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What add-ons do turnovers usually need beyond cleaning, and what do they cost?
Across the LA market, you will see add-ons like paint touch-up from $150 to $300, full-room repainting from $350 to $600 per room, lock rekeys from $90 to $200, and junk hauls from $150 to $500 depending on load size. Those vary by vendor and scheduling.
TurnOver LA pricing is flat and pairs with Make Ready on a 48-hour clock:
- Paint touch-up only: $200
- Repainting per room: $395 per room
- Ceilings and baseboard or trim: $125
- Sand and repaint cabinets or shelving: $135
- Small drywall patch and texture: $150 per patch, medium repair $240 per patch
- Unit cleanout and junk haul: Studio $200, 1 Bedroom $310, 2 Bedroom $420, 3BR or larger $420, additional load $200 per load
- Rekey options: first lock $100, additional $50 per lock, full apartment rekey up to 2 locks $150, front plus deadbolt $110, door knob replacement $100 per knob, smart lock install $210
You can keep everything under one work order and one 48-hour window, which is the cleanest way to protect against vacancy creep.
For full scopes, see our Make Ready details on the service page and related trades for punch work and paint:
- See the rent-ready scope: Make Ready service
- Add small fixes efficiently: handyman punch list options
- Painting and drywall options: paint and drywall services
- Need to clear a unit fast: cleanout and junk haul
Can you deduct move-out cleaning from the security deposit in California?
Yes, if it is to return the unit to the level of cleanliness it had at move-in, less normal wear and tear. You must provide an itemized statement with receipts within 21 days of move-out per California Civil Code §1950.5. Our 12-point photo report supports your file, especially where grease or scale exceeds normal wear.
Also note AB 12 (2023) security deposit cap limits many deposits to one month of rent. Strong documentation and predictable cleanup costs matter more with that smaller reserve. For deeper context, see our guides on California 21-day deposit return and normal wear and tear in California.
How do LA rules and timelines affect your cleaning plan?
If your property is under the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance and you are cycling units between tenancies, you will want faster turnovers and careful documentation. That keeps you within required timelines for notices, avoids habitability disputes, and limits days vacant. In Westside markets like Santa Monica and Venice, showings move quickly, so a 48-hour clean plus light touch-up paint helps you hit weekend traffic.
We serve the whole city, including high-density corridors like Koreatown where access and parking make scheduling tricky. The crew arrives with parking plans and supplies on carts, which shortens the job clock in buildings that restrict elevator use or have tight loading zones.
What is included in the TurnOver LA Make Ready, step by step?
Here is the standard sequence that gets a unit showing-ready within 48 hours and documented for your records.
- Kitchen degrease: range top and front, oven interior, hood, microwave interior, fridge interior and gasket, sink and faucet.
- Bath scale removal: shower glass and walls, tub, grout and caulk edges, counters, mirror, fixtures.
- Dust and wipe: baseboards, door faces and frames, switch plates, window sills and tracks as accessible.
- Cabinets and closets: vacuum and wipe interiors and pulls.
- Floors and edges: vacuum, mop, and floor detailing included in base scope.
- Final touch and photos: 12-point photo report uploaded, keys checked, lights tested.
If our cleaner spots damage or safety issues, we flag them to scheduling so you can spin up a general maintenance visit for $125 or a half-day punch list for $230 without losing the 48-hour handoff.
How fast can I book cheap apartment cleaning in LA and what do you need from me?
Booking takes 30 seconds online. Tell us the unit size, building access notes, and preferred 48-hour window. We confirm by email, arrive with supplies and ladders, and text access updates through your portal. If you need paint touch-up, a rekey, or a junk haul, add it at checkout and we align crews.
What we need from you: electricity and water on, empty fridge and cabinets if possible, and clear notes if there is smoke or pet odor. If odor is involved, see our guides on pet odor removal and smoke smell removal. That way we plan the correct chemistry on the first trip.
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How does cheap cleaning tie into full turnovers and vacancy math in LA?
Cleaning is the anchor of the turnover timeline. In Downtown LA and Hollywood, a unit can rent within a weekend if photos go live by Thursday. Each empty day costs roughly $80 to $200. Our 48-hour completion with optional painting and punch work under the same umbrella keeps your marketing week intact. If you need listing content, the TLA Launch Pad Media Package is $399 and pairs well with a Make Ready.
For broader scope planning, see our apartment turnover checklist and our breakdown of apartment turnover costs in Los Angeles. If you are managing multiple units, we also wrote about vacancy loss for LA property managers.
Why choose a turnover cleaner instead of a generic maid for move-outs?
- Fixed price by unit size, not a drifting hourly bill.
- 48-hour turnaround across the board, no rush surcharge.
- Photo documentation included for deposits and records.
- Floor detailing and appliance interiors in scope, not upsold.
- Direct handoff to paint, handyman, locks, and junk haul if needed.
- Scheduling tuned for LA buildings, including garage access and elevator windows.
- One checkout, one invoice, fewer days vacant.
For definitions, see what is a make ready and how it differs from a standard maid service. For move-out specifics, our move out cleaning in Los Angeles guide covers tenant and owner roles.