Quick answer: Across Los Angeles, move out cleaning usually runs $180 to $450 depending on unit size and condition. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready is a fixed Studio $225, 1 Bedroom $255, 2 Bedroom $335, and 3BR or larger $425, including a deep clean plus a 12-point photo report with a flat 48-hour turnaround.
If you want cheap move out cleaning in LA without risking your deposit or days of vacancy loss, book a fixed-price Make Ready at Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, or 3BR+ $425. It includes a deep clean and documentation landlords need. You can book right now and lock a 48-hour completion. Get instant quote in 30 seconds.
What does cheap move out cleaning in LA actually include?
A move out clean that passes landlord review is not the same as a casual maid visit. The Make Ready tier covers a full kitchen degrease, bath descaling, floor detailing, interior window and track wipe, baseboards, light switches, outlet plates, door faces, and inside of cabinets and drawers. Appliances get a real pull-forward wipe where safe, oven and fridge interiors are cleaned, and sink and tub drains are cleared of visible debris. The point is to reset the unit to rentable condition fast. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready also includes a 12-point photo report, which backs up deposit accounting and lets managers push a listing live with confidence. If the unit has junk left behind, broken hardware, or paint damage, those are separate scopes, but we can sequence them in the same 48-hour window.
How much does a move-out clean cost in California?
Across California metro markets, typical move out cleaning runs about $180 to $450 for most apartments, with higher rates in dense LA neighborhoods and for heavy-degrease kitchens. That is the general market, which varies by vendor and scope. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready is fixed and transparent, and it includes the deep clean plus a 12-point photo report.
| Unit size | Typical LA market | TurnOver LA Make Ready |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $180 to $250 | $225 |
| 1 Bedroom | $220 to $350 | $255 |
| 2 Bedroom | $280 to $420 | $335 |
| 3 Bedroom or larger | $350 to $550 | $425 |
The pricing above is price-only. For full turnover needs beyond cleaning, compare common market costs to our cataloged add-ons in sections below. Remember that every day vacant in Koreatown, West Hollywood, or Downtown can run $80 to $200 in lost rent, so a consistent 48-hour completion often beats chasing the absolute lowest bid.
Can a landlord charge you for cleaning after you move out in California?
Yes, if the cleaning is beyond normal wear and tear and required to restore the unit to the condition at move-in, landlords may deduct reasonable cleaning costs from the security deposit. See the statute at California Civil Code §1950.5 for the legal framework, and the practical plain-English guidance in the California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide and the California Tenants Guide. The landlord must provide an itemized statement with receipts and deliver the balance within the 21-day deadline. In LA rent stabilized stock, city rules track the same state deposit law. TurnOver LA’s 12-point photo report and time-stamped invoice help both sides document what was cleaned and why. For more detail on deposit timelines and wear standards, see our guides on California 21-day deposit return and Normal wear and tear in California.
What does a move-out cleaning service include, line by line?
A legitimate move out clean should cover the deposit-critical surfaces first, then the details. Here is the baseline you can hold any vendor to:
- Kitchen: degrease stove top, knobs, control panel, oven interior, oven racks, hood filter, backsplash, counters, cabinet fronts, sink and faucet, and inside all cabinets and drawers.
- Appliances: clean inside fridge and freezer, pull forward and sweep or mop behind when safe, wipe exterior seals, polish stainless where applicable.
- Bathrooms: descale shower walls, tub, grout lines, toilet base and seat hinges, vanity and mirror, sink and faucet, hard water spotting on glass.
- Living areas: dust high corners, wipe doors and door frames, window sills and tracks, baseboards, switches and outlet plates, blinds dusted if on-site safe to clean.
- Floors: detail vacuum edges, mop with the right pH to protect hardwood or LVP, spot-treat adhesive residue.
- Storage: inside closets and shelving wiped, rods dusted, sliding tracks cleared.
- Final pass: remove trash, replace bags, deodorize with neutralizer, not fragrance, and photograph each room.
TurnOver LA delivers all of the above in the fixed-price Make Ready. For a deeper sense of scope, see our What is Make Ready explainer and our apartment turnover checklist. If you need the cleaning only, you can still book the Make Ready tier and skip add-ons. Get instant quote in 30 seconds.
What is the 80/20 rule house cleaning, and does it apply to move outs?
The 80/20 rule is a productivity idea, not a legal or housing code standard. It says 20 percent of tasks create 80 percent of the result. In move outs, that 20 percent is kitchen degrease, bathroom descaling, floors, and touch surfaces. That may pass visual muster for a casual showing, but it is not enough for deposit compliance under California Civil Code §1950.5. Landlords need a verifiable reset, including cabinet interiors and appliance interiors. If you are a tenant, partial cleaning can help reduce deductions but it will not block the owner from charging to finish the job. If you are a manager, aim for complete scope once, rather than patchwork visits that extend vacancy days.
How do you keep move-out cleaning cheap without cutting corners?
You can lower cost and protect your schedule with a little prep and the right sequencing. Here is the short list that works across LA submarkets from Koreatown to Santa Monica.
- Empty the unit fully. Bag trash and remove food from the fridge. If you need a haul, a Studio cleanout is often cheaper than piecemeal disposal.
- Consolidate junk by the entry. Quick access reduces crew time in buildings with tight parking.
- Pull personal nails and screws, and leave holes exposed. That moves repairs to a small patch rather than a full repaint.
- Stage keys, fob, and elevator reservation. Delays in Downtown or West Hollywood easily add one lost day of rent.
- Disclose pet or smoke odors early. Odor mitigation is separate from cleaning and may require dedicated treatments.
- Arrange parking or a loading area. Blocking a red zone is not a plan, and ticket risk pushes vendors to pad bids.
- Decide the scope in writing. Cleaning only, or cleaning plus junk plus handyman. Clear scopes stop drift and repeat visits.
TurnOver LA wraps this into a simple Make Ready, and we can add junk haul, handyman, paint, or rekey on the same ticket when needed. That keeps your 48-hour timeline intact. Get instant quote in 30 seconds.
When is “cheap” too cheap in neighborhoods like West Hollywood or Downtown LA?
Short answer, when it risks delays, missing receipts, or damage. A rock-bottom cash cleaner who cannot enter a controlled-access building on time can cost you a $150 elevator fee, a citation, or a day of vacancy loss. Lost rent in high-demand pockets like Downtown LA, West Hollywood, and Santa Monica can run $120 to $200 per day. If the vendor is uninsured or refuses photos, you also lose the paper trail you will need if a deposit dispute lands under California Civil Code §1950.5 or if you manage RSO units under the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance. Cheap that misses a 48-hour window is often the most expensive choice on net.
Where do junk hauling, handyman work, paint, and locks fit, and what do they cost?
Cleaning is one line item. Many turnovers need one or two more. Across LA, market add-ons often run as follows. Then, see the TurnOver LA line items with fixed pricing.
- Junk haul: market $150 to $500 depending on size and disposal access. TurnOver LA is Unit cleanout and junk haul at Studio $200, 1 Bedroom $310, 2 Bedroom $420, 3BR or larger $420. Additional junk load is $200 per load.
- Handyman punch: market $300 to $500 for a half day. TurnOver LA is a Half-day handyman punch list at $230, or Full-day at $425.
- Maintenance check: market $125 to $200. TurnOver LA offers a General maintenance and safety visit at $125.
- Paint scope: market $250 to $600 for a room repaint. TurnOver LA is Repainting per room at $395 per room, with Ceilings and baseboard or trim at $125 and Paint touch-up only at $200. Cabinet or shelving sand and repaint is $135.
- Drywall repair: market $175 to $350 for a small patch. TurnOver LA is Small drywall patch and texture at $150 per patch, Medium drywall repair at $240 per patch.
- Locks and security: market $125 to $190 for a basic rekey. TurnOver LA is Full apartment rekey up to 2 locks at $150, or Rekey first lock at $100 and Additional lock rekey at $50 per lock. Front and deadbolt together is $110. Knob replacement is $100 per knob. Smart lock install is $210.
One vendor, one calendar, and a 48-hour finish avoids compounding losses. See our service detail pages for Make Ready service and unit cleanout pricing.
How does this tie into LA rental rules and deposit timelines?
LA’s rent-stabilized stock is regulated by the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance. It does not change California’s state deposit rules, but it does shape notice periods and rent increase caps that drive turnover timing. Security deposit deductions for cleaning still follow California Civil Code §1950.5, the California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide, and the California Tenants Guide. Starting 2024, AB 12 (2023) security deposit cap reduces maximum deposits on many rentals, which increases manager pressure to document and recover allowable cleaning without overcharging. The 12-point photo report is built for that.
What if there are pet or smoke odors after cleaning?
Odors are a separate scope from cleaning. Pet urine and nicotine can persist even after a proper degrease and descale. In LA apartments with older hardwood or porous plaster, you may need enzyme treatments, ozone or hydroxyl cycles, and in some cases repaint with an odor-seal primer. Read our guides on pet odor removal and removing smoke smell from an apartment. Flag odor issues when you book so we can schedule the right sequence.
How does TurnOver LA compare on cost and timeline when judged as vacancy math?
Put the price next to the clock. If your Brentwood one-bedroom sits three days empty while a cheaper crew no-shows, you likely lost $300 to $600 in rent. A fixed 48-hour completion with a verified scope and a price you can post on your make-ready board is the budget choice in practice. Our cleaning prices are Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR+ $425. When needed, add a Half-day handyman punch list at $230 or a Full-day at $425, or a Full apartment rekey at $150, and still close within two days in most buildings. For managers listing quickly, the TLA Launch Pad Media Package is $399, which compares to a market $300 to $700 for a similar still photo and basic media set.
Ready to book cheap move out cleaning in LA?
Use the instant quote, select your unit size, and add any needed extras like unit cleanout or a half-day punch. We route a locked schedule with a 48-hour completion standard across our Los Angeles coverage. You get a finished, documented unit ready to show or return. Get instant quote in 30 seconds.
For more context on total turnover costs, see our guide on apartment turnover cost in Los Angeles and how managers think about vacancy loss in LA. If you manage across Santa Monica or Pasadena, the numbers still pencil with the same 48-hour window and receipts that satisfy state rules.