Quick answer: Across LA, Reddit threads report move out cleans at about $180 to $350 for a studio and $200 to $450 for a 1BR, higher for larger units. TurnOver LA charges Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425 for Make Ready, done in 48 hours, with a 12-point photo report landlords can use for deposit compliance.
The short version: Reddit users in Los Angeles commonly cite $200 to $450 for a one bedroom move out clean. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready runs $255 for a 1BR, $225 for a studio, $335 for a 2BR, and $425 for a 3BR or larger. Jobs finish in 48 hours and include a 12-point photo report suitable for itemized deposit accounting. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
What does Reddit say move out cleaning costs in Los Angeles?
Skimming r/AskLosAngeles and similar threads, you see a pattern. Tenants report quotes around $180 to $350 for studios and $200 to $450 for one bedrooms, often jumping to $300 to $600 for two bedrooms and $450 to $800 for three bedrooms depending on how dirty the unit is and whether inside appliances and cabinets are included. Posts also warn that some “deep cleans” are just surface maid service, not a turnover-grade reset. That gap explains why landlords still get dinged on deposit disputes. Reddit is useful for ballpark context, but it mixes recurring housekeeper rates with one-time move out deep cleans. If you want apples to apples, compare scope first, then price. Our Make Ready scope below maps directly to lawful deposit standards.
What does a proper LA move-out clean include?
A turnover deep clean is not a weekly tidy. It is a reset to landlord-ready condition, paired with proof. At minimum, here is what belongs on every LA move out checklist for a typical apartment:
- Kitchen degrease: inside and outside of oven, racks, stovetop pans, hood filter, microwave, fridge, and dishwasher lip.
- Cabinet interiors and drawers vacuumed and wiped, including under-sink basins.
- Bathrooms descaled: tile, grout edges, glass doors, shower tracks, toilet base, vanity, mirror, fan cover.
- All surfaces: baseboards, switch plates, doors, door frames, closet shelves, and blinds dusted and wiped.
- Floors: vacuum and mop, edge vacuum along baseboards, lift and clean beneath movable items.
- Spot removal: wall smudges, outlet plate fingerprints, and door kick marks where paint allows.
- Final touch points: balcony sweep, slider tracks, window sills, and return air grille wipe.
TurnOver LA’s Make Ready includes this deep clean plus a 12-point photo report that documents before and after on appliances, bathrooms, cabinets, floors, and touch points. See our scope in plain language at Make Ready deep clean and in our guide What is make ready.
How does TurnOver LA pricing compare to LA market rates?
Here is the clean comparison many Reddit threads miss. Across LA, a studio move out deep clean typically runs $180 to $350 in the general market. TurnOver LA is Studio $225 for Make Ready. A one bedroom often runs $200 to $450 in the market. TurnOver LA is $255 for a 1BR Make Ready. Two bedrooms often price at $300 to $600 in the market. TurnOver LA is $335 for a 2BR Make Ready. Three bedrooms can range $450 to $800 in the market. TurnOver LA is $425 for 3BR or larger Make Ready. All Make Readies include our 12-point photo report and a flat 48-hour turnaround.
If you need more than cleaning, typical LA market add-ons run higher than most expect. Market paint touch-ups are often $250 to $400, our Paint touch-up only is $200. Full repaint per room often runs $300 to $600, our Repainting per room is $395 per room. Small drywall repairs commonly bill $150 to $250, we price Small drywall patch + texture at $150 per patch and Medium drywall repair at $240 per patch. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
How long should a proper move-out clean take in LA?
Empty apartments clean faster than occupied ones, but a true turnover-grade clean still takes hours. As a baseline for scheduling and vacancy math, plan roughly 3 to 4.5 labor hours for a studio, 4 to 6 hours for a one bedroom, 6 to 8 hours for a two bedroom, and 8 to 12 hours for a three bedroom when heavy kitchen or glass shower buildup is present. That assumes professional tools, degreasers, and a methodical top-down workflow, not a quick maid service. The key is sequencing. Start with ovens and racks soaking, then move to cabinet interiors while chemicals dwell. Bathrooms next, then detail dusting, then floors last. This order protects the freshly mopped floors from new drips and gives your chemicals time to actually work. Done right, you avoid rework and reduce your vacancy by a day. In most LA submarkets, that is $80 to $200 you keep.
What proof do you need to legally deduct cleaning from a deposit?
California allows landlords to deduct for cleaning that returns a unit to the level of cleanliness it had at move-in, but you must document it. See the statute in California Civil Code §1950.5 and the plain language in the California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide. Tenants also have stronger protections on deposit sizes under AB 12 (2023) security deposit cap, so your paperwork matters even more. Best practice is a move-in condition report, timestamped photos, an itemized move-out invoice, and a 12-point photo set showing the cleaned areas. You must return any remaining deposit and the itemized statement within 21 days. We detail the timeline in our guide California 21-day deposit return. Our Make Ready includes the photo report to back your file.
Can cleaning, paint, and minor repairs be bundled in one visit?
Yes, when you schedule correctly. TurnOver LA can stage Make Ready cleaning with same-window light repairs so you do not lose a weekend to disjointed vendors. Typical pairings that solve 90 percent of post-move-out punch lists:
- Make Ready deep clean, then Paint touch-up only at $200 to erase scuffs that do not need a full repaint.
- Half-day handyman punch list at $230 to adjust doors, swap cracked plates, tighten a wobbly towel bar, or rehang blinds.
- Small drywall patch + texture at $150 per patch to fix anchor holes or minor dings, Medium drywall repair at $240 per patch for larger holes.
- Unit cleanout if junk is left behind, priced at Studio $200, 1 Bedroom $310, 2 Bedroom $420, 3BR or larger $420, with Additional junk load at $200 per load.
- Rekeying to turn keys quickly, with options like Rekey first lock at $100, Lock rekey, front + deadbolt at $110, or Full apartment rekey up to 2 locks at $150.
You can see scopes at our handyman punch list and lock services pages, and list media below.
How do Reddit expectations differ from landlord-ready standards?
Many Reddit recommendations describe a basic clean that hits floors, counters, and mirrors. Landlord-ready standards add the interiors and edges that trigger disputes if missed. Examples that come up on move-out walks across Hollywood, Koreatown, and Westwood: grease behind range knobs, the lip at the bottom of the dishwasher, inside and under the fridge crisper bins, shower door tracks with hard water scale, and baseboard dust that streaks when you mop. In balcony units, cigarette ash in slider tracks is another common miss. In jurisdictions with rent stabilization like Los Angeles under the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance, you still follow state cleaning and deposit rules. The fix is simple. Put the right items on the list, give chemicals dwell time, and photograph the results. That is what our Make Ready is built around.
What is the fastest plan to cut vacancy loss this week?
Speed comes from locking the scope and sequencing in one call. Here is a no-drama plan we use for mid-city turnarounds that keeps you inside a 48-hour window:
- Day 0 afternoon: approve quote and give access instructions. If junk is present, add Unit cleanout.
- Day 1 morning: Make Ready begins. Ovens set to soak, fridge emptied and wiped, cabinets done by midday.
- Day 1 afternoon: Bathrooms detailed, dusting and baseboards, then floors last. Photo set captured.
- Day 2 morning: Paint touch-up only at $200 and Small drywall patch + texture at $150 per patch if needed.
- Day 2 midday: Handyman punch, 2 to 4 hours, using the Half-day handyman punch list at $230.
- Day 2 afternoon: Rekey first lock at $100 or Full apartment rekey at $150, keys documented.
- End of Day 2: Optional TLA Launch Pad Media Package at $399 for same-week listing.
When you are staring at $80 to $200 per day in vacancy loss in places like West Hollywood or Downtown LA, this schedule is the difference between meeting your next showing and slipping a week. If you specifically need West Hollywood move out cleaning and handoff speed, see our area coverage here: West Hollywood move out cleaning on our West Hollywood page. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
Do you also handle listing photos and media once it is clean?
Yes. Many owners book the TLA Launch Pad Media Package at $399 right after Make Ready to push the unit live before the weekend. Across LA, basic real estate photo packages run $300 to $800 depending on add-ons and turnaround. We keep it simple as a single package so you do not juggle line items. Clean on Day 1, paint and punch on Day 2, media by late Day 2, list the same evening. If you are handing this to a leasing agent, we will drop the assets in a shared folder with date and unit labeling. See details on our listing media package.
Bottom line: when do you hire and what do you pay?
If a tenant leaves light dirt and you are handy, you can DIY the obvious and keep your costs down, but you still need inside appliances, cabinets, and bathrooms to deposit standard and you still need photos. Across LA, expect $180 to $350 for a studio and $200 to $450 for a 1BR for a true move-out deep clean. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready is Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425, finished in 48 hours with a 12-point photo report. For common add-ons, budget Paint touch-up only at $200, Half-day handyman punch list at $230, and Full apartment rekey at $150. That is how you control vacancy days and handle the 21-day deposit clock without stress. Get instant quote in 30 seconds