What cleaning supplies do I need to deep clean an apartment?

Quick answer: You can deep clean an apartment with 18 to 25 supplies split into six buckets: dusting, kitchen degreasing, bath descaling, glass, floors, and safety. A compact kit plus a cordless vacuum, mop, and step stool will cover 95 percent of grime. If you would rather not buy it all, our Make Ready handles the deep clean with a 48-hour turnaround. Get instant quote in 30 seconds

A complete move-out deep clean needs more than dish soap and a sponge. In Los Angeles you want a compact kit that handles grease, hard water, and scuffs without damaging common finishes like matte contractor paint and composite stone. Below is the exact field-tested list we stage on real turnovers, plus how to set it up so you finish inside 48 hours and cut vacancy loss.

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What cleaning supplies do you actually need for a true apartment deep clean in LA?

Here is the lean, proven kit we deploy across West Hollywood, Koreatown, and Long Beach. It covers kitchens, baths, glass, walls, and floors without specialty chemicals.

• Microfiber cloths, 12 to 16 count, mixed plush and flat weave
• Microfiber mop with washable pads, plus a small bucket
• All purpose cleaner, non abrasive, plant based or neutral pH
• Alkaline degreaser for kitchen cabinets and hoods
• Cream cleanser or soft scrub for sinks and tubs
• White vinegar and spray bottle for hard water spots
• Baking soda for gentle abrasion
• Glass cleaner or isopropyl alcohol mix for mirrors and windows
• Plastic scraper and single edge plastic blades for glass and cooktops
• Grout brush and small nylon detailing brushes
• Non scratch scrub pads, blue or white
• Magic eraser style melamine pads, used lightly on doors and trim
• pH neutral floor cleaner for vinyl, laminate, and sealed wood
• Stainless steel cleaner for appliances
• Disinfecting wipes or disinfectant for high touch points
• Cordless vacuum with crevice and brush attachments
• Extendable duster and a 2 to 3 step folding stool
• Heavy duty trash bags, contractor grade for glass and broken items
• Nitrile gloves, safety glasses, and a simple first aid kit
• Painter's tape and a Sharpie for tagging maintenance items

Why these items in LA: mineral heavy water leaves scale on shower glass, so vinegar and a plastic scraper matter. Many buildings have flat matte white paint, common in Park La Brea and Mid City, which will burnish if you rub too hard. Use microfiber first, then very light melamine only on marked areas like door edges and baseboards.

How should you stage supplies to complete a turnover clean in 48 hours?

Speed comes from staging zones, not scrubbing faster. Divide the kit into four totes and park them at the entry so nothing wanders. Kitchen tote holds degreaser, cream cleanser, non scratch pads, and stainless cleaner. Bath tote holds vinegar, grout brush, plastic scraper, and soft scrub. Glass tote holds flat weave microfiber and glass cleaner. Floors tote holds mop pads and neutral cleaner. The vacuum and step stool stand alone.

Tag maintenance issues as you go. Use blue painter's tape and a Sharpie to mark a loose hinge, missing stopper, or cracked cover plate. This lets a handyman close the punch list without rewalking the unit. That saves a day of vacancy in real terms, which in LA runs about 80 to 200 dollars per day depending on submarket. If the list is long, a half day handyman visit is usually enough to clear it. See our services page for Make Ready, or book a cleanout and junk haul add-on if the unit has debris.

Which tools save the most time in a real LA turnover?

Three tools do more work than any chemical. A cordless vacuum with strong crevice suction pulls years of hair and dust from slider tracks and closet corners. A plastic scraper removes cooked sugar and paint overspray from glass without scratches. An extendable duster lets you clear ceiling fan blades and high vents in one pass from a 2 to 3 step stool, which fits in tight hall baths common in Hollywood garden apartments. These reduce ladder time, prevent drips on matte walls, and keep you from overusing melamine pads that can burnish paint.

For baths with heavy scale, soak a flat weave microfiber in warm vinegar and lay it on the shower glass for 10 minutes before scraping. In kitchens with sticky hood filters, soak in hot water and a tablespoon of alkaline degreaser for 15 minutes, then rinse. These two pre soak moves replace 30 minutes of scrubbing.

What is the 20 10 rule for cleaning, and does it work for turnovers?

The 20 10 rule says you clean for 20 minutes, then take a 10 minute break, repeating the cycle. It helps with motivation in occupied homes, but on a vacant turnover it can slow you down. We use a zone sprint pattern that hits the same intent without chopping time blocks. Stage each tote, work each room top to bottom in one pass, then return for floors. Break between zones, not mid zone. That keeps wet dwell times aligned and prevents rework like redoing a mirror after stirring up dust on the ceiling fan.

If you do prefer 20 10, batch tasks that do not risk drying out. Spray the oven, set a 20 minute timer, then degrease cabinets and hardware while product dwells. Avoid applying soft scrub to sinks if you will be off the surface for a long break, it can haze.

What is a turnover checklist, and how do the supplies map to it?

A turnover checklist is the step by step scope that brings a unit back to showable condition after move out. It typically runs from entry door, blinds, and lights, through kitchen appliances and cabinets, baths, bedrooms, and finally floors and balcony. We publish a free, detailed checklist you can use. See our Apartment Turnover Checklist and our Move Out Cleaning in Los Angeles guide.

Here is how the kit maps to common checklist lines:

• Blinds and sills: extendable duster, flat weave microfiber
• Ceiling fans and vents: extendable duster, step stool
• Oven and cooktop: degreaser, plastic scraper, non scratch pad
• Refrigerator and gasket: all purpose cleaner, detailing brush
• Cabinets inside and out: alkaline degreaser, microfiber, light melamine on edges
• Shower glass and tile: vinegar soak, plastic scraper, grout brush
• Toilet base and hinges: disinfectant and small nylon brush
• Mirrors and windows: glass cleaner, flat weave microfiber
• Walls and doors: microfiber first, then targeted melamine on scuffs
• Floors: vacuum crevices, then neutral cleaner with microfiber mop

Document with photos as you go. California deposit rules require specificity for deductions and documentation. See California Civil Code §1950.5 and the California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide. Our Make Ready includes a 12 point photo report to help managers reconcile normal wear versus damage.

How much do supplies cost, and when does hiring make more sense in LA?

Across LA, buying a fresh DIY turnover kit for a 1BR usually costs 120 to 220 dollars if you get decent tools, plus 6 to 10 hours of your time. Pro move out deep cleans for a 1BR often run 200 to 450 dollars depending on soil level and access.

TurnOver LA pricing is fixed, with a 48 hour turnaround. Make Ready is Studio 225 dollars, 1 Bedroom 255 dollars, 2 Bedroom 335 dollars, 3BR or larger 425 dollars. That includes the deep clean plus a 12 point photo report. If the unit is full of left behind junk, our cleanout is Studio 200 dollars, 1 Bedroom 310 dollars, 2 Bedroom 420 dollars, 3BR or larger 420 dollars, with 200 dollars per additional load if needed. If you are comparing against vacancy loss at 80 to 200 dollars per day, the math often favors booking. Get instant quote in 30 seconds

DIY kit vs TurnOver LA Make Ready for a 1BR

Do LA deposit rules affect what supplies I should use?

Yes. Under California Civil Code §1950.5, landlords can deduct for cleaning to return the unit to the condition at move in, excluding normal wear. That means you want non destructive methods that lift soil without repainting or refinishing. Use microfiber and neutral cleaners first. Go to light melamine only on doors and trim, not broad wall areas, to avoid shiny burnish marks that look like damage.

If you manage rent stabilized units, the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance site is a good policy reference for move out processes. For deposit timing and itemization steps, see our guide on the California 21 day deposit return. AB 12 caps many deposits in California, which increases scrutiny on deductions, so clean thoroughly and document. See also the California Tenants Guide for the tenant side view.

What is a good turnover rate for apartments, and why does cleaning speed matter?

In LA, many small portfolios target an annualized turnover rate between 35 percent and 55 percent depending on neighborhood and product. What matters to your NOI is not only how often residents move, but how fast you reset a unit. Every day off market in Studio City or Echo Park leaks 80 to 200 dollars. A staged kit and a preset scope shave a day, painting prep remains the main variable. If you need paint, our touch up price is 200 dollars, and full repainting is 395 dollars per room, with ceilings and baseboards at 125 dollars. Pair cleaning with a punch list so vendors are not stepping on each other.

For leasing, clean glass and odor control move the needle more than you expect. If you need photos to relist, our TLA Launch Pad media package is 399 dollars. Cleaner windows and a wiped balcony rail read better on camera, especially in sun heavy areas like West Hollywood.

How do I adapt this supply list to typical LA finishes and problem spots?

• Matte contractor paint in many 1960s walk ups will flash if you scrub hard. Go microfiber first, dab soil, then feather. If a wall is truly stained, stop and note for paint touch up.
• LA hard water etches glass if ignored. Vinegar and a plastic scraper will remove buildup, but do not use metal blades on shower doors or you risk scratches.
• Balcony dust can include wildfire ash. Dry vacuum rails and tracks before wet wiping so you do not make mud that stains stucco.
• For stainless in beach areas like Marina del Rey, salt air can spot appliances. Use a dedicated stainless cleaner with the grain, then buff dry to prevent streaks.
• Older tubs in Eastside stock housing often have crazing. Use non abrasive cream cleanser and a soft pad only, no pumice on enamel unless you accept light scratching.

Can I combine this with a handyman punch list without losing time?

Yes, as long as you separate roles with tape tags and sequence. Cleaners first for dust down and degrease. Handyman next for quick fixes like re hanging a cabinet door, swapping a GFCI cover, or replacing a cracked threshold. Then cleaners return for floors and final glass. If the list is heavy, book a half day handyman punch list for 230 dollars or a full day for 425 dollars. A general maintenance and safety visit is 125 dollars if you just need smoke detector batteries and a CO test. This is the cleanest way to beat the 48 hour clock without rework.

Supply checklist you can print and keep on the caddy

1. Microfiber cloths, plush and flat, 12 to 16
2. Microfiber mop plus pads and bucket
3. All purpose cleaner, neutral pH
4. Alkaline degreaser for kitchen
5. Cream cleanser for sinks and tubs
6. White vinegar in a labeled spray bottle
7. Baking soda for gentle abrasion
8. Glass cleaner or alcohol mix
9. Plastic scraper and plastic blades
10. Grout brush and small detailing brushes
11. Non scratch pads, blue or white
12. Melamine pads, used lightly on trim
13. Neutral floor cleaner
14. Stainless steel cleaner
15. Disinfectant wipes or spray
16. Cordless vacuum with tools
17. Extendable duster and step stool
18. Heavy trash bags, nitrile gloves, safety glasses
19. Painter's tape and Sharpie for tags
20. Simple first aid kit

If you want to skip the shopping, we can handle the deep clean, plus photos, inside 48 hours at fixed pricing. Get instant quote in 30 seconds

When should I call it and book a Make Ready instead of buying more supplies?

If you see any three of these, stop buying products and schedule a crew. Heavy oven carbon that does not lift after a dwell and scrape. Shower glass with white haze that returns immediately after wiping, a sign of etching. Sticky cabinet faces that leave brown residue after a first pass, meaning you will be there for hours. At that point your time plus vacancy loss will outstrip our Make Ready line item, which runs 225 to 425 dollars depending on unit size, and we finish within 48 hours.

Finally, if a prior resident left bulky junk, do not waste time buying more bags. Book a cleanout. Our unit cleanout runs from 200 dollars for a studio to 420 dollars for a 2 bedroom or larger, with 200 dollars per additional load. That clears the decks so the cleaning kit you already have can work efficiently.

For more on scoping a turnover beyond cleaning, see our guides on What is Make Ready and Normal wear and tear in California.