The “move-in cleanliness” standard
A landlord can generally deduct the reasonable cost of cleaning needed to return the unit to the level of cleanliness it had when you moved in — but not more than that, and not for ordinary wear.
The key standard is restoring the original condition. If you leave the unit reasonably clean, or as clean as it was at move-in, there should be little or nothing to deduct for cleaning. A landlord cannot lawfully charge you to make the unit cleaner than it was when you arrived, or use "cleaning" as a way to upgrade the place for the next tenant at your expense.
Blanket, automatic cleaning fees can be problematic if they do not reflect actual, necessary cleaning to reach move-in condition. For larger cleaning deductions, the landlord generally must document the cost.
This is why leaving the unit clean and documenting its condition when you leave protects you. If your landlord charged a cleaning fee you believe is excessive or unjustified, a free, confidential review can help you understand whether the deduction was lawful and how to respond.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.