diff --git a/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_de.json b/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_de.json
index 6ed34e87c..7a0503140 100644
--- a/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_de.json
+++ b/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_de.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "settings": {
     "index": {
       "number_of_shards": 1,
-      "number_of_replicas": 1,
+      "number_of_replicas": 0,
       "knn": true
     }
   },
diff --git a/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_en_luc.json b/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_en_luc.json
index 8998d7f4a..c6e526393 100644
--- a/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_en_luc.json
+++ b/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_en_luc.json
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 {
   "settings": {
     "index": {
-      "number_of_shards": 2,
-      "number_of_replicas": 1,
+      "number_of_shards": 1,
+      "number_of_replicas": 0,
       "knn": true
     }
   },
diff --git a/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_es.json b/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_es.json
index 26192270b..193c4703b 100644
--- a/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_es.json
+++ b/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_es.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "settings": {
     "index": {
       "number_of_shards": 1,
-      "number_of_replicas": 1,
+      "number_of_replicas": 0,
       "knn": true
     }
   },
diff --git a/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_fr.json b/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_fr.json
index 07d33de3d..90810d7bc 100644
--- a/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_fr.json
+++ b/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_fr.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "settings": {
     "index": {
       "number_of_shards": 1,
-      "number_of_replicas": 1,
+      "number_of_replicas": 0,
       "knn": true
     }
   },
diff --git a/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_it.json b/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_it.json
index cb7b1404a..a94b0194e 100644
--- a/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_it.json
+++ b/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_corpus_it.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "settings": {
     "index": {
       "number_of_shards": 1,
-      "number_of_replicas": 1,
+      "number_of_replicas": 0,
       "knn": true
     }
   },
diff --git a/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_list.json b/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_list.json
index f42a39761..a50333fca 100755
--- a/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_list.json
+++ b/.docker/aws-resources/elasticsearch/esindex_list.json
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 {
   "settings": {
     "index": {
-      "number_of_shards": 10,
-      "number_of_replicas": 2
+      "number_of_shards": 1,
+      "number_of_replicas": 0
     }
   },
   "mappings": {
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index fcff6f12c..08787fa96 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ services:
       start_period: 80s
 
   localstack:
-    image: localstack/localstack:3.7.1@sha256:7f4f51bbfcfb42c661b9c02716a3cfcb53433f3c066905329aa911178835b300
+    image: localstack/localstack:4.0.2
     ports:
       - '4566:4566'
     volumes:
diff --git a/servers/user-list-search/src/corpus/keywordSearch.integration.ts b/servers/user-list-search/src/corpus/keywordSearch.integration.ts
index 011c34877..2cfff1111 100644
--- a/servers/user-list-search/src/corpus/keywordSearch.integration.ts
+++ b/servers/user-list-search/src/corpus/keywordSearch.integration.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ describe('Corpus search - keyword', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
     await deleteDocuments();
     await seedCorpus();
-    await unleash(
+    unleash(
       mockFlags([
         { name: config.unleash.flags.semanticSearch.name, enabled: false },
       ]),
diff --git a/servers/user-list-search/src/corpus/semanticSearch.integration.ts b/servers/user-list-search/src/corpus/semanticSearch.integration.ts
index 7eeacd355..f8d973929 100644
--- a/servers/user-list-search/src/corpus/semanticSearch.integration.ts
+++ b/servers/user-list-search/src/corpus/semanticSearch.integration.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ describe('Corpus search - semantic', () => {
   const clientMock: any = jest.spyOn(Client.prototype, 'search');
 
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    await unleash(
+    unleash(
       mockFlags([
         { name: config.unleash.flags.semanticSearch.name, enabled: true },
       ]),
diff --git a/servers/user-list-search/src/datasource/elasticsearch/advancedSearch.integration.ts b/servers/user-list-search/src/datasource/elasticsearch/advancedSearch.integration.ts
index abb27251f..4b22de294 100644
--- a/servers/user-list-search/src/datasource/elasticsearch/advancedSearch.integration.ts
+++ b/servers/user-list-search/src/datasource/elasticsearch/advancedSearch.integration.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 import { advancedSearch } from './elasticsearchSearch';
 import { bulkDocument } from './elasticsearchBulk';
-import { client } from './index';
-import { config } from '../../config';
 import { faker } from '@faker-js/faker';
 import {
   SearchItemsContentType,
@@ -9,6 +7,9 @@ import {
   SearchItemsSortOrder,
   SearchItemsStatusFilter,
 } from '../../__generated__/types';
+import { deleteDocuments } from '../../test/utils/searchIntegrationTestHelpers';
+import { client } from '.';
+import { config } from '../../config';
 
 const defaultDocProps = {
   resolved_id: 1,
@@ -25,20 +26,7 @@ const defaultDocProps = {
 
 describe('Elasticsearch Search Query', () => {
   beforeEach(async () => {
-    await client.deleteByQuery({
-      index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
-      body: {
-        query: {
-          match_all: {},
-        },
-      },
-    });
-
-    // Wait for delete to finish
-    await client.indices.refresh({
-      index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
-    });
-
+    await deleteDocuments();
     await bulkDocument([
       {
         ...defaultDocProps,
@@ -100,9 +88,14 @@ describe('Elasticsearch Search Query', () => {
       },
     ]);
 
-    // wait for 1 second. I noticed test wasn't passing if run took quickly after inserting. There may be more to do
-    // here to make sure this does not become brittle.
-    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 1000));
+    // Wait for index to finish
+    await client.indices.refresh({
+      index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
+    });
+  });
+
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    await deleteDocuments();
   });
   it.each([
     {
diff --git a/servers/user-list-search/src/datasource/elasticsearch/elasticsearchBulk.integration.ts b/servers/user-list-search/src/datasource/elasticsearch/elasticsearchBulk.integration.ts
index 965338cfd..88b0e16db 100644
--- a/servers/user-list-search/src/datasource/elasticsearch/elasticsearchBulk.integration.ts
+++ b/servers/user-list-search/src/datasource/elasticsearch/elasticsearchBulk.integration.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { client } from './index';
 
 import { bulkDocument } from './elasticsearchBulk';
 import { getDocument } from './elasticsearchSearch';
+import { deleteDocuments } from '../../test/utils/searchIntegrationTestHelpers';
 
 const defaultDocProps = {
   resolved_id: 1,
@@ -19,19 +20,7 @@ const defaultDocProps = {
 
 describe('Elasticsearch Bulk', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    await client.deleteByQuery({
-      index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
-      body: {
-        query: {
-          match_all: {},
-        },
-      },
-    });
-
-    // Wait for delete to finish
-    await client.indices.refresh({
-      index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
-    });
+    await deleteDocuments();
 
     await bulkDocument([
       {
@@ -51,6 +40,10 @@ describe('Elasticsearch Bulk', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    await deleteDocuments();
+  });
+
   it('can bulk index a document', async () => {
     const document = (await getDocument('1-12345')) as any;
     expect(document).not.toBeNull();
diff --git a/servers/user-list-search/src/datasource/elasticsearch/elasticsearchSearch.integration.ts b/servers/user-list-search/src/datasource/elasticsearch/elasticsearchSearch.integration.ts
index 4fe830d83..5cf758f50 100644
--- a/servers/user-list-search/src/datasource/elasticsearch/elasticsearchSearch.integration.ts
+++ b/servers/user-list-search/src/datasource/elasticsearch/elasticsearchSearch.integration.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../__generated__/types';
 import { client } from './index';
 import { config } from '../../config';
+import { deleteDocuments } from '../../test/utils/searchIntegrationTestHelpers';
 
 const defaultDocProps = {
   resolved_id: 1,
@@ -23,19 +24,7 @@ const defaultDocProps = {
 
 describe('Elasticsearch Search Query', () => {
   beforeEach(async () => {
-    await client.deleteByQuery({
-      index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
-      body: {
-        query: {
-          match_all: {},
-        },
-      },
-    });
-
-    // Wait for delete to finish
-    await client.indices.refresh({
-      index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
-    });
+    await deleteDocuments();
 
     await bulkDocument([
       {
@@ -139,6 +128,10 @@ describe('Elasticsearch Search Query', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    await deleteDocuments();
+  });
+
   // For now this gives us confidence that basic search is not
   // broken when we make updates
   it('can search for a document', async () => {
diff --git a/servers/user-list-search/src/saves/elasticsearch.integration.ts b/servers/user-list-search/src/saves/elasticsearch.integration.ts
index 5c45b9da6..f035393ff 100644
--- a/servers/user-list-search/src/saves/elasticsearch.integration.ts
+++ b/servers/user-list-search/src/saves/elasticsearch.integration.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { client } from '../datasource/elasticsearch';
 import { config } from '../config';
 import { bulkDocument } from '../datasource/elasticsearch/elasticsearchBulk';
 import { deleteSearchIndexByUserId } from './elasticsearch';
+import { deleteDocuments } from '../test/utils/searchIntegrationTestHelpers';
 
 const defaultDocProps = {
   resolved_id: 1,
@@ -17,19 +18,7 @@ const defaultDocProps = {
 
 describe('Elasticsearch - Integration', () => {
   beforeEach(async () => {
-    await client.deleteByQuery({
-      index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
-      body: {
-        query: {
-          match_all: {},
-        },
-      },
-    });
-
-    // Wait for delete to finish
-    await client.indices.refresh({
-      index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
-    });
+    await deleteDocuments();
 
     await bulkDocument([
       {
diff --git a/servers/user-list-search/src/saves/premiumSearch.integration.ts b/servers/user-list-search/src/saves/premiumSearch.integration.ts
index a326684d7..486d86e4c 100644
--- a/servers/user-list-search/src/saves/premiumSearch.integration.ts
+++ b/servers/user-list-search/src/saves/premiumSearch.integration.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
 } from '../datasource/clients/knexClient';
 import { Knex } from 'knex';
 import {
+  deleteDocuments,
   loadItemExtended,
   loadList,
 } from '../test/utils/searchIntegrationTestHelpers';
@@ -76,7 +77,6 @@ async function loadUserItem(
 }
 
 describe('premium search functional test', () => {
-  const testEsClient = client;
   let app: Application;
   let server: ApolloServer<ContextManager>;
   let url: string;
@@ -129,20 +129,7 @@ describe('premium search functional test', () => {
 
   beforeAll(async () => {
     ({ app, server, url } = await startServer(0));
-    await testEsClient.deleteByQuery({
-      index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
-      type: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.type,
-      body: {
-        query: {
-          match_all: {},
-        },
-      },
-    });
-
-    // Wait for delete to finish
-    await testEsClient.indices.refresh({
-      index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
-    });
+    await deleteDocuments();
 
     await db('readitla_ril-tmp.list').truncate();
     await db('readitla_b.items_extended').truncate();
@@ -236,7 +223,7 @@ describe('premium search functional test', () => {
     await Promise.all(items);
 
     // Takes a hot sec for the data to be available, otherwise test flakes
-    await testEsClient.indices.refresh({
+    await client.indices.refresh({
       index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
     });
   });
@@ -245,7 +232,8 @@ describe('premium search functional test', () => {
     await server.stop();
     await db.destroy();
     await knexDbWriteClient().destroy();
-    testEsClient.close();
+    await deleteDocuments();
+    client.close();
   });
 
   it('should search for Items under User entity', async () => {
diff --git a/servers/user-list-search/src/saves/premiumSearchByOffset.integration.ts b/servers/user-list-search/src/saves/premiumSearchByOffset.integration.ts
index aeeb7d50b..f54a8bb93 100644
--- a/servers/user-list-search/src/saves/premiumSearchByOffset.integration.ts
+++ b/servers/user-list-search/src/saves/premiumSearchByOffset.integration.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
 } from '../datasource/clients/knexClient';
 import { Knex } from 'knex';
 import {
+  deleteDocuments,
   loadItemExtended,
   loadList,
 } from '../test/utils/searchIntegrationTestHelpers';
@@ -78,7 +79,6 @@ async function loadUserItem(
 }
 
 describe('premium search functional test (offset pagination)', () => {
-  const testEsClient = client;
   let app: Application;
   let server: ApolloServer<ContextManager>;
   let url: string;
@@ -124,19 +124,7 @@ describe('premium search functional test (offset pagination)', () => {
 
   beforeAll(async () => {
     ({ app, server, url } = await startServer(0));
-    await testEsClient.deleteByQuery({
-      index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
-      body: {
-        query: {
-          match_all: {},
-        },
-      },
-    });
-
-    // Wait for delete to finish
-    await testEsClient.indices.refresh({
-      index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
-    });
+    await deleteDocuments();
 
     await db('readitla_ril-tmp.list').truncate();
     await db('readitla_b.items_extended').truncate();
@@ -228,7 +216,7 @@ describe('premium search functional test (offset pagination)', () => {
     ];
     await Promise.all(items);
     // Takes a hot sec for the data to be available, otherwise test flakes
-    await testEsClient.indices.refresh({
+    await client.indices.refresh({
       index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
     });
   });
@@ -237,7 +225,8 @@ describe('premium search functional test (offset pagination)', () => {
     await server.stop();
     await db.destroy();
     await knexDbWriteClient().destroy();
-    testEsClient.close();
+    await deleteDocuments();
+    client.close();
   });
 
   it('should handle response that returns hits with no highlights object', async () => {
diff --git a/servers/user-list-search/src/server/routes/batchDelete.ts b/servers/user-list-search/src/server/routes/batchDelete.ts
index acf2c5dfa..6c853f624 100644
--- a/servers/user-list-search/src/server/routes/batchDelete.ts
+++ b/servers/user-list-search/src/server/routes/batchDelete.ts
@@ -29,10 +29,7 @@ export function validate(
 ): Response {
   const errors = validationResult(req);
   if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-    return res
-      .status(400)
-      .json({ errors: errors.array() })
-      .setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');
+    return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
   }
   next();
 }
diff --git a/servers/user-list-search/src/test/utils/corpusSeeder.ts b/servers/user-list-search/src/test/utils/corpusSeeder.ts
index e26a173f1..de33f207d 100644
--- a/servers/user-list-search/src/test/utils/corpusSeeder.ts
+++ b/servers/user-list-search/src/test/utils/corpusSeeder.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,11 @@ export async function deleteDocuments() {
         body: { query: { match_all: {} } },
         wait_for_completion: true,
       });
+      // Forcemerge the index because with our updates and number of documents the score can change when it should not.
+      // https://kulekci.medium.com/understanding-and-resolving-elasticsearch-score-changes-after-document-updates-a9f426b76e38
+      await client.indices.forcemerge({
+        index,
+      });
       await client.indices.refresh({
         index,
       });
diff --git a/servers/user-list-search/src/test/utils/searchIntegrationTestHelpers.ts b/servers/user-list-search/src/test/utils/searchIntegrationTestHelpers.ts
index f599d35d7..7cf47ab6e 100644
--- a/servers/user-list-search/src/test/utils/searchIntegrationTestHelpers.ts
+++ b/servers/user-list-search/src/test/utils/searchIntegrationTestHelpers.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import { Knex } from 'knex';
+import { client } from '../../datasource/elasticsearch';
+import { config } from '../../config';
 
 export type SeedData = {
   favorite: number;
@@ -13,6 +15,37 @@ export type SeedData = {
   isVideo?: number;
 };
 
+/**
+ * Test cleanup: delete all documents in search indices
+ */
+export async function deleteDocuments() {
+  try {
+    await client.deleteByQuery({
+      index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
+      body: {
+        query: {
+          match_all: {},
+        },
+      },
+      waitForCompletion: true,
+      conflicts: 'proceed',
+    });
+
+    // Forcemerge the index because with our updates and number of documents the score can change when it should not.
+    // https://kulekci.medium.com/understanding-and-resolving-elasticsearch-score-changes-after-document-updates-a9f426b76e38
+    await client.indices.forcemerge({
+      index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
+    });
+
+    // Wait for delete to finish
+    await client.indices.refresh({
+      index: config.aws.elasticsearch.list.index,
+    });
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.log(error);
+  }
+}
+
 export async function loadItemExtended(db, seedData: SeedData) {
   const optionalDefaults = {
     lang: 'en',