Airbnb Cleaning Checklist: Do's and Don'ts

As an Airbnb host, it’s your job to provide a clean and comfortable home-away-from-home for your guests while they travel. You want guests to have a pleasant stay, but you also want to earn positive reviews. It's essential that your property is in tip-top shape.

Cleaning your Airbnb can be a time-consuming task, especially if you have multiple properties or a high turnover rate. Here, you'll find a comprehensive Airbnb cleaning checklist and advice for streamlining the process.

The Basics of Airbnb Cleaning Process

Cleaning your Airbnb between each stay is one of the most important parts of hosting. Here are the basics of the cleaning checklist for Airbnb:

• Prepare – Once a guest’s stay has ended, Airbnb suggests taking preparations before cleaning. These include making sure the space is ventilated, choosing the right products, carefully reading the product information, and washing hands.
• Clean – Airbnb requires dust and dirt to be removed from surfaces, floors, and countertops. The cleaning process should include vacuuming, washing dishes and linens, and cleaning surfaces with soap and water.
• Sanitize – In addition to cleaning, hosts must sanitize spaces by using antibacterial products on high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, remotes, and light switches.
• Check – Airbnb asks you to double-check your cleaning job to ensure nothing is overlooked. Make an Airbnb checklist for cleaning that you can read through each time you clean, like this free Airbnb cleaning checklist.
• Reset – The last step is to avoid cross-contamination so the space is truly reset. This includes not re-entering a room once it is sanitized, washing hands before setting out clean linens and supplies, and safely disposing of trash.

The Do’s: Best Practices for Cleaning Your Airbnb

Now that you know the basics of your vacation rental cleaning checklist, here some important 'do’s' of cleaning your Airbnb:

Ensure You Have All The Necessary Cleaning Supplies

The right supplies make it easier to complete your cleaning checklist. Airbnb asks that hosts keep supplies on hand such as:

• Laundry baskets
• Laundry detergents
• Bleach
• Stain removers
• Vacuum cleaner
• Broom
• Dustpan
• Mop
• Bucket
• Floor cleaner
• Microfiber cloths
• Dusters
• Sponges
• Paper towels
• All-purpose cleaner
• Disinfectant spray
• Glass cleaner
• Bathroom cleaner
• Toilet cleaner
• Toilet brush
• Shower cleaner
• Drain cleaner
• Air freshener
• Trash bags
• Gloves

Create a checklist of the cleaning supplies you need for each property and keep track of your inventory. This way, you can easily budget and track your costs and ensure you’re always stocked up.

Establish Routine Cleaning Tasks

Another way to make your cleaning process easier is to establish routine cleaning tasks. Some examples are:

• Stripping and washing linens and towels
• Cleaning and disinfecting the kitchen and bathroom
• Dusting and vacuuming the entire property
• Restocking essentials and amenities

Create a checklist of the routine cleaning tasks for your property and be sure it's followed every time.

Provide Fresh Linens and Towels for New Guests

One of the best ways to impress guests and earn positive reviews is by providing fresh linens and towels for new guests.

To ensure your linens and towels are fresh for every stay, they should be washed on the hottest heat setting with laundry detergents. Dry linens completely and avoid leaving them damp or wrinkled.

You should also replace your linens and towels every few months or when they show signs of wear. Keep extra sets on hand in case of emergencies.

The Don’ts: Common Mistakes To Avoid When Cleaning Your Airbnb

When it comes to cleaning your Airbnb, there are also some mistakes to avoid. It's important that you don't:

Ignore Maintenance in Outdoor Furniture

If you have a patio, balcony, garden, or pool area within your property, don't neglect to clean and maintain it.

If you have outdoor furniture, the tables, chairs, cushions, and umbrellas should be frequently wiped with a damp cloth or a mild cleaner. Remove any dirt, dust, pollen, and bird droppings. Any removable cushion covers should be washed and dried.

Consider covering outdoor furniture with a tarp or a plastic sheet when not in use. This protects them from sun damage, rain, snow, and grime.

Leave a Cluttered Hidden Space

This means any space that is not visible to your guests but is still accessible. Examples include closets, drawers, cabinets, laundry baskets, under the bed, and behind the sofa.

Empty hidden spaces of unnecessary items, or organize your miscellaneous items with bins, baskets, and labels. If you do need a space with personal or valuable items, simply lock them and inform guests of off-limit areas.

Skip Dusting and Vacuuming

Some Airbnb hosts may think they can get away with skipping dusting and vacuuming if spaces appear tidy. Yet, this is one of the most important steps of cleaning your property, and missing it can result in a bad review.

While floors and surfaces may look clean at first glance, discovering dust and dirt upon closer inspection is a turn-off for guests. For pet-friendly properties, it’s especially important to complete a thorough dusting and vacuuming job.

Make sure even seemingly out-of-sight spaces are cleaned, such as stove-top vents and window frames. Use a microfiber cloth or a duster to remove any dust or cobwebs from the furniture, shelves, lamps, and ceiling fan, and use a spray cleaner for sticky or greasy surfaces.

Hire a Professional Cleaning Service for Your Vacation Rental

Self-cleaning your Airbnb can be stressful and time-consuming. That’s why many hosts opt for hiring a professional Airbnb cleaning service. Hiring a professional cleaner can also pay for itself by helping you list the right cleaning fee.

Professional cleaning services offer benefits like:

• Saving time and energy. You don’t have to worry about cleaning your property yourself.
• Providing high-quality, consistent results. A professional cleaning service has the necessary experience, skills, tools, and supplies.
• Enhancing your guest satisfaction and reputation. Hiring professionals helps you earn better reviews and prevent any disputes related to cleanliness.

If you are looking for a reliable, affordable professional cleaning service for your vacation rental, meet TIDY. TIDY is a platform that connects hosts with vetted and experienced cleaners who specialize in vacation rental cleaning. TIDY provides you with an easy-to-use app that lets you book, manage, and monitor your cleaning services anytime and anywhere.

To learn more about TIDY and how it can help you with your vacation rental cleaning needs, get a free demo today.

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