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The Ultimate Airbnb Cleaning Checklist
Nail your next turnover with this room-by-room guide to perfection.
Logan Robison
August 09, 2024
Running a cleaning business—or even cleaning your Airbnb as a host—can be tricky, especially when it comes to the cleaning checklist. What should you include? What’s better left for deep cleans rather than departure cleans?
In this newsletter, I’ll break down the essentials of our departure checklist at my Airbnb cleaning company. While I can’t cover everything in an 800-word newsletter, I’ll give you a high-level overview. For the full checklist, you can get it here.
Ready for the list, let’s GO!
Arrival Checklist
Upon arrival, do a quick walk-through inside and outside the property. Check for damage, leftover items, or excessive pet hair. Report any issues to the host immediately and store any guest belongings in a locked supply closet.
Prep Work
Start in the kitchen by loading and running the dishwasher. This should be done early as the cycle can take a few hours. Move to the bedrooms, stripping used linens and checking for stains or wear. Gather all dirty linens and start a load of laundry, ensuring to separate whites and colors. Report and treat stains as necessary.
Refill all consumables and supplies throughout the house, including the kitchen and bathrooms. Shampoo, conditioner, soap, and lotion should be at least three-quarters full. Replace sponges, laundry pods, and coffee pods according to the host's instructions. Finally, ensure the thermostat is set to the host’s preferred temperature.
Bedroom Cleaning
The bedrooms should be pristine and inviting. Make the beds with precision, tucking in sheets and comforters neatly. If no staging instructions are provided, place the largest pillows in the back and smaller ones in front. Fold bath towels elegantly on the bed or as directed by the host.
Dust dressers, nightstands, and light fixtures, replacing any burned-out bulbs. Clean mirrors, check windows for smudges, and sanitize high-touch surfaces like light switches and door handles. Lastly, ensure the closets are clear of any items.
Bathroom Cleaning
Bathrooms must be spotless. Wipe down counters, faucets, and vanities, removing any stray items. Ensure the shower is thoroughly cleaned, including the walls, floors, and drain. Clean the toilet inside and out, replacing the toilet paper if the roll is more than half used and folding the edges into a V-shape. Make sure there are at least three rolls of toilet paper in each bathroom.
Living Areas
In the living areas, place items like coasters, pillows, and remotes in their proper places. Check the couch and armchairs for wear, fluff the pillows, and stage throw blankets. Wipe down coffee and side tables, reset the dining table, and sanitize all high-touch surfaces. Ensure the TV is signed out of all streaming apps and that the remote is sanitized.
Kitchen Cleaning
In the kitchen, start by emptying the fridge and freezer of any leftover food, wiping down all surfaces. Clean and organize cabinets, drawers, and the pantry. Replace hand towels and ensure all dishes are clean and free of dust. Clean the stovetop, oven, microwave, sink, and dishwasher thoroughly. Make sure all guest supplies, like paper towels and coffee pods, are restocked.
Exterior Maintenance
Outside, remove leaves and debris from the porch and garage. Wipe down exterior furniture and clean the grill if necessary. Report any exterior damage to the host. Ensure the garage is clean and free of puddles.
Final Steps
Before leaving, empty all trash cans and do a final sweep to ensure everything is in place. Once the last load of laundry is done, fold and store linens neatly. Sweep, mop, and vacuum the floors, paying special attention to corners and under furniture. Put away cleaning supplies, turn off lights, and lock all doors. If applicable, take the trash bins to the street.
Let’s kick it up a notch
And there you have it! While this might be a good high-level overview, it can’t provide all the details needed to cover 100% of items. For this, you can purchase our complete departure checklist here.
As always, if you loved this newsletter, I hope you’ll share it with another host, cleaner, loved one, brother, sister, anyone. My goal is to grow the largest community of cleaners & hosts who want to clean to perfection and delight each guest.
Let’s Meet!
Want to get to know the person behind the newsletter? Check out this webinar and blog post I just did with Breezeway and the operations manager at my cleaning company.
We break down how to craft the perfect clean, how to find great cleaners, and most importantly, how to keep your best cleaners happy! Check it out!
Get the goods 🧼
Want more knowledge to build your cleaning empire? The below are some of the best pieces of information to grow your business, perfect your clean, and become an expert in the field.
Until next time,
Logan
