Airbnb Design Ideas

Ultimate Airbnb Cleaning Checklist

Unsurprisingly, one of the most important components influencing a guest’s experience is property cleanliness. Even the most beautiful properties lose their luster if spaces are unclean and unkempt. An Airbnb cleaning checklist ensures no area gets missed. Below, discover the benefits of implementing a checklist and learn how to craft the perfect cleaning checklist for Airbnb properties.

by The Turno Team

What Is an Airbnb Cleaning Checklist?

An Airbnb cleaning checklist is a physical or digital list of tasks for hosts or cleaning services to complete between guest stays. Cleaning checklists make turnover tasks like laundering linens and towels, washing dishes, and disinfecting high-touch areas easier to manage. 

Airbnb cleaning often requires a fast turnaround. Cleaning checklists help to ensure every corner of a vacation rental is thoroughly cleaned – reducing the risk of repeat cleans or areas of the property being overlooked. With a streamlined cleaning process, Airbnb hosts and cleaners can provide a welcoming home that consistently achieves high guest satisfaction.

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Benefits of Using an Airbnb Cleaning Checklist

Detailed vacation rental cleaning checklists prepare Airbnbs for the next guests and showcase a commitment to organization and attention to detail in any cleaning routine. This level of professionalism can lead to positive reviews from guests, ultimately helping to attract more bookings. Discover more benefits of using an Airbnb cleaning checklist below:

Cleaning Checklist Benefits for Hosts

A cleaning checklist can be a lifesaver for hosts. Cleaning a vacation rental between guests can be a hectic task. Hosts often juggle multiple responsibilities, and having a checklist streamlines the process. By following a property-specific checklist, hosts know that their turnover cleaners can efficiently tackle each cleaning task and verify everything is completed. This efficiency is crucial, especially during peak booking seasons when turnovers are fast and frequent.

Consistency is key in the hospitality industry. Guests expect a certain level of cleanliness and presentation when they arrive at a vacation rental. A checklist helps maintain consistency by outlining specific cleaning standards to be met after each stay. This ensures that every guest enjoys a clean and comfortable environment, regardless of when they arrive.

Moreover, time is money. For hosts who manage multiple properties or balance hosting responsibilities with other jobs, time-saving measures are invaluable. A well-organized cleaning checklist ensures thorough cleaning and helps complete a turnover in less time. This means more time can be allocated to other essential aspects of managing the rental property or even taking a well-deserved break.

airbnb cleaning crewing mopping floors and cleaning windows

Cleaning Checklist Benefits for Cleaners

A vacation rental cleaner’s success is closely tied to the reviews given by guests to the Airbnb host. If a host receives poor feedback about their property’s cleanliness, they will look for another cleaner for their turnover projects.

A cleaning checklist helps prevent bad reviews about cleanliness by ensuring the cleaner and the host are on the same page. Checklists provide cleaners with an exact layout of what needs to be cleaned, stocked, and staged so they never miss a spot – ensuring themselves and their clients five-star reviews. 

Additionally, vacation rental cleaning checklists streamline the cleaning process by enabling cleaners to prioritize the most important cleaning tasks and manage their time effectively. Checklists also help cleaning teams understand a property’s specific cleaning requirements, outside of core turnover tasks like dusting, vacuuming, and sanitizing.  

Cleaning Checklist Benefits for Guests

Guests feel more comfortable in rentals that are properly cleaned and sanitized. An attractive property that is visibly free of mess and clutter can offer guests a chance to escape their everyday lives.

Airbnb guests don’t want to arrive at unclean properties. Specifically, a property that shows any sign of the last person’s stay can immediately make the guest uncomfortable and uneasy about their booking choice. Airbnb reviews tend to be heavily swayed by the cleanliness of the property. Guests are much more likely to give 5-star reviews and book again when their Airbnb is spick and span.

Cleaner using a spray bottle to clean countertops

How to Build an Effective Airbnb Cleaning Checklist

Creating an effective Airbnb cleaning checklist is crucial for both hosts and cleaners to ensure that the property is always cleaned thoroughly between guests. Here are some steps to help build a comprehensive checklist:

  • Identify cleaning areas by listing all the places that need to be cleaned, including bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, living room, outdoor spaces, and any other guest-accessible areas.
  • Break down the cleaning tasks into specific actions for each area of the home. For example, in the bathroom, tasks may include cleaning the toilet, wiping surfaces, scrubbing the shower, checking and removing hair from the sink and shower drain, checking inside cabinets, and laundering and replacing all towels.
  • Specify which cleaning supplies and equipment are needed for each task, if applicable. This ensures cleaners have everything they need to complete the job effectively and minimizes product-induced damage to the home’s surfaces or furniture.
  • Determine how often each task needs to be completed. Some tasks, like changing bed linens, must be done after every guest, while others, like deep cleaning upholstered furniture, may only need to be done periodically.
  • Add reference photos to your checklist for all high-priority areas. This helps hosts and cleaners ensure the post-clean property matches its ideal presentation, listing images, and guest expectations. 

Don’t forget to periodically review the cleaning checklist to identify any areas that need to be added or updated. Guest feedback can also provide valuable insights into areas that need extra attention.

Utilize these steps to create a thorough Airbnb cleaning checklist that helps maintain a clean and welcoming environment for guests. Regular communication between hosts and cleaners is also important to ensure any cleanliness issues are addressed promptly.

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How to Use an Airbnb Cleaning Checklist

The Turno checklist feature allows hosts to create and share professional Airbnb cleaning checklists. Dozens of popular templates are available to help get started and hosts can easily customize checklists to match the exact needs of each property. Vacation rental cleaners follow these checklists to ensure every short-term rental cleaning goes smoothly.

Create a vacation rental cleaning checklist on Turno and assign different checklists to different properties. With Turno’s cleaning checklist feature, cleaning items can be added, updated, or subtracted quickly. Hosts can also add guidance photos to checklists that illustrate precisely how the space should look after a turnover. Guidance photos help ensure that every cleaner knows how to properly restage the space, even if they’re new or a backup cleaning service. 

Checklists are viewable on both the website and the Turno mobile app. On the mobile app, cleaners simply check the circles next to the checklist items and then “complete” the project when finished. Turno’s checklist feature also enables cleaners to upload timestamped photos as they complete tasks. These photos ensure that the property’s decor is reset as intended and provide proof of cleaning and amenity placement, such as a photo of the remote control and user guide left on the TV console. This gives hosts real-time quality assurance. 

Hosts also receive an email notification when the cleaner marks the project as complete. This provides peace of mind especially when the turnover window is tight and the next set of guests is soon to arrive.

Airbnb Cleaning Checklist PDF

We’ve created a sample turnover cleaning checklist PDF for hosts and cleaners to view and download. Our printable Airbnb checklist template is organized by room, so it’s easy to use and simple to use

Download a Free Airbnb Checklist PDF

You’ve Got the Checklist, Now Find the Cleaner!

Simplify Cleaning With an Airbnb Cleaning Checklist

Turno offers a range of features designed to streamline and automate vacation rental turnover operations. With quality assurance tools such as photo checklists, hosts can confirm that each cleaning task meets their standards before guests arrive. 

Simplify day-to-day operations by incorporating Turno into the cleaning process. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, Turno is the ultimate solution for vacation rental hosts looking to optimize their cleaning management. Say goodbye to missed tasks and hello to a more efficient, effective cleaning process with Turno.