Airbnb Cleaning Checklist – For Host & Cleaners

On Airbnb, guests can separately give a star rating for ‘cleanliness’ as they do for check-in, communication, location, and other categories within the overall review. 

Therefore, cleanliness is very, very important for any type of listed property. 

There is no chance of missing a small thing during the cleanliness process. After all, you won’t like to hear from your customers that your cleanliness standard is not high. 

So, what can you do? Use a complete Airbnb cleaning checklist. 

Whether you have it physically or digitally, it helps you minimize the risk of repeat cleans or missing any area on your property to be overlooked mistakenly. 

To help you, I have spent hours and created a complete cleaning checklist for your rental properties. Both you and/or your cleaner team can follow it. 

Property Cleaning Checklist for Hosts & Cleaners

You should follow this property cleaning checklist and mark each task after completion:

1. General Areas (Living Room, Hallways, Bedrooms)

Dust and Wipe Down Surfaces

• Wipe down all furniture, shelves, and surfaces.
• Dust baseboards, light fixtures, ceiling fans, vents, and blinds.
• Clean window sills, door frames, and skirting boards.
• Disinfect high-touch areas, such as remote controls, light switches, doorknobs, handles, and railings.

Vacuum and Mop Floors

• Vacuum rugs, carpets, and under furniture.
• Mop hardwood, tile, or laminate floors with appropriate cleaning solutions.
• Check for and remove stains or spills.

Windows and Mirrors

• Clean windows (inside and outside, if possible) and remove fingerprints.
• Wipe down mirrors and glass surfaces with streak-free cleaner.

Check Furniture and Decor

• Ensure all furniture is dusted and free of stains.
• Straighten chairs, cushions, and decor items for a neat presentation.
• Shake out and fluff pillows.

Trash and Air Freshening

• Empty all trash bins and replace liners.
• Spray a light air freshener or open windows for ventilation.
• Check for and remove any lingering odors.

Check for Guest Items

• Look under beds, sofas, and in drawers for any forgotten belongings.

2. Kitchen

Dishes and Sink

• Wash all dishes, glassware, and utensils or run the dishwasher.
• Empty the dishwasher and put away clean dishes.
• Scrub and disinfect the sink and faucet.

Countertops and Cabinets

• Wipe down and sanitize all countertops.
• Clean cabinet handles and surfaces.
• Check for spills or crumbs inside cabinets and drawers.

Appliances

• Clean the inside and outside of the fridge, microwave, and oven.
• Wipe down the toaster, coffee maker, and any other small appliances.
• Ensure the stovetop and oven are grease-free.

Fridge and Pantry

• Remove expired or leftover food from previous guests.
• Wipe shelves and disinfect handles.

Restock Essentials

• Provide coffee, tea, sugar, and basic condiments.
• Ensure there are enough paper towels, dish soap, and sponges.

Trash and Recycling

• Empty all trash and recycling bins.
• Replace liners and wipe down the bins if needed.

3. Bathroom(s)

Toilet Cleaning

• Scrub the toilet bowl inside and out, including the base and flush handle.
• Disinfect the toilet seat and lid.

Shower and Bathtub

• Scrub tiles, grout, and glass doors to remove soap scum and mold.
• Clean and sanitize the showerhead and faucet.
• Remove hair from drains.

Sink and Countertops

• Wipe down and disinfect the sink and faucet.
• Clean countertops and vanity areas.

Mirrors and Fixtures

• Polish mirrors for a streak-free shine.
• Wipe light fixtures and switch plates.

Fresh Towels and Linens

• Replace used towels with fresh ones.
• Ensure there are extra towels, hand towels, and washcloths.

Restock Essentials

• Provide fresh toilet paper rolls, hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.
• Check and refill tissues and air freshener.
• Fold the edge of toilet paper into a triangle for a neat presentation.

Trash Disposal

• Empty the bathroom trash bin and replace the liner.

4. Bedroom(s)

Bedding and Linens

• Strip used sheets, pillowcases, and blankets for washing.
• Make the bed with fresh linens, neatly tucked.
• Check under beds for trash or forgotten items.

Dust and Wipe Surfaces

• Clean nightstands, dressers, and lamps.
• Wipe light switches, door handles, and headboards.

Closets and Drawers

• Remove any leftover guest items.
• Ensure there are empty hangers and storage space for new guests.

Trash and Air Freshening

• Empty bedroom trash bins.
• Lightly spray fabric freshener on upholstery and curtains.

5. Final Touches and Inspection

Sanitize High-Touch Areas

• Disinfect doorknobs, remotes, thermostats, and light switches.
• Wipe down handles on drawers, cabinets, and appliances.

Check for Damage or Maintenance Issues

• Inspect furniture and appliances for any issues.
• Ensure there are no leaks, broken fixtures, or missing items.

Restock Guest Amenities

• Provide fresh toiletries, coffee, tea, and bottled water.
• Place extra blankets, pillows, and an emergency first aid kit.

Adjust Temperature & Lighting

• Set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature.
• Turn on welcoming lights if guests are arriving soon.

Leave a Welcome Note or Gift

• A small note or treat (chocolate, fruit, or a small gift) adds a special touch.

What Cleaning Supplies You’ll Need?

If you have hired a cleaner, they will bring their own cleaning supplies.

On the other hand, if you are gonna clean your property yourself, you require many tools and cleaning products for this purpose. 

The following are most of them to accompany your cleaning checklist:

Cleaning Tools

Cleaning Products

Optional Extras

NOTE: The aforementioned list of cleaning supplies is all a host may require to clean a property. You may work out without having them all, depending on your property. 

Some Off-Season Cleaning Tasks You Should Do

Along with cleaning an Airbnb property every time guests check out, there are some off-season cleaning tasks (mostly deep cleans) that you should take care of. 

Here is the checklist of such cleaning tasks you should do throughout the year:

Once a Month

• Check and replace any burnt-out light bulbs.
• Inspect plumbing and faucets for leaks or issues.
• Sweep porches, balconies, and outdoor walkways.
• Pull weeds and remove any overgrown plants.
• Trim bushes, hedges, and trees for a neat appearance.

Every 3-6 Months

• Dust all furniture, shelves, and decor items.
• Open doors and windows to air out the space.
• Deep clean behind and under the refrigerator and stove.
• Move sofas and furniture to clean underneath.
• Flip and rotate mattresses to keep them in good shape.
• Check and clean HVAC air filters for better air quality.
• Inspect fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and replace old batteries.

Once a Year

• Wipe down walls to remove marks and stains.
• Touch up chipped or damaged paint.
• Empty all cabinets and wipe them inside and out.
• Treat small carpet and furniture stains (clean big stains immediately).
• Fix scuff marks on walls, countertops, and wooden furniture.

NOTE: Cleaning list changes from property to property. Therefore, carefully evaluate your property and add any task you want to add to the off-season cleaning list. 

How Guests Can Contribute to Cleaning?

Cleaning isn’t only the task that hosts or property owners should do—but also the guests. 

When checking out or staying on an Airbnb property, guests should also contribute to the cleanliness by doing certain tasks. Tasks that should ethically be done by guests. 

Therefore, these are the cleaning tasks every guest should do:

• Gather plates, cutlery, and glasses from the dining table after meals.
• Put all the gathered eating utensils in the sink or dishwasher.
• Sort dishes properly and load the dishwasher.
• Wash dishes used by hand and put them away
• Wipe down kitchen counters to remove spills and crumbs.
• Empty the coffee pot and filter.
• Put away food leftovers.
• Put garbage in the bins outside.
• Fold guest towels and bedding and put them in their designated place.
• Straighten cushions, pick up clutter, or rearrange furniture to maintain. 

Pro Tip! Don’t move furniture, utensils, appliances, and other stuff unnecessarily if you’re staying at someone’s property. If you do, rearrange them back before checking out. 

How Often Should You Clean Airbnb Property?

An Airbnb property must be thoroughly cleaned after every guest stay. 

This means a complete cleaning of all surfaces, floors, utilities, utensils, and linens between each set of guests, regardless of the length of their stay.

But what if a guest stays for 2-3 weeks or a month?

In such a case, it is better to offer mid-stay or one-a-week clean to keep everything to the point. Also, don’t forget to clean again once the guest checks out. 

Should I Expect Guests to Handle Any Cleaning?

Yes, you can ask your guest to handle light/basic cleaning tasks in the check-out instructions. 

For example, you can ask your guest to gather utensils from the dining table and put them in the sink. You can also ask them to put away any leftover food or trash in bins.