Airbnb cleaning between guests: a quick-turnaround checklist

Airbnb cleaning between guests follows a fixed order: first an inspection and photos of the condition after the guest's departure, then stripping and washing the linen, taking out the rubbish, cleaning the kitchen and bathroom, dusting from top to bottom, making the beds, restocking supplies and, finally, mopping the floors. Airbnb's basic hosting standards expect cleaning between every two stays and a flat that is clean and free of health hazards before the next guest arrives.

What Airbnb expects from hosts

In its article Základní pravidla pro hostitele domovů, Airbnb states that accommodation should be clean and free of health hazards, such as mould or pests, before arrival, and that hosts should always clean between stays: wash the laundry, take out the rubbish, vacuum or sweep, and wipe down surfaces. The same article also mentions excessive dust, pet hair and dirty dishes as examples of insufficient cleanliness.

The rules may change, so it is worth re-reading them from time to time directly in Airbnb's help pages. If you also rent out the flat through other platforms, follow their terms as well.

The window between departure and arrival

The time available for cleaning is the difference between the check-out and check-in times set in your listing. Work out how long cleaning your flat really takes, and add a margin for unexpected situations: a late check-out, red wine spilled on the carpet or linen that does not have time to dry. If the margin does not work out, consider moving the check-in time or buying a second set of linen.

• have at least two sets of bed linen and towels for each bed, so that you do not wait for the washing machine
• store cleaning products and equipment in the flat, in a locked cupboard, all together in one place
• check the stock of consumables at every cleaning, not only when they run out

If someone else does the cleaning, give them access to the booking calendar or send them the departure and arrival dates as soon as a booking is confirmed. Also agree how they will let you know that the flat is ready, for example with a short message with photos of the finished rooms.

Cleaning checklist step by step

1. Inspection and photos. Before you start cleaning, walk through the flat and photograph its condition, especially any damage. Check for forgotten belongings in wardrobes, drawers and under the beds.
2. Air the flat. Open the windows right at the start; in its article with tips for thorough cleaning, Airbnb recommends opening the windows while you work and points out that masking odours with air fresheners usually does not work.
3. Linen. Strip the bed linen, towels and tea towels and put the washing machine on straight away. Choose the temperature and detergent according to the label. Check the mattress and mattress protector for stains.
4. Rubbish. Empty all the bins, including the one in the bathroom, replace the bags and sort the waste.
5. Kitchen. Wash the dishes or put them in the dishwasher, then clean the sink, hob, the inside of the microwave and the coffee machine according to its instructions. Throw away any food the guests left in the fridge and wipe the shelves.
6. Bathroom and toilet. Shower enclosure or bath, washbasin, taps, mirror, toilet including the rim and base, and drains free of hair.
7. Dusting from top to bottom. Shelves, windowsills, bedside tables, TV, remote controls, switches, handles.
8. Beds. Make them with clean linen, and arrange the pillows and bedspread.
9. Supplies. Restock toilet paper, soap, washing-up liquid, bin bags and basic kitchen items, according to what you state in your listing.
10. Floors last. Vacuum, including under the bed and the sofa, and mop from the furthest point towards the door.
11. Final check. Compare the flat with the photos of its "reference condition", check that the lighting and Wi-Fi work, and lock up.

In the same article with tips, Airbnb recommends having an established routine and a checklist, stripping the beds and all other linen, and remembering the overlooked places, such as the space under the bed or the insides of drawers.

Supplies to always have on hand in the flat

Restocking takes only a few minutes during cleaning if everything is stored in one place and you know the quantities. Write a list based on what you promise in your listing, and go through it at every cleaning:

• toilet paper, paper towels, bags for all the bins
• hand soap, shower gel and shampoo, if you offer them
• washing-up liquid, sponge, dishwasher tablets
• a spare set of bed linen, towels and tea towels
• cleaning products and equipment, stored out of the guests' reach
• spare light bulbs and batteries for remote controls

If a guest leaves later or leaves the flat in a much worse state than usual, prioritise what the next guest will see first on arrival: clean beds, the bathroom and the kitchen. Less visible work, such as the space behind furniture, can be completed on the next free night. Health hazards, such as mould or pests, however, cannot be postponed.

Checking for damage and photo documentation

Photos at the start of cleaning are not a formality. According to Airbnb's article on Host Damage Protection, a claim must be submitted in the Resolution Centre within 14 days of the departure of the guest who caused the damage, and the problem must be supported by photos or video, an estimate of repair or cleaning costs, or receipts. The guest then has 24 hours to respond.

• photograph the whole room as well as a close-up of the damage, with the date it was taken
• also keep the photos from the previous cleaning, which show the condition before the guest arrived
• if someone else does the cleaning, agree that they will send you the photos before they start work
• do not remove the damage before you have documented it

The terms of Host Damage Protection may vary by country and may change, so check them directly in the help pages.

Keys and handover

If you use self check-in with a code lock, set a new code for each guest if the lock allows it; this removes the need to hand over keys in person. If you use a key box, check at every cleaning that the key is in place and the box is locked. The person cleaning should have their own access, not the guest's code.

In its basic hosting standards, Airbnb states that hosts should give guests easy access to the accommodation on arrival. If you will not finish the cleaning in time, inform the guest in advance through messages in the app.

Deep cleaning from time to time

Regular cleaning between guests is not enough for everything. In its article with tips, Airbnb mentions deep cleaning once every two to three months. This includes, for example:

• washing duvets, pillows and bedspreads according to the label
• cleaning mattresses and upholstered furniture, see the article how to clean a mattress
• the inside of the oven, fridge and dishwasher, and the cooker hood filter
• windows, blinds, light fittings, and the space behind furniture
• washing machine maintenance, see how to clean a washing machine

For high-touch surfaces and the bathroom, it pays to know when cleaning is enough and when disinfection is appropriate; the difference is explained in the article the difference between cleaning and disinfection. With chemicals, read the label, ventilate, wear gloves, and never mix products containing chlorine with acids or ammonia.

If you do not want to clean between guests yourself, you can order it as Airbnb cleaning; for an unexpectedly short window between stays, express cleaning is suitable.