Home > Blog > How to Get 5-Star Reviews With an Airbnb Cleaning Checklist

How to Get 5-Star Reviews With an Airbnb Cleaning Checklist

Picture of Written by Guestable Experts

Written by Guestable Experts

Table of Contents

A single stray hair might trigger a refund request faster than a broken appliance. If you want to earn and keep a Superhost badge, your cleaning must be perfect every single time. Many property owners feel burnt out trying to keep up with Airbnb housekeeping between every guest.

Using a professional Airbnb cleaning checklist helps you stay consistent every single time. While a checklist is a great start, many successful hosts eventually choose short term rental property management to handle these details. You can learn how to start an Airbnb business by focusing on quality from day one. Using a detailed vacation rental cleaning checklist is the best way to avoid the stress of a messy home.

Are you tired of scrubbing floors after a long work day? Do you worry that you missed a spot under the bed? We understand that managing a rental is hard work, but we are here to help you get those perfect scores.

The Master Airbnb Cleaning Checklist Template

A great Airbnb cleaning checklist ensures that no corner is left untouched during a turnover. We use these steps to make sure every room is ready for your next arrival.

Follow these steps to keep your home in top shape.

The kitchen and dining area

A sanitized and sparkling clean Airbnb kitchen counter and table

The kitchen must be sanitized to meet high hospitality standards. Guests expect a kitchen that feels brand new when they arrive.

  • Sanitize all high-touch surfaces
  • Wipe down refrigerator handles and stove knobs
  • Clean all microwave buttons
  • Empty the dishwasher
  • Scrub the sink until it shines
  • Ensure all dishes are spotless and put away

The bathroom sanitization protocol

Freshly laundered white towels and essential toiletries organized in a clean vacation rental bathroom

Bathrooms are the most scrutinized part of any short term rental vs long term rental property. A deep clean here is non-negotiable for Guestable standards.

  • Scrub the toilet and shower
  • Clean the tub using professional cleaners
  • Remove all soap scum and hair
  • Replace used towels with fresh linens
  • Restock essential toiletries like soap and shampoo

The bedroom and living space turnover

Your guests spend most of their time in these areas, so they must feel cozy and clean. A proper turnover cleaning checklist prevents complaints about dust or allergens.

  • Change all bed linens
  • Check mattress protectors for stains
  • Dust all surfaces
  • Clean the ceiling fans and baseboards
  • Vacuum and mop all flooring
  • Use a strict linen management protocol

Final touches and “guest ready” inspection

The final check is what separates a hobbyist from Airbnb experts. This stage ensures your Airbnb cleaning calendar is fully up to date and follows your Airbnb cleaning checklist.

What Is Usually Included in an Airbnb Cleaning?

Cleaning for vacation rental management is much different than a normal house cleaning. It requires a focus on deep sanitization and staging for the next guest.

When we clean Airbnbs, we look at the small details that guests notice. If you want to know how to clean for Airbnb, you must look inside drawers and wipe down the tops of picture frames. A short term rental cleaning checklist and a cleaning checklist for Airbnb also include restocking items like coffee and paper towels.

Feature

Standard Cleaning

Professional Airbnb Cleaning

Surface Dusting

Included

Included

Sanitizing Handles

Rare

Required

Staging Furniture

No

Yes

Restocking Supplies

No

Yes

Maintenance Report

No

Yes

Our Airbnb managers prioritize a hotel-style look for every stay. This might include decorative towel folds or specific pillow placements to boost guest satisfaction scores. We use a professional Airbnb cleaning checklist to ensure every detail is perfect for the guest.

Professional vs. DIY: Why Specialized Cleaning for Airbnb Properties Matters

Doing it yourself means you are responsible for laundry and deep cleaning. These tasks are often missed on a basic Airbnb host cleaning checklist. Professional teams use turnover synchronization and short term property management skills to make sure the home is ready on time.

Some owners prefer virtual property management to keep things organized. This allows you to stay hands-off while still using a professional Airbnb cleaner checklist. This is helpful in busy markets where guest expectations are very high.

In most-visited cities, a professional touch gives you a major advantage. Guestable offers expert Airbnb management in Montreal and Airbnb management in San Diego to help you save more time.

Do Airbnb Hosts Have To Clean Themselves?

You do not have to do the cleaning yourself to be a successful host. While many start with a DIY Airbnb house cleaning checklist, scaling your business usually requires a vacation rental manager or a vacation rental property management partner.

There are many benefits of property management when it comes to turnover work. Vacation rental management companies and short term rental management companies help you avoid the risk of missed turnovers. If you have an emergency, a DIY approach can lead to bad reviews.

Airbnb management companies use professional teams to guarantee a consistent result. You can search for property management companies for Airbnb or property management Airbnb to find help. Hiring a property manager Airbnb allows you to focus on growth rather than scrubbing floors.

Scaling Your Portfolio With Guestable Airbnb Management Services

A happy property owner in a clean living room ready for guest arrival

The best Airbnb property management companies do more than just wipe counters. We optimize the entire guest experience to help you earn more money through short term rental management.

We offer local expertise as a leading Airbnb management service in many different areas. If you need Airbnb management in Sunrise or Airbnb management in Oakville, we have teams ready to help. We also provide Airbnb property management in Key Biscayne and Airbnb management in Chandler.

We are a top short term rental company that serves:

Our Airbnb rental management company handles everything from Airbnb furniture to short-term rental property management logistics. As one of the top Airbnb companies, we act as the premier management company for Airbnb.

Using our Guestable Airbnb management services means you can stop using a manual Airbnb turnover checklist. Our Airbnb hosting service helps you grow your business and keep your guests happy.

Partner with a professional Airbnb rental manager today

Stop worrying about your Airbnb cleaning calendar. Partner with us and let our experts at Guestable handle the dirty work so you can enjoy the passive income. We are the Airbnb rental manager you can trust for quality and a perfect Airbnb cleaning checklist. 

Contact us today for a property consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

It usually takes between two and four hours depending on the size of the home. This includes all cleaning and staging tasks.
Airbnb cleaning includes restocking supplies and staging the home for guests. It also follows a strict Airbnb cleaning checklist to ensure consistency.
Yes, most hosts add a cleaning fee to their listing. This fee helps cover the cost of professional cleaning services.

Most mid term rental management plans include on-site laundry. It is faster and ensures that linens stay at the property.

Working with a virtual property management service or a local Bellevue rental property management company is the best way to find vetted cleaners for property owners.

Table of Contents

Ready to grow your rental income?

Partner with Guestable, a trusted Airbnb rental management company.

Book your consultation call today!