How to Create a Comprehensive Cleaning Checklist for Your Airbnb Property

Having a detailed cleaning checklist for your Airbnb property is crucial to staying organized and ensuring all cleaning tasks are completed before the next guest. Furthermore, the checklist will help to streamline the turnover process and make the hosting experience a lot more efficient and stress-free.

And let’s not forget that a clean and tidy AirBnB space will lead to positive reviews, increased bookings and recommendations, whereas a dirty and untidy property will result in negative reviews and certainly no recommendations. So, if you want your property to be the best it can be, then you’ve come to the right place.

This to-do-list will help you cover all the essentials of cleaning and maintaining an AirBnB property.

Assess your property’s cleaning needs

Based on their purpose and the activities which take place in them, different rooms require different intervals of cleaning. Let’s have a look at each, starting with the essentials.

Kitchen – The kitchen is a high-traffic area where your guests will prepare and consume food, thus spills, stains, and bacteria are inevitable. Without regular cleaning, food residue and spills can build up on surfaces, leading to the growth of bacteria and germs. Additionally, cooking often involves the use of oils and greases, which can accumulate on surfaces and appliances, making them difficult to clean afterwards.

Bathrooms – The bathroom is another high-traffic area that is prone to bacteria and germs. Did you know that viruses and bacteria can survive on your bathroom surfaces for up to an entire week? And if that isn’t enough, the presence of moisture can lead to the growth of mould and mildew.

Living room – Since this is the room where people spend most of their time, it’s prone to spills, stains, and dirt buildup over time. Not only that, but upholstered furniture such as couches and armchairs can harbour dust, allergens, and pet hair. Carpets and rugs also become full of allergens over time.

Bedrooms – Much like living rooms, bedrooms are prone to dust build-up and accumulation of allergens. Dust accumulates on furniture surfaces and fabrics, and eventually can lead to respiratory problems and allergies unless cleaned regularly.

Since these rooms are all high-traffic areas, you need to clean them thoroughly after each guest checks out, and regularly during longer guest stays. The rooms which you don’t need to clean this often are those with lower traffic such as:

• Storage areas – Wardrobes, storage rooms, and garages;
• Outdoor spaces – Patios or balconies;
• Hallways and entryways – While these areas should be kept clean and tidy, they may not require daily or weekly cleaning unless they are particularly dirty or receive heavy foot traffic.

Create a checklist template

Now that you know why each room needs to be spotless and what happens when it’s not, let get down to the actual checklist, again, starting with the essential rooms.

Kitchen

• Empty the rubbish bin and put a new rubbish bag;
• Wipe down all the drawers and cabinets;
• Clean and disinfect all the surfaces such as sink, stove and kitchen benches;
• Check if all the cutlery and utensils are in their places and clean;
• Clean the sink’s drain filter;
• Clean the microwave, oven and refrigerator both inside and outside;
• Discard any food leftovers from the refrigerator, cupboards and drawers;
• Finally sweep and mop the floors and don’t forget the space underneath any tables or chairs.

Bathroom

• Replace the towels and washcloths with fresh ones;
• Empty the rubbish bin;
• Wipe down the tiles, mirror, and shower doors;
• Check the shower drain and sink for any hairs which can lead to clogs;
• Clean and disinfect the sink, shower and or bathtub;
• Clean the toilet bowl, tank, seat, and lid with disinfectant cleaner;
• Check and if necessary stock up shampoo, soap, and toilet paper.

Bedrooms

• Remove all used bedding, including sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers, and blankets, and replace them with clean ones;
• Fluff the pillows and straighten the bedspread;
• Dust the nightstands, shelves and dressers;
• Clean the interiors of the closet and dressers;
• Open the windows so fresh air can get in;
• Sweep or better yet, vacuum all the floors including under the bed and in corners.

Living room

• Remove any clutter;
• Dust all surfaces such as TV stands, bookshelves and coffee tables;
• Polish the wood furniture pieces;
• Wash throws, blankets and pillowcases;
• Hoover your sofa and arm chairs including under and between the cushions;
• Clean any picture frames and mirrors;
• Clean the blinds/curtains or drapery;
• Check and remove any cobwebs;
• Clean and disinfect the remote controls for the TV and air conditioner;
• Mop the floors and vacuum the carpets.

Important: it’s very easy to forget the minor items when you’re busy cleaning the big ones, however, these minor things also make big impressions.

When you have those covered, you can proceed to the slightly less important areas of your property, those being:

General cleaning tips

• Dust any wall art as well as ceiling fan blades;
• Use air fresheners or candles to get rid of any unpleasant smells in your home;
• Hoover or sweep the hallways and stairways to pick up any dirt, dust, or debris that has accumulated over time;
• Remove any cobwebs and wipe down the windows to let in more natural light;

Outdoor areas

• Clean your outdoor furniture if you have any;
• Sweep your patio and deck space;
• Clear out any branches, leaves or another kind of debris from your lawn;
• Clean your driveway and keep it clear of leaves or other kinds of debris;
• Clean windows and window frames.
• Disinfect light switches and knobs of the electrical appliances;
• Clean and disinfect doorknobs;
• Clean behind and between your washing machine and dryer;
• Clean the washing machine (interior, exterior, and detergent tray);
• Deep clean carpets every 6-12 months at least. Check our post for carpet cleaning prices for more information on that.

Prioritize tasks based on importance

It’s always important to know where to start your cleaning, especially if you have a larger property. In this case

• Start with the laundry. Get all the towels and bed linens and throw them into the washing machine. While it’s washing all the fabrics, you can get down to cleaning the rest of your property. This is a great way to be smart with your time.
• Go for the essentials. Start with the essential tasks, such as cleaning the bathroom and kitchen, vacuuming or sweeping the floors, and dusting surfaces. These are the areas that guests will notice first.
• Address any messes or spills. If you notice any spills or messes, clean them immediately. These can include stains on the carpet, crumbs on the floor, or dirty dishes in the sink. These messes can quickly accumulate and may become more challenging to clean later.
• Check for safety hazards. Make sure to check for any safety hazards such as broken glass, sharp objects, or anything that may cause harm to guests. Safety should always be a top priority when cleaning an Airbnb property.

Assign responsibilities

If you have a small team to help you out with the cleaning of your Airbnb property, then it’s important to know how to assign cleaning responsibilities, to make the best use of everybody’s time.

1. Create a list of all the tasks that need to be completed for your Airbnb property, such as cleaning, restocking supplies, managing guest check-ins and check-outs, and responding to guest inquiries.
2. Identify the skills and strengths of your team members or yourself, if you are a solo host. Determine which member is best suited for what task.
3. Set clear expectations for each task, including deadlines and quality standards.
4. Communicate the responsibilities to your team members or yourself clearly, and ensure that everyone understands their roles.
5. Regularly check in with your team members or yourself to ensure that tasks are being completed on time and to the expected standards.
6. If necessary, provide training or guidance to team members to improve their skills and ensure that they are equipped to handle their assigned responsibilities.

Schedule regular inspections

If you feel like cleaning your AriBnb property takes too much time, then opt for professional cleaners. Fantastic Services can provide you with quality One-off cleaning or regular cleaning, if you need it. The teams we work with are fully insured, background-checked, and equipped to tackle any cleaning challenge.

We offer a range of one-off cleaning services to suit your needs, from spring cleans and pre-sale cleaning to rental inspection and special events. And with our easy-to-use online booking form and handy GoFantastic app, you can arrange your cleaning service from the comfort of your own home. So why wait? Book your one-off cleaning service with Fantastic Services today and feel the new vibe of your freshly cleaned home!

Did you find this AirBnB checklist helpful? Let us know by leaving a comment!