Airbnb Turnover Checklist for Cleaners
Airbnb turnovers are a different job to domestic cleaning. You're working against a hard deadline, you're responsible for presentation as well as cleanliness, and the host's review score depends on details a normal clean ignores.
This checklist is ordered for speed, with the guest-visible items that drive reviews at the end.
How to use this checklist
- Get the laundry on first if washing on site, everything else fits around the machine cycle.
- Report damage or missing items to the host immediately with a photo, before you clean the area.
- Finish with a photo set of every room. Hosts increasingly expect it, and it protects you from claims.
The checklist
On arrival
- Check for damage, spills or missing items and photograph anything unusual
- Strip all beds and used towels, start laundry or bag for collection
- Open windows, empty all bins including bathroom
- Check for left-behind guest belongings
Kitchen
- Empty and wipe fridge, remove leftover food
- Run and empty dishwasher, put crockery away in set positions
- Wipe worktops, hob, microwave and appliance exteriors
- Restock coffee, tea, sugar, dishwasher tablets, bin bags
- Check glassware and crockery counts against inventory
Bathrooms
- Full clean of toilet, shower, bath and sink
- Descale glass and taps so the room photographs well
- Fresh towels folded and presented consistently
- Restock toilet roll, soap, shampoo and cleaning basics
- Empty and clean bin
Bedrooms and living areas
- Make beds with fresh linen, hospital corners, cushions set
- Check under beds and behind doors for rubbish and belongings
- Dust surfaces, wipe remotes and switches
- Reset furniture, cushions and throws to the listing photos
- Hoover and mop throughout, floors last
Final checks
- Set heating or air conditioning to the host's standard
- Check keys, lockbox code and welcome pack in place
- Torch sweep for hair on beds, floors and bathroom surfaces
- Photograph every room and send the host a short completion report
Pro tips
- Match the property back to the listing photos, not to your own taste. That's the standard guests are comparing it to.
- Rotate two or three pre-laundered linen sets per property so a delayed wash never delays a check-in.
Frequently asked questions
What does an Airbnb cleaner do?
Strip and remake beds with fresh linen, clean the whole property, restock consumables, check inventory, reset the property to match the listing photos and send the host a completion report.
How long does an Airbnb turnover take?
A one-bed typically takes 90, 120 minutes including linen and restock; larger properties scale from there. The standard window between checkout and check-in is four hours.
Who provides linen for Airbnb cleaning?
Either the host or the cleaner. Cleaners who supply and launder linen usually charge a separate linen fee per changeover, agree this in writing before the first job.
What causes bad Airbnb cleanliness reviews?
Hair on beds and bathroom floors is the most common cause, followed by missing consumables like toilet roll. A final torch sweep and a restock check prevent nearly all of them.
How CleanFlow helps with this
- Checklists , Digital checklists for every job type, end-of-tenancy, Airbnb, office, deep clean or regular visit. Nothing gets missed.
- Photo Uploads , Before-and-after photos uploaded straight from the cleaner's phone. Dispute-proof your business.
Related guides
- Airbnb Cleaning Checklist For Professional Turnovers , The exact Airbnb cleaning checklist top UK turnover cleaners use to hit the 4-hour window and protect 5-star reviews.
- How To Get Airbnb Cleaning Clients , Airbnb hosts need fast, reliable turnovers every week. Here's exactly how to become the cleaner they trust.
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