Complete Airbnb Cleaning Checklist

June 6, 2025

The Complete Airbnb Cleaning Checklist

Table of content

A good Airbnb property is known for its shiny and pristine appeal, which is possible through regular cleaning. No matter how beautiful the décor and furnishing of the property are, if it is not sparkling clean, then the host may not receive 5-star ratings.

When guests walk inside an Airbnb property, they look at every nook and corner. If they find that the property compromises on cleanliness, they might not revisit the place.

As a host, you should work to make the property super clean. This will elevate the guests' stay experience.

While some hosts take the cleaning responsibility on themselves, others hire professional cleaning agents to wipe off the dirt and dust from every corner, making the space look tidy and shiny. Whatever your preference, an Airbnb cleaning checklist is a must-have to ensure the space is clean to the core.

The cleaning checklist will ensure a thorough cleaning of the Airbnb rental. When guests discover that the property looks like what they saw in the pictures, they might book the place next time.

This blog will explore the understanding and importance of Airbnb cleaning and offer deep cleaning tips for hosts to make their properties guest-ready.

What is an Airbnb Cleaning Checklist?

An Airbnb cleaning checklist is a guide for cleaners on effectively cleaning a property before guests arrive. It comprises cleaning professionals' tasks to make the property look sparkling clean.

It is beyond a list; it is an Airbnb cleaning guide that ensures high-quality cleanliness standards. A clean and tidy Airbnb rental improves guest experience, resulting in better ratings and reviews.

Why a Cleaning Checklist Matters for Airbnb Hosts?

No one likes to stay in an untidy, cluttered house, apartment, or hotel. People book Airbnb rentals to experience the touch of home away from home. Clean surfaces, fresh linen, and overall order will create a lasting impression. A guest is more likely to book a stay in a property that prioritizes order and cleanliness over anything else.

Every space and corner should be sparkling clean, from bedrooms to bathrooms and outdoor spaces. Hosts should focus on putting efforts into deep cleaning their properties. The reasons are as follows:

Cleaner Property Calls for More Bookings

The Airbnb market is booming. And positive reviews give hosts a golden ticket to attract more guests. When guests see a spotless, shiny, and well-maintained property, they leave sparkling feedback. All such reviews increase your visibility and reputation on the Airbnb site, leading to more bookings.

Cleaning Airbnb rentals is not something to do occasionally. Instead, hosts should routinely conduct thorough property cleaning. With consistent and deep cleaning, hosts offer an exceptional Airbnb rental experience.

The consistent cleaning brings in positive reviews, and fosters trust among guests. This allows them to return to the property, increasing the host's income.

Good Hygiene Promotes the Well-Being of the Guests

A clean property is more than just the aesthetics. It is an embodiment of the safety and well-being of guests. With a proper cleaning routine, hosts ensure that the property's allergens, germs, and bacteria are kept away. A thorough cleaning routine includes sanitization and disinfection.

Maintaining good hygiene is paramount in kitchens and bathrooms. Guests take ample time to search for Airbnb-registered properties with clean bathrooms and kitchens. Germs can easily spread in these spaces, so thorough cleaning is crucial.

Routine Cleaning Reduces Damage

Consistent cleaning prevents grime, dust, and dirt build-up, which damages furnishings and surfaces over time. Addressing stains and wiping spills are proactive measures that reduce damage and wear. Incorporating all such cleaning measures can save hosts from spending money on repairs and replacements in the property.

Pre-Cleaning Preparation

Pre-cleaning preparation is an important aspect of the Airbnb cleaning checklist. It allows cleaning agents and hosts to be on the right track before cleaning, and it prepares the space for a glowing finish.

Declutter & Organize

The first step to turning your property into a guest-ready Airbnb is decluttering and organizing the space.

  • Clear out the trash and remove any stuff the previous guest left on the property.
  • Keep the dishware, utensils, and other containers in their designated areas.
  • Place the furniture and fluff pillows correctly, and arrange the décor neatly.
  • Install a furniture element to store entertainment amenities, books, and games.
  • Ensure the bathroom essentials, such as toiletries, are in order.

Secure Personal Belongings

Airbnb hosts should secure their items before the guests arrive. This ensures your privacy and safeguards the property from any unforeseen circumstance.

  • Lock the rooms meant for personal use.
  • Store all your personal belongings in a secure and safe place.
  • Keep the personal toiletries away from guest use.
  • Keep any personal or sentimental items away from the guest rooms.

Take Out Additional Items from the Property

Introduce minimalism to your space to make it spotless and guest-friendly. More elements in an Airbnb means more mess. Remove extra décor or furniture if it is not serving the purpose. Decorating your Airbnb is fine, but overdoing the space can make it look chaotic.

Incorporate practical elements in your space that also add a sense of style. This will attract more visitors to book a stay, and cleaning the space for the next patrons will also become easier with fewer elements.

Room-by-Room Airbnb Cleaning Checklist

Not keeping your Airbnb clean is a hosting blunder. You need to include everything in the Airbnb cleaning checklist. From the tools required to the rooms to clean, there are a lot of things to include in the checklist. This can be intimidating if you've just started with the Airbnb business, but this is an important factor you cannot skip.

To ensure thorough Airbnb cleaning, you can hire agents from commercial cleaning services. Their knowledge and expertise in cleaning and organizing can improve the guest experience of your property. Moreover, professional cleaning agents leave no stone unturned. They ensure that every room is cleaned with the utmost dedication.

Living Room

Living rooms are places where guests unwind and relax. Ensure that living rooms are in order and uncluttered. Guests become happy when they find a perfectly decorated living space with practical elements.

  • Clean windows.
  • Sweep the floor, dust, and polish furniture.
  • Clear all cobwebs from the property.
  • Mop/vacuum under furniture and sofas.
  • Dust the sofa surface.
  • Wash and dry the rugs and place them in their respective spaces.
  • Clean moldings and baseboards.
  • Disinfect all remotes and light switches.

Kitchen

Kitchens are usually the heart of every home. People rent Airbnb properties to get a homely experience away from actual houses. Guests visiting an Airbnb property may want to use the kitchen space for cooking or dining purposes. Thus, it is essential to keep the kitchen area sparkling clean.

  • Discard leftover food.
  • Wipe the countertops.
  • Disinfect the drawers, cupboards, and exteriors of the appliances.
  • Clean windowsills and glass panes.
  • Mop the kitchen floor.
  • Clean the sink and drain it.
  • Wipe the inside of the refrigerator.
  • Clean the microwave inside out.
  • Replace the filled garbage bag with a fresh one.

Bathroom

Dirty bathrooms immediately spoil guests' moods. People expect a clean bathroom in a hotel or an Airbnb more than a fancy one. As a host, you should make all efforts to ensure the bathroom is in perfect condition.

  • Take the bathroom linens to the laundry or change them regularly.
  • Clean and disinfect the toilet.
  • Use a window cleaner to shine the mirror and clean the faucet.
  • Wipe the sink, tub, and/or shower.
  • Use a plunger to clear the shower/tub drain from hair blockage.
  • Disinfect the surfaces, like sink tops, faucets, and door knobs, to prevent spreading germs.

Bedrooms

Guests may book Airbnb properties for a rejuvenating getaway. You should upgrade your cleaning efforts to ensure they genuinely have a relaxing experience. The cleaning professionals would do the following tasks: tidying and organizing the bedrooms.

  • Sweep and vacuum under the bed.
  • Clear trash bins.
  • Mop or vacuum the floor.
  • Vacant all closets and dressers to dust them.
  • Dust every surface of the bedroom.
  • Replace the slept-in bed sheets with fresh ones.
  • Clean windows.
  • Dust ceiling fans.
  • Clean or dust light fittings.
  • Disinfect remotes or light switches.

Outdoor Areas (If Applicable)

Guests often book Airbnb for an outdoor camping experience or a pool party gathering. They filter out the options and look for properties that have outdoor spaces. It is essential to keep the property's outdoor spaces clean. This gives guests a positive outlook towards you and your Airbnb rental.

  • Wipe down outdoor furniture.
  • Sweep the patios or decks.
  • Remove debris from the outdoor area.
  • Clean the BBQ grill (if the property has one).

Airbnb Deep Cleaning Tips (Weekly/Monthly)

Clean Airbnbs attract more bookings and happy guests. However, if you make regular bookings without taking a break, you will delay the cleaning process. You can schedule deep cleaning based on the number of days guests stay over and turnover rates.

Let's check out the Airbnb deep cleaning tips one by one.

  • Ideally, cleaning professionals or property hosts should clean an Airbnb before a guest arrives and after the guest leaves. This is equivalent to two turnover cleans every month.
  • Your Airbnb may have all the cleaning supplies guests can use to declutter. But that's only when they are the ones causing the clutter. Before they enter the property, ensure everything is in place.
  • Create an Airbnb cleaning checklist and schedule a deep clean every 3-6 months.
  • Take guests' reviews into consideration and introduce deep cleaning in your property. If the guest has made any particular comment about the cleanliness of any part of the property, prioritize that.
  • Ensure vacuuming/sweeping/mopping every nook and cranny of the property.
  • Prepare a checklist to know where the cleaning begins. If this seems unmanageable, you can hire a deep cleaning service in NYC.
  • Explain the cleaning requirements to the cleaners and see them doing the job.
  • Professional cleaning agents have special tools and techniques for cleaning every part of an Airbnb rental. Thus, it is better to use their services.
  • Ensure the cleaning professionals have also worked on the air-conditioning systems and other appliances for guest use.

Time-Saving Cleaning Hacks for Hosts

Hosts cannot procrastinate on cleanliness, especially when their Airbnbs are doing well. They should find time-saving cleaning solutions to retain repeat guests and attract new ones.

Of course, you can delegate the work to professional services. However, here are some essential hacks hosts can consider to keep their Airbnbs glistening and tidy.

Highly-functional Cleaning Tools

Quick cleaning requires innovative tools. Whether using the cleaning agents you hired or cleaning the property, spray mops can speed up the process. This tool is easy to carry, lightweight, and gives floors a shiny finish in a few minutes. The lint roller is another effective tool that removes dust and dirt from surfaces without hard labor.

Multi-Purpose Cleaners

Having numerous cleaners will only confuse you. Instead of cluttering the cleaning arsenal with too many products, keep one that works for everything. An effective multi-purpose cleaner will cover all surfaces, from countertops to bathrooms. This will save hosts a lot of money. Otherwise, they would have spent on different kinds of cleaning products.

Regular Cleaning Routine

If you clean aimlessly, you're simply wasting time. Follow a cleaning checklist instead and do a thorough Airbnb cleaning. Start with dusting the high surfaces. For instance, you can dust ceiling fans, top surfaces of shelves, and furniture.

The dust would fall on the ground. Now, you can clean the floor. Start by sweeping or vacuuming every surface of the property. Later, mop the surfaces and wipe down the mirrors and sinks to give them a shiny look.

Finishing Touches & Additional Cleaning Tips

The cleaning checklist of an Airbnb rental is incomplete without finishing touches. Give extra time to cleaning the Airbnb. It enhances the hospitality experience for your guests. Be it adding practical cooking essentials or stacking magazines and books in the living room, all these small details will make the guests happy.

Keep the Inventory in Check and Restock

Opening up your Airbnb rentals for guests requires regular inventory inspection. Ensure your property is always stocked with essentials. From dishware to toiletries, everything should be present on the property. It will save you from last-minute hassle.

Providing a wide range of amenities in your Airbnb will give guests a comfortable experience, just what they expect when visiting someone's house.

Incorporate Personal Touches

Add personal touches and give guests a unique experience when they visit your property. You can keep customized badges for the guests. Also, you can stack the bookshelves with a guidebook on your property for light reading.

Keep the personal touches minimalistic, as that's what most guests look for these days. You can keep it minimal by adding high-quality toiletries. 

Final Walkthrough & Inspection Tips

The Airbnb cleaning process ends with the final walkthrough. Ensure that every corner and surface of the property is checked for clutter and dirt that shouldn't be left behind. This will ensure that you present a flawless Airbnb rental to the patrons. The following are some small tips to make your Airbnb guest-ready!

  • Ensure that every part of the Airbnb is guest-friendly. In the final inspection, make all the efforts that the guests would approve of.
  • Make sure all appliances in the property are in working order. Guests need to experience comfort when they book a stay at your Airbnb.
  • Ensure the inventory is well-stocked and the property doesn't run out of supplies for guests.
  • Take the help of professional cleaning personnel to conduct a thorough and detailed cleaning.
  • Look around the place from the guest's perspective rather than a host's to see if everything works well.

Ensure Effective Airbnb Cleaning With Sterling Cleaning Services

Even the host of a luxurious Airbnb cannot ignore the importance of cleanliness. Guests prefer to stay in clutter-free, neat, and tidy places. You are responsible for ensuring the patrons who visit your property get the best experience. It will help you get positive reviews and visibility in the competitive market.

You need to put extra effort into cleaning to achieve a good reputation and visibility across the Airbnb market. Ensuring every nook and cranny of the property is spotless can be a lot of work for hosts. This is why you should hire a professional cleaning team to do the job.

At Sterling Cleaning Services, we boast a team of professional cleaning agents who are experts in Airbnb cleaning and hotel cleaning in NYC.

Our professional cleaning agents' Airbnb cleaning checklist covers all aspects, including fresh linens, shiny mirrors, and dirt-free surfaces. Our professionals have years of experience and skills in offering all kinds of cleaning solutions based on the space and project.

We introduce eco-friendly cleaning solutions to different spaces to keep the health of the occupants in check. We set honest pricing depending on the type of property and cleaning required. Our cleaning services range from gym cleaning and facility cleaning to office cleaning.

Schedule a cleaning service with us to turn your Airbnb into a glistening guest-ready abode.

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