The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning a Holiday Let, Short-Term Rental or Airbnb

Maintaining cleanliness is crucial for Airbnb hosts as it significantly impacts guest experiences and repeat bookings.

A clean Airbnb rental not only leaves a positive impression but also helps hosts maintain a high rating. Essential cleaning tasks include dusting, vacuuming, sanitizing surfaces, washing dishes and linens, and resetting the space for the next guest.

Ensuring cleanliness in an Airbnb rental goes beyond just tidying up. It involves following specific guidelines and standards set by Airbnb to provide a safe and comfortable environment for guests. By understanding these standards and implementing effective cleaning practices, hosts can enhance the guest experience and build a reputation for cleanliness and quality.

Understanding the Airbnb Cleaning Standards

Airbnb has established a mandatory 5-step cleaning process to ensure the safety and satisfaction of guests. This process includes:

1. Prepare: Before starting the cleaning process, hosts should ventilate the space, use approved disinfectants, read product directions, and wash or disinfect their hands. This step is crucial to create a clean and safe environment for both hosts and guests.
2. Clean: The cleaning step involves sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, mopping, washing dishes, and laundering linens at high heat. It is essential to pay attention to detail and thoroughly clean all areas of the rental property, including hard-to-reach spots. This ensures that the space is free from dirt, dust, and any potential allergens.
3. Sanitize: After cleaning, hosts should sanitize the rental property by spraying high-touch surfaces with a disinfectant. It is important to let the disinfectant sit for the specified time, as stated on the product instructions, before wiping off the surfaces. This step helps eliminate germs and bacteria, providing an extra layer of protection for guests.
4. Check: To ensure proper cleaning and sanitization, hosts should use a room-specific checklist. This checklist acts as a guide, ensuring that no area or task is overlooked. It helps hosts maintain consistency in their cleaning practices and provides peace of mind that all necessary steps have been taken.
5. Reset: The final step involves resetting the space for the next guest. Hosts should wash their hands before replacing guest supplies, dispose of or wash cleaning supplies and protective gear, avoid re-entering a sanitized room, and clean equipment between turnovers. This step ensures that the rental property is ready for the next guest, maintaining a high standard of cleanliness.

Failure to comply with these standards and COVID-19 safety practices can result in penalties or even account removal. It is crucial for hosts to familiarize themselves with these guidelines and incorporate them into their cleaning routine.

Efficient and Effective Airbnb Cleaning Tips

In addition to following the Airbnb cleaning standards, hosts should pay attention to details to enhance guest experiences. For instance, fluffing pillows and adding amenities can make the space more welcoming. Airbnb’s cleaning handbook and checklists can provide further guidance on maintaining a guest-ready space.

To create an efficient and effective cleaning routine, hosts should consider the following tips:

1. Create a cleaning schedule: Establishing a regular cleaning schedule ensures that the rental property is consistently maintained. It helps hosts stay organized and ensures that cleaning tasks are not overlooked. By following a schedule, hosts can stay on top of their cleaning responsibilities and provide a clean and inviting space for guests.
2. Pay attention to high-touch surfaces: High-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, and remote controls, are more likely to harbor germs and bacteria. Hosts should prioritize sanitizing these areas to provide a safe environment for guests. Using disinfectant wipes or sprays specifically designed for high-touch surfaces can effectively eliminate germs.
3. Inspect for hidden dirt and dust: While cleaning visible surfaces is important, hosts should also pay attention to hidden areas that may accumulate dirt and dust. This includes areas behind furniture, under beds, and inside cabinets. Regularly inspecting and cleaning these areas ensures a thorough cleaning and prevents the buildup of allergens.

By incorporating these tips into their cleaning routine, hosts can create a clean and comfortable environment that exceeds guest expectations.

Setting Up a Cleaning Schedule and Checklist

A cleaning schedule and checklist are vital tools for Airbnb hosts.They ensure that no task is overlooked and that the cleaning process is thorough. Automated platforms can streamline the process by providing cleaning checklists and confirming projects. Specific tasks for each area of the rental property should be included in the checklist.

When setting up a cleaning schedule, hosts should consider factors such as the frequency of bookings, the size of the rental property, and the time required to complete cleaning tasks. It is important to allocate enough time for each cleaning session to ensure a thorough job.

The checklist should include tasks specific to each area of the rental property. For example, the kitchen checklist may include cleaning appliances, wiping down countertops, and sanitizing the sink. The bathroom checklist may include cleaning the toilet, shower, and mirrors. By having a comprehensive checklist, hosts can ensure that all areas of the rental property are consistently cleaned and maintained.

Automated platforms such as Changeover can be a valuable resource for hosts. Our platform automates & simplifies the process of scheduling & managing STR cleaning by assigning tasks, tracking cleaning & sending notifications to ensure that changeovers are completed hassle-free & on time for the next guests, by utilizing such a platform, hosts can streamline the cleaning process and ensure that all necessary tasks are completed.

Hiring Professional Cleaning Services for Airbnb

While some hosts prefer to handle the cleaning themselves, others may choose to hire professional cleaning services. Professional cleaners can save hosts time and ensure consistent quality, but they come at an additional cost. On average, Airbnb cleaners earn around $24 per hour. Platforms like Turno connect hosts with vetted professional cleaners, thus simplifying the process.

When considering hiring professional cleaning services, hosts should take into account factors such as the frequency of bookings, the size of the rental property, and the availability of reliable cleaners. It is important to thoroughly research and vet cleaning service providers to ensure they meet the necessary standards and have positive reviews from other hosts.

Professional cleaners can provide a deep clean of the rental property, ensuring that every corner is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. They can also help with tasks that may require specialized equipment or expertise, such as carpet cleaning or window washing. By hiring professionals, hosts can save time and ensure that the rental property is consistently maintained to a high standard of cleanliness.

Charging a Cleaning Fee for Airbnb Rentals

Airbnb hosts commonly charge a cleaning fee to cover the costs of professional cleaning services and maintain cleanliness standards. The fee should be determined based on market research and reflect the level of service provided.

When determining the cleaning fee, hosts should consider factors such as the size of the rental property, the time required to clean, and the average cleaning fees in the local market. It is important to strike a balance between covering the costs of cleaning services and remaining competitive with other listings.

Clearly communicating the cleaning fee to guests is essential. It should be included in the listing description and clearly stated in the booking process. This ensures transparency and allows guests to factor in the cleaning fee when comparing different listings.

The cleaning fee should be viewed as an investment in maintaining a high standard of cleanliness and providing a positive guest experience. By charging a reasonable cleaning fee, hosts can ensure that the rental property is consistently cleaned to a high standard and that guests have a comfortable and enjoyable stay.

Conclusion

Cleanliness is key to ensuring positive guest experiences and repeat bookings in Airbnb rentals. By adhering to Airbnb’s mandatory cleaning standards, implementing efficient cleaning practices, and considering professional cleaning services, hosts can maintain high cleanliness standards. Charging a cleaning fee can help cover these costs while providing guests with clean, comfortable accommodations. By prioritizing cleanliness, hosts can create a welcoming environment that exceeds guest expectations and builds a positive reputation in the Airbnb community.