The Airbnb Turnover Cleaning Checklist We Use Between Guests

Start your Airbnb turnover cleaning checklist with the schedule

Real work

Every turnover lives inside a window: checkout time on one side, check-in on the other. Set them with enough space for the size of the home. A studio and a five-bedroom cabin are not the same job, and a tight window is when hair in the shower and crumbs in the couch slip through.

If you work with a cleaning company, ask about their days and hours before you set your calendar. We clean Monday through Saturday, 8am to 6pm, so hosts who work with us usually block Sunday check-ins or schedule the turnover for Saturday. Keep your booking calendar shared with your cleaner so changes don’t catch anyone by surprise.

• Set a checkout time and a check-in time with a realistic gap between them
• Share the booking calendar with your cleaner
• Keep the door code or lockbox access the same for the cleaning team, or send updates in advance
• Store spare linens and supplies in a locked owner’s closet on site
• Write a one-page house standard with photos of how each room should look

Step one: walk through before cleaning anything

The first five minutes decide how smooth the turnover goes. Walk every room before picking up a cloth. This is when you find damage, missing items or a guest’s forgotten phone charger, and it is much easier to photograph a broken lamp before anything has been moved.

• Photograph any damage, stains or missing items, with the time visible if possible
• Check under beds, in drawers, behind doors and in the fridge for left items
• Open windows for a few minutes if the weather allows, to air the place out
• Start the dishwasher with whatever dishes the guests left
• Collect all trash and recycling in one trip
• Message the host right away about anything that will affect the next stay

Bedrooms and linens

Beds are the first thing guests judge, and the first thing they photograph for a review. We strip and remake beds using the clean sets the host keeps on site. We don’t take linens away to wash, so most hosts keep at least two or three full sets per bed, or work with a linen service, to stay ahead of back-to-back bookings.

• Strip every bed, including beds that look unused
• Check mattress protectors and pillow protectors for stains
• Make beds with fresh sheets the same way every time, following your photo standard
• Bag used linens and towels where the host or linen service picks them up
• Dust nightstands, headboards and lamp shades
• Check closets: hangers counted, extra blanket folded, luggage rack clear
• Vacuum under beds and along the edges of the room

Bathrooms

Hair is one of the first things a guest spots in a bathroom, and Utah’s hard water makes glass and faucets show every spot. Take a last look at the bathroom with the light on and from the height of someone sitting on the toilet, because that is exactly where guests notice what was missed.

• Toilet inside and out, base and behind the seat hinges
• Shower and tub: hair from the drain, soap film, mineral spots on glass
• Sink, faucet, vanity top and mirror without streaks
• Fresh towels set out following the host’s standard
• Restock toilet paper, soap, shampoo and any amenities the host provides
• Empty the trash and wipe the inside of the can
• Mop the floor last, including behind the door

Kitchen

Guests cook more than hosts expect, especially families on longer stays. The kitchen is where a quick wipe turns into a sticky handle that a guest notices on day one.

• Unload the dishwasher and put every item back where it belongs
• Check that cups, plates and utensils match the inventory count
• Wipe inside the microwave and the outside of every appliance
• Clear the fridge of guest food and wipe the shelves
• Check the oven and stovetop for spills and wipe as needed
• Clean the coffee maker and empty any used filters or pods
• Counters, sink, faucet and cabinet handles
• Restock dish soap, sponges, trash bags and paper towels from host supplies

Living areas and the details guests remember

Small details carry a big part of the guest experience: a remote with sticky buttons, a crooked welcome sign, a Wi-Fi card that was taken home. These take seconds to check and save hosts from a frustrating message at 10pm.

• Wipe remotes, light switches, door handles and table surfaces
• Check under couch cushions and fluff and arrange pillows
• Dust shelves, TV stand and decor
• Make sure the Wi-Fi card, house manual and welcome note are in place
• Vacuum carpets and rugs, sweep and mop hard floors
• Wipe the entry, front door glass and the inside of the door
• Set the thermostat and lights to the host’s check-in settings

Restock, report and lock up

Real work

The turnover isn’t finished when the floors are dry. The host needs to know what was used, what is running low and what was damaged, so the next guest doesn’t find an empty soap bottle. A short message with photos after every turnover keeps everyone on the same page.

• Note supplies running low so the host can reorder
• Send photos of every room as it was left for the next guest
• Report damage with the photos from the first walk-through
• Double-check windows, doors and the back door are locked
• Confirm the lockbox or keypad is reset

Utah tip: winter guests and ski gear

Real work

If your rental draws winter visitors, especially near Sundance or for trips up the canyons, expect snow, salt and wet gear inside. Put a boot tray and a sturdy mat at every entrance, and give guests a place to hang wet coats that isn’t the bed. In winter turnovers, entry floors, the mudroom and the bottom of the walls near the doors need extra attention, because dried salt leaves a white film that guests notice and that can dull wood floors over time.