Guides
Airbnb cleaning checklist: a room-by-room turnover guide for hosts
A turnover is the stretch between one guest checking out and the next checking in, the reset that makes a place look like nobody was ever there. Reviews are won and lost in it. This checklist walks the unit in the order we’d do it, and it works whether you clean yourself, share it with a co-host or hire it out.
What a turnover is, and why consistency beats perfection
Guests rarely praise a clean rental. They expect it. They do notice the one thing that was missed: a hair in the shower, a sticky counter, a burned-out bulb. So the goal isn’t a showpiece. It’s the same result every time, with the same list, in the same order, ending with the same last look.
That’s also what makes it sustainable. A host who works from a list gets the same result at 11 a.m. on a quiet Tuesday and at 2 p.m. on a back-to-back Sunday. A host who works from memory gets the Tuesday result both days, or neither.
Start with the arrival walk-through
Before you touch anything, walk the unit as the last guest left it. You’re looking for three things, and you want to find them before you clean over them.
- Damage: broken items, stains on furniture or linens, marks on walls
- Missing or left items: anything gone from the inventory, anything the guest forgot
- Signs of rule-breaking: smoke or strong odors, extra bedding in use, trash left in odd places
Photograph anything that looks wrong before you move it. Bag and label left items so you can message the guest. Then start the laundry and the dishwasher right away, so they run while you clean.
The checklist, room by room
Kitchen
- Run or unload the dishwasher; put everything back where guests expect it
- Wipe counters, sink, stovetop and the inside of the microwave
- Clear the fridge of leftover food; wipe shelves and check for odors
- Empty and rinse the coffee maker; check cabinets for stray items
- Take out trash and recycling, put in fresh liners
- Floors last
Bathrooms
- Disinfect the toilet: inside, seat, hinges and base
- Scrub shower walls and tub; clear the drain of hair
- Wipe the sink, faucet and mirror
- Check the floor corners and behind the toilet for hair
- Hang fresh towels, set out a fresh bath mat, restock paper
- Empty the bin; mop the floor; run the fan or open a window so the room dries
Bedrooms and linens
- Strip and remake every bed that was used; check unused ones for dust or creases
- Check mattress protectors and pillows for stains
- Look under the bed and in nightstands, drawers and the closet
- Dust surfaces and wipe handles and switches
- Make the bed the same way every time
- Keep a second full set of linens per bed so a turnover never waits on the dryer
Living areas
- Wipe tables and disinfect remotes
- Fluff cushions and check under them
- Vacuum floors and under furniture
- Reset the TV and streaming apps and sign out of any guest accounts
- Check door and slider tracks
The restock list
Running out of something is a second kind of turnover failure. Check these before you leave, and keep spares in the unit.
- Spare toilet paper and paper towels
- Hand soap, dish soap and a clean sponge
- Bath soap and hair-care amenities, or refilled dispensers
- Trash liners in every bin
- Coffee, tea and filters, if you offer them
- Remote batteries and spare light bulbs
The final walk-through: a guest's-eye view
Go out and come back in through the front door, as the guest will. Don’t clean now. Just look.
- First impression at the door: smell, light, temperature
- Try every light switch; run the faucets; flush the toilets
- Check low spots (behind doors, under furniture edges) and high ones (fan blades, shelf tops)
- Sit on the bed and look around from there
- Confirm the thermostat setting, the key or lockbox code, and your welcome note
Timing between checkout and check-in
Work backwards from check-in, not forwards from checkout. Allow slack for what goes wrong: a late checkout, a spill, a bag of laundry that needs a second cycle. A tight same-day turn needs a hard margin built in, not a hopeful one.
The reliable order is laundry first, then kitchen and bathrooms, then bedrooms, then living areas and floors, then the walk-through. Time your first few turnovers and write the number down. That number, not a guess, is what you plan your calendar around. If you’d like a price for turnovers on your calendar, you can request a quote, and our pricing page explains how the number is set. To turn your turnover cost into a listing fee, see how to set your Airbnb cleaning fee.
What to photograph, and why
Take photos before you leave: a wide shot of each bedroom with the bed made, the toilet, shower and floor in each bathroom, the kitchen counters, sink and fridge interior, the living area, and the entry. Take close-ups of any damage you found during the arrival walk-through. Shoot from the same spots every time, so changes are easy to see.
There are two reasons. First, disputes: if a guest says the unit was dirty on arrival or that a mark was already there, dated photos are your evidence. Check your platform’s current rules for what it asks for in a claim. Second, proof for you: if a co-host or cleaner does the turnover, photos tell you the unit is ready without driving over.
A note on Portland
The City of Portland has its own short-term rental rules, including permit requirements. Check the City’s current short-term rental rules before you list and when you renew. In the wet months, run the bathroom fan or open a window after cleaning, since guests notice a damp smell fast.
If you'd rather not do turnovers yourself
We do turnovers for Portland hosts. The unit is guest-ready after every checkout, on your booking calendar, to one documented standard written into the quote, with photos after each clean so you know it’s ready without driving over. Tell us within 24 hours of a problem and we’ll come back and make it right — free.
See our Airbnb and Vrbo turnover cleaning and the rest of our commercial work.
Common questions
How long should an Airbnb turnover take?
It depends on the size of the unit and how it was left. Time your first few turnovers and write the number down; plan your calendar around that number, plus slack, rather than a guess.
How many sets of linens do I need?
Two full sets per bed is a common minimum: one on the bed and one clean in the closet. If you turn often, a third set means a turnover never waits on the dryer.
What should I do if a guest leaves damage or something behind?
Photograph it before you move or clean anything. Contact the guest through your booking platform, and bag and label any left items. Check your platform’s current time limits and rules for claims.