Creating an Airbnb cleaning checklist is a great choice, whether you plan to clean your own properties or bring in a professional cleaning crew. Distractions and interruptions happen; if you find that you can nearly always start your own cleaning but seldom get to finish it as you like, it’s a great idea to bring in professionals who can leave your Airbnb clean and ready for your next guests. You may have care and cleaning requirements for wooden furniture or particular products that must be used or avoided. Your checklist can easily capture these needs.
What Is an Airbnb Cleaning Checklist?
Your printable Airbnb cleaning checklist can be included with your cleaning products. Consider getting it laminated and including a dry erase marker so your housekeeping cleaning professionals can initial each project as you do it. If you get a particular compliment on one aspect of your property, you can share this praise with your maid!
Even those who do their own cleaning can benefit from a checklist. If you get a comment that a certain feature was not dusted or polished, you may find that it isn’t on your checklist. You can adapt your to-do list as you build up a base of comments from happy customer.
Why Do You Need an Airbnb Cleaning Checklist?
Your Airbnb cleaning checklist serves multiple purposes. You can confirm that every surface you note on your list has been attended to. Your Airbnb cleaning list should also be accessible to guests; your guests may have concerns about disinfection and sanitation.
It’s also a good idea to note when some cleaning/maintenance project have been done. For example, a regular cleaning may not include a wipe down of the inside of kitchen cabinets. A quarterly deep cleaning can be booked to make sure that your guests provide you with positive reviews.
The benefits of utilizing a cleaning checklist
Your Airbnb cleaning rules can save time and confusion among your maids. Unlike a cleaning of a regular home, tasks such as refilling body wash and shampoo may need to be listed on your vacation rental cleaning checklist.
A vacation rental cleaning checklist also needs to note property condition and guest belongings. Your guests may leave a pair of shoes under a bed or a robe on the back of the bathroom door. Doing a double check of each of these spaces can help you get forgotten items back to their owner and boost your client satisfaction.
Guests may occasionally do damage. Your checklist can include instructions to send photos to a certain phone number of any damage they find. This will give you time to address the problem before your next guests are scheduled.
Your short term rental cleaning checklist might also include restocking some specialty food items. You might choose to leave great coffee and tea at your vacation rental. Your maid can check the status of this inventory and let you know if you need to restock.
When everyone knows what they need to do and has the supplies required, the whole process will go more quickly.
Your Airbnb Cleaning Kit
Your Airbnb cleaning process will be more consistent with great tools. Your Phoenix property will need:
- Dusting tools and polish for furniture
- Disinfectant and scrubbing tools for bathrooms and kitchens
- Spot remover for soft furnishings
- A quality vacuum and extra bags for cleaning floors, furniture and window treatments
- Polish and soft cloths for glass and mirrors
- Disinfecting wipes for shared surfaces
- Extra trash bags
- Laundry soap or extra linens
- A broom and a mop
Airbnb Cleaning Checklist by Room and Area
You want each space of your vacation rental to sparkle. Your Airbnb cleaning service can start by dusting each room from high to low, including light fixtures and ceiling fans.
Entryways
- The entryway should be free of dust
- Light switches and door handles should be sanitized
- Light fixture should be free of dust
- Windows should be clean
- Floors should be clean
- Because guests entering your vacation rental may be dealing with luggage, it’s a good idea to provide plenty of open space so these items can be easily maneuvered.
Living room and bedrooms
- Solid furniture should be free of dust and polished
- Mirrors and glass should be polished
- Bedding should be clean and freshly made up
- Floors should be freshly mopped and rugs washed or shaken out
- Light fixtures and lamp shades should be free of dust
- All trash cans should be empty
- Because bedrooms and living rooms are full of soft furnishings, making sure that all cushions are fully plumped and deodorized will make the space more inviting.
Kitchen
- There should be no open food in the refrigerator; it should be spotless
- The counters and sink should be sanitized
- Rugs should be freshly washed
- Linens should be freshly hung up
- Cooktop, oven and microwave should all be clean
- Trash can should be clean and freshly lined
- Floor should be swept and mopped
- If you offers spices for your guests to use, make sure that part of your deep cleaning is to discard anything that is out of date.
Bathroom
- Mirrors and glass should be polished.
- Countertop, sink, toilet and tub should be sanitized
- Light switches should be sanitized and light fixtures dry dusted
- Bathroom vent fan should be free of dust
- Linens should be freshly washed and hung up
- Floor and rugs should be clean
- Bathrooms tend to stay humid; even if it’s clean, the room can feel clammy. When your maids finish cleaning the bathroom, consider leaving a fan to cycle air into the room until the cleaning is done, just to fully dry out the room for the safety and comfort of guests.
Outdoor areas
- Area should be swept
- Plants should be watered as needed, brown leaves removed
- Cushions should be vacuumed or plumped
- Furniture should be wiped down
- Light fixtures, window and door frames should be checked for bugs and cobwebs
- Windows should be washed
- Outdoor spots can quickly fill up with downed leaves or even blowing trash. Consider booking your maid service the day of or the day before check-in to reduce the amount of debris that can stack up on the patio.
Off-Season Cleaning | Tips
Your Phoenix property may be empty during the hottest months of the year. That’s an ideal time to bring in your cleaning crew and do a deep clean of the property. From top to bottom, each room can be dusted. Appliances can be pulled out and scrubbed, inside and out. Cabinets can be emptied and wiped down. If your property features carpet, this is also an ideal time to make sure that your carpets are steam cleaned and allowed to dry naturally to protect the nap.
Not only can this allow you to offer a freshly cleaned property to your guests, but you can get a notification if there is a maintenance issue at your vacation rental. A small drip under a sink may be overlooked during regular cleanings, but your maids can send you a photo of any damage they find.
You can find information about the additional processes included in a deep clean on the MaidThis website. Scheduling a deep cleaning right before your busy season gets going is a terrific way to be confident in the readiness of your property.
Get in touch with us today. Let the experts take care of your cleaning needs!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cleanliness standard for Airbnb?
Every Airbnb property should be free of hazards, such as mold or pests. It should be cleaned to a high degree, including a sanitization of high touch surfaces. The spaces should be free of dust. Every hard surface should be fully disinfected before new guests arrive.
How often should an Airbnb be deep-cleaned?
Your Airbnb should be deep-cleaned quarterly. It’s a good idea to make sure that the refrigerator and oven are checked with each cleaning; the oven may not have been used, but the refrigerator should be wiped out between guests. A thorough check of windows and window treatment should be included in an Airbnb deep clean.
Should you hire an Airbnb cleaning service for your vacation house?
You may live quite a way from some of your Airbnb properties, so a cleaning service will be necessary. Additionally, if you’re dealing with several properties, your day may be full of interruptions. A skilled maid service can produce consistent cleaning each time, which will give you time to build your business.
