How to Add Cleaning Fee on Airbnb (Complete Guide)

Owning vacation rental property can be quite lucrative, but staying on top of it will take help. If you don’t live near your San Francisco property, you may struggle with uncertainty about whether it’s clean or if it’s being handled roughly. Working with well-trained, highly skilled maids can help. To make sure you are aware of how to add cleaning fee on Airbnb and how to sync your Airbnb cleaning schedule, keep reading.

Once you have booked your first MaidThis cleaning and are happy with the results, you can list your Airbnb cleaning fee clearly on the invoice. Clients expect a clean vacation rental in San Francisco; they will understand that the space needs cleaned and checked out after their stay.

Understanding Airbnb Cleaning Fees

What does Airbnb cleaning fee cover? First, it covers a thorough cleaning before the guest arrives. In addition to the space being scrubbed and sanitized, the guests will enjoy fresh linens and a full stock-up of consumable hygienics, from dish soap to toilet paper.

Guests will probably not have to set out household garbage, though the length of stay may make that necessary. The MaidThis maids who clean your vacation rental will leave the home clean, empty and reline all trash bins, change linens and notify you of any items left behind or property damage.

Your cleaning fee will likely change for each booking, as length of stay will impact the daily cleaning cost. When reviewing how to change cleaning fee on Airbnb, pay careful attention to the number of guests, number of allowed pets and the number of days the space will be rented. The Airbnb cleaning fee calculator can help you display this information so guests will be able to understand.

Obviously, cleaning fee rates on Airbnb will vary based on the size of the property, especially the number of bedrooms and bathrooms.

How to Set an Appropriate Cleaning Fee

Factors to Consider:

Be very upfront when creating your Airbnb bill for your clients. Let them know that the property was cleaned for them and will need to be cleaned after they leave. If your property allows pets, you may need to tack on an extra fee per pet. Don’t surprise your guests.

Pricing Models:

Consider offering special deals to couples or solo travelers. For example, if a single guest will only be using one bathroom and one bedroom, it may make sense to ask them to simply leave doors shut on on unused rooms. If this request is followed, your next cleaning fees will be less. You can offer these clients a lower cleaning fee.

Lower cleaning fees can also be offered to short-term renters. A family of four may linger for a week and leave the space in need of a good cleaning, but another group staying only a few days may not cause as much of a mess. Of course, the place will still need cleaning, airing and review.

Local Competition Analysis:

It’s likely that there are vacation rental property owners who incorporate cleaning into the total rental price. Review other pricing in the area and note reviews. If you can give a savvy traveler a better deal on the rental, even with the cleaning fee, you’ll likely get the booking anyway.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding a Cleaning Fee on Airbnb

Go to your Airbnb calendar and click on the scheduled rental in question. Go to Pricing, then click on Additional Fees. Cleaning will be included in that list; you can make whatever adjustments you need.

To make sure that your fee is competitive, pay particular attention to the sleeping capacity of other Airbnb properties in your area. If your home sleeps 4 and your cleaning fee is higher than a house that sleeps 6, you may lose the booking. Share your amenities, such as privacy and quiet, to regain an edge.

If you allow pets, make sure that your cleaning fee reflects this information. Consider giving renters a break if they don’t bring a pet, as your cleaning will be a bit easier and the yard will not need to be checked for waste.

Those with higher-end properties may do well to offer a mid-booking clean if guests are going to be staying for more than a week. Again, this extra service should be well-explained in your cleaning fee description.

Pay attention to special offers. If you’re offering guests a break on the rental price, that may not impact any regular cleaning additions you have listed for your property. If you want to take the same percentage off of the cleaning price, you’ll have to change it manually.

Communicating the Cleaning Fee to Guests

Do your best to have an explanation of each line item on your bill. If you charge more for pets, label it. Treat the cleaning fee like any other add-on.

List your base cleaning fee for a weekly rental on your house rules, or encourage guests to review the information on your online listing for the property.

If your property is large and is used by big family groups, it may be a wise choice to offer a break in the cleaning fee. For example, you may be able to offer guests a discount for washing linens or towels.

Make sure that it’s easy for guests to keep the place tidy on their own. Make sure there are cleaning supplies in a locked or latched cupboard to protect little guests. Set out an airtight bucket for pet waste and allow many trash bags. If you expect guests to set trash out, do your best to post this clearly in more than one spot. Standing trash bins can draw pests and may leave rubbish all over your property.

Adjusting and Optimizing Your Cleaning Fee Over Time

Guests who are happy with the cleanliness of their vacation rental are unlikely to complain. Make sure that, if anything is left undone or not to your satisfaction, that you get MaidThis back out to complete the cleaning project.

If the space is very small, high cleaning costs may not be welcomed. Pay attention to the comments you receive from guests, both happy and unhappy. If there are aspects of your property that increase the cleaning time, such as highly detailed light fixtures or many mirrors that need polishing, it may be best to update the property.

You can automate your cleaning schedule by syncing your bookings with MaidThis. As to automating the cleaning fee, it’s likely best if you don’t. Again, if you want to offer a discount in the slow season, do so, but be ready to adjust the cleaning fee manually.

Additional Tips for Managing Airbnb Cleaning Efficiently

Create a cleaning checklist and keep it with cleaning products. If you get a negative comment on any aspect of your property, talk with your MaidThis professionals and add it to the checklist if appropriate.

Take care to keep the materials in your vacation rental easy to clean. If you have a pool, provide tool towels so very good bathroom towels don’t end up outside. Avoid furnishings that include detailed carvings or soft goods loaded with fringes; both of these can make it much tougher to keep the items consistently clean.

Nobody likes surprises, especially when it comes to fees. If the guest is bringing a pet, or if you expect that all bedrooms will be used during a long rental, be ready to share the full cleaning fee with potential renter. You may want to share information about a lower cleaning cost for a shorter stay to increase interest, but not if you’re pretty sure they won’t get the discount. Everyone loves a bargain; losing one and having to pay the standard price can be a disappointment.

Key Takeaways

MaidThis offers terrific, high-quality cleaning to keep Airbnb clients happy. A cleaning fee is not an unfair addition to a bill, as long as guests are not surprised by this fee. Depending on how long guests stay or how much of the space they use, you may be able to give them a discount. Be ready to adjust your cleaning requirements as a response to complaints or comments.

Get in touch with us today. Let experts take care of your cleaning needs!