The Airbnb Turnover Cleaning Checklist Every Host Should Use

Why Turnover Cleaning Determines Your STR Rating

According to Airbnb's own data, cleanliness is the most-reviewed subcategory across the platform. Guests who are otherwise happy with a property will leave a 3-star review if they find a hair on the bathroom floor or crumbs in the kitchen drawer. And a damaged rating is very difficult to recover.

The solution is not simply "cleaning between guests" — it's building a reliable, standardized turnover system that delivers the same result every single time. Here's how to do it.

The Full Airbnb Turnover Cleaning Checklist

Kitchen

Dishes washed and put away (or dishwasher run and emptied)

Countertops cleared and cleaned

Stovetop and oven exterior cleaned

Inside microwave cleaned

Refrigerator — remove any guest food, wipe shelves, check expiration dates on hosts' shared items

Sink cleaned and dried

Cabinet fronts wiped

Trash emptied and fresh liner installed

Coffee maker cleaned and restocked with filters/pods if provided

Bathrooms

Toilet cleaned inside and out

Sink and faucet cleaned and dried

Shower/tub cleaned — soap scum removed, grout clean, fixtures shining

Mirror cleaned, no streaks

Floor mopped

Fresh towels staged (folded or rolled per your house aesthetic)

Toiletries restocked (shampoo, conditioner, soap, toilet paper)

Trash emptied

Bedrooms

Bed fully stripped and remade with fresh linens

Mattress protector checked — replace if soiled

Pillows fluffed and staged

Nightstands cleared and wiped

Floor vacuumed

Closet checked for left-behind guest items

Extra blankets folded and stored or staged appropriately

Living Areas

Sofas and chairs checked for debris, pet hair, or staining

Coffee table and surfaces wiped

Remote controls accounted for and wiped clean

Floor vacuumed and/or mopped

Throw pillows and blankets restaged

Entryway and Laundry

Entry area swept and mopped

Guest shoes/items removed

Laundry — all dirty linens and towels started or bagged for next host arrival

Final Walkthrough Checklist

All lights working

All doors and windows properly closing

No guest items left behind (do a thorough check — under beds, in closets, in drawers)

House manual and welcome materials in place

All supplies restocked per your inventory list

Photography check — does the space look as good as your listing photos?

Turnovers with Same-Day Check-In

The hardest turnovers are same-day: guest checks out at 11am, new guest arrives at 3pm. Four hours is workable for a 1–2 bedroom property with an experienced team, but only if:

You have a dedicated team, not a solo cleaner. Two experienced cleaners can complete a 2-bed turnover in 90 minutes. One cleaner takes 3 hours.

You have a standard process. Every visit follows the same sequence so nothing gets missed under time pressure.

Supplies are pre-stocked. The crew should never run out of linens, toilet paper, or cleaning products mid-turnover.

Bright Broom's specialty cleaning service includes Airbnb and STR turnover cleaning with teams sized for your property and timeline. We coordinate directly with your booking calendar in California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and Virginia.

Supply Restocking System

The best STR hosts maintain a locked supply cabinet at their property (or work with a cleaning service that manages restocking). At minimum, the turnover team should restock:

•Toilet paper (guest bathrooms: 2+ rolls visible, extras under sink)

•Paper towels (at least one full roll)

•Dish soap, sponge

•Hand soap in all bathrooms

•Shampoo, conditioner, body wash (travel sizes or dispensers)

•Coffee/tea supplies per your listing promise

•Trash bags (spare liners under the current liner in each trash can)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find a reliable turnover cleaning service?

Look for services with explicit STR turnover experience, not just general residential cleaners. Ask about their process for same-day turnovers, how they handle inventory restocking, and whether they communicate via your preferred channel (text, app, email) for scheduling confirmation.

What if a guest damages something during turnover?

Document everything with photos immediately after checkout — before the turnover clean begins. This is your evidence for Airbnb's resolution center. A professional cleaning team can help identify and photograph damage as part of the turnover process.

Should I use a professional cleaner or a co-host for turnovers?

Both serve different needs. A professional cleaning service provides consistency, accountability, and the ability to scale. A co-host provides more personalization but often at higher per-visit cost and with less reliability at scale. For hosts with multiple properties or high booking volume, a professional specialty cleaning service is almost always the more reliable choice.