The Airbnb Turnover Cleaning Checklist We Use Room by Room

That Cleaning Girl · Airbnb & Rental Turnovers

A checklist is what makes a turnover consistent. Without one, every clean depends on memory, and memory forgets the coffee filters. This is the room-by-room list we work from in rentals around Midlothian, Waxahachie and the south DFW area. If you want to know what a turnover covers in general first, read What Does an Airbnb Turnover Cleaning Include?.

Copy it, adjust it to your property and tape it inside your owner’s closet door.

Arrival and walkthrough

• Note the time you arrived and whether guests are fully out
• Open blinds and turn on all the lights
• Walk every room and take photos of anything damaged, stained or missing
• Check for left-behind items and set them aside in a bag with the date
• Start the first load of laundry

That first lap through the house is the most important five minutes of the turnover. It tells you how big the job is, whether anything needs to be reported, and which room to tackle first. If the guests had a party, you know before you are halfway through the bedrooms. If a lamp is broken, you have the photo before you have touched anything, which keeps the record clear for the host.

Bedrooms

• Strip sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers
• Check mattress protector and pillows for stains; swap if needed
• Remake beds with fresh linens, corners tight, pillows fluffed
• Dust nightstands, lamps, headboards and dressers
• Check drawers, closets, under the bed and behind the door
• Make sure hangers, the extra blanket and the luggage rack are in place
• Empty trash and replace the liner
• Vacuum or mop

Bathrooms

• Spray toilet, shower and sink first so cleaner can sit while you work
• Remove hair from drains, tub, floor and counter
• Scrub shower walls, tub and glass; wipe fixtures and glass dry
• Clean toilet bowl, seat, hinges, base and behind it
• Clean sink, counter, faucet and mirror
• Restock toilet paper, soap and toiletries to par
• Hang or fold fresh towels and set out a clean bath mat
• Empty trash, then mop the floor

Spraying first is the trick that saves the most time in bathrooms. While the cleaner works on the toilet and soap scum, you clear the counter and gather hair. By the time you come back to the shower, the scrubbing goes fast. Finish the glass and chrome with a dry microfiber cloth, because hard water spots show up as soon as the water dries.

Kitchen

• Unload clean dishes, load and start dirty ones
• Throw out guest food from the fridge and freezer unless the host says otherwise
• Wipe fridge shelves and door bins that were used
• Clean the inside of the microwave
• Empty and rinse the coffee maker; restock coffee and filters
• Wipe counters, backsplash, stovetop and appliance fronts
• Scrub sink and clear the drain
• Check that dish soap, dishwasher pods, paper towels and trash bags are stocked
• Sweep and mop

Ask your host once what to do with opened guest food. Some want everything gone. Others like leaving sealed condiments, oil and spices for the next guest. Write the answer in the notes so you never have to guess.

Living and dining areas

• Straighten cushions and fold throws
• Wipe remotes, light switches and door handles
• Dust shelves, TV stand and decor
• Check under cushions and behind the couch for left items
• Reset furniture to match the listing photos
• Vacuum rugs and do the floors

Outdoor spaces

• Sweep porch, patio and steps
• Wipe the outdoor table and chairs
• Empty ashtrays if smoking is allowed outside, and outdoor trash
• Check the grill and hot tub cover if you have them
• Shake out the front door mat

Final walkthrough

• Move laundry along and fold the clean set onto the shelf
• Stage towels, welcome items and the guidebook
• Set the thermostat, blinds and porch light the way the host wants
• Take a finished photo of each room
• Lock every door and window and return keys to the lockbox
• Send the host your photos and notes on anything you found

Making the checklist yours

No two rentals are the same, so add your quirks: the hot tub cover latch, the sticky back door, the game closet that needs counting. The goal is that anyone could walk in and leave your place exactly the way you want it.

A few ways to make the list easier to use:

• Keep it in the order you actually walk the house, not alphabetical by room
• Put photos of the finished rooms next to the list so the standard is clear
• Add a short "report to host" section for damage, low supplies and left-behind items
• Review it after any guest complaint and add the thing that got missed
• Keep a laminated copy in the owner’s closet and a digital copy on your phone

A good checklist grows over time. Every odd thing a guest mentions becomes one more line, and after a few months the list covers almost everything that can go wrong at your property. For how we use a list like this on real turnovers, see our Airbnb turnover cleaning page.