Free Guide
The Complete Airbnb Cleaning Checklist
A room-by-room STR cleaning checklist built for professional turnovers. Use it manually, print it out, or automate it entirely with PrepBnB.
By Alex Stelea, founder of PrepBnB · Last updated
Why a checklist matters for Airbnb hosts
A missed toilet, a hair on the pillow, a restocked shampoo bottle that turned out to be empty — these are the details that separate a 4-star review from a 5-star one. For Airbnb hosts managing turnovers across one or more properties, a consistent cleaning checklist is the difference between a reliable operation and a constant source of anxiety.
The checklist below is what professional STR cleaning teams actually use. It covers every room, accounts for common oversights, and is structured so a cleaner can work through a property efficiently — typically 2–3 hours for a 2-bedroom.
60+
checklist items across 6 rooms
what professional STR cleaners actually run, not a generic deep-clean
2–3 hrs
typical 2-bedroom turnover time
when laundry runs in parallel and supplies are pre-staged
Top 3
most-missed items by cleaners
fridge contents, under-bed dust, dishwasher full of clean dishes
Get the printable Airbnb cleaning checklist
Room-by-room, optimized for print or save-as-PDF. We'll email it so you have it for every turnover.
Room-by-room checklist
Kitchen
20–30 min- Wipe all countertops, backsplash, and stovetop
- Clean microwave inside and out — remove food splatter
- Wipe down oven exterior and control knobs
- Empty, scrub, and reload dishwasher
- Check refrigerator: discard guest leftovers, wipe shelves and door seals
- Clean and shine sink and faucet
- Restock: dish soap, sponges, paper towels, coffee filters
- Empty trash and replace liner
- Sweep and mop floor
- Wipe cabinet fronts and drawer handles
Living Room
15–20 min- Vacuum sofa, armchairs, and rugs
- Fluff and arrange throw pillows and blankets
- Wipe all hard surfaces: coffee table, side tables, shelves, TV stand
- Dust ceiling fan blades and light fixtures
- Check and replace dead remote batteries
- Wipe fingerprints off TV screen with microfiber cloth
- Empty trash
- Spot-check walls and light switches for marks
Bedrooms (repeat per room)
15–20 min per room- Strip all bedding — sheets, pillowcases, duvet cover
- Inspect mattress protector; launder if soiled
- Make bed with fresh linens — hotel-style tight corners
- Vacuum floor and under the bed
- Wipe nightstands, lamps, mirrors, and headboard
- Check drawers and closet for guest belongings
- Dust window sills and blinds
- Photograph completed room for your records
Bathrooms (repeat per bathroom)
15–20 min per bathroom- Disinfect toilet — bowl, rim, under rim, handle, tank, and base
- Scrub shower or tub — tiles, grout lines, fixtures, glass door
- Clean sink, faucet, and vanity surface
- Wipe mirror streak-free with glass cleaner
- Replace with fresh folded towels (bath, hand, washcloth)
- Restock: toilet paper (3+ rolls visible), shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap
- Empty trash and replace liner
- Sweep and mop floor
- Photograph completed bathroom
Entry & Laundry
10–15 min- Sweep entry and front porch; shake out welcome mat
- Wipe door handles, keypad, light switches
- Transfer soiled linens to laundry; start wash
- Dry, fold, and restock linen closet to par levels
- Document any low supplies (paper towels, toiletries, trash bags)
Final Walk-Through
5–10 min- Walk every room with your checklist open
- All windows closed and locked
- Thermostat set to host-specified temperature
- All lights off except entry welcome setting
- Doors locked, lockbox or keypad reset for next guest
- Supplies at par — submit a shortage report if anything is low
- Confirm every room has been photographed
Common checklist mistakes that cost hosts stars
- Skipping under-furniture. Guests move chairs and find dust bunnies. Vacuum under the bed, sofa, and dining table every turn.
- Reusing guest towels. Even if they look clean, replace all towels with fresh-laundered sets every time.
- Leaving the dishwasher full. Guests who arrive and find a full (even clean) dishwasher feel like they walked into someone else's kitchen.
- Inconsistent toilet paper count. Guests notice when there's only one roll. Stock 3+ rolls per bathroom, visibly.
- No photo documentation. If a guest claims damage after checkout, you need timestamped photos showing the property was clean at handoff.
- Not checking the fridge. A missed container of leftover food ruins the next guest's stay immediately. Always open and check every shelf.
How to use this checklist with a cleaner
If you manage your own cleaning, print the checklist from our free printable checklist page and work through each room systematically. Photograph each room before you leave.
If you work with a cleaner — even informally — the biggest challenge isn't the checklist itself, it's communication. Texting back and forth about when to show up, what to restock, and whether the job is done is where things break down.
That's what PrepBnB is built for. Connect your Airbnb or VRBO calendar, add your cleaner's email, and PrepBnB automatically sends them this checklist — customized for your exact property — every time a guest checks out. Your cleaner checks items off on their phone, uploads a photo per room, and you get notified when the job is complete. No texting, no missed turnovers.
Automate this checklist for free
PrepBnB sends this checklist to your cleaner automatically, tracks completion room by room, and notifies you when the job is done. Free for 1 property.
Get started — it's freeFrequently asked questions
How long should an Airbnb turnover clean take?
Plan for roughly 45 minutes per bedroom on a standard turnover, or 2–3 hours total for a 2-bedroom property. Larger homes (4+ bedrooms), hot tubs, and properties with pets can push 4–5 hours. The bottleneck is almost always laundry, not cleaning itself — a second linen set per bed cuts turnover time in half.
What's the difference between an Airbnb cleaning checklist and a regular house-cleaning checklist?
An STR turnover is a hospitality reset, not a deep clean. The checklist prioritizes guest-facing details that affect reviews — folded toilet paper, hotel-style bed corners, no streaks on glass, fully restocked supplies — over things like washing baseboards or scrubbing inside drawers. A monthly deep-clean checklist handles the rest.
Should I share this checklist with my cleaner?
Yes. Either print this page and walk it with your cleaner once, or — if you want them to actually check items off — automate it with PrepBnB. PrepBnB sends this checklist (tailored to your specific property) to your cleaner's phone every time a guest checks out, with photo proof per room.
What's the most-missed item on Airbnb cleaning checklists?
The fridge. Cleaners almost always wipe the kitchen counters but skip opening the fridge to check for guest leftovers. A forgotten yogurt is the #1 cause of bad first-impressions for the next guest.
How do I know my cleaner actually cleaned everything?
Photo proof per room. Have your cleaner photograph each completed room before leaving. PrepBnB requires this by default and shows you the photos in your dashboard the moment they're uploaded — no asking, no chasing.
Is it OK to use this Airbnb cleaning checklist for VRBO too?
Yes — VRBO, Booking.com, Vacasa, and any direct-booking property uses the same hospitality-reset model. The checklist is platform-agnostic.
Related guides
How to Manage Airbnb Cleaners →
Communication, payments, and accountability for STR cleaning teams.
How to Nail Same-Day Turnovers →
The systems top STR hosts use to turn a property in under 3 hours.
How to Hire an Airbnb Cleaner →
Where to find a reliable cleaner, interview questions, and pay benchmarks.
Airbnb Cleaning Supplies (Restock List) →
What to keep stocked between turnovers, with par levels.