Host Guide
How to Write Airbnb Cleaning Instructions for Your Cleaner
Good cleaning instructions are the difference between a five-star turnover and a guest complaint. PrepBnB helps STR hosts build room-by-room instructions that get delivered to your cleaner automatically after every checkout — but this guide covers the fundamentals you need regardless of how you deliver them.
Most Airbnb hosts underestimate how much inconsistency comes from unclear instructions. Your cleaner might be excellent — but if they don't know your linen par stock, your property-specific quirks, or that the guest left a window cracked, the result is inconsistent. And inconsistency shows up in reviews.
The goal of a good set of Airbnb cleaning instructions is to eliminate judgment calls. Your cleaner should be able to walk into any of your properties and know exactly what needs to happen, in what order, at what standard — without texting you.
What to Include in Your Airbnb Cleaning Instructions
Property access
- Lockbox or keypad code with entry instructions
- Parking location and any permit details
- Where to find cleaning supplies (closet, under sink, garage)
- Utility locations — breaker box, water shutoff, trash cans
Property quirks
- Appliances that need special handling (finicky dishwasher, old oven)
- Areas that take longer than expected (grout-heavy tile, light-colored sofas)
- Known issues cleaners should document but not fix (scuff on wall, sticky door)
- Any off-limits areas or owner belongings to avoid
Linen and supply standards
- Where clean linens are stored and par stock levels
- How you want beds made (hotel fold, throw pillow arrangement)
- Which towels go in which rooms
- Restocking thresholds — when to text you vs. handle it themselves
Photo requirements
- Which rooms need photo proof of completion
- What angle or coverage is expected per room
- How to flag damage or supply shortages with a photo
Checkout steps
- How to lock up (deadbolt sequence, gate code, lockbox reset)
- Thermostat setting for unoccupied periods
- How to notify you when the job is complete
Format matters as much as content
A 500-word paragraph of instructions gets skimmed or ignored. A room-by-room checklist with checkboxes gets followed. Structure your instructions the same way your cleaner moves through the property: Kitchen → Living Room → Bedrooms → Bathrooms → Final Walk-Through.
5 Common Mistakes (and How PrepBnB Fixes Them)
Writing instructions as a block of text
Use a room-by-room checklist format. Cleaners move through the property room by room — instructions should match that flow.
Sending instructions over text the morning of
Deliver instructions in advance via email with a persistent link they can bookmark. Texts get buried.
One-size-fits-all instructions across multiple properties
Each property has different layouts, amenities, and quirks. Maintain a separate checklist per listing.
No photo requirements
Require at least one photo per room as confirmation. It takes 30 seconds and eliminates most disputes about whether a room was cleaned.
Verbal instructions only
New cleaners forget details. Experienced cleaners skip them. Written, structured instructions produce consistent results regardless of who shows up.
The Room-by-Room Structure That Works
Break your instructions into sections that match how cleaners actually move through a property. For each room, cover three things: what needs to be cleaned, what needs to be restocked, and what photo confirms it's done.
For a typical two-bedroom, one-bath Airbnb, your instruction set should cover:
- Kitchen — counters, appliances, trash, fridge check, floor
- Living room — vacuum, surfaces, throw arrangement, trash
- Master bedroom — strip and remake bed, dust, vacuum, photograph
- Second bedroom — same as master
- Bathroom — toilet, sink, shower, towels, restock toiletries, photograph
- Entry and laundry — welcome mat, high-touch surfaces, linen inventory
- Final walk-through — windows locked, thermostat set, door secured
This is the same structure used in PrepBnB's free printable checklist, which you can print and hand to your cleaner today.
How to Deliver Instructions to Your Cleaner
Writing great instructions is only half the job. They have to reach your cleaner in a usable format, at the right time, for every job — not just the first one.
The most common delivery methods, and their tradeoffs:
Text message
Fast to send, but gets buried. No confirmation of receipt, no photo documentation, no payment tracking.
PDF or Google Doc
Better than text, but still manual. You have to remember to send it, and it doesn't update when checkout times change.
Property management software (Guesty, Hospitable)
Good if you're already paying for it. Overkill for independent hosts with 1–3 properties.
PrepBnB
Syncs your Airbnb calendar, creates a job for every checkout, and sends your cleaner a unique link with the checklist — automatically. Cleaners confirm tasks and upload photos from their phone. Free for up to 2 properties.
Related PrepBnB guides
Let PrepBnB deliver your cleaning instructions automatically
Connect your Airbnb calendar and PrepBnB sends your cleaner a personalized checklist after every checkout — with photo proof required per room. Free for up to 2 properties.
Get started freeNo credit card required