Airbnb Cleaning Checklist: A Room-by-Room Turnover List
A good turnover checklist works room by room, in the same order every time, and ends with a guest-ready walkthrough. Use the list below as a starting point. Print it, test it on one turnover, and adjust it to your place. It works for hosts who clean themselves and for those who hire a cleaner.
Before you start
- Check the next arrival time and plan your window.
- Bring supplies, fresh linens and a bag for laundry and trash.
- Open windows or turn on fans for air.
- Take photos if anything looks damaged, and note it.
Order of work
Work top to bottom and back to front: start in the farthest room, finish at the entrance. Dust before you vacuum, wet-clean last.
Bedrooms
- Strip beds, bag linens and check the mattress protector.
- Remake with fresh linens, smooth them and arrange pillows.
- Check under the bed, in drawers and in closets for forgotten items.
- Dust surfaces, lamps and headboards.
- Check that lights and outlets work.
- Vacuum or sweep the floor.
Bathrooms
- Remove used towels and trash.
- Clean the toilet, sink, tub or shower, and mirror.
- Wipe fixtures and counters.
- Check for hair in drains.
- Restock toilet paper, soap and towels.
- Wipe the floor last.
Kitchen
- Empty the dishwasher and the fridge of leftovers.
- Wipe counters, stove, microwave and sink.
- Check pots, plates and glasses are clean and complete.
- Restock coffee, trash bags, dish soap and sponge.
- Take out the trash, replace the liner.
- Mop the floor.
Living areas
- Fluff cushions and straighten blankets.
- Dust surfaces, TV and shelves.
- Check remotes and batteries.
- Vacuum under cushions.
- Wipe tables and door handles.
Entry and outdoors
- Sweep the entrance and wipe the door.
- Check the lockbox or lock works.
- Sweep or hose the patio and wipe outdoor furniture.
- Check the trash bins and recycling.
Restock list
| Item | Check |
|---|---|
| Toilet paper (at least one spare roll per bathroom) | |
| Soap, shampoo, conditioner | |
| Towels and linens (full set per bed) | |
| Trash bags | |
| Coffee, tea, filters | |
| Dish soap, sponge | |
| Light bulbs and batteries |
Final guest-ready check
Walk in from the entrance as a guest would.
- Does the home smell fresh?
- Are the lights and heating or cooling set properly?
- Is the Wi-Fi sign and welcome book in place?
- Are there stains, dust or hair anywhere obvious?
- Are all doors and windows locked?
- Take a photo of each room for your records.
Working with a cleaner
- Share the checklist in writing and agree on what is included.
- Ask them to report breakage and missing items the same day.
- Provide supplies and a place to keep them.
- Pay on time and say thank you.
- Review the checklist together every few months.
The check-out instructions you give guests should match what the cleaner expects. For new hosts, the pre-first-guest checklist covers the setup tasks.
Deep clean and seasonal tasks
Once a quarter, add the jobs that do not fit into a regular turnover: wash windows, clean behind appliances, rotate mattresses, wash duvets and pillows, descale the kettle, and check the smoke detector batteries.
Ready-made checklists
The Stayworks Host Kit includes 30 one-page turnover and cleaning checklists, including turnover by room, deep clean, staging, inspection, inventory, restock, seasonal maintenance, damage report, lost and found, and a guest-ready final check, each with a sign-off and a report-to-host line. They come in US Letter and A4 as PDF and as editable Google Docs and Word files. It is $19.00 one time.
Quick checklist
- Same order every time.
- Top to bottom, back to front.
- Restock before you leave.
- Do a guest-ready walkthrough.
- Photograph and report problems.