Airbnb Cleaning Checklist: The Turnover Template Hosts Love

An Airbnb turnover is not a regular house cleaning. You have 2-4 hours between checkout and check-in to make a rental look like nobody was ever there. Miss a hair in the shower drain or forget to restock the coffee, and the host gets a four-star review instead of five. That one star costs them bookings.

This checklist covers every room, every task, and every restock item for a standard Airbnb turnover clean. Print it, laminate it, hand it to your crew.

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Before You Start (Pre-Clean Setup)

Before you touch a sponge, do these five things:

• Check the host’s specific instructions. Some hosts want beds made a certain way, specific thermostat settings, or candles lit. Ask for a property binder or shared document before your first clean.
• Do a damage walkthrough first. Walk every room and photograph anything broken, stained, or missing. A cracked mirror or a burn mark on the counter is not your problem — but it becomes your problem if you don’t document it before cleaning.
• Report issues to the host BEFORE you clean. Text photos immediately. This protects you and the host. CYA every single time.
• Gather all linens and start laundry immediately. Strip every bed, grab every towel. Laundry is your longest task — get it running first.
• Open windows for ventilation. Fresh air clears cooking smells, pet odors, and that general “someone lived here” smell faster than any spray.

Aim to arrive within 30 minutes of checkout. If the guest is still there, text the host — don’t wait around on the clock.

Kitchen Checklist

The kitchen is where turnovers get messy. Guests cook, spill, and leave food behind. Work top to bottom.

• Dishes: Wash, dry, and put away everything. Check the dishwasher — guests love to run it and leave.
• Counters and backsplash: Wipe down and sanitize. Check for sticky spots behind the coffee maker and toaster.
• Appliances: Clean the exterior of all appliances. Interior of microwave (always splattered), coffee maker (rinse and run a water cycle), and toaster (dump crumbs).
• Refrigerator: Remove all guest food. Wipe every shelf and the door seals. Throw away anything opened, even if it looks full.
• Stove/oven: Wipe the stovetop and exterior. Deep clean the oven only if needed — flag it for the host if grease is caked on.
• Sink: Scrub and shine. Polish the faucet. No water spots.
• Trash: Replace the bag and wipe the can exterior. Check under the sink for an overflowing recycling bin.
• Restock: Dish soap, sponge, paper towels, trash bags. If the host provides coffee, tea, or sugar — restock those too.

Bathroom Checklist

Bathrooms are the number one thing guests complain about in Airbnb reviews. A single hair on the shower wall kills your host’s rating.

• Toilet: Clean inside bowl, seat (both sides), base, and behind. Guests check behind the toilet.
• Shower/tub: Scrub walls, floor, and fixtures. Remove every hair from the drain and walls. Check grout for mildew.
• Sink and vanity: Clean basin, polish fixtures, wipe down the vanity surface. Check for toothpaste splatter on the mirror side.
• Mirror: Streak-free. Use glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth — paper towels leave lint.
• Floors: Mop. Check the corners and behind the toilet.
• Restock: Toilet paper (minimum 2 rolls — one on the holder, one spare), hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and fresh towels folded hotel-style.

Quick Tip: Roll towels instead of folding them if the bathroom shelf is small. It looks clean and saves space. Always set out one towel per guest listed on the booking, plus one extra.

Bedroom Checklist

Bedrooms are about the bed. If the bed looks perfect, the whole room feels clean.

• Strip all linens including pillowcases, sheets, duvet cover, and mattress protector if stained.
• Make the bed with fresh linens. Hospital corners or a clean hotel fold — whatever the host prefers. Tuck tightly.
• Dust nightstands, lamps, and headboard. Guests set their phones on nightstands — they’ll see dust.
• Empty and wipe dresser drawers. Guests leave things in drawers. Check every one.
• Check under the bed for guest items. Socks, chargers, and earbuds live under rental beds.
• Vacuum or mop floors. Move the trash can to vacuum under it.
• Check the closet: Empty hangers should be organized and evenly spaced. Iron and ironing board present if listed in the amenities.

Living Areas Checklist

• Vacuum all upholstery. Check cushion crevices for crumbs, coins, hair ties, and the occasional vape pen.
• Dust all surfaces — TV screen, entertainment center, shelves, windowsills.
• Clean remotes with a disinfectant wipe. Remotes are one of the dirtiest items in any rental, according to a University of Houston study on hotel room bacteria.
• Straighten decor, books, board games, and any welcome materials.
• Vacuum or mop floors. Move furniture to check for crumbs if guests had kids.
• Reset the thermostat to the host’s preferred temperature. Most hosts have a default — ask for it.

Final Walkthrough (The 5-Minute Check)

This is the step that separates a good turnover cleaner from a great one. Spend five minutes walking every room with fresh eyes — pretend you’re the guest walking in for the first time.

• Check all lights work (replace dead bulbs)
• Test the TV — is it on the right input?
• Confirm Wi-Fi is working (check the router if needed)
• Test AC or heat
• Lock all windows
• Set out welcome materials: guidebook, welcome note, treats if the host provides them
• Take 3-5 photos of each room and text them to the host
• Lock up and confirm completion

The photos matter. They prove the work was done and protect you if a guest claims otherwise. Turno recommends making this a standard part of every turnover.

Restock Inventory Template

Buy these in bulk and charge hosts a restocking fee per turnover. Most Airbnb hosts expect to pay $10-$25 per turnover for consumables on top of the cleaning fee.

Quick Tip: Buy from Amazon in bulk cases — a 96-pack of toilet paper and a 30-pack of paper towels lasts months and cuts your per-unit cost in half compared to grocery store runs. Bill hosts for the consumables separately from your cleaning fee.

Tracking Turnovers with Software

When you’re doing one or two turnovers a week, a group text with the host works fine. Once you’re handling 5+ turnovers per week across multiple properties, things start slipping — wrong address, missed restock, double-booked time slot.

That’s when a scheduling app pays for itself. ZenMaid is built specifically for cleaning businesses and lets you set up recurring turnover schedules with automated reminders. Hosts get notified when the clean is done without you sending a manual text. It starts at $19/month.

If you’re also doing regular residential cleans alongside Airbnb work, Jobber handles both — scheduling, invoicing, and client management in one place. It’s more of a full business tool starting at $39/month, but it grows with you.