Airbnb cleaning checklist: the changeover jobs that matter
A good changeover is more than a clean. Alongside fresh linen and a spotless kitchen and bathroom, your cleaner is your eyes on the property: photographing its condition, spotting damage, testing alarms and flushing unused taps. Building those into the checklist protects you and your guests.
Before cleaning starts
- Photograph each room as the guests left it, before anything is moved. These are your evidence if there is damage to claim for.
- Check for damage and breakages, and report them straight away.
- Check for anything left behind by the last guests.
The clean
- Strip and remake every bed with fresh linen and check mattress protectors.
- Clean the kitchen: surfaces, hob, oven, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, and wash and put away all crockery.
- Clean bathrooms thoroughly: toilet, shower, bath, basin, tiles, mirrors and floors, with fresh towels.
- Hoover and mop all floors, dust surfaces and wipe light switches, handles and remote controls.
- Empty all bins and take rubbish and recycling out.
- Restock essentials: toilet roll, hand soap, washing-up liquid, bin bags and your welcome items.
Safety checks at every changeover
- Test the smoke, heat and CO alarms and note it down.
- Run taps and showers for a few minutes if the property has been empty, to help control legionella.
- Check the fire blanket is in place and escape routes are clear.
- Look over appliances for damaged plugs or leads, and take anything faulty out of use. See our PAT testing article.
- If there is a hot tub, follow its cleaning and water-change schedule and log the readings.
Pricing your cleaning fee
Your cleaning fee should cover your cleaner's time, laundry and supplies, and allow for the platform fee taken on top. Our free cleaning fee calculator works it out for you.
HostSorted works out every changeover from your booking calendars and gives each cleaner a schedule link with this checklist. They accept cleans, tick jobs off and upload timed photos from their phone, and you get an alert if a clean is at risk.
Related guides
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change, so check the official sources before you act.