Airbnb Cleaning: A Guide for Hosts and Property Managers

Whether you’re an individual host managing one property or a professional manager with dozens of listings, mastering Airbnb cleaning is non-negotiable. It impacts guest satisfaction, reviews, booking conversions, and even how your listing ranks on Airbnb. In this guide, we cover everything from cleaning workflows to fee strategies and compliance with Airbnb’s standards.

Why Airbnb Cleaning Matters

Cleanliness is one of the most heavily weighted categories in Airbnb’s guest reviews. It directly affects your listing rating and can determine whether your property ranks in the Top 1% or falls into the Bottom 10% of hosts. A consistent, high-quality cleaning routine supports better guest experiences, stronger reviews, and repeat bookings.

Airbnb also expects hosts to maintain a high standard of cleanliness. During the pandemic, it introduced a 5-step enhanced cleaning protocol, and while enforcement has softened, the expectation of spotless rentals has not.

Types of Airbnb Cleaning

Turnover Cleaning

This is the most common type of Airbnb cleaning, done between guest stays. It includes stripping beds, replacing linens, restocking supplies, taking out trash, and cleaning all surfaces. Timeliness and reliability are key, especially for same-day check-ins.

Deep Cleaning

Performed monthly or quarterly, deep cleans go beyond the surface. Think oven interiors, behind furniture, air vents, and window tracks. Deep cleans are crucial for maintaining long-term quality, especially in high-traffic units.

Mid-Stay Cleaning

For longer bookings, some guests expect or request mid-stay cleaning. Whether included in the nightly rate or offered as an upsell, this service can be outsourced or done in-house.

Building a Reliable Airbnb Cleaning Workflow

A strong cleaning workflow includes:

A documented checklist (adjusted for property type)
Task scheduling tools (especially helpful when managing multiple properties)
Reliable communication with cleaners (via text, apps, or PMS integration)
Quality control checks (e.g. post-cleaning photos or spot checks)

Tools like Breezeway, Turno, and Hospitable help automate scheduling, assign tasks, and confirm completion—crucial for scaling operations.

Working With Professional Cleaners

For hosts who don’t live nearby or manage multiple units, professional cleaners are essential. Look for those who:

Specialize in short-term rentals
Understand the importance of speed and consistency
Offer flexible availability for back-to-back bookings
Can handle supply restocking and damage reporting

Establish service level agreements and make sure they’re trained on your property-specific expectations.

Airbnb Cleaning Fee: Strategy and Guest Expectations

Cleaning fees have long been a point of tension on the platform. During the pandemic, cleaning fees rose more than 33% globally. Now, with Airbnb’s Total Price Display update, high cleaning fees are far more visible to guests, affecting booking behavior.

Hosts should aim for a balance between fair compensation for cleaning services and guest-friendly pricing. Avoid using the cleaning fee to pad profits—Airbnb and its guests are watching closely.

👉 Read more: The Ridiculous Debate About Airbnb Cleaning Fees

Dynamic Cleaning Fees

Did you know you can set variable cleaning fees depending on length of stay or unit type? This allows you to stay competitive on shorter stays while still covering costs on longer bookings.

👉 Explore: Dynamic Cleaning Fees for Vacation Rentals

How to Add a Cleaning Fee on Airbnb

Go to Listings > select a property
Click Pricing > scroll to Standard Fees
Enter your desired Cleaning Fee
Save and sync across calendars if using a channel manager

Tech Tools and Automation

As your operation grows, tools become essential. Consider:

Turno for auto-assigning cleaners based on booking dates
Breezeway for cleaning checklists and quality assurance
Your PMS or channel manager to sync booking data and trigger tasks

Many platforms offer integrations with cleaning apps, reducing manual oversight and improving accountability.

Final Takeaways

Airbnb cleaning is not just about aesthetics—it’s about operations, reputation, and long-term profitability. Whether setting the right cleaning fee, choosing a tech stack, or training your cleaning team, a clear cleaning strategy is foundational.

Further Reading:

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