Short-Term Rental Cleaning: 8 Tips to Make Turn-Overs Go Smoothly

Grab 8 tips to help ensure turnover cleanings at your short-term rental are as efficient as possible. Whether your clean your own Airbnb or hire

Whether cleaning yourself or hiring it out, making sure the cleaning job runs smoothly is a top priority for all short-term rental hosts. Whether buying your first Airbnb or you are a pro-operator, grab some tips to make the job easier.

Pile of colorful rags — Provide your guest rags and avoid them using your bath towels

1. Stock Up on Clearly Marked Cleaning Rags

Let's be real—accidents happen, and the last thing you want is guests using your fancy bath towels to mop up spills. I keep a bin of rags handy, each marked with a black X on one corner, so there's no confusion. These are often retired linens that have served their time, now repurposed as rags to ensure your guests aren’t mopping up that spaghetti sauce that slopped onto the floor.

4 colorful silicone pot holders — Skip cloth potholders

2. Silicone Pot Holders: Don’t make more laundry

Forget stained fabric pot holders that look gross after one too many uses. Silicone pot holders are your new best friends. They’re easy to clean, don’t hold stains, and are pretty much indestructible. Perfect for that Airbnb kitchen.

Mid-blue sheet stack — Have a full set of linens for easy turnovers

3. Full Sets of Linens are a Must

Having a complete set of linens ready for turnovers is crucial. But let’s go a step further—keep extra covers for decorative pillows and spare duvet inserts on hand. Not everything needs a backup, but having enough for a quick swap during busy turnovers is key to staying ahead, especially in high season.

Person with a rag dusting — Avoid hard-to-clean decor

4. Ditch the Dust Magnets

Moving beyond spartan means adding decorative touches, but intricate pieces that gather dust can become a nightmare on busy turnover days. Opt for simpler, sleek decor that’s easy to wipe down and won’t collect dust bunnies.

wooded bedside table, person setting book on it — Skip drawers in furniture, especially bedside

5. Say Goodbye to Drawers

You wouldn’t believe the things guests leave behind in bedside drawers—from wedding rings to, alarmingly, firearms. I’ve learned it’s safer (and simpler) to replace drawers with open shelves or simple tables - especially bedside.. It keeps everything in plain sight - and less likely to be forgotten, and makes cleaning faster.

various cleaning supplies — Leave cleaning supplies for guests

6. Leave Some Cleaning Supplies for Guests

If guests have the tools to clean up, many will! Stocking your rental with basic cleaning supplies encourages guests to maintain cleanliness, reducing the workload for your cleaners. It’s about empowering your guests to help themselves (and you!). I really like having wireless vacuums (one per floor), easy Swiffer style mops, dog-hair removers or lint brush, and some basic non-toxic cleaners in each bathroom or close by. If you’ve ever showed up at a turnover and the home looks like its been dusted and mopped already - it may have been! I’ve had the experience where the guests left it perhaps better than they found it!!

wooded headboad with blue and pink sheets and decorative pillows — Skip the white bedding - and the bleach

7. Embrace Color—Ditch the White

Who said rentals need to stick to white linens? I know there are many who say white is the way to go, but there has not been a study in our industry that says it makes a difference. Not only is it hard to maintain, but it’s also a bit impersonal - and most folks opt for short-term rentals for a more homey feel. Unless you have a personal preference, opt for colors that hide stains better and ditch the bleach. It’s more homey, more practical, and let’s be honest—it’s just easier to keep looking good.

black and white dog asleep on a king sized bed in a short-term rental — Dogs will get on furniture, whether you want them to or not

8. Plan for Fido.

If you are a dog or pet-friendly rental, then planning for Fido makes it easier for everyone. As a guest, I once booked a VRBO that had extensive rules including the dog couldn’t go on the furniture or in the bed. I have a snuggle bug of a pup who is on me as much as possible, and the idea of a place that didn’t allow us to interact with our dog how we normally would - well, we canceled and found another place. If you welcome pets, plan for them to be on furniture and in beds; provide sofa covers, pet hair removers, and leave cleaning supplies. I’ve found pet owners tend to be very grateful to bring their pets - and more likely to clean prior to leaving.

Wrapping Up

Whether you are cleaning or hiring it out, setting up your short-term rental for easier cleaning should be a top priority. A clean short-term rental is imperative to short-term rental success, and with a bit of forethought its not hard to make it easier for the cleaner and your guests to have ease in helping maintain a clean home.

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Hey Boss! I'm Kate, owner/founder of The CEO Host. If you are interested in taking a leap into short-term rentals - or have some questions about your existing business, my goal - passion, and career, is to help YOU succeed. I've coached hundreds of folks getting started or looking to optimize, analyzed more deals (and duds) than I could count, completed thousands of hours of education and training, attended conferences... So don't be shy. A good CEO knows to bring in expert help - and that's what I'm here for! Lets HOP ON A CALL and chat!

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