It doesn't matter how perfectly located, beautifully decorated, and thoughtfully furnished your Airbnb is, if it's not sparkling clean then you are not going to have happy guests (and all the five-star reviews and repeat bookings that come along with that!) Now of course, Airbnb has a cleaning process that is well worth looking over, but in this blog, I'm going to dive a little deeper and give you all the best tips and tricks I've learned along the way when it comes to keeping your Airbnb looking its absolute best.

So pull on those rubber gloves and let's get (talking about) cleaning!!

_{image above: Umtala House}

We have been lucky enough to stay in lots of vacation rentals all over the United States and in various countries around the world (and we're busy adding to the list as we speak! Check out this blog to hear all about our latest adventure!)

Most of the time, they've felt clean. There was one particular AirBnb that stands out in my memory as feeling the opposite of clean. There was hair in the drain and dirt and dust and hair on the floors. There were also no forks in the kitchen—not a cleanliness issue but... really?!  Plus the host left all kinds of passive-aggressive labels on everything made with a label maker. They were everywhere and they had exclamation points. "Don't leave the lights on while you use the hair dryer! You'll blow a fuse!!" It felt like she was watching me. And yelling at me. AND expecting me to clean up after other people!!

Okay clearly there were all kinds of lessons about what not to do in this particular rental, but it was the dirty factor that truly pushed me over the edge. I ended up digging around the utility closet and mopping the floors in a fit of rage on our 2nd day in this place. (We stayed a week. I barely survived. And I also made sure I was the one to book the vacation homes from there on out. Tip... Always check those reviews!!!!)

To make things super simple and help you avoid all those cleaning pitfalls, I've put together a cleaning checklist for you. I pieced together this info from my wealth of experience both as a host and a guest, plus research scoured from the internet, and info I learned first-hand from some experts.

_{image above: Umtala House}

The Ultimate Airbnb Cleaning Checklist! 

This list is in an appropriate order to follow for cleaning, according to the experts. If you love a good checklist, check the bottom of this post for a free download that you can edit to your heart's content and print out!

1. Linens - Before stripping all the bed linens, do a thorough inspection for any stains that need to be treated pre-wash. Then remove all bed linens, bath towels, bath mats and tea towels ready for laundering, and replace all of these items with your clean, fresh back-ups.

2. Kitchen - It's good to do this next in case the guests didn't run the dishwasher. You'll have time to turn it on while you do other things, then circle back and unload before leaving.

3. Bathroom(s) - Next move on to the bathrooms. Don't forget to check for stray hairs in the shower drains. No one likes stray hairs in the bathroom! Plus it's one of those jobs that much easier (and less gross) to do every time, rather than let it build up!

4. Dust & Tidy - As you go through dusting as needed, tidy up and hit the reset button at the same time. Fluff pillows, put the throw back just so, make it look like it did on photo shoot day!

5. Restock consumables - Keep a inventory of these so you or your cleaner know what to re-fill. (Spare toothpaste and shampoo bottles. Wine and chocolate. Whatever other goodies you provide as a service to your guest.)

6. Vacuum and mop - Leave this to the end and mop your way out the door. Not really, but you know what I mean... Leaving this until last will keep those floors as clean as possible.

7. Finishing Touches - Finally, leave behind that personal hand written note next to the bottle of wine and bar of chocolate. Or whatever you choose to make your guests feel welcome, at home, and special upon their arrival. Take a look at this blog if you need some help on this!

In all of the above, keep a lint roller in your back pocket, and whip it out like a bandit whenever you see a rogue stray hair tumbling across the floor. Or sofa. Or bed sheets. Stray hairs are the biggest offender when it comes to the cleanliness of your place. Even one hair can make the perception of cleanliness feel off.

Now download this checklist and edit away! 

IMPORTANT (PLEASE READ): When you click the checklist below you'll be taken to a Google doc. From there click "File" ---> "Make a Copy". From there you can edit and update to your heart's content! 

Some hosts say they do best printing their cleaning checklist out, laminating, and then using a whiteboard marker to check each item at each turnover. This can really help if you become distracted during the cleaning process.

Also if you're looking to outsource your cleaning and don't currently have any local leads, you could try this company, Turno, or another like it. (No affiliation or kickback for me here, and I don't have any experience with this company, but it's good to know these resources exist.) 

And be sure to check out this blog too, where Airbnb Queen of Clean, Whitney White, spills her top tips on how to find the right cleaner for your vacation rental. 

Happy Hosting! XXX