Airbnb Checkout Tasks: What You Can Ask Guests to Do
Airbnb hosts can ask guests to do a few simple checkout tasks, such as gathering used towels, throwing away trash, turning things off, locking up and returning keys, but Airbnb says guests expect an easy checkout without any cleaning tasks. Listings with repeated low ratings from unreasonable tasks may be removed, so keep your list short and leave the cleaning to your cleaner.
I learned this lesson early. My first checkout note had nine items on it, including stripping beds and starting the dishwasher. It felt reasonable at the time because it saved my cleaner a few minutes. Guests did not see it that way, and I do not blame them. They had paid a cleaning fee.
What Airbnb's checkout guidance says
Airbnb's Resource Center has a page for hosts about checkout (Airbnb: a clear and simple checkout). The key points:
- Guest expectations. Airbnb states that "guests expect an easy checkout without any cleaning tasks." Guests should not leave your place in a state that needs excessive or deep cleaning, in line with Airbnb's ground rules for guests.
- Where to add instructions. Hosts can add checkout instructions to the arrival guide in the listing editor. The built in options include gathering used towels, throwing trash away, turning things off, locking up and returning keys.
- Consequences. Guests can flag excessive checkout tasks in their feedback, and Airbnb says listings with repeated low ratings from unreasonable tasks may be removed. The same page says these ratings do not affect Superhost status, but they can still affect your listing.
Airbnb updates its guidance, so check the current version of that page before you rewrite your instructions.
Reasonable checkout tasks
These tasks take a guest a few minutes and protect your home or your next guest. They match the options Airbnb suggests.
| Task | Why it is reasonable |
|---|---|
| Gather used towels in one spot | Speeds up laundry, takes seconds |
| Throw away trash in the provided bins | Keeps food waste from sitting |
| Turn off lights, appliances and the thermostat setting you specify | Saves energy and protects equipment |
| Lock doors and windows | Security |
| Return keys or leave them in a set place | Access for the next guest |
| Let the host know if something broke | Lets you fix it before the next arrival |
A short request like "please let us know if anything broke or ran out" is one of the most useful things you can ask. It gives your cleaner a heads up and gives you time to replace an item.
Tasks to leave off the list
These are the ones that turn a smooth checkout into a complaint. If you charge a cleaning fee, this work belongs to your cleaner.
- Stripping beds and remaking them
- Starting laundry or moving it to the dryer
- Vacuuming, sweeping or mopping
- Washing, drying and putting away all dishes
- Wiping down bathrooms or kitchens
- Taking trash and recycling to an outdoor collection point far from the home
- Hauling linens to a specific closet or bin across the property
Some of these sit in a gray area. Asking guests to put dirty dishes in the dishwasher is common and many guests do it anyway. Asking them to run it, empty it and wipe the counters is closer to cleaning. When in doubt, ask yourself whether you would want to do it at 10:45 a.m. with your bags packed.
A sample checkout message
Keep it warm and short. Here is a template you can adapt.
Thank you for staying with us! Before you head out:
- Please leave used towels in the bathtub.
- Put any trash in the kitchen bin.
- Turn off the lights and lock the front door.
- Leave the key in the lockbox.
If anything broke or ran out, just send me a message. Safe travels!
You will find more versions in Airbnb checkout message templates.
How to set checkout instructions on Airbnb
- Open the listing editor for your listing.
- Go to the arrival guide section.
- Find checkout instructions and choose from the suggested tasks, or add your own.
- Keep any custom items short and specific.
- Send a reminder message the evening before checkout with the same list, so there are no surprises.
Guests see these instructions before and during their stay, so what you write should match what your checkout message says.
Make up the time on your turnover instead
If your turnover feels too tight without guest help, the answer is usually in your operations rather than your checkout list. A few changes that save more time than any chore list:
- Linen rotation. With enough sets, beds get made with clean linens immediately. See the Airbnb laundry system.
- Offsite laundry. Removes the longest onsite task.
- A stocked owner's closet. No store runs mid turnover.
- A clear checklist. Your cleaner moves faster when nothing is a decision. Start with the Airbnb turnover checklist.
- Adjusted check in time. If the window is genuinely too short, move check in later rather than moving work to guests.
What if a guest leaves a real mess?
Light checkout tasks do not mean anything goes. Guests are still expected not to leave a home that needs excessive or deep cleaning. If a guest leaves a mess beyond normal use, such as smoke odor, stains or a trashed kitchen, that is a matter for Airbnb's damage and reimbursement process, not a checkout rule.
Airbnb's cleaning fee article points hosts to AirCover for unexpected cleaning costs (Airbnb help: cleaning fees), and hosts are asked to file damage reimbursement requests within 14 days of checkout with photos or videos, estimates or receipts (Airbnb help: damage protection).
Your case is stronger when you can show how the home looked before this guest. Clyn keeps that record for you: your cleaner photographs each room in the app after every turnover, the AI checks the photos against your standard, and each turnover is saved with a date. If the next guest leaves a mess, you have the before photos ready. More in how to prove guest damage on Airbnb.
FAQ
Can I ask Airbnb guests to strip the beds?
You can ask, but Airbnb says guests expect an easy checkout without cleaning tasks, and stripping beds is closer to cleaning than a simple checkout step. Most hosts who charge a cleaning fee leave it to the cleaner.
Can I ask guests to take out the trash on Airbnb?
Asking guests to put trash in the bins you provide is one of the checkout options Airbnb suggests. Requiring a long walk to an outdoor collection point is more likely to feel like a chore.
Can Airbnb remove my listing for checkout tasks?
Airbnb says listings with repeated low ratings from unreasonable checkout tasks may be removed. Keep your list short and in line with the suggested tasks to stay clear of that.
If you want every turnover checked before check in, you can try Clyn free on one property at clyn.com.