Airbnb Cleaning Checklist: The Room by Room Turnover List (2026)
A good Airbnb cleaning checklist does two jobs. It tells your cleaner exactly what "done" looks like, and it gives you proof that it was done before the next guest walks in. Below is the list I use, organized room by room, with the photo you should ask for at the end of each room.
I have hosted on Airbnb since 2021 and spent nine years in cleaning and hospitality operations before that. The pattern never changes: guests rarely complain about the big things. They complain about the hair on the pillow, the crumbs in the toaster, and the one towel that smells like the last guest.
Before you start
- Open windows and turn on fans to air the place out
- Strip every bed, including beds that look unused
- Start the first load of linens and towels
- Empty every trash can and replace the liners
- Walk the whole unit and note any damage or missing items before cleaning
Photo to take: anything broken, stained, or missing, before you touch it. If a guest caused damage, this is your evidence. Airbnb asks hosts to file a reimbursement request within 14 days of the guest's checkout, so photos taken now matter.
Bedrooms
- Fresh sheets, pillowcases, and duvet cover on every bed
- Check mattress protectors and pillows for stains
- Look under the bed and behind the nightstands for items left behind
- Dust nightstands, lamps, headboards, and window sills
- Empty and wipe drawers and closet shelves
- Hangers back in the closet, evenly spaced
- Vacuum or mop floors, including under the bed
Photo to take: each bed from the foot of the bed, lights on, plus one of the floor under the bed.
Bathrooms
- Toilet cleaned inside, outside, and behind the base
- Shower and tub scrubbed, drain cleared of hair
- Glass and mirrors streak free
- Sink, faucet, and counters wiped and dried
- Fresh towels folded the same way every time
- Toilet paper stocked, with at least one spare roll
- Soap, shampoo, and conditioner refilled
- Floor mopped, bath mat replaced
Photo to take: the toilet with the lid up, the shower drain, and the towel setup.
Kitchen
- Dishes washed, dried, and put away
- Inside of the microwave, oven, and fridge wiped
- Fridge emptied of anything guests left behind
- Toaster and coffee maker emptied of crumbs and grounds
- Stovetop degreased
- Counters, backsplash, and cabinet fronts wiped
- Dish soap, sponge, coffee, and paper towels restocked
- Trash and recycling emptied
Photo to take: the open fridge, the stovetop, and the sink.
Living areas
- Cushions fluffed and arranged, throw blankets folded
- Under couch cushions checked for crumbs and lost items
- Remotes wiped and placed in the same spot
- TV screen dusted
- Surfaces dusted, including shelves and picture frames
- Floors vacuumed and mopped
Photo to take: the room from the doorway, so the full layout is visible.
Outdoor spaces
- Patio furniture wiped and arranged
- Grill cleaned, propane checked
- Hot tub checked and treated if you have one
- Trash bins out on the right day
Final walkthrough
- Every light turned on to check bulbs
- Thermostat set to your standard temperature
- Welcome note and WiFi card in place
- Doors and windows locked
- Smart lock code updated for the next guest
Why the photos matter more than the checklist
A checklist on paper tells you what your cleaner was supposed to do. Photos tell you what they actually did. The problem is that most hosts never look at the photos until a guest complains, and by then the review is already written.
That is the gap Clyn closes. Your cleaner takes the photos above in the Clyn app, and Clyn's AI checks each one against your property's standard before the next guest arrives. If the shower drain still has hair or the bed is missing a pillow, you know while there is still time to fix it.
You can start free with one property and five AI quality reports a month at clyn.com.