Stains, Spills and Damage Claims on Airbnb
Yes, you can claim for stains on Airbnb: Host damage protection covers extra cleaning costs to remove stains left by guests, pet accidents and smoke odor, as well as items damaged beyond cleaning. It does not cover standard checkout cleaning or normal wear and tear, so your claim has to show the stain was new and needed more than your usual turnover.
Stains are the most common damage in short term rentals and the hardest to prove, because a sheet or rug looks the same in every photo until something happens to it. This guide covers what counts, how to treat stains so you keep your options open, and how to put a claim together.
What Airbnb covers for stains and spills
Airbnb's Host damage protection article lists "extra cleaning costs required to remove stains left by guests (or their invitees) or pet accidents, smoke odor removal" as covered. It also covers damage to your home, furnishings and belongings, so an item that cannot be cleaned may be claimed as damaged property.
The same page excludes:
- Normal wear and tear
- Standard checkout cleaning, such as laundry and dishes
Airbnb's ground rules for guests back this up from the guest side: guests should not leave a listing in a state that requires excessive or deep cleaning, with examples like moldy dishes, soiled carpets and stains from pets.
Covered or not? A quick guide
| Situation | Likely category |
|---|---|
| Red wine on a light rug that needs professional cleaning | Extra cleaning, may be claimable |
| Makeup on a white towel that comes out in a normal wash | Routine laundry, not claimable |
| Hair dye on a bath mat and grout | Extra cleaning or damaged item |
| Pet urine in carpet | Pet accident cleaning, listed as covered |
| Smoke smell through the home | Smoke odor removal, listed as covered |
| Sheets gradually going gray | Wear and tear, not covered |
| Burn mark on a countertop | Property damage |
The actual outcome depends on your evidence and Airbnb's review, so treat this as a guide, not a promise.
First, treat the stain without destroying the evidence
The instinct is to scrub right away. Do that, but photograph first.
- Photograph and video the stain before touching it. Include a wide shot showing where it is in the room and a close up with something for scale.
- Note the date and time and which reservation just checked out.
- Treat it promptly with the right method for the fabric or surface. Fresh stains are easier to lift, and waiting can turn a cleanable stain into a replacement.
- Keep the item if it cannot be saved. Do not throw it out until the request is resolved. The Host Damage Protection Terms ask hosts to protect damaged property from further loss and cooperate with requests for information.
- Get receipts or quotes for professional cleaning, stain removal products beyond your normal supplies or replacement.
For stain treatment on linens, see how to keep Airbnb white towels and sheets white.
How to file a stain claim
- Request payment from the guest in the Resolution Center. Airbnb says to file within 14 days of the responsible guest's checkout (Host damage protection). The money request steps let you choose a reason, enter the amount, upload attachments and add a note.
- Wait 24 hours for the guest. Airbnb gives the guest 24 hours to respond.
- Escalate if needed. If the guest declines, pays part or does not respond, submit the request under Host damage protection for Airbnb Support to review.
- Request human review if you disagree. Airbnb says you can request human review and share more evidence if you do not accept the result.
What to include
- Photo from the turnover before this guest's check in, showing the item clean
- Photos and video of the stain after checkout
- Cleaner's note describing what they found and the extra time spent
- Receipt or quote for professional cleaning or replacement
- For replacements, the original purchase receipt if you have it
The terms base reimbursement on actual cash value, which deducts depreciation. A three year old rug is valued differently from a new one.
Worked example (illustration only)
These numbers are made up to show how to structure a request.
A guest leaves a large coffee stain on a light upholstered chair. The host's cleaner photographs it at checkout. The turnover photos from the morning of check in show the chair clean. A local upholstery cleaner quotes a fixed price to remove it. The host sends a Resolution Center request for the quote amount, attaches both photos and the quote, and adds one line: "Chair was clean at check in (photo attached), stained at checkout, professional cleaning quote attached." That is a focused, easy to review request.
Why stain claims fail
- No proof the item was clean before. Linens and rugs look alike from stay to stay, so a dated before photo matters more here than for almost any other damage.
- The stain looks old. Gradual discoloration reads as wear and tear.
- Routine laundry costs. A towel that came clean in a normal wash is standard checkout cleaning.
- Late filing. Fourteen days goes fast when you are waiting on a cleaning quote.
If a stain claim is turned down, read Airbnb damage claim denied? What to do next.
Make stains easier to prevent and prove
- Use protectors. Waterproof mattress and pillow protectors and washable slipcovers turn a replacement into a wash.
- Choose forgiving fabrics. Performance fabrics and patterned rugs hide and resist stains.
- Provide the right supplies. Makeup wipes, a small stain pen and dark washcloths reduce damage to white towels.
- Put expected costs in fees. If you allow pets, a pet fee covers routine extra cleaning. Airbnb's damage protection page notes that fees cover expected costs while damage protection is for the unexpected.
- Photograph the same spots every turnover. Mattress, sofa, rugs, carpets and any light upholstery.
That last step is what Clyn handles for you. Your cleaner takes photos in the Clyn app, the AI checks each photo against your property's standard and flags anything missed, and each turnover is stored as a dated record. When a guest leaves a stain, you have a clear photo of that same rug or sofa from just before they arrived. See also how to prove guest damage on Airbnb.
FAQ
Does Airbnb pay for stained sheets and towels?
Airbnb covers extra cleaning costs to remove stains left by guests, but not standard checkout cleaning like laundry. A stain that needs special treatment or makes an item unusable may qualify, while one that comes out in a normal wash usually will not.
How long do I have to claim for a stain?
Airbnb says to file a reimbursement request within 14 days of the responsible guest's checkout. See the Host damage protection article.
Can I charge a guest for smoke smell?
Airbnb lists smoke odor removal as a covered extra cleaning cost under Host damage protection. Document it quickly and keep the cleaning invoice. For more, see a guest smoked in your Airbnb.
If you want every turnover checked before check in, you can try Clyn free on one property at clyn.com.