The Dirt on Airbnb Cleaning Services: FAQs
Between decorating your property and welcoming guests to pay for a stay, hosting an Airbnb is a blast — until it comes to the cleaning.
Airbnb requires hosts to maintain a high standard when it comes to the cleanliness and hygiene of each listing. From keeping the place spotless to preventing guests from having unsavory experiences that hotels are often associated with (like traumatizing experiences with bed sheets), Airbnb rentals should be in peak condition before each hosting.
So does Airbnb provide cleaning services or do you have to go it alone?
In this article, we will answer all of your questions regarding Airbnb cleaning services.
Table of Contents
What Cleaning Is Expected of Guests at the End of Their Airbnb Stay?
Why Should Hosts Consider Hiring a Cleaning Service for Their Airbnb?
Is There Anything Else Airbnb Hosts Should Know About How To Welcome Guests to Their Properties?
Tidy Up Portland! Provides Efficient and Reliable Airbnb Cleaning Services
Does Airbnb Provide Cleaning Services?
Currently, Airbnb does not provide cleaning services.
As an Airbnb host, it is up to you to maintain and prepare your rental for your future guests — whether you hire a cleaning company or clean the property yourself it’s your job!
Some hosts may prefer to hire a cleaning company. Some might clean their property themselves. If you choose to use a cleaner, you just charge what you paid for the cleaners onto the booking. If you choose to clean your Airbnb yourself, the amount you charge is up to you.
Cleaning fees may vary between choosing a cleaner or cleaning yourself.
According to a NerdWallet 2022-2023 analysis, the median cleaning fee per rental was $75 for cleaning after a one-night stay.
What Cleaning Is Expected of Guests at the End of Their Airbnb Stay?
Airbnb has two “ground rules for guests” that set the overall expectations for how guests should leave a home. These two rules are:
Treat the home like your own
Follow the host’s standard house rules
The details of the first rule include:
Cleanliness: Guests must not leave the listing in a state that requires excessive cleaning (stains, moldy dishes in the sink, grimy carpet, etc.)
Litter: Trash should not be left all over the house and excessive trash must be appropriately managed
Damage: If any of the host’s property is subject to damages that are beyond normal wear and tear, the guest must inform the host and work towards a solution that reimburses the host.
Regarding the second rule, hosts are allowed to include the performance of basic cleaning tasks as a part of their standard house rules. These tasks may be presented as a checkout chore list that helps the owner prepare the listing for cleaning.
As an Airbnb host, you might ask guests to:
Take trash bags out
Run the dishwasher after loading
Place used towels in the bathtub
Place bedding in the washer
A basic housekeeping fee may cover many of the tasks mentioned above, but having guests set the property for a quick clean can make things easier for everyone. Laundry may be considered an extra service that requires the cleaner to stay for longer which can raise the cost of the cleaning. By having guests start the laundry, that time can be reduced.
Why Should Hosts Consider Hiring a Cleaning Service for Their Airbnb?
The standard of cleaning for Airbnbs should be high.
Cleanliness can be a huge factor in guest satisfaction. Some hosts may start out cleaning their listing themselves, only to realize that it can be a lot of work. To keep costs low, they might tighten their purse strings and hire a cheap cleaner. Cheap labor may often result in a cheap outcome.
Low-quality cleaning can be translated as “low-quality listing”.
Airbnb data reveals that lack of cleanliness is one of the top reasons for a negative review. Negative reviews can severely impact your business. Just one negative review might turn guests off when considering your Airbnb rental. Research suggests that poor reviews are often correlated with lower listing prices. This could be an indicator that keeping a small budget for Airbnb cleaning services could lead to losses in return and profit.
Airbnbs can require more cleaning than a hotel room.
According to STR, the average Airbnb stay is 2.4 times longer than the average hotel stay. This means that guests are more likely to spend time and enjoy the listing’s amenities which might lead to the listing needing more cleaning.
What Is Included in an Airbnb Cleaning Service?
It probably isn’t a surprise that Airbnb also has ground rules for hosts. These four ground rules include:
Reservation commitment
Timely communication
Listing accuracy
Listing cleanliness
Rule number four, listing cleanliness, details the standard of cleanliness that Airbnb requires for a host listing. The details of this rule are regarding to:
Health and safety: Listings should be free of hazards (mold, pests, etc.)
Cleanliness: Hosts should provide a listing that meets high standards of cleaning (free of excessive dust or dander, clean surfaces, sanitary kitchen/bathroom, etc.)
Guest turnover: Hosts must clean in between guest stays (clean floors, wipe surfaces, fresh linens, etc.)
So what does the average Airbnb cleaning service provide?
Basic Cleaning
Basic cleaning for an Airbnb entails the minimum essentials that should be done. Think of it as cleaning your house before a casual dinner party with friends, rather than preparing for the in-laws' stay for the holiday.
The minimum Airbnb cleaning essential tasks can include:
Vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping
Washing used towels and linens
Remaking all beds
Cleaning and putting away dishes
Emptying trash and recycling
Cleaning toilets, bathroom sinks, bathtubs, and showers
Wiping down all surfaces and high-touch areas
Extra Services
Extra services are cleaning tasks that aren’t usually included in a basic cleaning package. Some extra services may not need to be performed after every stay.
Washing Towels and Linens
Have you ever exhaustedly (and blindly) crawled into a hotel bed, only to wake in the morning to be greeted by a mystery stain on the pillow? Part of the reason people like staying at an Airbnb is the confidence that Airbnb hosts have higher standards when it comes to things like bedding and linens.
A high standard means attention to detail and consistency, and sometimes it’s just more manageable to have your cleaner perform this extra utility.
Some cleaners might include towel and linen services in their basic cleaning package, but generally, this is regarded as an extra (but extremely necessary) service since it can take time.
According to Homeguide, laundry services may range from $5 to $20 per load and an average of $10 per bedsheet change.
Reporting Property Damage
It’s always good to have an extra set of eyes, especially if you’re managing an Airbnb rental property.
Cleaning services may not charge extra (or much at all) for this service. It’s likely just a matter of asking if your cleaners could report any abnormalities if they see them.
Restocking
Restocking may be a service provided by cleaners. Generally, you will be expected to keep stores of items and your cleaners will replenish accordingly.
Items that may need to be restocked might be necessities like toilet paper or hand soap or added luxuries like coffee or condiments. Restocking fees may vary between cleaning companies and the extent of the restocking.
Deep Cleans
Deep cleaning services, sometimes referred to as “spring cleans”, tackle all of the detailed cleaning tasks that only need to be performed every so often.
Some deep cleaning services include cleaning:
Under and/or inside appliances
Baseboards and door frames
Grout and backsplashes
Blinds and window frames
Sanitizing trash cans
Deep clean services may vary between cleaning companies. Some cleaning companies may perform deep cleaning tasks as a part of their regular package to ensure the highest quality of cleaning.
Tidy Up Portland! Is one of these companies. Our basic cleaning package goes above and beyond to ensure that your Airbnb rental will be ideal for quests. Our flat rate service option includes detailed cleaning tasks like:
Cobweb removal
Baseboard/windowsill/door frame dusting
Door cleaning
Vacuuming accessibility areas under furniture
Polishing tapware
Cleaning inside microwaves
Book your first Airbnb cleaning service today.
Is There Anything Else Airbnb Hosts Should Know About How To Welcome Guests To Their Properties?
Hosts that go above and beyond tend to garner the most shining reviews.
The Airbnb business is competitive. Your listing is constantly competing with others to snatch up guests and provide them with memorable experiences — and to get ahead in the race, you need glowing reviews (preferably with pictures.)
Go above and beyond to impress your guests by:
Giving your guests a taste of your local culture: Snack baskets are a great idea, but what is better than tailoring those snacks to the culture of the area? Leave some goodies that your guests can’t get anywhere else than your city/state.
Set the expectations from the beginning: Create a pamphlet or information booklet about the property. You can outline expectations and rules (as well as provide an easy way to find the Wi-Fi password.) You can also list some fun attractions nearby and give suggestions about the best places to eat.
Give a little, get a little: Leave small gifts. Write notes. If your guests are staying for a holiday, birthday, honeymoon, etc. you can welcome them with a little note and a bottle of champagne or a small cake.
Provide an experience that is clean, creative, and conducive to a good time. Make their stay Instagram-worthy.
Tidy Up Portland! Provides Efficient and Reliable Airbnb Cleaning Services
As an Airbnb host, you need a cleaning company that will help you quickly get the rental ready for new guests while still employing the highest quality of care.
Tidy Up Portland! can help you ready your listing to excel beyond the basic requirements for cleanliness. Whether you need us to help you restock or leave a special message for your next guests, we are committed to fulfilling any client request that is within our capabilities.
You are running a business. Use our services to reflect your high standards and professionalism.
Our reliability is ingrained into our policies and practices. Tidy Up Portland! sends two cleaners to clients with Airbnb rentals. A part of our dedication is ensuring that our clients are not left in a lurch if the assigned cleaner cannot make it out.
Learn more about the services we provide and book an appointment today.
