Cleanliness is the single most influential factor in Airbnb guest reviews. According to Airbnb's own data, cleanliness ratings are the category guests are most likely to leave a comment on — positive or negative. A 4.6 cleanliness rating on an otherwise strong listing will suppress your search visibility and deter guests who read reviews carefully. One negative mention of "hair in the shower" or "kitchen wasn't clean" can cost you bookings for weeks. Getting the turnaround clean right, every single time, is not optional — it is the foundation of a successful short stay operation.
This checklist covers what needs to happen between every guest, at every turnover.
Kitchen Checklist
- Dishes cleared — check dishwasher, drying rack, and all cupboards for items left by the previous guest
- Benchtops wiped down with disinfectant — all surfaces, including behind taps
- Stovetop — all burners or ceramic zones cleaned, no residue or spatter
- Oven — a quick check; any obvious spatter wiped off before it bakes on
- Microwave — inside wiped, turntable cleaned, door seal checked
- Coffee machine — cleaned per machine type; capsule bin emptied; drip tray cleaned
- Kettle — wiped exterior; check interior for scale build-up (descale monthly)
- Fridge — check for any food left by the previous guest; wipe shelves if needed
- Sink — scrubbed, drain cleared of food debris
- Bins — emptied, bag replaced, exterior wiped if needed
- Floor — swept and mopped, especially under the table and along the kickboards
Bathroom Checklist
- Toilet — bowl cleaned under the rim, seat wiped both sides, cistern exterior, base and behind the toilet
- Shower or bath — scrubbed free of soap scum and residue; glass screen polished
- Drain — hair removed from drain cover and cleaned
- Taps and showerhead — wiped free of water spots and limescale
- Vanity basin — scrubbed clean, taps polished
- Mirrors — cleaned streak-free
- Towels replaced with fresh set — old towels removed for laundering
- Soap dispenser and shampoo bottles restocked — do not top up; replace or refill fully
- Toilet paper — fresh roll on the holder, spare roll visible
- Bin emptied and relined
- Floor mopped, including corners and behind the door
Bedrooms
- All bed linen stripped and sent for laundering — no exceptions, even if the guest "only stayed one night"
- Fresh linen made up on all beds — including pillow protectors and mattress protectors checked for stains
- Pillows and cushions straightened and plumped
- Bedside tables wiped — charge cables, glasses, books left by guests removed
- Wardrobe and drawers checked — previous guests' clothing is found more often than you'd think
- Floor vacuumed — including under the bed
- Mirrors and glass surfaces wiped
- Curtains or blinds straightened
- Any guest items left behind — bagged, labelled, and reported to the host
Living Area
- Sofas vacuumed — cushions removed and shaken, check underneath for items
- Cushions and throws repositioned and straightened
- Coffee table and side tables wiped — glasses, bottles, coasters removed and washed
- TV remote wiped down with antibacterial wipe
- Entertainment area dusted — remote controls, consoles, cable boxes
- Floor vacuumed throughout — including along skirting boards and under furniture
- Dining table wiped — all chairs checked for crumbs and spills
- Windows checked — any smudges or marks wiped clean
Host Welcome Setup
The presentation of the property for the arriving guest is as important as the cleaning itself. A thoughtful setup creates a hotel-like impression and reduces negative reviews about minor issues.
- Toilet paper — fresh roll on holder, at least one spare visible
- Hand wash — full dispenser at every basin
- Dish soap — refilled at kitchen sink
- Kitchen consumables — check tea, coffee, sugar, cooking oil (whatever you provide)
- Welcome note or instruction card — in position and legible
- WiFi details — clearly visible
- Bin bags — fresh set under the sink
- All lights tested — replace any globes that have blown
- All windows and doors secured correctly
- Lockbox or smart lock reset and confirmed working
How Long Does an Airbnb Turnover Take?
Time varies significantly by property size and the state left by the previous guests. As a rough guide for a well-maintained property with a professional turnover team:
- 1-bedroom apartment: approximately 1.5–2 hours
- 2-bedroom apartment or house: approximately 2–3 hours
- 3-bedroom house: approximately 3–4 hours
- 4+ bedrooms: typically 4–6 hours, depending on bathrooms and outdoor areas
These estimates assume the property is in reasonable condition. If a previous guest has left significant mess, or if it's a larger event booking, turnaround times extend accordingly. Always build in a buffer when booking back-to-back guests.
Why Hosts Use Professional Turnovers
Managing your own Airbnb turnovers quickly becomes impractical for anyone running more than one or two nights per week. The combination of strict checkout-to-checkin windows (often 3–4 hours on busy weekends), the need for laundry to be turned around, and the exhausting repetitiveness of cleaning to a 5-star standard on a tight schedule is why most serious short-stay hosts move to professional turnover services within their first season.
Professional turnover teams bring their own products and equipment, follow a documented checklist, and are accountable for the result. For hosts in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Samzu provides professional Airbnb cleaning with reliability and the quality standard that protects your rating. We service both Gold Coast and Brisbane short stay properties across all suburbs.
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