If there’s one thing guests notice immediately, it’s whether your vacation rental is clean. They may not compliment the perfectly folded towels or notice that you remembered to wipe down the light switches, but hand them a questionable bathroom and, well, they’re definitely going to notice that.
Housekeeping is one of those behind-the-scenes parts of running a short-term rental that can quickly become a bigger job than expected. Between changing linens, scrubbing bathrooms, restocking supplies, checking for damage, and getting everything ready before the next check-in, there’s a lot more to it than simply grabbing a vacuum. Luckily, a solid housekeeping routine can make the whole process much easier. This guide covers how often you should clean your vacation rental, what to include on your housekeeping checklist, when it makes sense to hire a cleaning team, and how you can automate the process with Host Tools.
Host Tools provides an automated, unified calendar for short-term rental hosts, allowing you to seamlessly list on all major channels. Start your free trial today!
What is vacation rental housekeeping?
Vacation rental housekeeping refers to the cleanings that happen between every guest check-out and check-in. In the case of short-term rentals, this happens quite often. Basically, it’s the overall inspection and cleaning of your property. It’s everything from changing the sheets and cleaning the bathroom to double-checking that nothing is broken or needs extra attention.
Why is housekeeping so important for short-term rentals?
Cleanliness is incredibly, incredibly important to the success of your short-term rental. Absolutely no guest wants to show up to an unclean property. If your home is unclean, you’re going to have a very hard time succeeding in this industry.
Create a better experience for your guests
As we alluded to, a clean property makes for a better experience for your visitors. Showing up to a clean property sets the tone for their stay. A dirty property starts everyone off on the wrong foot.
Helps you earn 5-star reviews
If your property is spotless, you’re more likely to earn 5-star reviews and ultimately Superhost status on platforms like Airbnb. If your home isn’t clean, its less likely a guest will award you such a prestigious honor in their review.
Ultimately protects your property
When properties are regularly cleaned, it allows you the chance to catch issues before they become big problems. For example, it offers the chance to spot damage, leaks, broken appliances, pests, etc.
Keeps things up and running
Staying on top of your cleaning helps prevent small tasks from piling up and becoming big tasks that need major attention down the line (and never at a convenient time!).
How often should you clean each room?
The actual frequency will depend on your property’s specific occupancy, size, amenities, and location.
| Cleaning type | Frequency |
| Standard turnover | After every check-out |
| Bathroom/kitchen | After every check-out |
| Linens | After every check-out |
| Restocking | Check after every check-out and restock as needed |
| General inspection | After every check-out |
| Deep cleaning | Monthly or quarterly |
| Appliances | Monthly or quarterly |
| Exterior | Weekly/monthly, depending on your property |
| HVAC/filter checks | According to manufacturer recommendations |
A quick vacation rental housekeeping checklist
Before Cleaning
- Confirm the guest has checked out
- Review any guest notes or reported issues
- Check for forgotten items
- Check for damage
- Gather cleaning supplies
- Review any special instructions for the property
Kitchen
- Clean and disinfect countertops
- Clean sink and faucet
- Clean stovetop
- Wipe down appliances
- Clean inside microwave
- Check refrigerator for leftover food
- Empty dishwasher
- Wash dishes
- Empty trash
- Replace trash bags
- Clean floors
- Restock kitchen essentials
- Check cabinets and drawers for crumbs or debris
Bathrooms
- Clean and disinfect toilet
- Clean shower/tub
- Clean shower doors and fixtures
- Clean sink and countertop
- Polish mirrors
- Check drains for hair
- Empty trash
- Mop floors
- Replace towels
- Restock toilet paper and toiletries
Bedrooms
- Strip and replace bedding
- Check mattress and mattress protector
- Dust furniture
- Clean mirrors
- Vacuum floors and under furniture
- Empty trash
- Check closets and drawers
- Replace or restock linens
Living areas
- Dust furniture and surfaces
- Vacuum carpets/rugs
- Sweep and mop hard floors
- Clean high-touch surfaces
- Straighten furniture
- Check remotes
- Empty trash
- Check windows for obvious smudges
Outdoor areas
- Sweep patios/decks
- Clean outdoor furniture
- Remove trash/debris
- Clean grill
- Check pool/hot tub area, if applicable
- Make sure outdoor amenities are ready for guests
Final walkthrough
- Check lights
- Test thermostat
- Check Wi-Fi/router
- Make sure appliances are functioning
- Check smoke/CO detectors
- Make sure doors and windows are secure
- Turn on appropriate lights
- Adjust thermostat
- Make sure everything looks guest-ready
Should you hire a cleaning team?
When you first start hosting a vacation rental, cleaning it yourself can seem like the easiest way to keep costs down. And if you have one property with plenty of time between bookings, DIY housekeeping may be perfectly manageable. However, as your bookings increase, cleaning can quickly become one more job on an already lengthy host to-do list.
Hiring a cleaning team can take that responsibility off your plate while giving you more flexibility to focus on other parts of your business. It can be especially helpful if you manage multiple properties, live far away from your rental, or regularly deal with same-day turnovers. Of course, hiring a cleaning team comes with an additional expense. You’ll also need to find reliable cleaners, establish expectations, and make sure they know when each property needs to be ready.
Once you’ve found a cleaning team you trust, the next challenge is keeping everyone on the same page. Manually checking reservations, texting cleaners, and coordinating every turnover can become a job in itself. That’s where Host Tools comes in. Instead of managing your cleaning schedule separately from your reservations, you can automate the process and keep your cleaning team informed as bookings change. Host Tools makes cleaning easy.
Final thoughts
A clean, well-maintained property is one of the simplest ways to create a better guest experience, earn glowing reviews, and keep your short-term rental in good shape. Whether you’re handling the housekeeping yourself or working with a professional cleaning team, having a consistent process is key. After all, the last thing you want is to discover a dirty bathroom, missing supplies, or a maintenance issue five minutes before your next guest arrives. While you can’t automate the actual cleaning, you can automate the process behind it. Host Tools helps you keep your reservations and cleaning schedule organized in one place, making it easier to stay on top of turnovers and keep your cleaning team in the loop.
Host Tools provides an automated, unified calendar for short-term rental hosts, allowing you to seamlessly list on all major channels. Start your free trial today!
