From the exterior of your property to high-traffic areas like the kitchen, you need to have a cleaning strategy in place to tackle room by room. The kitchen and bathroom are particularly important. In addition to the general cleaning tasks, here are tasks per room to ensure you don’t miss a nook or cranny.
Home and Cottage Cleaning Service
Living Room Cleaning
Living rooms are areas where guests spend most of their time while staying at your Airbnb. So, you’ll want to ensure that the area is inviting and creates a relaxing atmosphere. Here are the cleaning tasks to keep your living room tidy and spotless:
- Clean the screen of the TV and disinfect the remote
- Dust other electronics like a game console
- Dust the coffee and side tables
- Vacuum the sofa and armchairs (remember also to vacuum the space between the seating cushions as well as beneath the individual cushions)
- Wash throw blankets and pillow covers of scatter cushions
- Wash curtains and/or blinds
- Dust any shelves
- Dust any decorative items
- Organize miscellaneous items
- Clean all the mirrors
- Vacuum and mop the floor (be sure to clean under the furniture and rugs as well)
- Clean the blinds/curtains
- Disinfect light switches and doorknobs.
Bedroom Cleaning
As the quality of your guests’ sleep will determine the quality of their stay, you’ll want to ensure that there are no nasty surprises. Here’s how to create the best sleeping environment:
- Check the bedding for any rips or stains
- Wash all the dirty linen and replace them with fresh linen
- Make the bed
- Clean between the headboard and mattress (this is a place where you’ll often find lost items)
- Clean under the bed (this is another place you’ll need to check for left-behind items)
- Wipe down and disinfect the bedside tables
- Dust bedside lamps
- Empty and clean all the closets, dressers, and drawers
- Vacuum the carpet/mop the floor
- Clean the blinds/curtains
- Disinfect light switches.
Bathroom Cleaning
Guests can be very critical of bathrooms. So, you’ll want to double-check that your bathroom is sparkling clean by completing the following tasks:
- Clean and disinfect the whole toilet (in other words, the seat, bowl, lid, and tank)
- Wash and disinfect the toilet brush
- Clean and disinfect the shower (remember to check the shower curtain if you have one)
- Clean and disinfect the sink
- Check the drains for any hair
- Use a stainless steel cleaner to ensure all the taps and showerhead are sparkling clean and free of any smudges
- Clean all the mirrors
- Wash and replace all the towels
- Wash and replace the bath/shower mats
- Mop the floor
- Clean and restock the bathroom cabinets and drawers
- Check for any signs of mold
- Clean the blinds/curtains
- Disinfect light switches.
Kitchen Cleaning
One of the advantages that short-term rentals offer over hotel accommodation is that they have a kitchen. You’ll want to use this feature to your advantage by ensuring that it meets all the cleaning standards. Plus, considering that this is where food gets prepared, it’s crucial that your kitchen is hygienic.
- Clean the inside of all the kitchen appliances and wipe down and disinfect the exterior (this includes the microwave, dishwasher, and oven)
- Clean the oven wire racks and drip pans
- Wipe down the stovetop
- Clean the sink’s drain filter
- Wipe down and disinfect the inside and outside of drawers and cupboards (ensure that there are no crumbs)
- Wipe down and disinfect all countertops and backsplashes
- Check that if all the dishes are clean and have been returned to the right cupboard/drawer
- If you provide pantry essentials, double-check the use-by dates of all the food (this includes any spices, oil, and condiments)
- Empty the refrigerator and wipe down and disinfect all the shelves
- Ensure there are clean sponges and tea towels
- Remove the garbage and line all the trash cans with a clean bag
- Sweep and mop the floor
- Clean the blinds/curtains
- Disinfect light switches.
Utility and Laundry Room Cleaning
If you have a utility and laundry room that guests are welcome to use, you need to ensure that this space is guest-friendly and clean too. Here are what you’ll need to do:
- Clean the interior and exterior of the washing machine (remember to check the detergent tray of the washing machine specifically)
- Clean the dryer lint of the dryer
- Disinfect light switches and buttons/knobs of the appliances
- Replenish the detergent
- Clean behind and between the washing machine and dryer
- Clean around any supplies.
- Mop the floor.
Home Exterior Cleaning
Hosts often forget that the exterior of their property also needs regular attention. Plus, considering that this is what guests will see first, it’s even more important that you ensure that it’s properly maintained.
- Clean the windows and the actual window frames
- Clean and disinfect any outdoor eating areas
- Clean the barbecue
- Empty any trash bins and line them with a clean plastic bag
- Wash and replace chair cushions
- Clean any lawn furniture
- Sweep the patio
- Clean and disinfect safety railings
- Wash and replace chair cushions
- Remove weeds and other debris like sticks, branches, and leaves
- Clean the swimming pool
