Airbnb cleaning checklist between guests
If you own a hotel apartment, you already know that the time between check-out and check-in is short and unforgiving. You have 2-3 hours, sometimes less, to transform an apartment left behind by guests into a space that looks like the photos in the listing.
The problem is not that you don’t know what to do. The problem is that, under the pressure of time, you skip things. And those are the things that end up in reviews.
We’ve put together this checklist based on what we see in the field — what guests overlook, what they usually skip, and what makes the difference between a 4.2 and a 4.8 rating.
First of all: order matters
Don’t start with the first thing that comes to mind. Start with the bathroom and kitchen — they’re the areas that take the most time and where mistakes are most visible. If you’re pressed for time, it’s better to have a spotless bathroom and kitchen and a less than perfectly arranged living room than the other way around.
The order we use:
Bathroom
Kitchen
Bedroom (linen change + bed making)
Living room and common areas
Hallway, entrance, balcony
Final check
Bathroom — the area that makes or breaks the review
The bathroom is the first thing guests check upon arrival. Not necessarily consciously — but if it smells damp, if there are marks on the mirror or if there is a hair on the edge of the bathtub, the impression is set.
What you do:
Clean the toilet bowl inside and out, including the base and back
Wash the sink, faucet, and area around them — remove limescale
Clean the shower or tub: walls, door/curtain, siphon, shower head
Wipe the mirror streak-free — check from the corner, not just the front
Disinfect handles, switches, and towel racks
Wash the floor, including corners and the area behind the toilet
Put clean, evenly folded towels — not thrown on the rack
Check: toilet paper (at least one full roll), soap, shampoo
Ventilate. Check the odor. If it smells "stuffy," the guest can smell it.
What guests usually miss and overlook:
Hair on the floor or in the drain
Liquid scale on the faucet
Mirror with water stains (you can see it in natural light)
The area behind the toilet — rarely cleaned, always noticed
Shower curtain with mold at the base
The kitchen—where the details come together
The kitchen in an Airbnb apartment is not your kitchen at home. Guests use it differently: they boil water, make coffee, and maybe cook something simple. But they look at everything.
What to do:
Clean the countertops, sink, and faucet—degrease, not just wipe
Check the inside of the microwave—food splatters from previous guests are a classic negative review
Clean the outside of appliances: refrigerator, stove, range hood
Check the refrigerator: empty, clean, no odors. If there’s anything left by guests, throw it away
Wash any leftover dishes or check the dishwasher (including the filter)
Empty the trash can and put a new one in
Check: dish soap, sponge, kitchen towels, trash bags
What usually gets left behind:
Inside the microwave
Dishwasher filter
Area behind the stove or hob
Fridge handle (fingerprints visible)
Bedroom — the bed makes the first impression
A well-made bed makes up for a lot. A poorly made bed ruins everything.
What to do:
Change all linens: sheets, duvet cover, pillowcases
Make the bed tightly, without visible wrinkles — like in a hotel, not "like at home"
Vacuum the floor, including under the bed if accessible
Dust the bedside tables, dressers, light fixtures
Check: functional outlets, functional light bulbs, clean curtains/drapes
If you have decorative pillows, arrange them evenly — don't throw them on the bed
What usually gets lost:
Dust on the bedside lampshade
Hair on the pillow (even with changed linens — check)
Bedside drawers (guests open them and find leftovers from others)
Living room and common areas
What to do:
Vacuum and mop the floor
Dust the furniture, TV, shelves
Clean remote controls (they are among the dirtiest items in the house)
Arrange the cushions on the couch evenly
Check the windows — if they have visible marks, wipe them
Air out—the "closed house" smell is a deal-breaker
What usually gets lost:
Remote controls (fingerprints, grease)
Dust on window sills and door frames
Visible messy cables (don't clean them, but tidy them up)
Hallway, entrance, balcony
What to do:
Clean the front door on both sides
Wipe the intercom/yala area
Vacuum and wash the hallway
Balcony: sweep, wipe the table/chairs if there are any
Check the entrance mat — if it's dirty, change it
Final check — the 2 minutes that matter the most
Before leaving, take a quick tour of the apartment. Don't clean — check. Look through the eyes of a guest who has just opened the door.
Final inspection checklist:
Smells clean, not "closed" or chemical
Mirrors are streak-free
The faucets are sparkling, free of limescale
The bed is neatly made
The trash cans are empty, with new bags
The lights work in all rooms
The supplies are complete (paper, soap, towels)
The closet doors are closed
The remote control is on the table, not under the pillow
The temperature is comfortable (air conditioning set, window closed)
How long does a turnover take to do correctly
For a 2-room apartment, a complete turnover—including changing linens, cleaning, and checking—takes between 1.5 and 2.5 hours with an experienced person. With a team of two people, it drops to under an hour and a half.
If you have more than 2-3 units or if the bookings are back-to-back, it pays to work with a dedicated team that knows the apartment and doesn't waste time "discovering" where the vacuum cleaner is.
When is it worth outsourcing cleaning
If you have a single unit and infrequent bookings, you can do it yourself. But if you have multiple properties, if you have frequent bookings, or if you simply don't want your rating to depend on how tired you are on a Saturday morning—outsourcing is the investment that shows directly in the reviews.
At Nabira Clean, we do turnover cleaning to hotel standards—with a checklist, photo report, and coordination with your booking calendar. We don't improvise. Each apartment is handed over in the same condition every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a turnover for a 2-room apartment cost?
Between 180 and 300 lei per intervention, depending on the surface area, the condition of the apartment, and whether it includes a linen change. For recurring collaborations, the price decreases.
Do I need to have spare sets of linen?
Ideally, yes — at least 2 complete sets per bed. If not, we can also take over the laundry, with delivery at the next turnover.
Can you also intervene on weekends or holidays?
Yes. The hotel regime does not take into account the calendar, and neither do we.
How do you coordinate with my reservations?
You send us the calendar (or access to it) and we organize. You receive confirmation after each turnover.
What do you do if the guest left the apartment very dirty?
We intervene with intensive cleaning. We communicate the additional cost to you before, not after.