Free Airbnb Cleaning Checklist (Room by Room)

By Michael, Airbnb host · Updated October 2026

This is the turnover checklist we use at our lakefront Airbnb in BC. Most of it came from mistakes: a missed hair, a guest’s leftover food in the fridge, a BBQ left on. The full checklist is below, free to read. If you want it as a printable PDF or an editable Excel file to hand to your cleaner, grab the V2 download.

The turnover order that saves the most time

Order matters more than speed. Our cleaner follows this sequence so laundry runs in the background and nothing gets cleaned twice:

1. Walk-through and “before” photos
2. Strip beds and start laundry
3. Garbage, recycling and compost out
4. Kitchen
5. Bathrooms
6. Bedrooms (make beds as laundry finishes)
7. Living areas and outdoor
8. Floors last: vacuum, then mop
9. Restock and stage
10. Final walk-through, “after” photos, lock up and report

1. Arrival walk-through (before touching anything)

• Photos or a quick video of every room exactly as the guests left it
• Photograph damage, stains, missing items, and smoke, vape or pet smells before cleaning
• Bag and label anything left behind, then tell the host
• Note anything left on or open: taps, stove, fireplace, heat or AC, windows, doors
• Strip all beds and start the first load right away

Why photos first? If you ever need to file a damage claim, Airbnb will ask for proof of the condition before and after. Photos taken after cleaning don’t help.

2. Kitchen

• Garbage, recycling and compost out; re-bag and wipe the bins
• Sink and counters wiped; stove top cleaned; oven checked
• Fridge and freezer emptied of guest food; shelves and door seals wiped
• All appliances wiped streak-free: microwave (inside too), kettle, toaster, coffee maker, dishwasher
• Coffee grounds emptied; toaster crumb tray emptied
• All dishes put away, and spot-checked: “clean” dishes with food film get noticed
• Chipped, broken or missing dishes noted on the issue report
• Quick look under the sink for leaks
• Restock: dish soap (above 3/4), coffee every time, salt, pepper, sugar and oil, dishwasher pods, spare bags, a fresh sponge, paper towel and clean tea towels

3. Bathrooms

Bathrooms get the closest look from guests. One hair in the shower will show up in a review before a dusty shelf ever does.

• Toilet cleaned thoroughly: bowl, both sides of the seat, hinges, base and behind
• Sink, faucet, counter and mirror streak-free
• Tub or shower, glass and fixtures: no hairs
• Flush test: toilet isn’t running, sink and shower drain freely
• Grout, caulking and corners checked for mould or pink build-up
• Hair check: drains, floor corners, behind the toilet, on towels
• On septic? Bin beside the toilet emptied and lined, and the “toilet paper only” sign still up
• Restock: soap (we use a castile mix, 1/4 soap to 3/4 water), shampoo, conditioner, body wash, 3–4 spare rolls under the sink, fresh towels and bath mat, spare liners, tissues

4. Bedrooms

• Fresh sheets, beds made, no hairs
• Mattress protectors, pillows and duvets checked for stains (swap, photograph, report)
• Nightstands, dressers and headboards dusted
• Spare duvets and pillows accounted for and clean
• Drawers, under beds and behind nightstands checked for left items
• Hangers in closets; lamps and chargers working

5. Laundry

• Detergent refilled; dryer lint trap cleaned after every load
• Nothing left in the washer or dryer
• Guest cleaning supplies topped up; supply closet locked

6. Living areas

• Vacuum everything, including couch cushions and crevices, then mop hard floors
• Coffee tables wiped; dark furniture dusted (dust shows)
• Light switches, door handles and remotes spot-cleaned
• Glass doors and windows checked for fingerprints
• Furniture, cushions and throws reset to match the listing photos
• TV and Wi-Fi working; Wi-Fi card and house guide in place

7. Outdoor, deck and BBQ

• Deck and patio cleared of garbage, cans and cigarette butts
• BBQ opened and checked for food, grill brushed, outside wiped
• BBQ and propane tank OFF; propane level checked and reported if low
• Patio furniture wiped; cushions and umbrella secured if wind is expected
• Bins out to the curb if it’s collection day; garage closed and locked

8. Before you leave

• “After” photos of every room
• Issues, damage and repairs reported to the host right away, with photos
• Thermostat at the between-guest setting; fans, AC and fireplace off
• Lights off (unless the host wants a porch light on); doors, windows, supply closet and basement locked
• Keys back in the lockbox, and the code changed if the host asks
• Text the host how the guests left the place

What’s new in V2 (and why)

The first version of this checklist covered the basics. V2 adds dozens of new items, each marked NEW, and almost all of them trace back to a bad review or a surprise cost:

• Photo steps at the start and end, so damage is documented before anything is cleaned or washed
• Function checks: flush test, drains, TV and Wi-Fi, lamps and chargers, propane level
• Hidden-spot checks: under beds, behind nightstands, the toaster crumb tray, under the kitchen sink
• Septic-home steps: a lined bin by every toilet and the sign still on the wall
• A turnover window box at the top so your cleaner knows exactly how many hours they have before the next check-in

Restocking without running out

Running out of toilet paper or coffee is an easy way to lose a star. The V2 download includes a restock tracker. Set a target for each item once (for example 3–4 spare rolls per bathroom, dish soap above 3/4), and the cleaner counts what’s on hand at each turnover and flags anything low. You restock before it becomes a guest problem.

Getting your cleaner to actually use it

A checklist only works if it gets followed every time. Print it and keep a copy in the supply closet, or send the Excel version so your cleaner can tick it off on their phone. Ask for the before and after photos by text at the end of each clean.

When you’re juggling back-to-back bookings, I’d recommend Turno. It syncs with your Airbnb calendar, schedules each clean automatically after checkout, and lets your cleaner work through a checklist with photo proof in the app. It also has a marketplace if you need to find a cleaner or a backup. (That’s a referral link; I may earn a bonus if you sign up.)

Airbnb cleaning FAQ