Airbnb Turnover Checklist.
The room-by-room list a cleaner can follow without calling you: what to clean, what to restock to, what to photograph, and the damage checks that protect your reviews.
STRKit Editorial
Updated October 6, 2026
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A good turnover is the same every time. The list below is ordered the way a cleaner actually moves through a property, with a photo checkpoint in every room so you can verify remotely. Print it, laminate it, and hand it over.
Agree on the job before the first turn.
Walk through the property together. Separate every-stay tasks from scheduled deep cleaning, repairs, and extra laundry. Add reference photos, supply quantities, equipment care labels, and the person to call when something is wrong. Pay and schedule for the actual scope.
Handoff: property and departure date; cleaner; finish time; ready or not ready; missing stock; damage or maintenance issue; photos; person responsible and resolution deadline. An unfinished checklist needs a response, not just a tick.
Keep the guest checkout list short.
Publish the checkout time and simple departure instructions before booking. Leave laundering, bed making, and routine cleaning to the turnover team. Do not make starting laundry a dependency for the next arrival.
Example: “Checkout is [time]. Please return the keys to [location], close the windows, and lock the door. Put used towels in [basket]. We’ll handle the laundry and cleaning. Thank you for staying!” Replace the brackets and include only the tasks that apply.
Check scheduled messages for one-night stays and last-minute bookings, where delivery settings can behave differently. Sources: Airbnb checkout guidance and scheduled quick replies. Put the same instructions in your house manual.
01Entry & whole-home
Walk every room first: photograph any damage before touching anything
Open windows or run HVAC fan for the duration of the clean
Collect all trash and recycling; check under beds and behind furniture
Reset thermostat to the house default (write the number on the checklist)
Check lock alerts and test the next guest’s scheduled access without changing integration-managed codes
Test WiFi from the living room and the farthest bedroom
02Kitchen
Empty and wipe fridge; discard everything except sealed host-provided items
Run dishwasher empty if it smells; unload and put away all dishes
Wipe every countertop, backsplash, cabinet front, and appliance face
Clean microwave inside and out; wipe the coffee maker and empty the grounds/pod bin
Restock: coffee, tea, sugar, dish soap, sponge, dishwasher pods, paper towels, trash bags
Photograph the coffee station and the open fridge
03Bedrooms
Strip all bedding including mattress protector; check the mattress for stains
Make beds with the fresh set; hotel corners, pillows plumped, decorative pillow on top
Check under the bed and inside nightstands and closets for left-behind items
Wipe nightstands, headboard, lamps, and light switches
Confirm hangers (6 per guest), luggage rack out, blackout curtains working
Photograph each made bed
04Bathrooms
Toilet inside and out including the base and behind the seat
Shower and tub: walls, glass, fixtures, drain hair; squeegee dry
Sink, mirror, counter, and light fixture wiped and streak-free
Refill wall dispensers when under one third; wipe the pump heads
Fresh towels folded to the written guest allocation; count bath mats and spare stock separately
Restock toilet paper: 2 rolls on the holder or shelf, 4 in the cabinet
Photograph the towel arrangement and the stocked toilet paper
05Living room
Vacuum sofa cushions and under them; check for stains on the rug and cushions
Wipe remote controls; sign out of any streaming accounts guests logged into
Straighten books, throws, and decor to match the listing photos
Dust TV, shelves, and window sills
Photograph the room from the listing-photo angle
06Floors & final pass
Vacuum all carpets and rugs; sweep and mop hard floors last, working toward the exit
Empty every trash can and put in a fresh liner
Set the welcome kit and the WiFi card where guests will see them first
Lights off, doors locked, thermostat confirmed, alarm set if applicable
Send photos and a ready/not-ready handoff; report unresolved problems before marking complete
Stop scheduling by text message
Put this checklist in your cleaner's app.
Turno can help coordinate booking calendars, cleaning jobs, and checklists. Confirm current plan terms, train your cleaner, and test date changes and cancellations before relying on automated scheduling.
The turnover kit.
Six things that make a cleaner faster and a property photograph cleaner. For the machines themselves, see the vacuum and cleaning kit picks.
Color-coded microfiber cloths
Separate colors for bathroom, kitchen, and glass so nothing cross-contaminates.
Enzyme stain remover
An option for compatible fabrics; follow the textile and stain-remover labels and spot-test first.
Cleaning caddy
A stocked caddy reduces trips for supplies; time your own property to measure the benefit.
Squeegee for shower glass
Prevents the hard-water haze that makes a clean bathroom look dirty in photos.
Lint roller and pet hair remover
Sofas and throws collect hair that guests notice immediately.
Spare linen set per bed
Turnover speed depends on never waiting for laundry. Three sets per bed is a starting plan; size stock to your laundry return times.
Common questions.
How long should an Airbnb turnover take?
Time a complete trial turnover with your cleaner, including laundry, inspections, and restocking. Property size, staffing, amenities, and condition change the time required. Leave a buffer for repairs and do not use a universal time cap as a quality standard.
Should my cleaner take photos every turnover?
Agree on useful reference views: beds, bathrooms, kitchen, and any reported damage. Photos support a dated condition record and remote spot checks; they do not prove every surface is clean or guarantee a damage claim. Avoid photographing guest documents or personal information.
How do I schedule cleanings automatically?
Tools such as Turno can connect booking calendars with cleaning tasks. Confirm current pricing and the integration you will use, then test a new booking, cancellation, date change, and last-minute turn. Keep a named backup cleaner and a manual escalation path.
What should be restocked at every turnover?
Toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, dish soap and a fresh sponge, dishwasher pods, coffee and tea, hand soap and shower dispensers, and the welcome kit consumables. Set a par level for each so the cleaner restocks to a number instead of guessing.