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 September 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-proof point in every room so you can verify remotely. Print it, laminate it, and hand it over.
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 smart lock battery level and that the guest code has rotated
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 house standard: 2 bath, 1 hand, 1 washcloth per guest, plus 1 spare set
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 the photo set and mark the turnover complete
Stop scheduling by text message
Put this checklist in your cleaner's app.
Turno syncs your booking calendars, creates a cleaning job the moment a reservation lands, and gives your cleaner a photo checklist to complete on their phone. It's free for one property, and its marketplace is the fastest way to find a cleaner who already knows short-term rental turnovers.
The turnover kit.
Six things that make a cleaner faster and a property photograph cleaner.
Color-coded microfiber cloths
Separate colors for bathroom, kitchen, and glass so nothing cross-contaminates.
Enzyme stain remover
The only thing that reliably lifts protein stains from mattresses and sofa cushions.
Cleaning caddy
One caddy per floor cuts a two-story turnover by 20 minutes.
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 the standard.
Common questions.
How long should an Airbnb turnover take?
With a checklist and stocked supplies, budget about 1.5 hours for a one-bedroom, 2.5 hours for a two-bedroom, and 3 to 4 hours for a three-bedroom with two bathrooms. Laundry is the bottleneck, which is why three linen sets per bed matters more than a faster cleaner.
Should my cleaner take photos every turnover?
Yes. A fixed set of six to eight photos (each bed, each bathroom, the coffee station, the living room from the listing angle) proves the property was guest-ready, resolves damage disputes, and lets you spot-check remotely without a visit.
How do I schedule cleanings automatically?
Turnover software syncs your Airbnb, Vrbo, and direct-booking calendars and creates a cleaning job the moment a reservation is confirmed, with a photo checklist the cleaner completes in the app. Turno does this free for a single property and also has a marketplace for finding local cleaners.
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.