Vacation Rental Cleaning Checklist: What Hosts Always Miss
Most people assume it’s quick. It’s just wiping things down, right? Not exactly.
Turnovers are where your entire business reputation gets judged, by strangers, with zero context, walking in and expecting perfection. There’s a checklist every serious host needs to follow. Here’s what actually happens behind the scenes, from a team who’s handled it all: luxury listings in Malibu, coastal properties in Oxnard, and everything in between.
Start With the Real Goal
When we show up to clean an airbnb, we don’t just ask “where’s the mess?”
We ask: what’s the goal?
- Are you trying to get a deposit back?
- Is this a quick turnover between guests?
- Is the owner hands-off, or hyper-picky?
- Do you need a full deep clean or just guest-ready basics?
- Some clients want everything spotless, down to the last crumb. Others just need a light reset because the guest trashed the place, and they’re not getting that deposit back anyway. We don’t guess. We ask.
Let the Client Set the Budget
Here’s how we work with our vacation rental cleaning service:
We don’t come in pushing a price.
We ask what the client is working with, then build the cleaning plan around that.
“I’ve only got two hours.
Okay, we’ll tell you what we can realistically accomplish in that window.
“I need a full reset. I want it to shine.”
Cool. That’s a different process. More time, more detail, more cost, but still very flexible.
We don’t lock the price until we arrive and assess in person. And we’re always honest: if your two-hour expectation isn’t realistic, we’ll say so.
Empty Homes Take Longer
One of the biggest myths in vacation rental cleaning is that empty homes are faster to clean. Nope.
They actually take longer, because you can see everything. Every scuff, every shadow, every outline of a picture frame that was never dusted.
Unlike regular house cleaning, where you can work around furniture,
turnover cleaning means wall-to-wall visibility. You have to touch everything. Clean everything. Vacuum baseboards, crown molding, even the tops of door frames. It’s not “less.” It’s more.
The Order of Operations Matters
We always start with a dry vacuuming pass, top to bottom. If we don’t vacuum first and go straight to wet cleaning, we’re asking for trouble. Pet hair sticks to everything once moisture hits it. Dust becomes sludge. Shiny surfaces won’t shine.
Here’s the order:
Vacuum the entire space (including walls, corners, behind furniture)
Dust everything high to low.
Wipe surfaces with correct materials (stone-safe, streak-free on glass, etc.)
Bathrooms get a separate set of tools.
Final pass: detail check, scent reset, photo confirmation.
Yes, we send photos every time. Guests might complain. Hosts never do when we’ve got proof.
Know Your Materials or Risk Damage
Not every cleaner knows this, but if you spray the wrong acid on marble, it will
We train our team on the difference between granite, marble, quartz, and glass.
We know what cleaners work. And what will destroy a $20,000 countertop.
It’s not about “green products.” It’s about using the right chemical on the right surface, and knowing what will void a property manager’s insurance policy.
We’ve seen it happen. One cleaner used citrus spray on the wrong stone and the owner had to replace an entire island. That’s not happening on our watch.
High-End Listings? Different Game
We clean luxury homes in Malibu, and that’s a different world.
Artwork worth more than some houses
Guests who inspect with white gloves
Owners who don’t tolerate a single fingerprint
We’ve cleaned pieces of art with Q-tips. We’ve had clients point out dust on a window sill border. That’s what you’re dealing with at that level.
Your vacation rental cleaning checklist has to change when you’re in the luxury tier. Different tools. Different expectations. No room for mistakes.
What Happens When Things Go Wrong
We’ve had a vent hood fall during a cleaning. The screw was loose. Our cleaner held it up for 30 minutes until backup arrived.
We called the contractor. Filed an insurance claim. Paid a goodwill percentage, even though it wasn’t our fault.
The client? Still with us to this day.
Another time, we missed a minor detail during a move-out. The client was upset. We came back the next day, fixed it, and gave her a discount on her next service.
She’s still on our schedule now.
That’s what trust looks like.
You’re Not Just Cleaning. You’re Protecting Reviews
This is the truth most hosts don’t want to hear:
The fastest way to ruin your Airbnb ranking is one bad turnover.
A smudge on a mirror, a mystery smell in the fridge, hair in the sink-any one of those can turn into a one-star review that tanks your listing.
Vacation rental cleaning isn’t just about being tidy.
It’s about protecting your ability to stay booked.
Your checklist should be built to protect:
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Your guest experience
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Your host reputation
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Your nightly rate
Because one missed detail can cost you hundreds in lost bookings.
Don’t Wing It. Use a Real Turnover Checklist.
Whether you’re vacation rental cleaning yourself or outsourcing to a pro, make sure your checklist includes:
Pre-clean walkthrough
Guest-ready supply restock
Full vacuum pass (walls, edges, under beds)
Pet hair removal (before dusting)
Surface-appropriate cleaners
Bathroom sanitization (separate tools)
Final photos + scent reset
Every step matters.
Need a Pro Team for Turnovers?
If this all sounds like more than you want to handle solo, you’re right.
You can clean a home, or you can turn it over like a pro.
They’re not the same thing.
Let us handle it.
– We show up on time
– We bring the right tools for the right materials
– We adjust to your budget and schedule
– We protect your reviews like they’re our own
Call us now for a free quote: (805) 764-4556
