Your Complete Guide to Holiday Let Cleaning (With Checklist)

When it comes to running a successful holiday let, cleanliness is one of the biggest factors affecting guest reviews and repeat bookings. Cleaning a holiday let isn’t like cleaning your own home. Preparing a property for paying guests requires a more consistent, thorough approach.

That’s why we’ve created this room-by-room holiday let cleaning checklist to help you deliver the same high standard every stay.

Preparing to Clean Your Holiday Let

To make sure your property is always guest-ready, keeping track of your booking schedule is key. Make sure you always know when your next guest is checking in so you never miss a clean.

Set reminders when you have same-day or short turnovers and take note of any special requirements. If your property is pet-friendly, you will need to take extra care when cleaning.

It’s a good idea to have a dedicated cleaning kit stored at the property so you know you always have everything you need.

Your cleaning kit should include:

• •A multi-purpose cleaner
• •Bathroom cleaner
• •Glass cleaner
• •Disinfectant/bleach
• •Furniture polish
• •Washing up liquid
• •Microfibre cloths
• •Sponges & scrubbers
• •Vacuum cleaner
• •Mop & bucket
• •Bin liners
• •Rubber gloves
• •Laundry supplies (if laundry is completed on-site)

Working Systematically

Consistency is key when it comes to cleaning a holiday let or Airbnb.

To make sure every aspect of your property is properly cleaned every time, work systematically.

Clean from top to bottom, tackling one room at a time. This prevents mess and dirt being moved from one area of the property to another, and helps make sure areas aren’t missed accidentally.

Your Complete Holiday Let Cleaning Checklist (Room by Room)

Use our holiday let cleaning checklist after every guest stay to make sure your property never falls below expectations. Tick off each task as you go, before completing your final inspections.

1. General Tasks

These are the things you need to do throughout the whole property.

You should:

• Open windows to ventilate rooms
• Remove rubbish and replace bin bags
• Dust and wipe all surfaces, switches, handles and mirrors
• Vacuum carpets and rugs, then sweep and mop hard floors
• Remove cobwebs and check skirting boards and corners
• Inspect for stains, damage or missing items
• Check lighting, heating, hot water, Wi-Fi and guest amenities

2. The Kitchen

The kitchen is an area of the property that gets a lot of use and might need a little bit of extra attention when it comes to cleaning. Guests should feel comfortable using the kitchen to prepare meals, without worrying about germs and dirt left behind by other guests.

In the kitchen you should:

• Wipe and disinfect all worktops and surfaces
• Clean cupboards and drawers, including interiors, doors, and handles
• Clean all kitchen appliances (oven, hob, microwave, extractor fan, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, kettle, toaster, and coffee machine), checking for spills, stains and crumbs
• Clean and polish the sink, taps, and stainless steel surfaces
• Wash and inspect all crockery, cutlery, glassware, mugs, and utensils, checking for leftover food debris, stains, chips, or cracks
• Replace any missing or damaged items
• Return all kitchen items to their designated places

You should also make sure to check and refill consumables such as:

• Tea, coffee and sugar
• Salt and pepper
• Cooking essentials
• Kitchen roll
• Washing-up liquid
• Bin bags
• Dishwasher tablets (if applicable)

3. The Bathroom

The bathroom is one of the first places your guests will check for cleanliness. Think about how you would feel staying in an Airbnb or holiday let. The last thing you want to see is another guest’s hair in the plughole or stains in the toilet!

In the bathroom you should:

• Clean and disinfect the toilet, including the seat and underside
• Clean the sink, taps, shower/bath, shower screen, mirrors, tiles, and grout, removing limescale where needed
• Clean the floor and empty the bin
• Check drains are clear, the extractor fan is clean, and there are no signs of mould or damp
• Replace the toilet roll, toiletries, bath mat, and fresh, stain-free towels

4. The Bedroom

A clean bedroom can be the difference between a good night’s sleep and a disturbed one. To ensure your guests rest easy, you should:

• Strip used bedding, inspect the mattress and protector, and vacuum if required
• Inspect pillows and duvets for stains and replace if necessary
• Make up the bed with freshly laundered bedding
• Dust and clean bedside furniture, lamps, light switches, and mirrors
• Vacuum the floor, including under the bed

5. The Living Room

The living room is a place you want your guests to feel relaxed. It can be a little hard to unwind if you think the furniture you’re sitting on might not be clean.

After every stay, make sure to:

• Vacuum sofas, including under cushions, removing any crumbs and debris
• Dust and clean all furniture, coffee tables, TV, remote controls, lamps, and light switches
• Vacuum and mop floors as appropriate
• Clean windows and glass doors
• Check games, books, curtains/blinds, décor, and furniture for cleanliness, damage, and correct positioning
• Replace any missing items and return furniture and furnishings to their designated places

6. Outdoor Spaces

If your property has outdoor space, it can be easy to neglect. But for guests to make the most of staying in your property, making sure outdoor areas are clean and tidy is just as important as the inside.

• Sweep and tidy all outdoor areas, removing leaves, debris, and emptying outdoor bins
• Clean and arrange outdoor furniture, BBQ, fire pit (if applicable)
• Check the garden, patio/terrace, balcony, and pathways are clean, tidy, and clear
• Check outdoor lighting is working and all outdoor areas are safe and presentable

If your property has a hot tub:

• Remove debris and clean the waterline, shell, and cover
• Check water is clear and test/adjust water chemistry
• Clean filters if required
• Check jets, controls, lights, and cover are working correctly
• Ensure the surrounding area is clean, tidy, and safe
• Carry out necessary maintenance and repair any faults

The Final Inspection

Before you leave, walk through the front door as if you’re the next guest.

Ask yourself:

• Does the property smell fresh?
• Does it look spotless at first glance?
• Are all lights working?
• Is the temperature comfortable?
• Is the Wi-Fi working?
• Is the welcome information visible?
• Are all amenities where guests expect them?
• Are there any visible stains, marks or damage?
• Is everything in its place?
• Are windows and mirrors streak-free?
• Have all personal items from previous guests been removed?

Improving a Poor Cleanliness Rating

Platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com often show a specific score for cleanliness that impacts your overall review score. A low cleanliness rating can put many guests off, resulting in lower occupancy rates.

If you are already suffering from a low cleanliness rating, here are some helpful things to keep in mind to improve it.

1. Clean for the camera, not just the eye

Guests will take photos of your property and often dirt can show up more on camera than it does at first glance. Take some photos after cleaning up – does everything look as it should? It can help you spot things you might otherwise have missed.

2. Focus on bathrooms and kitchens

Guests tend to scrutinise cleanliness most closely in bathrooms and kitchens. Whilst the whole of your property should be pristine, pay extra close attention to these areas.

3. Remove signs of previous guests

Guests don’t generally like to see signs of previous guests. It can suggest that the property hasn’t been properly cleaned. Make sure there are no hairs, leftover food or toiletry items, rubbish or personal belongings.

4. Don’t forget high-touch areas

Think about which areas of the property will get touched most frequently: door handles, switches, remotes, taps etc. Give these extra attention whilst cleaning, removing any fingerprints, marks or stickiness.

5. Make cleanliness consistent

Every guest who stays at your property should receive the same high standards. By creating a set process for cleaning, like using our holiday let cleaning checklist, you can make sure that nothing is ever missed and your guests get a consistent level of cleanliness every time.

6. Have a final quality check

A fresh pair of eyes can spot things you don’t. If you have cleaned the property yourself, is there somebody else who can do the final inspection? If you have a cleaner, make sure to take the time to inspect the property before your next guest arrives.

7. Listen to the reviews

Carefully review any poor feedback your property receives and fix the issues. If multiple guests mention a certain area of the property wasn’t clean, make sure to triple check the cleanliness of that area before the next guest arrives.

How Long Does It Take to Clean a Holiday Let?

The time it takes to properly clean a holiday let will depend on many things:

• •Property size
• •Number of bedrooms
• •Number of bathrooms
• •Number of guests
• •Condition after check-out
• •Laundry requirements
• •Outdoor amenities
• •Same-day turnover

But as a rough guide, you can expect cleaning to take anywhere from 1 hour to over 4 hours.

These times are indicative only and can vary.

Guests will often ask for early check-ins and late check-outs. Whilst it’s great to be as accommodating as possible, if you have a quick turnaround before your next guests arrive, it’s not always realistic. It’s much better for guests to turn up to a beautifully clean property, rather than one where the cleaning has been rushed.

When to Use a Professional Cleaning Service

To take the stress out of holiday let management, you might want to consider a professional cleaning service specialising in Airbnbs and holiday lets.

The issue isn’t usually that you don’t know how to clean a property properly, it’s finding the time to do it.

If you:

• •Don’t live near the property
• •Have frequent bookings
• •Have same-day changeovers
• •Manage multiple properties
• •Don’t have time to manage laundry
• •Want a consistent guest experience

…then it might be time to consider professional cleaning.

Some companies, like Host & Stay, even offer a fully managed service that includes cleaning, guest communication, marketing and more!

How We Can Help

Our in-house housekeeping teams take care of cleaning and laundry between guest stays, using property-specific checklists to make sure your property is always guest-ready.

And with Host & Stay’s fully managed service, you can maximise your earnings and get your time back. We take care of everything from pricing, listings and guest communications, as well as turnovers and maintenance.

Find out more about our fully managed holiday let services →

Frequently Asked Questions