Vacation Rental Cleaning Guide for Success

To clean a vacation rental between guests, work top-down and inside-out, and start by stripping the beds and putting linens in the wash so they’re drying while you clean everything else. A turnover clean is closer to a deep clean than a routine tidy — change and launder all bedding and towels, wipe down every appliance, disinfect high-touch points (remotes, switches, handles), and clean the spots a normal household clean skips. The goal is thorough but fast, since you often have only a couple of hours between checkout and check-in. The full room-by-room checklist is below.

Summer is peak season for many vacation rentals, and it’s worth having a plan for turnover cleaning before the bookings pile up. Follow this complete guide to get your property in top shape and never risk poor feedback over cleanliness again. (If you’d rather hand it off, Pro Housekeepers offers short-term rental cleaning.)

What is vacation rental cleaning?

While we all like to keep our homes tidy, a vacation rental clean differs from a regular household clean in important ways. You’re cleaning for paying guests who don’t want any reminder that strangers slept in the bed or ate from the plates. It needs to be thorough, efficient, and fast enough to limit downtime between checkout and check-in.

Areas you might clean only weekly or monthly at home need cleaning between every guest — changing beds, washing linens and towels, wiping down the fridge, microwave, and other appliances, and getting into all the nooks and crannies a routine clean overlooks. In fact, a turnover clean is closer to deep cleaning a property than doing weekly chores — but the checklist below has you covered.

What is the fastest way to clean a vacation rental?

Speed is critical for turnover cleaning — often there are only a few hours between one group leaving and the next arriving, and nobody wants to spend the first day of their vacation waiting for cleaners to finish. Learning to clean a property well in an hour or two matters for any host, whether you rent privately or through Airbnb or Vrbo.

First, get organized. Clean from the top down and inside-out so you don’t spread dust or dirt onto areas you’ve already done. Factor in how long each task takes: laundering linens takes an hour or two in the machine, so strip the beds and start a load first — the linens can finish washing while you clean the rest of the property.

Cleaning materials for a turnover clean

Each property has its own needs, but for most you’ll want:

1. Handheld brush and dustpan
2. Long-handled broom
3. Mop and bucket
4. Vacuum cleaner
5. Rubber gloves
6. Clean bucket
7. Dusters (handheld and long-handled)
8. Microfiber cloths
9. Trash bags

You’ll also need the right cleaning solutions:

1. Disinfectant wipes
2. All-purpose cleaning solution
3. Disinfectant cleaner
4. Toilet cleaner
5. Window cleaner

Vacation rental cleaning checklist

Pro tip: now that the rental’s done, why not spring clean your own home as well?

Can I clean a vacation property myself?

Many owners prefer to clean their own rentals to save money, and it’s a chance to inspect for damage between guests. But before taking it on, ask yourself a few questions:

• Do I have time for a thorough clean between guests?
• Will I be available during turnover hours?
• Is the property close enough to visit reasonably?
• Is my time better spent elsewhere?
• Do I enjoy cleaning, or will I start cutting corners?

Cleaning a rental to a high standard isn’t for everyone — and in peak season you might be doing it several times a week. If that sounds like a lot, a vacation rental cleaning service can prepare a property for the next guests in an hour or two, freeing your time and helping ensure glowing reviews.

How much does it cost to have a vacation rental cleaned?

The price of a short-term rental cleaning service depends on several factors:

• Size of the property
• Extent of cleaning
• Frequency of service
• Number of properties
• Location

If you own several rentals, you can save with a group rate — even more if they’re close together and one crew can clean them in the same timeframe. Location matters too: in a high cost-of-living area like New York City or L.A., expect to pay significantly more than for a similar property elsewhere. In general, a turnover clean costs a little more than a regular household clean, because cleaners go above and beyond on appliances and fixtures that aren’t cleaned as often in most homes.

How do I find an Airbnb cleaner?

There are many short-term rental cleaning services, especially in popular tourist destinations. They generally fall into three categories — sole proprietors, small businesses, and commercial cleaning enterprises — each with pros and cons.

*Pricing source: Freshbooks (rates per cleaner; vary by region).

Pro tip: Looking to start your own cleaning company? Follow our complete guide.

Hiring an independent cleaner is the cheapest option for most landlords, but not always the best — that low price can come with hidden costs. You’re cleaning for paying guests, and complaints about slow turnovers or subpar cleaning could cost you valuable bookings. Paying more for an established company usually means faster service at a time that suits you, and if anything goes wrong, the business is bonded and insured.

Before deciding, search “vacation rental cleaning services near me” to see what’s available locally. To find expert short-term rental cleaners, combine your search with rental platforms like Airbnb, Turno (formerly TurnoverBnB), and Onefinestay.

Other vacation rental tools and companies to explore:

• Evolve Vacation Rental
• Lodgify
• Properly
• Hospitable (formerly Smartbnb)
• Guesty
• Vacasa

Get a few quotes and ask questions to find a clean that’s affordable, responsive, and will make good on any complaints. Our house cleaning pricing guide explains how cleaning prices are calculated.

Other benefits of hiring a cleaning company

A cleaner saves you time and keeps guests happy — and can save you money too. Experienced rental cleaners watch for damage or missing items and can report problems right after a guest departs. They can also take inventories, monitor supplies and guest amenities, help manage the property, and clean to a hospitality standard.

Questions to ask a potential cleaning service

Not sure how to interview a cleaner? Some important questions:

• Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
• Have you cleaned short-term rentals before?
• How much notice do you need to be available?
• Are your short-notice rates different from standard?
• Do you have cleaners to cover absences and sickness?
• Can you provide additional services or deep cleans on request?

If your property has specific cleaning requirements, mention them when interviewing.

In conclusion

Cleaning a short-term rental isn’t difficult as long as you stay organized — but many hosts find it more convenient to hire Pros. A cleaning company saves time, lets you focus on other parts of your business, and helps ensure guests always enjoy a superior clean. They can even take inventories and report damage, helping you limit losses while keeping guests happy and reviews glowing.