10 Things You Forgot to Clean That Grosses Out Your Guests
As an Airbnb host, your approach to cleaning is crucial for your success. Guests expect a spotless, fully functional property upon arrival, and anything less can lead to negative reviews. Cleanliness complaints are particularly harmful to your business.
Between guests, it’s easy to overlook grime that builds up over time, especially during busy seasons. A thorough inspection at least once a month is essential to catch these 10 areas that might be turning off your Airbnb guests.
Airbnb Cleaning Schedule
At a minimum, you should schedule a cleaning after each guest’s departure. Your cleaning team not only ensures cleanliness but can also alert you to any maintenance issues or damages. If you have a week between guests, clean immediately after checkout to prevent germs and bacteria buildup. A quick freshen-up and dusting the morning before the next guests arrive is also beneficial. Here’s the cleaning schedule I recommend for my cleaners:
Fingerprints on the Walls
If you’re a parent, you might be used to fingerprints everywhere, but your guests won’t appreciate them. Inspect your walls for marks and greasy prints, which can make guests question the overall cleanliness.
Solution: Use a 'magic eraser' to wipe away fingerprints and marks on walls and baseboards. Consider touching up the paint once a year where needed.
The Faucet
Faucets and handles can harbor germs and develop hard water stains that are tough to remove. Don’t ignore them.
Solution: Use a hard water mineral cleaner or a toothbrush with baking soda. A rechargeable handheld brush can also be very effective.
Back of Chairs
Dining chairs often have food residues like pasta sauce or chocolate. Guests touching sticky chair backs will be grossed out. Check and clean them thoroughly.
Solution: Use warm water and dish soap with a sponge to clean chair backs and legs.
Light Switches
Light switches can collect grime and fingerprints, especially if a guest with a cold has stayed recently.
Solution: Clean switches with disinfecting wipes or a paper towel sprayed with an all-purpose cleaner.
The Sofa
Crumbs and sticky wrappers can accumulate in the sofa cracks, unpleasantly surprising guests reaching for the remote.
Solution: Vacuum the sofa, including the side and middle cracks. Use a damp cloth for spots and a lint roller for pet hair.
The Blinds
Blinds can get oily and dusty, particularly in the kitchen.
Solution: Clean blinds with a mild soap-and-water solution after vacuuming and dusting.
Bathroom Hidden Zones
Deep clean the bathroom for every guest, paying attention to areas like the sides and back of the toilet and inside the vanity.
Tip: Sit on the toilet and inspect the area from a guest’s perspective. Use wipes or a Swiffer to clean baseboards and behind the toilet.
Kitchen Hood and Vents
Grease and dust can accumulate on kitchen hoods and vents, making them unsightly.
Solution: Clean with dish soap and a wet cloth, and vacuum dust from furnace intake vents.
Trash Cans
Wipe down trash cans and the inside of the lid with bleach wipes to prevent unpleasant residues.
Inside the Fridge
Ask guests to clean the kitchen before leaving, but always check the fridge for leftover crumbs or sauce.
Solution: Wipe down the fridge interior with a cleaning wipe.
Deep Airbnb Cleaning
Regular deep cleaning, including vacuuming and using a Roomba, is essential to maintain cleanliness between guests. Ensure your cleaners follow a comprehensive checklist to cover all areas.
Elevate Your Hosting
To truly stand out as a host, you need the right tools and insights. Ad Astra Host offers a turnkey solution for streamlined Airbnb hosting management. Not only will we maximize your rental profits, but also keep your property in pristine condition throughout the renting period.
Book a call with us today to find out the details of how you can revolutionize your airbnb hosting with Ad Astra Host!
