How to Optimise Your Airbnb Cleaning Routine 

So, you’ve taken the plunge into the world of short-term lets in London? Brilliant! Many imagine running an Airbnb is child’s play, but the reality is that maintaining a steady stream of happy guests hinges on a slick and efficient cleaning routine. Neglecting this crucial aspect can lead to those dreaded negative reviews and, ultimately, impact your bookings.

At Cleaner Cleaner, we’ve partnered with numerous Airbnb hosts in London, providing specialist cleaning services from emergency stain removal and deep cleaning of carpets and upholstery to end-of-tenancy cleans for a total property reset. Several colleagues on our team have extensive experience with Airbnb cleaning, and today, we’re sharing their ultimate step-by-step guide. You will also find clever tricks to streamline the process, save time, and ensure a consistently high standard.

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Ensure the batteries in the remote controls are working.

Getting Started: Inventory, Restock, and Tidy Up

Before you even begin with your Airbnb cleaning routine, focus on these crucial preliminary tasks. Start by checking the inventory to ensure all amenities work (e.g., batteries in remotes, functioning lights). Then, restock all necessary guest supplies, including dishwasher tablets, soaps, shampoos, coffee, tea, and any other provided items – doing this early simplifies the collection of empty containers and highlights what needs replacement. Follow with a general tidy-up: gather misplaced items and put them away, collect mugs from around the property, wipe down surfaces to remove crumbs, and empty all bins to prevent smells. Finally, if a dishwasher is available, load it with any dirty dishes so it can operate while you clean.

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Don’t forget to dust fans and air conditioner filters, as they trap a lot of dirt.

Conquering the Dry Cleaning Tasks

Once you’ve tidied up, the next step in your Airbnb cleaning should be the tasks that don’t require water. Our experience shows it’s best to begin your Airbnb cleaning routine with tasks that don’t involve water.

Tackle Outdoor Areas

Think of it like this: start from the outside and work your way inwards to avoid dragging outdoor grime inside. Sweep the patio, balcony, or any other external spaces.

Strip the Beds

The very first indoor task should be stripping all the beds and collecting the used towels. Bed linens and towels accumulate significant hair and lint during use. Leaving this until later risks spreading that debris onto already-cleaned surfaces, making the place look dusty. Getting this done early also allows you to start the laundry (if you’re doing it on-site) sooner.

Read also: The Only Cleaning Routine You Need to Keep Your Foldable Guest Bed Nice and Fresh

Dry Surface Cleaning 

Dry dust light fixtures, including chandeliers, and remove cobwebs lurking in corners. Give the remaining shelves, bedside tables, coffee tables, and TV units a once-over with a dry duster or microfibre cloth.

Make thorough vacuuming the backbone of your Airbnb cleaning routine.

Vacuum Every Nook and Cranny

Get your vacuum cleaner ready to tackle all carpets, hard floors, and rugs. For a thorough Airbnb cleaning, make it a point to vacuum every centimetre of the property, working from top to bottom. Don’t just focus on the floors; vacuum soft furniture and surfaces like shelves, bedside tables, coffee tables, and TV units. Unlike dusting, vacuuming removes hair, lint, and dust instead of pushing it around. The bathroom floor is another area that greatly benefits from thorough vacuuming, so it should become an essential step in your Airbnb cleaning routine. Vacuuming is crucial for removing loose hair and is particularly effective for properties near beaches, preventing sand from being dragged further into the property and potentially clogging drains.

Check also: What Are the Best Ways to Remove Pet Hair Off of Furniture and Carpets

Make the Beds and Lay Out Fresh Towels

Once the dry cleaning tasks are finished, it’s time to prepare for your next guests by making the beds with freshly laundered sheets and pillowcases and arranging clean towels in the bathrooms. Completing these tasks before you begin wet cleaning is a wise step, as it minimises the risk of stray lint from the clean laundry settling onto surfaces that will later be cleaned with water and polishing products.

It’s often not worth running the dishwasher for only a couple of teacups left behind.

Tackling the Wet Cleaning Tasks

Continue with the tasks that involve water and cleaning products. This is also the time to tend to any greenery on the property and water any indoor plants. If any spills occur, they can be easily cleaned up before the floors are polished. After that, you can continue with the heavy-duty cleaning chores.

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Pre-Treat the Bathroom 

Guests rightly expect a sparkling clean bathroom, regardless of the length of their stay. Pre-treating the bathroom and toilet is the easiest and most efficient way to complete this chore. Even short stays can lead to a build-up of water stains, toothpaste marks, soap scum, limescale (a common issue with London’s hard water), and general grime. So, to combat this issue, wet all bathroom and toilet surfaces, including fixtures, shower screens and curtains. Apply appropriate cleaning products and allow them to soak while you tackle other tasks. This step gives the products time to work their magic on stubborn stains.

Tackle the Dishes and Kitchen Mess

Even if your previous guests have been tidy, it’s common to find a few stray items needing attention. If there are only a handful of dishes, it’s often more efficient to wash them by hand. This is also the ideal time to refresh the kitchen appliances, including cleaning the fridge and wiping down the microwave, coffee machine, juicer (if you have one), cooktops, and oven, as you can deal with any cleaning-related splashes during the final floor cleaning.

Quickly wiping the windows and glass doors can make your Airbnb look sparkling clean.

Bring the Surfaces to a Shine

It’s best to clean from top to bottom to ensure you don’t undo your hard work. Grab your microfibre cloths, water spray, polishing spray, and glass cleaner and systematically work through each room, dusting and polishing all surfaces, including light switches, worktops, shelves, and cabinets, essentially every horizontal surface. Following this, wipe down all windows and glass surfaces to achieve a streak-free finish.

Wash and Polish the Floors 

With all the higher surfaces gleaming, it’s time to clean the floors in your Airbnb. To do this strategically, fill your bucket with floor cleaner and wash the floors, starting with the room furthest from the bathroom and progressing towards it. This ensures no footprints are left on the cleaned surfaces, as the bathroom will be the last area you tackle.

 Check also: Carpet vs. Wood Flooring for Your Rental

Guests always appreciate immaculately clean bathrooms in their Airbnb.

Scrub, Rinse and Shine the Bathroom

While the floors are drying, turn your attention to the bathroom, where the cleaning products have worked their magic. Thoroughly scrub the tiles, the toilet bowl (both inside and out), the sink, and all the bathroom fixtures. Once everything is washed, rinse away all traces of the cleaning products and then dry every surface meticulously with a clean cloth. For the final touch, polish the taps, showerheads, and other metal fixtures to achieve a sparkling finish. Leaving the bathroom until last ensures that water splashed while cleaning other areas doesn’t re-soil this space. Before leaving the now pristine bathroom, take a moment to dry your shoes or wipe them on a cloth to avoid leaving any footprints, and finally, put away your cleaning caddy.

The Finishing Touches: Leaving a Lasting Impression

Beyond the core Airbnb cleaning tasks, there are a few final touches that can significantly enhance the guest experience. A light spritz of water-based deodorising spray can create a welcoming atmosphere without leaving a heavy, lingering chemical smell. Furthermore, leaving a small welcome note for your guests can add a personal and thoughtful touch. Finally, we strongly recommend taking a quick video walk-through of the entire unit once cleaning is complete, as this can prove invaluable in the event of any false damage claims or cleaning disputes.

Using professional laundry services for your Airbnb ensures consistently high-quality results leading to better reviews and saving you time.

Dealing with Laundry: The Big Question

When it comes to leaving a positive impression, impeccably clean and hygienic linens go a long way in ensuring guest satisfaction. That’s why addressing the often-discussed topic of laundry for your short-term rental property is so important. While there isn’t a specific national law mandating professional laundry services for Airbnb hosts in the UK, it’s a point worth careful consideration.

The Convenience of Professional Laundry 

Services will wash, dry, fold, and even iron your linens and towels to a consistently high standard. Professional laundry saves you significant time and effort, especially when dealing with quick turnovers.

Guidelines for Washing at Home 

If you choose to wash linens and towels yourself, ensure you adhere to basic health and safety standards. This means washing at a high enough temperature (typically at least 60°C) to kill germs and ensuring everything is thoroughly cleaned and hygienic between guests.

Larger Operations and Certifications

If you manage multiple properties or your accommodation is classified as “serviced accommodation,” health inspectors may expect a higher standard, potentially including using commercial laundry services. Additionally, achieving quality certifications (like VisitEngland’s Gold Award) often requires professionally laundered linens.

Our Recommendation

For a standard Airbnb in London, washing at home is acceptable, provided you are meticulous with hot washes, remove all visible stains, and ensure everything smells fresh and is properly dried. However, for larger-scale operations or those aiming for specific certifications, professional laundry services are highly recommended for consistent quality and time efficiency.

A nice decoration, like this easy-to-clean mini LED marquee, adds a cosy final touch for guests.

Bonus Tips for an Even Smoother Routine

Consider these additional tips to ensure a swift and efficient Airbnb cleaning of your property.

Ditch the Carpets (If Possible)

Consider removing carpets if you currently have them or avoiding installing them if you have a choice. Carpets can be a nightmare to keep clean with quick guest turnovers, and they aren’t always the most hygienic option in a short-term rental setting. Hard floors are generally easier to clean and maintain between guests.

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Waterproof Mattress Protectors Are Your Best Friend

Always use water-resistant mattress covers on all your beds. This simple step will safeguard your mattresses from spills and accidents, keeping them clean and hygienic. Plus, you’ll never have the inconvenience and downtime of waiting for a mattress to dry after an incident.

Leave No Trace: Maintaining Hygiene During Cleaning

Always tie back your hair, even if it’s short, and consider wearing long sleeves or trousers if you have more body hair to avoid leaving any behind. A set of dedicated cleaning clothes, like an old tracksuit and t-shirt, is also a good practice, especially if you have pets. Having dedicated work shoes for cleaning is essential – never use your regular outdoor shoes. If you manage multiple properties, carry your work shoes with you. While hospital shoe covers are an option in a pinch, be aware they can be slippery.

Tools and Tips to Improve Your Efficiency

Investing in a cleaning caddy will streamline your work by keeping all your products and tools organised and easily portable. Another irreplaceable tool for your London Airbnb is the mighty lint roller—it’s invaluable for removing hair and lint from bed sheets, sofa cushions, and curtains. Last but not least, set timers for specific tasks to help you stay focused and avoid getting sidetracked. Put on some music or a podcast to make cleaning more enjoyable.

Implementing these tips and creating a consistent routine is key to sparkling clean accommodation, a smoother workload, happier guests, and glowing reviews. If you’d like to take the hassle out of deep cleaning tasks like sofa cleaning, carpet cleaning, or tackling stubborn stains, remember that Cleaner Cleaner London offers specialist services to help keep your Airbnb in top condition. Happy hosting!