How to Clean Airbnbs to Get 5-Star Reviews! Best Tips for Airbnb Hosts.
First impressions are everything for Airbnbs and the best first impression you can give your guests is, opening the door to reveal a sparkling and clean rental space. Cleanliness is closely related to guest comfort and happiness in any vacation rental or Airbnb listing. A super clean Airbnb home can transport your guest satisfaction from good to excellent, rewarding you with a 5-star rating.
The significance of cleanliness and good hygiene for Airbnbs can also be backed by research. A study done by the University of Nevada and Clemson University shows that guests are likely to return to clean rental properties over not-so-clean ones. Cleaning an Airbnb is no easy work, but if you do a decent job, you will not only reap great reviews from your guests but will have them spreading the positive word of mouth to other potential customers.
If you are wondering about the best way to go about cleaning your vacation rental, here is a guide on how to clean Airbnbs to get 5-star reviews.
How is Cleaning for Guests Different from the Usual Cleaning You Do?
You might not mind a stray dust bunny, but your guests will, and the worst part is they will let you know in their review. Cleaning for guests necessitates a higher level of attention to detail than cleaning for your own family. At home, you may skimp on vacuuming deep under furniture, but your guests will likely notice even the most stubborn dust balls.
Therefore, make sure to clean every nook and cranny such as corners under heavy furniture and light switches, which gets grimy easily. Also, since the cleaning is done to prepare the space for new guests, keeping it fresh and spotless is important. Remember to clear off the closet, bedside table, and refrigerator. You do not want your new guest to find the prior guest’s half-eaten piece of chicken or pork. So, you need to have some eagle-eye spotting and go in search of every spot and dirt like a detective.
Identify the Pain Points of Your Guests
For guests, certain items like towels, sheets, floors, and the bathroom are especially sensitive. It is not difficult to see why. No one wants to sleep on dirty bedding or shower in a bathroom clogged with hairs. Between each guest, these places must be completely cleaned, to the point where you might eat off of them. That is the level of cleanliness to aim for. Be attentive to areas such as the mirrors, drains in bathrooms, as well as bedding and toiletry items.
Other chores, such as dusting the ceiling fan or replacing the shower curtain, can be completed less often. Consider investing in extensive cleanings on a regular basis to reduce the effort in between bookings and save time in the long term.
Airbnb’s 5-Step Cleaning Process
Nothing has ever been more important in the hospitality industry than the cleanliness and safety of guests. With the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, cleaning has even become the top priority in any Airbnb listing. According to a recent study, vacation rentals perceived to be clean saw a 17.5% increase in their revenue during the pandemic while others lost their income almost by one-fifth. In fact, cleanliness, safety, and hygiene have become the new normal indispensable must-haves in the hospitality sector.
In light of these new normal trends, a comprehensive and structured cleaning protocol is the key to satisfying and winning the credibility of your guests. Airbnb has set out an enhanced cleaning protocol with the best practices and tips to ensure superior and consistent cleaning standards. Kick-start your cleaning journey with Airbnb’s 5 step cleaning process and stand out as an exemplary host.
Step 1 – Preparing
As with most things, preparation is key to successfully cleaning your Airbnb rental space. Here are some top tips that will help you prepare for a successful cleaning session.
● Ensure adequate ventilation
Air circulation is important both before and during cleaning to eradicate any pollutants and odor. Even authorities such as the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend that the rental spaces be well ventilated, for as long as possible. Open all the doors and windows of the rental space, and then use a ventilation fan to further facilitate airing it all out.
● Get the cleaning supplies ready
You may find a variety of eye-catching cleaning supplies in the market promising a myriad of things. But it is better to stick to trusted products registered with agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ensure your safety as well as that of the guests.
● Adhere to all the safety guidelines.
Read all the labels and find out if any toxic materials are included especially before using any of the chemical cleaning agents. Always adhere to the guidelines mentioned as to how to use the products. Wash your hands using soap and running water and use protective equipment for added safety. Wear gloves to protect your hands and a good face covering to keep away dust and germs from your airways.
● Unplug appliances.
Even though the appliances may be switched off at the socket, it is wise to unplug everything connected to the electrical circuit. This will ensure that no avoidable mishaps occur while cleaning.
Step 2 – Cleaning
Next comes the most important and challenging step of the process. It is important to clean the surfaces with relevant cleaning agents or disinfectant soap and hot water to remove dirt and grime. Not only that, but you will also have to declutter the place and dispose of any leftovers.
● Get rid of all the dirt
Take out all the garbage and line garbage cans with fresh garbage bags. It is much easier to do at the start, rather than logging it all across freshly cleaned surfaces. Look under beds, in closets and drawers, to remove forgotten personal items. Remove all the dirty linen and towels too. Save time by starting to launder dirty linen right away. Open and check the microwaves, ovens, pantry cupboards, and inside the fridge for any and leftover food. Look under the stove and throw out any food remnants stuck underneath.
● Wash everything washable
Collect all the dishes, cutlery, glasses and load them into a dishwasher or use antibacterial soap with hot water to clean. Carefully wash curtains and washable carpets. Pay attention to bathroom drains, which can easily get clogged with hairs. Make sure all the drains and sinks are washed and scrubbed well.
● Dust, vacuum, and sweep
Check ceiling fans, windowsills, shower curtains for cobwebs or insects. Dust the furniture, surfaces, all decorative ornaments, and other equipment. Sweep and mop the floors. Look under beds and cabinets, use a vacuum to clean dust collected in hard-to-reach corners.
● Clean all surfaces
After dusting and vacuuming, wipe down all the surfaces thoroughly. Try to do it methodically, starting from the top and working your way to the bottom. This will ensure that most amount of dirt and dust is wiped off without leaving a trail. Follow manufacturer’s instructions when cleaning fragile surfaces or special equipment. Remember to wipe clean mirrors, focus on creases and decorative carvings in moldings, fingerprints left on frequently used remotes, and switches. Scrub clean coffee ring stains left on tabletops to keep them attractive and inviting.
● Add freshening touches
Make the beds, tuck in fresh linen and arrange the pillows on couches once cleaning is done. Keep clean towels, restock toiletries in the bathrooms, and top up amenities such as water bottles, tea/coffee supplies, supplies in pantry cupboards, and ice trays in the freezer. Refill any other essentials as required in your Airbnb rental.
Step 3 – Sanitizing
After cleaning with hot water and soap, sanitize as another precautionary step, to get rid of nasty germs. Use a spray and air-dry chemical disinfectant to sanitize the hard surfaces in your Airbnb rental property. Focus more on high contact areas such as doorknobs and switches. Scrub these gently but thoroughly to remove fingerprint marks. Take care and follow the given directions when sanitizing electrical and other sensitive equipment. Ensure that you adhere to all sanitization guidelines to prevent the spread of disease.
Step 4 – Checking
Once the cleaning and sanitization are done, re-check to make sure that the surfaces in each room were in fact, cleaned well. Make your own checklist of rooms include everything in the Airbnb rental property from the bathroom to balcony, living room, kitchen, and bedrooms to any other space. Carefully survey the content of each room to ensure nothing is missed. Take inventory as you go through each room and note anything that needs replacing such as light fixtures. Double-check to make certain that high-in-demand hand sanitizers, disinfectant sprays or wipes, and disposable paper towels are adequately stocked.
Step 5 – Resetting
Finally, reset your Airbnb property to welcome the next guests, looking forward to spending time in a well cleaned and sanitized safe space. Ensure that all the equipment used for cleaning is removed from the property. Again, visit each room but this time, view it as a guest would. Make any adjustments as required to make the space warm and welcoming. Additionally, place fresh flowers in vases and spray air freshener for a special personal touch. Double-check to make sure everything is in its proper place and no stray marks remain.
Adopt Superior Standards of Cleaning
Adopt the 5-step cleaning process to your usual cleaning routine, for added efficiency and enhanced sanitation. Keeping your property spic and span is advantageous both in the short and long run. Have your Airbnb rental property stand out with your commitment to enhanced cleaning.
Final Thoughts
Any short-term rental property should have the same level of cleanliness as a 5-star hotel. In fact, this should be the benchmark of any Airbnb that aspires to be a super host. Immaculate Airbnb rentals are certain to succeed in winning guest attraction, earning raving reviews, and guests who love to return.
Keeping your property clean will not be second to a full-time job if you have a full booking calendar and want to be the best host for your visitors. While it is critical to establish a cleaning protocol to keep the process on track, the Airbnb 5 step cleaning process will get you covered. Use the best practices and tips shared in this article to marry cleanliness with guest impression thereby delighting your customers beyond their expectations.
Get in touch with Turnover Guardian for professional assistance in cleaning your Airbnb!
