Airbnb and vacation rental cleaning

A turnover checklist should reset every room to match your listing photos and catch anything the next guest would notice. Write it by room, so nothing depends on memory.

• Bedrooms: strip and remake beds, check under beds and in drawers, dust surfaces, vacuum.
• Bathrooms: disinfect toilet, shower, and sink; replace towels; restock toiletries and paper.
• Kitchen: wash and put away dishes, wipe appliances inside and out, empty the fridge of guest food, restock basics.
• Living areas: style cushions, sanitize remotes, clear sand, vacuum and mop.
• Outdoor areas: wipe patio furniture and empty trash when included.
• Final check: thermostat, lights, locks, Wi-Fi card, and photos sent to the host.

See our full turnover checklist.

Most hosts set a window of four to five hours, such as an 11 a.m. checkout and a 3 or 4 p.m. check-in. That gives a professional team time to clean, do laundry or swap linens, and complete a final check.

Larger homes, properties with many beds, or homes that need laundry done on site may need a longer window, or a bigger team. If you offer late checkout or early check-in, make sure your cleaner can still finish on time; short windows are where quality slips. During peak season in Southwest Florida, when weekend stays run back to back, it helps to agree on a standard window with your cleaning company in advance.

All Shiny schedules turnovers around your exact times and sends a ready notice when the home is set.

Check the things guests notice first and the things that cost money if missed. A quick photo report from your cleaner covers most of this when you are away.

• Beds made correctly, with no hair or stains on linens
• Bathroom mirrors, glass, and fixtures free of spots
• Kitchen sink, stovetop, and inside of the microwave
• Supplies: toilet paper, soap, coffee, trash bags
• Damage, missing items, or anything left behind
• Thermostat, lights, and locks set as you instructed

Over time, the photos create a record you can use for damage claims and for training.

For most hosts with steady bookings, yes. A dedicated company gives you backup coverage, consistent standards, and someone accountable for every turnover, which protects your reviews.

An individual cleaner can work well for a single property, but a sick day or a vacation can leave you without coverage on a busy weekend. A company can send another trained team, follow your checklist, and send photos. It also helps when you own several properties or manage rentals from another state. Ask any company you consider about insurance, same-day availability, linen handling, and how they report damage.

All Shiny handles vacation rental turnovers on Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, Captiva, Cape Coral, and Fort Myers.

Keep at least three complete sets of linens and towels per bed and bathroom: one in use, one in the wash, and one ready. That way every turnover has fresh sets regardless of laundry timing.

• Store each set together in a labeled bag or bin by bed size.
• Use white or light linens that can be washed hot and inspected easily.
• Keep a locked owner's closet with backup supplies and a simple inventory sheet.
• Set par levels: for example, two rolls of toilet paper per bathroom and one spare.
• Replace stained or worn items right away instead of waiting.

Decide in writing who handles laundry, who orders supplies, and who restocks, so nothing falls between you and your cleaner.

Most cleanliness complaints come from a few repeat issues, so the fastest improvement is to find them and fix them at the checklist level.

Read your last 20 reviews and note every mention of hair, smells, dust, or missing supplies. Add those items to the checklist, ask for photos of them after each turnover, and schedule a deep cleaning every few months to handle the build-up turnovers miss, such as baseboards, vents, and grout. Respond to complaints quickly and politely, and mention the fix in your reply; future guests read those responses.

A clear checklist and photo reports from your cleaning team turn cleanliness into one of your strongest review scores.