7 Mistakes You're Making with Airbnb Cleaning (and How Hotel-Level Standards Fix Them)
Your guests arrive expecting the same spotless standards they'd find at a premium hotel, but many Airbnb hosts fall short without even realising it. Poor reviews mentioning "cleanliness issues" aren't just bad luck: they're often the result of common cleaning mistakes that can be easily avoided with the right approach.
The difference between a mediocre rental and a five-star experience often comes down to implementing hotel-level cleaning standards. Hotels have perfected their cleaning systems over decades, and there's no reason your short-let property can't match those same professional standards.
Let's explore the seven most common cleaning mistakes Airbnb hosts make and how adopting hotel-industry practices can transform your guest experience: and your reviews.
1. Rushing Turnovers Without a Structured Checklist
The Mistake: Many hosts treat cleaning as a race against time, especially with same-day turnovers. You might think a quick wipe-down and fresh towels are enough, but this approach inevitably leads to missed spots and inconsistent standards.
The Hotel Standard Fix: Hotels never clean without a detailed checklist. Every room attendant follows a systematic approach that allocates specific time to each area: 45 minutes for kitchens, 30 minutes for bathrooms, 20 minutes for bedrooms, and 30 minutes for living areas.
Create a room-by-room checklist that your cleaning team (or you) can follow religiously. This isn't just about what to clean: it's about the order and time allocation that ensures nothing gets missed, even during tight turnovers.
2. Neglecting High-Touch Surface Sanitising
The Mistake: Light switches, remote controls, door handles, thermostat controls, and tap handles are touched by every guest but often overlooked during standard cleaning routines. These surfaces harbour the most germs and are exactly what guests notice when they're not properly sanitised.
The Hotel Standard Fix: Hotels have dedicated protocols for high-touch surfaces, using EPA-approved disinfectants and allowing proper contact time for effective sanitisation. They don't just wipe: they disinfect systematically.
Dedicate 10 minutes after each checkout specifically to high-touch surfaces. Use proper disinfectants (not just multi-surface cleaners) and allow them to air dry to avoid streaking. Your guests will notice the difference, especially in the post-pandemic era where cleanliness expectations have never been higher.
3. Treating Cleaning as Surface-Level Only
The Mistake: The biggest difference between amateur and professional cleaning is depth. Many hosts focus only on what's immediately visible: wiping counters, making beds, and tidying up: while missing the deep cleaning that truly matters.
The Hotel Standard Fix: Hotels understand that guests can sense the difference between a surface clean and thorough attention to detail. They clean grout lines, baseboards, behind appliances, and inside drawers and cupboards regularly, not just when things look obviously dirty.
Move beyond the obvious. Clean inside microwaves, wipe down backsplashes properly, address any grout discolouration, and don't forget areas like behind toilet bases and inside rubbish bins. These details separate amateur efforts from professional standards.
4. Poor Linen and Towel Management
The Mistake: Cutting corners with linens: whether it's not changing them between every guest, using poor-quality materials, or not properly laundering them: is one of the fastest ways to get negative reviews.
The Hotel Standard Fix: Hotels never compromise on linens. They use commercial-grade washing with appropriate temperatures, professional pressing for that crisp hotel feel, and always provide fresh linens for every guest, regardless of how short the previous stay was.
Invest in quality linens and treat them professionally. This means hot water washing (where fabric care allows), proper drying, and ideally professional pressing. If you're managing multiple properties, consider a professional linen management service that can handle the entire process to hotel standards.
6. Giving Vague Instructions to Cleaning Teams
The Mistake: Even professional cleaning services can miss important details if they don't understand your property's specific requirements, problem areas, or the standards you're aiming for.
The Hotel Standard Fix: Hotels provide comprehensive training and detailed property-specific instructions to their housekeeping teams. They conduct property walkthroughs, highlight challenging areas, and maintain detailed logs of any recurring issues.
If you work with professional cleaning services, invest time in a thorough property walkthrough. Document any specific challenges: perhaps certain stains that tend to reappear, appliances that need extra attention, or areas where previous guests have left feedback. Use digital checklists that can be updated and refined over time.
7. Skipping Regular Deep Cleans
The Mistake: Relying solely on turnover cleaning without scheduling regular deep cleaning sessions leads to gradual decline in standards. Odours, grime buildup, and wear become apparent to guests even when surface cleaning appears adequate.
The Hotel Standard Fix: Hotels implement scheduled deep cleaning regardless of occupancy patterns. They understand that maintaining standards requires going beyond daily housekeeping to address areas that standard cleaning doesn't cover.
Schedule deep cleans based on your booking frequency: weekly for high-turnover properties, fortnightly for moderate use. Deep cleaning should include carpet cleaning, detailed bathroom deep cleans, appliance maintenance, and attention to often-overlooked areas like inside drawers, behind furniture, and detailed window cleaning.
The Professional Difference
The reality is that maintaining hotel-level standards consistently requires more than good intentions: it requires professional systems, quality supplies, and often more time than hosts initially budget for. Many successful Airbnb operators find that partnering with specialised cleaning services actually improves their profitability by ensuring consistent five-star reviews and reducing the stress of property management.
Your guests are comparing your property to their hotel experiences, whether consciously or not. Meeting those expectations isn't just about cleaning: it's about implementing professional standards that create the kind of memorable experience that leads to glowing reviews and repeat bookings.
The investment in proper cleaning protocols, whether through your own efforts or professional services, pays for itself through better reviews, higher occupancy rates, and the ability to command premium pricing. In the competitive world of short-term rentals, cleanliness isn't just important; it's the foundation of success.