Short answer: a turnover checklist works only if it is property-specific, worked in a fixed order, and signed off at the end. A generic list produces generic misses. Below is a complete base checklist you can copy and adapt to your own rental.
The reason to write it down is not distrust. It is that memory fails under time pressure, and a turnover is done against someone else’s deadline.
Work in a fixed order, every time
Order matters more than people expect. The sequence below stops you undoing finished work.
- Walk through and strip. Beds stripped, towels collected, trash gathered, guest items collected. Start laundry immediately so it runs while you clean.
- Kitchen. Fridge emptied, dishwasher started, surfaces degreased.
- Bathrooms. Products applied and left to dwell before scrubbing.
- Bedrooms and living areas. Dust high to low, then surfaces.
- Floors. Vacuum then mop, working out of the property.
- Outdoor areas. Patio, furniture, fire pit, tub surround.
- Beds made, staging reset, final walkthrough.
Laundry first is the single biggest time saver. Bathrooms need dwell time, so apply product early and come back rather than standing there scrubbing.
The base checklist
Arrival
- Photograph anything damaged or unusual before touching it
- Check for guest belongings left behind
- Strip all beds, collect all towels, start first load
- Gather trash and recycling from every room
Kitchen
- Fridge and freezer emptied of all guest food, shelves wiped
- Dishwasher run and emptied, dishes returned to their homes
- Microwave inside and out
- Stovetop, burners and range hood wiped
- Coffee equipment cleaned and reset
- Counters, backsplash and cabinet fronts degreased
- Sink and faucet descaled
- Crockery, cutlery and cookware counted against inventory
- Trash removed from the property entirely
Bathrooms
- Toilet inside, outside, behind and at the base
- Shower and tub scrubbed, glass descaled with dwell time
- Mirror polished streak-free
- Fresh towel sets laid out
- Paper goods, soap and amenities restocked
- Bin emptied and liner replaced
- Extractor grille checked
- Drain hair removed
Bedrooms
- Mattress protectors checked for staining
- Beds remade with fresh linen, hotel-fold finish
- Under beds and behind headboards checked
- Wardrobes and drawers opened and emptied
- Surfaces, lamps and mirrors dusted
- Floors vacuumed to the edges
Living areas and desert specifics
- Soft furnishings straightened, cushions reset
- Ceiling fan blades dusted
- Window tracks, thresholds and slider channels cleared of sand
- Interior glass and door glass
- Patio swept, outdoor furniture wiped
- Fire pit emptied of ash
- Hot tub surround, steps and cover cleaned
Final pass
- Home staged back to the listing photographs
- Lights, remotes, thermostat and Wi-Fi card in place
- Consumables checked against par levels, low items reported
- Damage and breakage reported with photos
- Doors locked, lockbox reset
Make it yours
The base list gets you most of the way. What separates a good checklist from a generic one is the property-specific additions: the drawer that sticks, the slider that collects sand, the fan above the bed that loads up fastest, the cupboard where the spare linens live, the neighbour who complains about the bin.
Add those. Review the list every time a guest complains about something, and add whatever they found. Over a season the checklist becomes genuinely valuable rather than a formality.
See our turnover service, or the ten things guests actually notice for what to prioritise.
Frequently asked questions
What order should a turnover clean be done in?
Strip beds and start laundry first, because it runs while you work on everything else. Then kitchen, then bathrooms with products left to dwell, then bedrooms and living areas working high to low, then floors working out of the property, then outdoor areas, then make the beds and do a final staging walkthrough. Laundry first is the single biggest time saver.
How long should an Airbnb turnover take?
It depends on bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry volume and outdoor space, but it has to fit inside the checkout to check-in window, typically four to five hours in this market. A one-bedroom may take two hours; a large home with several bathrooms and on-site laundry needs either more time or a second person.
Should I give my cleaner a written checklist?
Yes. Memory fails under time pressure, and a written property-specific list is the cheapest quality-control tool available. Include your quirks: the drawer that sticks, the slider that collects sand, where spare linens live. Update it whenever a guest reports something so the same miss does not recur.
What is the most commonly missed item on a turnover?
Window tracks and door thresholds in desert properties, and hair in bathrooms everywhere. Both are highly visible to a guest and both get skipped when someone is rushing. Ceiling fan blades and the hot tub surround come close behind.
Do I need to count inventory on every turnover?
Crockery, cutlery and cookware are worth a quick count each time, because guests break and occasionally remove things, and discovering a shortage when the next guest is cooking is worse than knowing in advance. Full deep inventory checks can be less frequent, monthly or seasonally.