Most cleaning checklists circulating in the short-term rental space were written by someone who has never managed a professional turnover. They cover the obvious tasks — wipe the counters, change the sheets — and leave out everything that actually separates a five-star clean from a three-star one. The guest who leaves a review mentioning "dust on the fan blades" or "grease behind the hob" is not being unreasonable. They found something your checklist did not cover.
This checklist was built around what professional hosts actually track, not what sounds comprehensive in theory. It is designed to be given directly to a cleaning crew as a working document — specific enough to leave no ambiguity, sequenced to minimise the total time spent on a turnover, and structured so a new crew member can follow it on their first visit without a verbal briefing.
It is a starting point, not a finished product. Every property has specific items that need adding — the particular appliances, the storage arrangements, the quirks that only your property has. Use this as the foundation and build from there.
How to Use This Checklist
A few operational notes before the room-by-room breakdown:
Sequence matters. The checklist runs in a specific order for a reason. Strip all linen first, start any laundry that needs doing in-property, then work through the rooms while the washing machine runs. Crews that clean rooms in the order that feels natural often finish the beds last — and discover twenty minutes before check-in that the duvet cover is still in the machine.
The checklist is a floor, not a ceiling. Tasks on this list are the minimum. If a crew member notices something outside the list — a smear on a window, a stain on a cushion, a bulb that has gone — the expectation is to address it, not to ignore it because it was not written down.
Photo documentation. At the end of each turnover, crews should photograph the completed beds, the kitchen, and the bathrooms. This is not about distrust — it is a record that protects everyone. More on that at the end.
On Arrival
Before starting any cleaning:
- Walk the full property and note any damage, missing items, or maintenance issues
- Photograph anything requiring a report before it is disturbed
- Check whether linen in the property needs in-property washing or is being collected
- Strip all beds and begin laundry if washing in-property
- Open windows to air the property while cleaning
Completing the damage walkthrough before cleaning starts is important. A stain found after cleaning has already begun is harder to attribute to the outgoing guest rather than the cleaning process. The pre-clean walkthrough is your protection as much as theirs.
Kitchen
The kitchen is the room where cleaning failures are most visible to guests and most likely to appear in reviews.
Surfaces and appliances
- All worktops wiped down, including behind the kettle, toaster, and any countertop appliances
- Hob: rings or burners removed if applicable, cleaned underneath; drip trays cleaned or replaced
- Oven interior checked; clean if used (check the door seal and the glass panel on the inside)
- Microwave: interior wiped, turntable removed and washed
- Kettle: descaled if limescale visible; exterior wiped
- Extractor hood: filters checked; exterior wiped
Fridge and storage
- Fridge emptied of all guest items; shelves and drawers wiped if needed
- Fridge door seal wiped
- Freezer checked for guest items
- All cupboards checked for items left behind; interiors wiped if visibly dirty
Sink and dishwasher
- Sink cleaned; plug and drain strainer cleared of debris
- Taps wiped and dried to avoid water marks
- Dishwasher: run empty if needed; filter checked and cleaned; interior wiped; tablet supply confirmed
- All dishes, glasses, and utensils clean, dry, and returned to correct cupboards
Bin and floor
- Bin emptied; bin interior wiped if needed; new liner inserted
- Floor swept and mopped, including under the table and chairs
Living Room and Dining Area
Surfaces
- All surfaces dusted: shelves, sideboards, coffee table, TV unit, windowsills, skirting boards
- TV screen wiped with appropriate cloth
- Remote controls wiped with a damp cloth
- Any decorative items, books, or games returned to their correct positions
Soft furnishings
- Sofa and armchairs checked for items left between and under cushions
- Cushions and throws straightened and arranged to property standard
- Rugs vacuumed; edges lifted and swept underneath if possible
Floor and windows
- Floor vacuumed; hard floors swept and mopped
- Internal glass doors or large windows wiped for fingerprints
- Curtains or blinds returned to neutral position
Bedroom (repeat per bedroom)
Linen and beds
- All linen stripped and placed for collection or laundering
- Mattress protector checked for stains; replace if needed
- Mattress inspected briefly for damage
- Fresh fitted sheet applied, tucked at all four corners
- Fresh duvet cover and pillowcases fitted
- Bed made to property standard (flat sheet if applicable, duvet straight, pillows stacked or arranged)
Surfaces and storage
- All bedside surfaces wiped: tables, lamps, alarm clocks
- Wardrobe interiors checked: hangers present and uniform, guest items removed, interior dusted
- Chest of drawers or shelving checked for guest items; wiped if dusty
- Mirror wiped
Floor
- Floor vacuumed including under the bed
- Any rugs vacuumed
Bathroom (repeat per bathroom)
The bathroom is the room most likely to generate a negative review mention. It also takes the least time to clean thoroughly when done consistently.
Toilet
- Interior cleaned with brush, including under the rim
- Exterior wiped: cistern lid, seat (top and underside), base, and floor around the base
- Toilet roll replaced; spare roll confirmed present
Sink and vanity
- Sink scrubbed; plug and drain cleared
- Taps cleaned and dried to remove water marks
- Vanity surface wiped; any toiletry dispensers wiped
- Mirror cleaned
- Mirrored cabinet (if present): interior checked for guest items and wiped
Shower and bath
- Shower tray or bath scrubbed
- Screen or curtain cleaned; check for soap residue and mould at edges and base
- Shower head wiped; descale if limescale visible
- Taps and mixer cleaned and dried
Supplies and towels
- All towels replaced with fresh set, folded or presented to property standard
- Toiletry supplies checked against property standard and replenished as needed
- Any dispensers (soap, shampoo, conditioner) checked and topped up
Floor
- Floor mopped, including behind the toilet and under the vanity
- Bath mat replaced with fresh one
Outdoor Areas and Additional Spaces
If your property includes a garden, terrace, balcony, or communal areas:
- Outdoor furniture wiped down; chairs and cushions arranged
- Terrace or balcony swept; cigarette ends or food debris cleared
- BBQ checked if present; cleaned if used
- Any outdoor bins emptied
- Gates, fencing, or outdoor lighting checked for obvious issues
If there is a laundry room, utility room, or hallway:
- Washing machine drum checked and emptied; door left ajar
- Dryer filter cleaned if used
- Hallway vacuumed or swept; shoe storage tidied
Final Walkthrough
Before the crew leaves:
- All rooms checked once more in sequence
- All windows closed and latched
- All lights off
- Heating or air conditioning set to standby level as specified
- Any guest items left behind collected and photographed; notify host
- Entry system reset if applicable (lockbox, smart lock)
- All doors locked; property secured
Photo record: Photograph completed beds in each bedroom, the kitchen worktops and hob, and each bathroom. Send to host or property manager before leaving.
The Tasks Most Checklists Miss
Based on what consistently generates guest complaints in STR properties, these are the items most often omitted from generic checklists:
Behind and underneath appliances. The gap between the hob and the worktop. The area behind the toaster. Underneath the microwave. These collect grease and crumbs and are visible once a guest starts cooking.
Drain covers and plughole strainers. Hair and debris accumulate here and are immediately visible — and unpleasant — when a guest uses the shower or bath.
Remote controls and light switches. High-touch surfaces that rarely appear on checklists. Wipe with a damp cloth on every turnover.
Toilet base and floor around it. The floor directly behind the toilet and around the base is missed in a significant proportion of guest cleaning complaints. It takes thirty seconds.
Inside the washing machine drum. Guests doing laundry who find a sock from a previous guest, or a drum that smells like mildew, will mention it. Leave the door ajar after every turnover to prevent the latter.
Window tracks and door frames. Not every turnover — but on a monthly or quarterly basis, the accumulated grime in window tracks and around door frames is visible to guests and worth addressing.
Making This Checklist Work in Practice
A checklist is a tool. Its value depends entirely on how it is used. A crew that has the checklist open while cleaning is using it correctly. A crew that reads it once and then cleans from memory is not.
The highest-leverage version of this checklist is one that is printed and physically present at the property, or accessible in a form the crew can open on their phone. Sending it in a WhatsApp message before the turnover and expecting it to be referenced during the clean is less reliable than making it part of the physical workflow.
For multi-property operations, the checklist needs a property-specific version for each unit — not a generic template applied to all of them. The generic structure above is the foundation. Add the specific appliances, the storage arrangements, the property-particular tasks, and you have something a crew can follow on their first visit without a briefing.
The harder coordination problem — making sure the crew has the right information about each turnover, carrying forward issues guests reported during the stay, managing back-to-back timing — is separate from the checklist itself. The checklist tells a crew what to clean. The operational system around it tells them everything else.
This article is part of the Vacation Rental Host's Guide to Managing Cleaning Crews Across Multiple Properties.
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