An Airbnb turnover clean has four jobs. Clean every room, restock what guests use, check for damage, and reset the space so it matches the listing photos. All four happen in the window between checkout and check-in, every time.
A regular house clean does not cover all four. This checklist does. Print it, share it with whoever cleans your rental, and tick it off on every turnover.
Why a turnover clean is different from a house clean
Guests score cleanliness on its own in an Airbnb review. One missed hair in the shower can cost a star. A house clean for a family can skip the odd corner. A turnover cannot.
A turnover also runs on a clock. Many Chicago listings set checkout at 11 and check-in at 3 or 4. That leaves four to five hours for cleaning, laundry, restocking and a walk through. The checklist keeps that window from running over.
Before the clean starts
- Confirm the checkout time and ask the guest to message when they leave.
- Know how the cleaner gets in: a lockbox code, a smart lock or a doorman.
- Keep a second full set of sheets and towels. Laundry takes longer than the clean.
- Stock a supply closet and tape the inventory list inside the door.
- Agree on where to report damage and which photos to send.
The room by room checklist
Work top to bottom. Do dry rooms first, then the kitchen and bathrooms. Finish with the floors.
Entry and living room
- Wipe door handles, light switches, remotes and the thermostat.
- Dust shelves, picture frames, blinds and the top of the TV.
- Vacuum the sofa and lift the cushions. Check for lost items.
- Fold throws and set the cushions the way the listing photos show them.
- Empty the bins and fit fresh liners.
Kitchen
- Wash, dry and put away every dish, even the ones that look clean.
- Clean the inside of the microwave, the stovetop and the oven door.
- Clear guest food from the fridge. Wipe the shelves and the door seals.
- Run the dishwasher empty if it smells, and rinse the filter.
- Wipe cabinet fronts, the backsplash and the counters. Sanitize the sink.
- Swap in a new sponge and a clean dish towel on every turnover.
Bathrooms
- Scrub the toilet inside and out, including the base and the seat hinges.
- Clean the shower, the tub and the glass. Dry the glass so it does not spot.
- Clear hair from the drain and the floor.
- Polish the mirror and the faucet.
- Set out fresh towels, soap and a spare roll of toilet paper.
Bedrooms
- Strip the bed. Check the mattress protector and the pillows for stains.
- Make the bed with fresh sheets and smooth it the way the photos show.
- Wipe the nightstands, lamps and headboard.
- Look under the bed and in every drawer for guest items.
- Leave the agreed number of hangers in the closet, untangled.
Floors, last
- Vacuum every room, including along the furniture edges.
- Mop hard floors and let them dry before the walk through.
Restock and reset
- Toilet paper, two rolls per bathroom, plus paper towels and tissues.
- Hand soap, body wash, shampoo and conditioner topped up.
- Dish soap, dishwasher tabs, a sponge and bin liners.
- Coffee, tea, sugar, salt, pepper and cooking oil, if the listing offers them.
- A clean towel set per guest, plus one spare set.
- Check the smoke alarm light, the Wi-Fi, the remote batteries and every bulb.
- Set the thermostat to the agreed temperature and the blinds the way the photos show.
The final walk through
- Take a photo of every room from the doorway. The photos prove the condition if a guest complains.
- Note any damage, stains or missing items and send them to the host before the next check-in.
- Check that every window and the balcony door are locked.
- Lock up, return the key to the lockbox and send the ready message with the photos.
Chicago details that cost hosts stars
A few things come up again and again in Chicago rentals.
- Hard water spots. Lake Michigan water leaves white spots on shower glass and faucets. Dry the glass after every clean. Our guide to hard water stains on glass shower doors shows how to remove the build-up.
- Winter salt. From November to March, guests track road salt onto hardwood and tile. It leaves white streaks and wears the finish. See how to remove road salt from hardwood floors.
- High-rise rules. Many downtown buildings need the freight elevator booked for supplies and limit cleaning hours. Build that into the turnover window. Our high-rise condo cleaning post covers a Streeterville unit.
- Radiators and window units. Dust them. Guests notice the smell when the heat kicks on.
- Snow and slush at the door. Put a mat inside and outside, and shake both out on every turnover.
Keep the checklist honest
A checklist only works if someone fills it in. Use a shared note or a cleaning app with photo proof. Ask for the doorway photos every time. Keep the same cleaner or the same team when you can, so they learn the listing.
Review the list once a month. Add anything a guest complained about. Remove steps nobody does.
When to hand the turnover to a cleaning company
A host with one listing can manage turnovers alone. Two or more listings make it hard to hit the window every time. So do back to back bookings and a day job.
That is what an Airbnb cleaning service in Chicago is for. Spotless Home Cleaners cleans short-term rentals across Chicago and the suburbs. The team brings its own supplies and handles the laundry and linens. It restocks the guest supplies you provide and offers same-day turnovers. Read how a cleaning service helps hosts earn 5-star reviews, or book a turnover online.
