Spring can bring more guests, more bookings and less time between stays, which means getting your property ready before things get busy can save you plenty of stress later. Airbnb cleaning is an important part of preparing your property for a busy season, but it’s not just about making the space look good, it’s about creating a reliable routine that keeps your Airbnb guest-ready between bookings.
A little preparation now can make those back-to-back bookings much easier to manage. From a deeper seasonal clean to checking your outdoor spaces, here’s how to get your Airbnb ready.
Give your Airbnb a proper seasonal clean
Before bookings start picking up, tackle the cleaning jobs that don’t always happen during a standard turnover. Look at areas such as windows, skirting boards, behind furniture, cupboards, appliances and outdoor spaces.
A thorough Airbnb cleaning session gives you a clean starting point before you move into a faster turnover routine. It can also help you spot anything that needs repairing, replacing or refreshing before guests arrive.
Check every room from a guest’s perspective
Walk through your property as though you’re checking in for the first time. What would you notice when you opened the front door?
Look for dusty surfaces, marks on walls, fingerprints on doors and switches, stained upholstery or anything that doesn’t match your listing photos. Pay attention to the small details because they’re often what guests notice first.
Pay extra attention to the bathroom
A sparkling bathroom can make a big difference to how guests perceive the rest of the property. Hair, water marks, streaky mirrors, dirty grout and unpleasant smells are all easy things for guests to spot.
During your Airbnb cleaning routine, give particular attention to taps, shower screens, toilet seats, handles and soap dispensers. These are high-touch areas that need to be cleaned between every stay.
Reset the kitchen
Your kitchen needs to be ready for the next guest, not just look tidy. Clean the hob, sink, counters and appliance surfaces, and make sure the fridge is free of anything left behind.
Check that cookware, crockery and utensils are clean and put away properly. It’s also worth checking your supplies before the busy season so you’re not running out of essentials between bookings.
Refresh the bedrooms
Fresh, clean bedding is one of the first things guests notice when they arrive. Make sure linen and towels are clean, stain-free and ready for every booking.
Use your seasonal reset to check mattresses, pillows, blankets and curtains too. If anything is looking worn or tired, spring is a good time to replace it before your busiest period begins.
Get your outdoor spaces guest-ready
Warmer weather means guests are likely to spend more time outside, so don’t let your outdoor areas become an afterthought.
Sweep patios and balconies, clean outdoor furniture, remove leaves and debris and check that everything advertised in your listing is clean and working. If your property has a braai area, pool or outdoor entertainment space, include these in your Airbnb cleaning routine too.
Create a consistent turnover routine
Once your seasonal clean is done, make your regular turnover process as consistent as possible. A cleaning checklist can help you or your cleaning team follow the same process every time and reduce the chances of something being missed.
Work through the property in the same order after every guest. This makes Airbnb cleaning more efficient and can be particularly helpful when you have several bookings close together.
Keep your supplies stocked
Don’t wait until the next guest has arrived to discover you’re out of toilet paper, soap, towels or cleaning products.
Keep a dedicated supply of the essentials you provide and check your stock regularly. Having your supplies organised also means you can get through each turnover without wasting time looking for what you need.
Check more than just the cleaning
A seasonal reset is also a good opportunity to check the things guests rely on during their stay. Test lights, remotes, appliances, Wi-Fi equipment and anything else included in your listing.
If you’ve changed furniture, amenities or outdoor areas, make sure your listing reflects what guests will actually find when they arrive.
Take the pressure off between bookings
When bookings start coming in back-to-back, Airbnb cleaning can quickly become one of the biggest jobs on your hosting to-do list. Having a reliable cleaning routine in place before the busy season can make those tight changeovers much easier.
If you don’t want to handle every turnover yourself, Sweepsouth’s Airbnb Cleaning service can help get your property guest-ready between stays, giving you more time to focus on bookings, guests and running your property.
Get ready before the rush
The easiest time to prepare for a busy season is before it gets busy. Give your Airbnb a proper clean, check the details guests notice, stock up on essentials and establish a consistent turnover routine.
That way, when the bookings start coming in, you’re not scrambling to get everything ready. You already have a system in place to keep your property looking its best from one guest to the next.
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