Short-term rental cleaning between guests: checklist for landlords

Cleaning a short-term rental between guests means changing linens and towels, a bathroom and kitchen cleaned until they shine, floors, trash, restocking supplies and checking the little things a guest looks at first: hair, smell and stains. It usually has to fit into 2–3 hours between check-out and check-in, so you cannot manage without a checklist and a stock of linens.

How much time is there for cleaning between guests?

In short-term rentals, check-out is most often by 12:00 and check-in from 14:00. That leaves about two hours for cleaning, and it is tight: a 1-room apartment takes 1.5–2 hours by the checklist, a 2–3-room one takes more. If a guest runs late, the window shrinks even further.

To avoid disrupting check-in:

• confirm the exact check-out time with the guest the day before;
• keep a spare set of linens and towels in the apartment so you do not have to wait for laundry;
• if two guests turn over on the same day, move check-in to 15:00 or agree on an early check-out;
• pack dirty linens into a bag and take them away to wash, rather than running the washing machine in the apartment while cleaning;
• if check-in is contactless, check the key in the lockbox or the lock code after cleaning.

Cleaning checklist by zone

Follow the same route every time: from the farthest room toward the exit, from top to bottom. That way you miss nothing, and cleaning time becomes predictable.

Entryway

• floor and door mat: sand from the beach and the street settles exactly here;
• mirror, handles, switches, shoe rack;
• closet and hooks: check for forgotten items.

Kitchen

• rewash all the dishes, even those that stand "clean" in the cabinet;
• stove, inside of the microwave, kettle inside and out: hard water quickly leaves scale in it, and how to remove it is explained in the article about hard water;
• refrigerator: throw away leftover food, wipe the shelves and the seal;
• sink, countertop, cabinet fronts with fingerprints;
• take out the trash, wash the bin, put in a new bag.

Bathroom

• the whole toilet: under the rim, the seat on both sides, the base on the outside;
• shower or bathtub, drain cleared of hair;
• sink, faucet and mirror: no drops or streaks;
• tile at eye level, shelves, trash basket.

Bedroom and living room

• change the bed linen and the mattress protector, check the mattress for stains;
• dust from nightstands, shelves, the TV and the windowsill;
• under the bed and behind the sofa: that is where trash and forgotten items are most often found;
• wipe remotes, cabinet handles and switches with a disinfecting wipe;
• vacuum and mop the floor.

Linens and supplies

• a fresh set for every guest and two towels per person: a bath towel and a face towel;
• toilet paper with a reserve, soap, shower gel, shampoo;
• dish soap, a new sponge, trash bags;
• tea, coffee, sugar, salt, if you offer them;
• working light bulbs and batteries in the remotes.

What does the "like a hotel" standard mean?

A guest compares your apartment with a hotel room, even if they pay less. A hotel standard is not luxury but repeatability: the apartment looks the same every time.

• Take photos of a "reference" apartment: how the bed is made, where the towels go, how the dishes are arranged. The cleaner checks against them, not against memory.
• Remove the owner's personal belongings: clothes in the closet and cosmetics on the shelves spoil the impression more than dust.
• White linens and towels are easier to keep in perfect condition: stains are visible right away, and bleaching solves more problems than it does with colored textiles.
• A fresh smell comes from airing out and clean textiles, not from an air freshener. Guests often take a strong fragrance as an attempt to hide something.
• Final check from the doorway: enter the apartment through a guest's eyes and walk the path they will walk first: the entryway, the bathroom, the bed.

What do guests look at first?

Reviews about cleanliness are not about baseboards but about a few noticeable details. Check them twice:

1. Hair: on the pillow, in the bathroom, in the drain, on the floor by the bed. A single hair on the linens cancels out the whole cleaning.
2. Smell: of dampness, tobacco, food, trash. If after guests who smoked the smell does not go away with airing out and washing, ozone treatment from 10,000 ₸ will help. Other methods are described in the article how to get rid of odors in an apartment.
3. Stains on linens and towels: even if washed, a set with a grayish stain is better moved to the "utility" reserve.
4. Bathroom: buildup on the faucet, dark tile grout, the toilet rim.
5. Dust in visible places: nightstands, the TV, the top of the refrigerator.

Why do you need a photo report after cleaning?

If you do not come for every guest changeover, a photo report is the main control tool. Agree with the cleaner on photos from the same angles: the bed, bathroom, kitchen and a general view of each room. They show that everything was done to the standard before the guest arrives. Also take readings from the water and electricity meters, which makes it easier to track consumption for each booking.

Photos also help in a dispute: if a guest complains about dirt or you find damage, you will have a picture of the apartment at the moment of check-in. Photograph stains on furniture, chips and broken items separately after the guest leaves, before you start cleaning.

How often should you do a deep cleaning and professional cleaning?

Regular cleaning between guests cannot keep up with what builds up in an apartment with constant turnover. Guidelines for an apartment with heavy occupancy:

A mattress protector shields the mattress from most stains, but not all. Professional mattress cleaning costs from 4,000 ₸ for a single and from 8,000 ₸ for a double, and after extraction the mattress dries in a few hours, so it can be done between check-ins.

High season: how to prepare for summer in Aktau

In summer Aktau is a resort city: guests come to the Caspian, and apartments are rented almost without gaps, often for one or two nights. The cleaning load grows on every front:

• sand from the beach in the entryway, in the shower, in the drain, on towels and even in the bed;
• wet swimsuits and towels are a source of damp smell if they are not dried;
• the air conditioner runs around the clock, and its mesh filters clog with dust faster;
• more guest changeovers, but the same amount of time for each.

Put a stiff mat at the entrance and a rubber one in the shower, and ask guests in the house rules to shake the sand off outside: this noticeably reduces the cleaning after each guest.

Prepare in advance: in May–June do a deep cleaning and upholstery cleaning, buy extra linens and towels to keep in reserve, and agree on a schedule with your cleaning provider. At Cleaning Lab, short-term rental cleaning costs from 12,000 ₸ for a studio or a 1-room apartment, from 15,000 ₸ for a 2-room and from 18,000 ₸ for a 3-room. For landlords with a regular schedule we set the price by agreement.