In brief
An Airbnb restocking checklist should cover bathroom essentials, kitchen consumables, bin liners, guest-use laundry supplies and the amenities promised in your listing. Set quantities around guest numbers and stay length, keep a separate reserve, and check stock at every changeover. Assign someone to reorder before the reserve runs out—not when the next guests arrive.
A spotless flat can still feel unprepared if the hand-soap dispenser is empty or there is no bag in the kitchen bin. Restocking is the finishing step that makes a cleaned property usable. This guide helps London hosts turn a collection of supplies into a repeatable system, without filling every cupboard with unnecessary extras.
Jump to: The essentials · Room-by-room checklist · Quantities · Stock control · Changeover sign-off
What should you restock before every Airbnb arrival?
Start with the items guests need immediately, then check every consumable included in your listing. Separate essentials from optional welcome gifts: missing soap is a service problem; a missing complimentary biscuit is a different priority.
Airbnb identifies toilet tissue, hand and body soap, a towel and pillow for each guest, and bedding for occupied beds as essential amenities. Its guidance encourages larger quantities for bigger groups and longer stays. If you select the Essentials amenity, the items must actually be provided. See Airbnb’s essential amenities guidance (checked 15 September 2026).
Shampoo, coffee, dishwasher tablets and welcome snacks are not all part of that same basic list. Nevertheless, if your listing promises them, make them part of your arrival check. Do not describe a limited welcome pack as an unlimited supply.
The room-by-room Airbnb restocking checklist
Use the following as a property-specific working list. Remove items that genuinely do not apply, and add anything you advertise. These are planning suggestions, not a claim that every item is supplied by our cleaning service.
Bathroom: check usability, not just appearance
- Toilet rolls: check each toilet and leave clearly accessible spares appropriate to the booking.
- Hand soap: check the level and test the pump at each basin.
- Body wash or soap, plus any advertised shampoo and conditioner: check quantity, labels and dispensers.
- Fresh guest towels: match the booked occupancy, with hand towels and bath mats according to your property specification.
- Bathroom bin: fit the correct liner and check spare-liner stock.
- Optional extras: replenish tissues or sealed hygiene items only if they are part of your standard offer.
A decorative bottle is not proof of available stock. Pick it up, check it and test the dispenser. Follow the product instructions for refilling and cleaning containers; do not mix different products or put unidentified liquids into guest bottles.
Kitchen: make the first meal and clean-up straightforward
- Washing-up liquid, a clean washing-up tool and a clean tea towel.
- Dishwasher detergent suitable for the machine, where a dishwasher is provided.
- Correctly sized bin bags, plus recycling supplies that match the property’s waste arrangements.
- Tea, coffee, sugar and any milk portions or alternatives you explicitly offer.
- Kitchen roll, foil or other consumables if these are included in your listing.
- Any advertised cooking basics: check packaging, condition and dates rather than retaining whatever the previous guests left.
Check coffee-machine compatibility before buying replacement pods. Keep any food gifts in their labelled packaging so guests can read ingredients and allergen information. Avoid making dietary or allergen-free promises you cannot substantiate.
Bedroom and living space: count and inspect
- Prepare bedding and towels for the actual booking, including any agreed sofa-bed arrangement.
- Check that advertised spare blankets and pillows are clean and available.
- Test remote controls and report depleted batteries; store replacement batteries securely in the host supply area.
- Replace damaged or missing guest information, including Wi-Fi and appliance instructions.
- Check any promised welcome items against one consistent list.
Linen is reusable inventory rather than a disposable consumable, so track it separately. Our linen hire versus buying guide covers the costs and stock rotation involved.
Laundry and guest cleaning supplies
If guests may use the washing machine, specify whether detergent is included and how much. Keep products in their original labelled packaging, follow storage instructions and keep them away from children and food. The cleaner’s professional supplies should not be treated as an unrestricted guest-use cupboard.
How much should you leave for each booking?
There is no useful universal “two of everything” rule. Guest count, number of bathrooms, stay length, what you promise and actual consumption all affect the right amount. Establish a starting specification, then adjust it using completed-stay records.
| Planning basis | Examples | What changes the quantity? |
|---|---|---|
| Per guest | Towels, welcome drinks or portions | Occupancy and your stated offer |
| Per bathroom or station | Soap dispensers, toilet-roll positions | Number of basins, toilets and showers |
| Per stay or expected use | Bin bags, dishwasher detergent | Length of stay and likely appliance use |
| Host reserve | Unopened refills and replacement packs | Bookings before the next delivery and supplier lead time |
Illustrative example—not an Airbnb requirement: a host offering one tea bag and one coffee portion per guest per night would allocate 12 of each for four guests staying three nights. If the offer is a one-off welcome drink instead, the starting allocation would be four of each. The important point is that the listing, guest message and cupboard allocation agree.
For longer bookings, agree how replenishment works before arrival. If supplies are running low during a stay, guests need a clear contact and a practical response—not an assumption that the checkout cleaner will deal with it.
How do you avoid running out between changeovers?
Separate the stock available to guests from the reserve used by your changeover team. Give every product a storage location, a target quantity and a reorder point. A locked cupboard is useful only when the person doing the turnover can access it.
- Create one master inventory. Record the product, pack size, guest allocation, reserve location and approved substitute.
- Set a reorder trigger. Estimate what will be used before a replacement delivery can arrive, then add a buffer for uncertainty.
- Give ordering to one named person. A cleaner’s low-stock message is not the same as a confirmed order.
- Log deliveries and use older stock first. Keep packaging and dates visible; remove damaged or unsuitable items.
- Review consumption. Repeated emergency purchases mean the starting quantities or delivery routine need adjusting.
Example reorder trigger: if each of the next three changeovers is allocated four bin liners, you need 12 before the next delivery. Adding a four-liner buffer gives a trigger of 16 usable liners. This is an illustrative calculation; choose your own allocation and buffer from actual usage.
A compact stock record you can copy
| Item | Arrival target | Reserve remaining | Reorder at | Action / owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toilet rolls | Property allocation | Count rolls | Set from bookings | Name + due date |
| Hand soap | Working dispenser at each basin | Measure refill stock | Set from usage | Name + due date |
| Bin liners | Fitted liners + agreed spares | Count liners | Lead-time use + buffer | Name + due date |
| Tea / coffee | Match advertised offer | Count portions | Next bookings + buffer | Name + due date |
What makes restocking different in a London flat?
Limited storage makes a smaller, well-organised reserve more practical than ordering bulk packs without a storage plan. Measure the cupboard, standardise product sizes and keep cleaning chemicals separate from guest food supplies.
For a flat with communal access or a concierge, confirm who can accept deliveries and how supplies reach the correct cupboard. Do not assume a cleaner can collect an unattended parcel, make an unplanned shopping trip or wait for a late delivery during a back-to-back turnover.
Whether you manage a London Bridge short-let or another London property, build the arrangement around that building and booking calendar. A nearby shop can be a fallback, but it should not be the entire stock-control system.
The final restocking sign-off before check-in
Complete this check after cleaning and before the property is handed over. Keep the stock check alongside your room-by-room cleaning checklist, rather than assuming one replaces the other.
- Guest count, stay length and special arrangements checked.
- All advertised essentials present and usable.
- Bathroom dispensers tested; toilet-roll spares visible.
- Kitchen supplies checked against the booking allocation.
- Bedding and towel quantities verified.
- Reserve counted and any low stock reported.
- Shortages assigned to a named person with a deadline before arrival.
- Completion photos taken without guest details, access codes or other sensitive information.
Photos can confirm presentation and visible supplies, but they do not replace opening cupboards and counting stock. The most useful handover records both what is ready and what still needs action.
Can restocking be coordinated with your Airbnb turnover clean?
Discuss your property’s supply list when arranging the clean. Agree who buys the products, where reserves are stored, what the cleaner should replenish and how shortages are reported. Confirm any shopping, delivery or supply charges separately rather than assuming consumables are included in the cleaning rate.
If you also need bedding, our Airbnb linen hire is available alongside our turnover cleaning service, with a minimum order of two sets. Linen hire and toiletries are different supplies: agreeing one does not automatically include the other.
Request an Airbnb turnover quote and tell us your postcode, guest capacity, changeover pattern and proposed restocking list so the requirements can be confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to provide shampoo and conditioner?
They are not named in Airbnb’s basic essential-amenities list cited above, but supply them if they are advertised in your listing. Check every bathroom covered by that promise.
Should I replace every partially used product?
Not automatically. Assess whether it is an intended reusable dispenser or a single-guest item, then follow the product’s hygiene and refill instructions. Remove damaged, unidentified or unsuitable products rather than simply making them look full.
How often should the host reserve be counted?
A brief count at each turnover makes shortages easier to catch. Adjust the depth of the check to booking frequency, stock use and delivery lead times, and reconcile the full inventory regularly.
Should welcome food be included?
It is optional unless promised. A modest, consistently delivered offer is easier to manage than a large hamper. Retain ingredient labels and check condition and dates.
Does linen hire automatically include restocking toiletries?
No—do not assume this. Confirm bedding, towels, guest consumables, replenishment work and product purchasing as separate parts of your service agreement.
The takeaway: the best restocking checklist is not the longest one. It is a clear, repeatable record of what you promise, how much each booking needs and who acts before stock runs out.