Yes, guests are expected to do basic cleaning before checking out of an Airbnb. You don’t need to scrub bathrooms or vacuum floors; you simply need to leave the property tidy and respectful. Most hosts hire professional cleaners for deep cleaning between stays and follow a comprehensive Airbnb cleaning checklist to prepare the property for incoming guests, but basic tidying remains a standard guest expectation on every booking.
Understanding what’s expected prevents negative reviews, additional charges, and disputes with your host.
What Guests Are Responsible For
Most Airbnb hosts expect guests to complete these basic tasks before checkout:
Rubbish and recycling:
- Remove all rubbish from every room
- Place bags in designated bins (indoor or outdoor)
- Separate recycling if the host has requested it
Kitchen:
- Wash all used dishes or load the dishwasher
- Wipe down countertops and the hob
- Empty and clean the sink
- Put away any food you’ve left out
General tidying:
- Wipe down surfaces you’ve used
- Return furniture to its original position
- Collect all personal belongings
- Check under beds, in wardrobes, and on window sills
Bedding and towels:
- Strip beds if the host has requested it
- Leave used towels in a pile in the bathroom or as instructed
- Don’t leave wet towels on furniture or floors
Always read your host’s house rules before checkout. Some hosts have specific requests that differ from standard expectations.
What Guests Don’t Need to Do
Guests are not expected to deep clean the property. Professional Holiday Let Cleaning London services handle the thorough cleaning between stays. You don’t need to:
- Scrub bathrooms or disinfect toilets
- Mop or vacuum floors
- Clean inside the oven
- Wash windows
- Clean behind furniture or appliances
- Launder bed linen (unless specifically requested)
- Replace toiletries or restock supplies
Think of your responsibility as leaving the space the way you’d leave a hotel room — tidy, with your belongings removed, without excessive mess.
Checkout Cleaning Checklist
Run through this before you leave:
Kitchen:
- Dishes washed or dishwasher loaded
- Countertops wiped
- Hob wiped down
- Fridge checked (remove your food)
- Bins emptied
Bathroom:
- Towels piled as instructed
- Surfaces wiped if you’ve made a mess
- Toiletries collected
Bedrooms:
- Beds stripped if requested
- Wardrobes and drawers checked
- Personal belongings collected
Living areas:
- Surfaces wiped
- Furniture returned to original position
- Nothing left behind
Before leaving:
- Check all rooms one final time
- Lock all doors and windows
- Follow any checkout instructions from your host
What Happens If You Don’t Clean
Leaving an Airbnb excessively messy has real consequences for guests:
Negative reviews: Hosts review guests just as guests review hosts. A poor cleanliness note on your guest profile affects your ability to book future properties. Many hosts check guest reviews before accepting bookings.
Additional cleaning charges: If the property requires significantly more cleaning than a standard turnover, hosts can request additional charges through the platform’s resolution centre. Excessive mess, food left out, or damage to furnishings can all trigger additional fees.
Security deposit deductions: Some hosts hold a security deposit. Leaving the property in poor condition can result in partial or full deduction to cover extra cleaning costs.
Damaged guest reputation: Your Airbnb profile reflects your history as a guest. Repeated cleanliness complaints make it harder to secure future bookings, particularly with Superhosts or high-end properties.
The simplest way to avoid all of this is spending 15-20 minutes tidying before checkout.
What Hosts Are Responsible For
While guests handle basic tidying, hosts carry the broader cleaning responsibility. Between every stay, hosts must ensure:
- The entire property is thoroughly cleaned and sanitised
- Fresh bed linen and towels are provided for each guest
- Bathrooms are fully cleaned and restocked
- Kitchen appliances and surfaces are cleaned to a hygienic standard
- Any damage or maintenance issues are addressed
- The property matches the cleanliness shown in listing photos
Hosts who use professional Airbnb cleaning services maintain the consistent standards guests expect and that generate positive reviews. Understanding typical Airbnb cleaning service costs helps hosts budget for regular turnovers while maintaining high cleanliness ratings.
Properties with professional cleaning between stays typically score higher on cleanliness ratings, directly affecting search visibility and occupancy rates.
For hosts wanting to go further, Airbnb linen hire in London provides hotel-quality bedding and towels for every guest without the hassle of purchasing and laundering your own supply.
Private Room vs Entire Property
Cleaning expectations vary slightly depending on what you’ve booked:
Private room in a shared home:
- Tidy your personal space
- Clean up after yourself in shared areas (kitchen, bathroom)
- Follow house rules for shared spaces
- Communicate with the host about any shared area expectations
Entire property:
- Responsible for all rooms you’ve used
- Expected to leave all areas tidy
- More likely to have detailed checkout instructions
- More likely to have explicit house rules about cleaning tasks
Luxury vs budget listings:
- Luxury properties often have more specific house rules and higher cleanliness expectations
- Budget listings typically have more relaxed guidelines
- Both expect basic tidying regardless of price point
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to clean an Airbnb before you leave?
Yes, basic tidying is expected from all guests regardless of whether a cleaning fee has been charged. This includes removing rubbish, washing dishes, wiping surfaces, and leaving the property tidy. Deep cleaning is handled by the host or their professional cleaning team between stays.
Does the cleaning fee mean I don’t have to clean?
No. The cleaning fee covers the host’s cost of professional deep cleaning between stays. It doesn’t give guests permission to leave the property in a mess. Basic tidying remains the guest’s responsibility regardless of the cleaning fee amount.
What if I accidentally damage something?
Contact your host immediately rather than waiting until checkout. Proactive communication prevents misunderstandings and demonstrates responsibility. Most hosts appreciate honesty and handle accidental damage more reasonably when guests are upfront about it.
Do I need to strip the beds?
Only if your host has specifically requested it in the house rules or checkout instructions. Some hosts ask guests to strip beds and leave linen in a pile. If no instruction is given, leave beds as they are.
What if I don’t have time to clean before checkout?
Communicate with your host as early as possible. Some hosts can accommodate later checkouts or have flexible arrangements. Leaving without any tidying and without communicating is the worst outcome for both your review score and any potential additional charges.
Can a host charge me extra for cleaning?
Yes. If the property requires significantly more cleaning than a standard turnover due to excessive mess or damage, hosts can raise a claim through the platform’s resolution centre. Keeping the property reasonably tidy is the easiest way to avoid this.
Final Thoughts
Guests are expected to leave an Airbnb tidy but not professionally cleaned. Removing rubbish, washing dishes, wiping surfaces, and following your host’s checkout instructions covers everything expected of you. Deep cleaning, sanitisation, and linen changes are the host’s responsibility between every stay.
Spending 15-20 minutes on basic tidying before checkout protects your guest reputation, prevents additional charges, and ensures a smooth experience for both you and your host.