How to give clear cleaning instructions to an Airbnb cleaner

A professional cleaner already knows how to clean a bathroom or vacuum a floor. What they cannot automatically know is where you keep spare linen, how you want the beds made, which supplies should be restocked, how the sofa bed should be prepared or which tasks only need doing occasionally.

The best Airbnb cleaning instructions focus on these property-specific details and make them easy to follow during every turnover.

What should Airbnb cleaning instructions include?

A useful set of cleaning instructions should normally cover five things:

1. What needs to be done
2. How property-specific tasks should be done
3. What the finished property should look like
4. Which tasks are only required occasionally
5. What the cleaner should report back to you

The goal is not to document every movement the cleaner makes. The goal is to remove the decisions and uncertainties that can cause inconsistent turnovers.

Start with the basic turnover checklist

Begin with the main tasks that should happen after every guest. Typical areas include:

• kitchen
• bathroom
• bedrooms
• living areas
• entrance
• floors
• rubbish
• linen
• restocking
• final guest-ready checks

This forms the basic cleaning checklist. Then add the information that is specific to your property.

For example, instead of simply writing “Make the bed,” you might write: “Make the double bed with the white linen set. Place two bath towels folded at the foot of the bed.” The cleaner probably does not need instructions on how to put clean sheets on a bed. They do need to know which linen to use and how you expect the finished bed to look.

Focus detailed instructions on things the cleaner cannot know

A common mistake is making cleaning instructions too generic. Instructions such as “clean the kitchen,” “clean the bathroom” or “vacuum the bedroom” do not add much value if you are working with a professional cleaner. Instead, identify the details they could not reasonably know without being told.

Linen

• Which linen set belongs to which bed?
• Where is clean linen stored?
• Where should used linen be left?
• How many towels should be provided per guest?
• Is spare linen left for guests?

Kitchen

• Which coffee capsules should be restocked?
• How many dishwasher tablets should be left?
• Which guest supplies should always be available?
• Should food left by guests be removed?
• Is there anything that should remain in the refrigerator?

Bedrooms

• How should pillows be arranged?
• Where should towels be placed?
• Should a sofa bed be prepared automatically or only for certain bookings?
• Are decorative items positioned in a specific way?

Access

• Where are keys stored?
• What should happen to a physical key after cleaning?
• Is a lockbox code required?
• Should windows be left open or closed?
• Should the door be locked in a particular way?

These details are often the difference between a generic cleaning checklist and genuinely useful property instructions.

Define what “guest-ready” means

“Clean” and “guest-ready” are not always the same thing. A property may be technically clean but still not be ready for the next guest.

For example, the beds may be clean but the pillows arranged incorrectly; the bathroom spotless but toilet paper not restocked; the kitchen clean but the dishwasher still full; the apartment ready but cleaning supplies left in the hallway; or everything clean but the key not returned to the correct place.

Your instructions should therefore cover both cleaning and resetting the property for the next stay. A final guest-ready section might include:

• Check that all rooms look ready for arrival
• Make sure no cleaning equipment is visible
• Confirm that rubbish has been removed
• Check that guest supplies are restocked
• Put furniture and decorative items in their correct places
• Check that keys and access items are ready
• Set heating or air conditioning as instructed
• Report anything that may affect the next guest

This makes the expected outcome much clearer.

Use photos for visual standards

Some instructions are easier to show than explain. A photo can be particularly useful for:

• bed setup
• towel placement
• sofa cushions
• sofa bed preparation
• dining table setup
• coffee station
• welcome items
• children's equipment
• outdoor furniture
• key storage
• storage locations

For example, instead of “Arrange the cushions neatly,” show a photo of the finished sofa. The cleaner can then compare the actual result directly with the expected result. Photos are especially useful when more than one cleaner may work at the property.

Keep instruction photos and completion photos separate

Photos can serve two different purposes.

Instruction photos

These show the cleaner how something should look or where something belongs. For example: how the bed should be made, where towels should be placed, or where spare keys are stored.

Completion photos

These show you how the property actually looked after the current turnover. For example: finished bedroom, clean bathroom, prepared kitchen, or damage found during the clean.

Both are useful, but they solve different problems. Instruction photos reduce uncertainty before and during the work. Completion photos provide visibility after the work is finished.

Don't put every task into every turnover

Not everything needs to be done after every guest. If occasional deep-cleaning tasks are mixed into the normal turnover checklist, the instructions quickly become long and difficult to use.

Instead, separate tasks into categories such as:

• Every turnover: change linen, clean bathroom, clean kitchen, vacuum floors, empty bins, restock guest supplies
• Every few turnovers: deep-clean oven, clean underneath furniture, check drains, clean less frequently used storage areas
• Time-based: clean ventilation filters, check smoke alarms where appropriate, deep-clean certain appliances, inspect seasonal equipment

The correct frequency depends on your property and usage. What matters is that the schedule is defined rather than left to memory.

Give exact quantities where quantities matter

Instructions become much easier to follow when the expected result can be measured. Compare “Restock toilet paper” with “Leave at least four toilet rolls in the bathroom.” Or “Make sure there is enough coffee” with “Leave at least six coffee capsules for the next guest.”

Exact quantities are particularly useful for:

• toilet paper
• coffee
• dishwasher tablets
• towels
• linen
• bin bags
• firewood
• welcome items
• cleaning supplies

This reduces unnecessary judgment calls and makes restocking more consistent.

Explain unusual equipment or property-specific features

Short-term rentals often contain equipment that is unfamiliar to a new cleaner. Examples might include:

• sauna
• hot tub
• fireplace
• coffee machine
• sofa bed
• smart lock
• baby equipment
• outdoor grill
• recycling system
• heating controls
• pool equipment

Do not assume that a cleaner automatically knows how you want these handled. For unusual tasks, include a short instruction, a photo where helpful, any important warning, and the expected finished state.

For example: “After cleaning the sauna, leave the door open and lift the bench cover as shown in the photo so the room can dry.” This is much more useful than simply adding “Clean sauna.”

Tell the cleaner what to do when something is wrong

A cleaner is often the first person to notice a problem between guests. Your instructions should explain what they should report.

• guest damage
• broken furniture or equipment
• missing items
• stains or damaged linen
• low supplies
• maintenance problems
• unusual mess
• forgotten guest belongings
• blocked drains
• lights or appliances that do not work
• a task that could not be completed

Where possible, ask for a photo. Also make clear which issues are urgent. For example: “Report anything that could affect today's guest immediately.” This helps separate issues that can wait from problems that need attention before check-in.

Avoid relying on WhatsApp messages for permanent instructions

Messaging apps are useful for exceptions and conversations. They are less useful as the permanent home of cleaning instructions.

Important information can easily disappear inside conversations: “Remember that the blue towels are for the downstairs bathroom.” “The spare coffee is now in the upper cabinet.” “Please clean the oven every third visit.” A few weeks later, neither you nor the cleaner may remember where that instruction was sent.

Permanent property instructions should ideally stay connected to the property. Use messages for things that are genuinely temporary or exceptional.

Keep instructions easy to update

Cleaning instructions are rarely finished forever. You may replace an appliance, change the linen setup, add a new guest amenity, move cleaning supplies, change the key location, add a recurring task, or notice a commonly forgotten detail.

Your system should make these updates easy. If changing an instruction requires creating a new PDF and making sure every cleaner has the latest copy, updates are more likely to be postponed. A good rule is: there should be one current version of the instructions, not several copies in different places.

Don't overload the cleaner with unnecessary detail

More instructions do not automatically mean better instructions. A 100-task checklist can make important details harder to notice.

Before adding an instruction, ask: does the cleaner actually need this information to complete the turnover correctly? Detailed instructions are especially valuable for property-specific requirements, frequently forgotten tasks, unusual equipment, exact quantities, recurring work, visual standards and final checks. Routine professional cleaning tasks usually need less explanation.

Organize instructions in the order the cleaner works

Cleaning instructions are easier to follow when their structure matches the actual workflow. For example:

1. Arrival and initial check
2. Collect linen and rubbish
3. Bedroom
4. Bathroom
5. Kitchen
6. Living areas
7. Floors
8. Restocking
9. Final guest-ready check
10. Completion photos and reporting

The ideal order depends on the property and cleaning process. If your cleaner naturally works room by room, organize the instructions by room. If the cleaning process follows another sequence, match that instead. The checklist should support the work, not force an artificial process.

How to onboard a new Airbnb cleaner

Written instructions are useful, but they do not always replace a proper first introduction. For a new cleaner, a practical onboarding process can be:

1. Walk through the property: show storage locations, linen, supplies, unusual equipment, rubbish and recycling, and access arrangements.
2. Explain the guest-ready standard: focus on the details that matter most.
3. Give access to the written instructions: the cleaner should be able to refer to them during the work rather than memorizing everything during onboarding.
4. Use the instructions during the first turnover: this helps identify missing or unclear steps.
5. Improve the instructions: if the cleaner needs to ask a question, consider whether the answer should be added permanently.

Over time, good instructions reduce the need for repeated explanations.

What if you use an external cleaning company?

The same principles can apply when the cleaner works for an external company. The important question is: who owns the property-specific cleaning standard?

In some arrangements, the cleaning company manages everything and already has its own checklists, reporting system and quality-control process. In that case, another cleaning tool may be unnecessary.

In other arrangements, the cleaning company handles the actual cleaning while the host or property manager still defines property-specific setup, linen requirements, guest supplies, recurring tasks, completion photos and reporting requirements. In that situation, clear property-specific instructions can still be useful.

Agree with the cleaning company on which system should be considered the authoritative source so cleaners are not expected to follow conflicting instructions in several different tools.

Example: from vague instructions to useful instructions

Here are a few examples.

Bedroom

Too vague: “Prepare the bedroom.” Better: “Make the double bed with the white linen set. Place two large pillows behind the two smaller pillows. Put one bath towel and one hand towel per guest at the foot of the bed.”

Coffee

Too vague: “Restock coffee.” Better: “Leave at least six coffee capsules in the holder. Extra capsules are stored in the upper kitchen cabinet.”

Sofa bed

Too vague: “Prepare sofa bed if needed.” Better: “If the booking is for more than four guests, open the sofa bed and use the grey linen set stored in the hallway cupboard. Follow the reference photo for the final setup.”

Final check

Too vague: “Make sure everything looks good.” Better: “Walk through the property from the entrance as if you were the arriving guest. Check that beds and towels are arranged correctly, no cleaning equipment is visible, all rubbish has been removed and guest supplies are restocked.”

The difference is simple: useful instructions reduce the number of decisions the cleaner needs to make.

A simple structure for your cleaning instructions

You can use this structure as a starting point:

• Property access: entry instructions, keys, alarm or lock information
• Before cleaning: damage check, guest belongings, initial observations
• Rooms: standard cleaning tasks, property-specific setup, photo instructions
• Linen: quantities, storage, used linen process
• Supplies: items to restock, minimum quantities
• Recurring tasks: every nth turnover, weekly or monthly work
• Final check: guest-ready standard, completion photos, access setup
• Reporting: damage, maintenance, missing items, anything that prevented completion

This structure can be adapted to almost any short-term rental.

Keep cleaning instructions with the property

The easiest instructions to follow are the ones available exactly when and where the cleaner needs them.

DoTidyDone lets short-term rental hosts and operators create property-specific cleaning instructions with tasks, photos and recurring jobs. You can share the property with a cleaner through a simple link. The cleaner opens the instructions on their phone and does not need their own DoTidyDone account or app.

If something needs attention, they can report it during the turnover, and the instructions remain available for the next clean without sending a new document.