How you approach your Airbnb cleaning is going to be crucial to your success.

Travelers expect a clean, fully functional property upon arrival. Anything less can result in a negative review — and reviews mentioning cleanliness are the hardest to recover from. Cleanliness is one of the top factors guests mention when deciding whether to rebook.

Let’s talk about the real, nitty-gritty Airbnb cleaning issues that guests absolutely notice.

Updated for 2026 hosting standards.

Airbnb Cleaning: The Nitty Gritty

Between guests, it’s easy to miss grime that can build up over time. Make sure to inspect well at least once a month for these 7 things that are grossing out your Airbnb Guests. Even if you do a spring Airbnb cleaning you may miss some of these little oversights. Even the most beautifully designed Airbnb can be ruined by one overlooked detail.

1. Fingerprints on The Walls

I’m a mom of a toddler so i’m quite familiar with fingerprints, but don’t always notice them (or i’m just ignoring them!) Have a good inspection of your walls in your Airbnb you may find there are marks and greasy looking prints all over, which may make guests think ”what else hasn’t been cleaned around here?”.

Walls, baseboards, and corners near switches collect fingerprints faster than you think.

Guests may subconsciously wonder:

“What else hasn’t been cleaned?”

Solution

Do a monthly wall inspection.
Use a magic eraser for scuffs.
Touch up paint annually where needed.

Small detail. Big impression.

2. The Faucets

The faucet and the handles of the overflow hole can have some serious bad guys lurking in there. If you have hard water it can cake onto the facet and leave a yellowish hard film and seem impossible to scrub off.

Hard water buildup. Soap scum. Mineral film = unwelcome guests.

Solution

Use a mineral cleaner when needed.
A toothbrush with a mild abrasive cleaner works well.
Finish with a microfiber polish for shine.

Sparkling fixtures instantly signal cleanliness.

3. Back of Dining Chairs

Check the back of your dining room chairs. I bet there’s a bit of pasta sauce or chocolate clinging on for dear life. If guests touches a sticky chair back they will be grossed out. Carefully examine your chairs. The legs are often full of splatters and spills and they don’t often get seen and cleaned.

This is one hosts miss constantly that sticky residue and food fingerprints.

Solution

Warm water + dish soap and a sponge.
Inspect chair legs too — splatter hides there.

Freebie: Grab my free essential room-by-room  Airbnb host shopping list for free here!

4. Light Switches (The One That Made Me Cringe)

I once had a guest arrive with the flu. I could hear coughing and sneezing the entire weekend from the suite. Cringe.

After they left, I was determined to completely air the place out and do a deep cleaning.

That’s when I saw the light switches.

We have metallic switch covers, and they were covered in fingerprints — with gunk on the wall.

I’m just glad the next guests didn’t have to ask themselves how long it had been like that!

Light switches are high-touch, high-traffic surfaces — and guests notice them more than you think

Solution

Use disinfecting cleaning wipes between every guest stay, or spray an all-purpose cleaner onto a paper towel and wipe thoroughly.

Pay attention to the edges and the wall around the plate.

5. The Sofa and Cushions

When the remote drops and guests reach down and is greeted by crumbs, dust and candy wrappers, it’s not the impression you want to give. Just because it’s not visible it does not mean it’s not there!

Solution

Vacuum between cushions after every checkout.
Use a lint roller for hair and dust.
If pet-friendly, use an animal hair vacuum

and look for spots and with a damp cloth and a drop of dishsoap work on those.

6. Vinyl Blinds

If you have Vinyl blinds they may have an oily residue with dust on top. Dust + grease creates a sticky residue, especially near kitchens.

Solution

Vacuum first.
Wipe with warm water and mild soap.
Dry thoroughly.

7. The Toilet

This may be an obvious thing to clean. But how clean, how deep cleaned is it really for every guest. What do they see from that angle? For sure, you cleaned the bowl and the underside of the seat…

But what about:
• Baseboards
• Floor corners
• Behind the base

Solution

Sit like a guest and look around.

Use disinfecting wipes or a Swiffer to reach behind.
Deep clean this area regularly.

Airbnb Cleaning Schedule

At the very least, you should have a cleaning scheduled after each guest departure. . If you have a week before the next guests arrive it’s better to go in and clean right away. You don’t want germs or bacteria to move in. You can do a quick freshen up and dusting the morning before they arrive.

At minimum, schedule Airbnb cleaning after every guest departure. Not only do you want your home cleaned as soon as possible after travelers leave.

Your Airbnb cleaning provider will be the eyes and ears of your property and can notify you if there are any maintenance issues or damages

Your cleaning provider should:
• Report maintenance issues
• Flag damages
• Follow a detailed checklist

If there’s a gap between bookings, clean immediately and then do a light refresh on check-in day.

Never let germs “check in.”

Tip: Have a week or two gap between bookings? You can wash all your linens check out day and then re-tumble dry them on check in day with a dryer sheet to freshen them up.

Deep Airbnb Cleaning (Monthly Checklist)

I do a regular vacuum to deep clean when guests leave. I also have a iRobot Roomba that I let loose in there an hour or so before check-in. It’s a great machine to gather any dust that has settled and clean under the beds and furniture. Make sure to check for the nitty-gritty. Beyond turnover cleaning, schedule a deep Airbnb cleaning monthly:

✔ Under beds
✔ Behind appliances
✔ Baseboards
✔ Window tracks
✔ Mattress inspections
✔ Inside drawers

If you hire professionals, provide your own Airbnb cleaning checklist. Never assume.

Facts About Airbnb Cleaning (2026 Update)

• Cleanliness is consistently one of the top factors mentioned in guest reviews.
• Guests are more likely to mention cleanliness than décor in feedback.
• Even minor cleaning oversights can drop a listing from 5 stars to 4.
• Perceived cleanliness impacts repeat bookings.
• Deep cleaning routines reduce long-term maintenance costs.

In short: Airbnb cleaning is not optional — it is your reputation.

The Importance of Standing Out

Cleanliness is your baseline.

But to truly stand out in a crowded market, you need systems.

That’s why I created my Airbnb Mega Bundle — a complete toolkit to help you design, manage, and market your Airbnb professionally.

Inside you’ll find:
• Design templates
• Hosting guides
• Marketing strategies
• Guest messaging systems
• Organizational checklists

And of course my cleaning checklist! Why settle for average when you can create a standout stay that guests rave about?

Click here to grab the Airbnb Mega Bundle and elevate your hosting game.

When guests walk into a spotless, fresh-smelling, thoughtfully prepared space — they relax instantly.

And relaxed guests leave better reviews.

Clean deeply. Inspect often. Think like a guest.

That’s how you protect your 5-star status in 2026.