Long after your guests check out, bad Airbnb smells can linger. Read on to find the best ways to remove ‘post-guest smells’ as fast as possible before your next guests check in!
Are your past guests smells lingering longer than they are welcome? Are you struggling to try and neutralize strong orders within a short turnover window? Staying natural is the best way to neutralize odors in your Airbnb without resorting to harsh chemicals or artificial room sprays (Your guests with allergies will thank you!)
Tips for Airbnb Smells
One of the top complaints of Airbnb Guests in reviews is leftover cooking smells. Strong spices or fried dishes with garlic, bacon, or fish can move in for days and the smell can stick to the walls and furnishings. You have to act fast to remove these smells before the next guest checks in. If you have a few days the Airbnb smells should lessen but there are also quick fixes you can apply when you only have a few hours for a turnover.
Tip: Use a cleaning checklist and mention in your welcome book: “When cooking dishes with stronger spices, garlic or bacon, please turn on the fan, open a window and close the doors of the bedrooms- Thank you” This is what most guests do at home, so they should do it also on vacation. Tt may seem direct but sometimes a reminder helps if you’re dealing with multiple guests per month.
Let the Fresh Air In.
A great way to freshen your vacation rental is to simply open up the windows and let the fresh air in. Even for an hour or two, you can help to get rid of stubborn cooking smells this way. If you can get the air circulating with a fan pointed at an open window, you’ll help to speed things up.
Invest in a High-Quality Air Purifier.
This is a must. To help keep your Airbnb smelling fresh all the time, run an air purifier regularly. In addition to eliminating strong kitchen odors, it also reduces dust and pollen for your guests. I always open all the windows when cleaning, and I run the Air purifier until the guest checks in.
We use the Wynd Max Home Air Purifier. With a triple-layer HEPA filter system, the Wynd air purifier is ideal for your Airbnb guests who are allergy sufferers, to tame germs during flu season, and to freshen air during wildfire season. This system is optimized to automatically adjust itself to clean your Airbnb air as needed, keeping your air purified and fresh. I usually turn it on for 30 mins, via the app, before I even go in to clean the Airbnb.
The DIY Baking Soda Trick.
If you have a few hours or a day before guests arrive, a clever trick is to spread a cup of baking soda on a plate, leave it on the counter and let it do its work. This works wonders! You can also use bowls of coffee grounds to take the smell out of the air. To deodorize your carpet, mix baking soda and some eucalyptus essential oil drops in a bowl, then sprinkle on your carpet or rug. Let it sit as long as overnight and then vacuum to really zap odors!
If you really want to get serious and own a Crock Pot, you can create a powerful air cleaner! Add 2 cups of water and 3 tablespoons of baking soda. Set on low and simmer with the lid off for 8 hours
Stale and Damp Smells.
Damp and musty smells are a total turn-off for guests. They think ‘mold’ right away, when that may not be the case. If you’re renting a basement suite, this is a problem that is very common. You’ll need to utilize a few tactics to keep musty smells from returning. If it’s just an issue of humidity, especially in a basement apartment, you’ll want to run a dehumidifier to take the excess water out of the air. This can be run between guests to keep your suite dry and clean smelling.
Add Air Filtering Plants.
Live plants help to filter the air and keep your home fresh and clean. if you’re looking for cleaner ‘Airbnb’ air, why not try supplementing your space with some greenery? The easiest plants to keep alive in an Airbnb you can read about here: 9 Airbnb Plants That Will Thrive & Your Guests Can’t Kill
Garbage and Drain Smells.
The odor from a dirty drain can permeate throughout your entire Airbnb. Bacteria grows on food that is stuck deep in the drain, creating a bad smell that turns guests off. If there are longer periods between guests standing water in the drain can give off a stagnant smell. Here are a few non-toxic cleaning methods that will keep your sink drain fresh and free of odors!
DIY Drain Freshing Trick
For a simple yet powerful solution mix 3/4 cup baking soda with 1/2 cup white vinegar. Pour the mixture into the drain and cover with a plug ( it’s going to bubble up like a volcano!) After 30 minutes pour a pot of boiling water slowly down the drain.
For Smelly in sink Garbage Disposals, grind some ice cubes to loosen any stuck food from the blades, and finish with a few slices of lemon to freshen the drain. Always check inside your Airbnb’s garbage cans when changing the bag, if there is any residue or smell present, rinse with a drop of dish soap and hot water.
Use Great Smelling Cleaning Products.
To help keep your Airbnb smelling fresh, use cleaning products with scents that guests will love. Method Cleaning Products are all natural & have amazing scents like French Lavender, Pink Grapefruit, and Eucalyptus Mint (and they work harder than the chemical stuff!) I buy them in bulk on Amazon.
Learn everything about Hosting.
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It’s available on Etsy Click here and make your hosting life easier with my MEGA hosting bundle! The bundle comes with freebies like a modern and 100% customizable Guest Welcome Book that will save you hours of time!
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