Vacation rental cleaning checklist by room type
Bedroom
There’s nothing quite like retreating to a pristine bedroom and climbing into crisp, white bed sheets at the end of a tiring day. After all, the entire lodging industry is based on this. Here’s how to meticulously clean each bedroom so that your guests won’t want to leave.
✔ Dust the bedside tables, TV cabinets, dressers, and chests of drawers
✔ Check the drawers and closets for belongings left behind
✔ Wipe out and wash window sills, shades, and windows
✔ Vacuum the floors
✔ Roll up area rugs, sweep or mop underneath, and replace. Wash all small rugs
✔ Clean all ceiling fans, light fixtures, pictures, mirrors, and accessories. Check the light switches to ensure that they work
✔ Clean all spots on the walls, doors, frames, ledges, and vents
✔ Strip the bed(s); wash mattress pads, pillow protectors, and blankets
✔ Clean headboards, baseboards, behind beds, and under beds
✔ Remove all mattresses, then vacuum and wipe down bed frames
Kitchen
Your kitchen should be more than just sparkling and clean. Every surface should be safe, healthy and germ-free to cook and prepare meals. Check off the tasks below to give your guests an immaculate kitchen when hunger strikes.
✔ Sweep and mop the floor
✔ Pull out all dishes from cabinets and wash out each shelf. Wash down cabinet doors inside and out
✔ Make sure drawers are organized and crumb-free
✔ Wash and put away all dishes and utensils. Scrub pots and pans inside and out, including the tops and bottoms
✔ Place a roll of paper towels on counter and an extra one under the sink
✔ Clean stovetop, under the top, backsplash, and inside and outside of the stove drawer
✔ Clean the entire oven inside and out, including racks, exhaust vent, light cover, and door
✔ Clean small appliances (can opener, coffee maker, microwave, blender, etc.). Use a large toothbrush on hard-to-reach areas
✔ Clean the entire counter top. Remove any stains carefully
✔ Clear out the refrigerator, then wipe down inside and out
✔ Wipe down freezer inside and rubber seal; empty ice bin and wash
✔ Clean dishwasher and refill rinse aid
✔ Wash all small area rugs
✔ Wash trash cans thoroughly inside and out. Deodorize and replace liner
✔ Wash light fixtures inside and out. Dust and wipe down hard-to-reach light fixtures, like chandeliers
Living room
Your living room is the heart of your home, where guests will spend the most time together watching movies, playing games, reading books, catching up and more. This means it will be dirtier and messier than the rest of the home after guests check out. Bring it back to clean, fresh and tidy with this checklist.
✔ Dust all surfaces, including the blinds
✔ Check sofa cushions for dirt or stains (and clean if there are any visible imperfections).
✔ Remove all cushions, then clean sides and underneath
✔ If the sofa includes a sofa bed, wash the mattress pad and put back on the bed
✔ Vacuum or mop the floor, moving furniture and rugs to clean underneath
✔ Clean all ceiling fans and light fixtures, and check to see if all bulbs are working
✔ Clean baseboards behind all furniture
✔ Clean the inside and outside of TV cabinets, stereo cabinets, coffee tables, side tables, credenzas, etc.
✔ Clean TV using an appropriate chemical and cloth, being careful not to scratch the screen
✔ Clean mirrors, pictures, plants, and all accessories
✔ Vacuum drapes, including the top
Bathroom
Most people can agree: a less-than-impeccable bathroom is reason enough for a bad review (or to walk away entirely). Here, health and hygiene matter most. Even a stray hair or grime on the mirror will leave guests worrying if the rest of the bathroom was overlooked. Check off these tasks to make sure bathrooms are polished and pristine right on arrival.
✔ Sweep and mop the floor. Clean all baseboards, doors, ledges, switches, and vents
✔ Wash the entire tile in the tub area and clean the grout
✔ Scrub the tub thoroughly, including any jets
✔ Clean the glass shower doors
✔ Wash shower curtains and small rugs
✔ Clean mirrors, pictures, and accessories
✔ Clean toilet bowl, top, tank, and base
✔ Add one roll of toilet paper on the holder and leave two under the sink
✔ Scrub sinks, countertops, and ledges. Clean the cabinet under the sink and all drawers
✔ Clean/polish towel bars, paper holders, and light fixtures
✔ Clean trash can and deodorize
