Airbnb Turnover Cleaning Checklist for Los Angeles Hosts

An Airbnb turnover clean is the full reset of a short-term rental between one guest's checkout and the next guest's check-in. Unlike a regular house clean, it runs on a fixed clock, follows the same sequence every stay, and ends with the property guest-ready: linens changed, supplies restocked and anything unusual reported back to the host. The list below is a host checklist; which items the cleaning crew handles depend on the agreed scope.

Cleaning Nerds provides Airbnb turnover cleaning in Los Angeles within about 15 miles of Beverly Hills. This checklist is the sequence a thorough between-guest visit should cover, whether you clean yourself or hand it to a crew.

The between-guest sequence

1. Checkout and access

Confirm the guest has left and the property is secure before work starts. Note the checkout time, the next check-in time, and how much working time that leaves. If anything is blocking access, such as a guest who has not departed or a lock issue, flag it to the host immediately rather than losing the window.

2. Trash and lost items

Walk every room and remove all trash, recycling and food left behind, including inside the fridge. Anything a guest may have forgotten goes in one visible spot and gets reported to the host. Assign lost-item handling in the agreed scope; never throw away anything that could be a personal item.

3. Kitchen

• Wash, dry and put away all dishes, or run and empty the dishwasher
• Wipe counters, backsplash, cabinet fronts and appliance exteriors
• Clean the sink and faucet, inside the microwave, and the stovetop
• Check the fridge and freezer for leftover food and wipe spills
• Restock host-provided consumables such as coffee, paper towels and dish soap

4. Bathrooms

• Scrub and disinfect the toilet, sink, shower and tub
• Polish mirrors, glass and fixtures
• Replace towels with clean sets and empty toiletries removed
• Restock host-provided toilet paper, hand soap and shampoo
• Check for hair in drains and water around fixtures

5. Bedrooms and linens

Strip all used bedding and towels and remake every bed with the host's clean linen sets. Check under beds and inside drawers for guest items. Many hosts pair turnovers with a laundry pickup and delivery service so linens rotate without tying up the turnover window.

6. Living areas

• Dust surfaces, shelves, electronics and decor
• Wipe remotes, light switches and door handles
• Arrange cushions, throws and furniture back to the listing-photo layout
• Check sofa cushions and furniture for stains or guest items

7. Floors

Vacuum all carpets and rugs, then vacuum and mop hard floors, working from the farthest room toward the exit. Check entryways and balconies, which take the most wear in LA properties.

8. Restocking

Go through the host's supplies checklist item by item: paper goods, soaps, coffee, trash bags and anything else the host keeps on site. If a supply is running low, report it to the host so they can reorder. The host purchases supplies; the turnover visit only confirms they are in place if that is part of the agreed scope.

9. Damage and maintenance notes

Report anything broken, stained, missing or not working to the host. This is a report to the host, not a repair: hosts decide what gets fixed and by whom. Prompt reporting lets the host decide next steps before the next check-in.

10. Final walkthrough and photo check

Do one last pass in the order a guest will see the property, from the front door inward. Beds made, lights set, thermostat comfortable, windows locked, and every room matching the listing photos. Photo documentation is a host or manager decision, not an automatic part of a turnover visit.

Turnover cleaning vs periodic deep cleaning

A turnover clean is a fast, repeatable reset between every guest: surfaces, linens, trash, restocking and floors, done inside a fixed time window. A deep clean is slower detail work that turnovers do not include: baseboards, inside the oven and fridge, grout, vents, inside cabinets and behind furniture.

Short-term rentals need both. Turnovers keep the property guest-ready; periodic deep cleaning clears the buildup that turnovers are not scoped to reach. Schedule deep cleaning based on occupancy, property condition and what the turnover checklist reveals.

What to prepare before the first visit

• Checkout and check-in times, and how schedule changes reach the cleaning team
• Access instructions: lockbox location, smart-lock codes, gate or building entry
• Parking details, especially in permit-only or tight-street neighborhoods
• Where clean linens, towels and restocking supplies are stored
• A photo or list of how each room should look when guest-ready
• Any house rules that affect the visit, such as alarms or no-shoes areas

What decides the quote

There are no published turnover rates because the work depends on the property. The factors that move a quote up or down are:

• Property size: bedrooms, bathrooms and total square footage
• Condition: how guests typically leave the property
• Laundry volume: how many linen and towel sets rotate per stay
• Access and parking: building entry, stairs, street or permit parking
• Timing: how tight the window is between checkout and check-in
• Restocking scope: how many supplies the visit checks and replaces

Send those details with a quote request and you get a written quote for your specific property. The same team also handles apartment and condo cleaning for furnished units between longer stays.

Frequently asked questions