With all the work that goes into keeping and maintaining a short-term rental property, sometimes it’s easy for Airbnb cleaners to overlook the little things. It’s easy to totally miss growing problems if you don’t look for them.
A quick run-through of your property monthly will keep your place in prime condition and limit any potential problems. Best of all it will keep your guests happy. No more of those middle-of-the-night phone calls and texts about something being broken. No more of those bad ratings for providing food that’s not fresh.
First Things First
Once your Airbnb cleaners enter the house, the first thing to do is flush the toilet – is it clogged? Before you do ANYTHING, call the plumber or your handyman. You simply cannot have guests without a working toilet. Check the toilet first so that while you are checking other things, you can hear if the toilet runs on after it completes the flush.
Sometimes the chain in the back of the toilet routinely gets hung up on the working mechanisms, but you can’t tell that until several minutes after the flush. You don’t want it to run on, even if it’s just a little bit. It will run up your water bill very quickly. Fixing the mechanisms in the back of the toilet is typically something a handyman can easily take care of.
Be sure to leave out extra toilet paper.
Have your Airbnb cleaners check bathroom faucets, kitchen faucets, and showerheads – do they leak anywhere? Any clogged drains? Do they have low pressure? Again, line up the plumber or the handyman before you do anything else.
Lights, Cleaning, Action!
Next, your Airbnb cleaners should flip all the lights on and off, including overhead lights and table lamps. Replace any dead bulbs. Be particularly careful with the front porch light. You probably leave it on all the time so that your guests can find the house. It is a good idea to invest in a long-life 10-year bulb. You don’t want your guests knocking on the neighbor’s door because they can’t find your house in the dark.
Use the garbage disposal. Do you hear any strange sounds? Whatever you do, don’t put your hand in the machine! Even if it is turned off, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Perhaps your handyman has arrived by now and he can also take a look at the disposal while he is there.
Testing, Testing
It is time for your Airbnb cleaners to test out the kitchen appliances. Cook something in the microwave. Turn on the burners and make sure each one heats up. Put some food in the oven and make sure the oven is heating up properly. Guests typically like to pop a pizza in the oven—make sure it can get up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
No, have your Airbnb cleaners check the freezer. You have probably put frozen waffles or pancakes in there for your guests. Check to make sure they are actually frozen. Is the ice maker making ice? Check the jams and jellies in the refrigerator portion. Are the glass jars cold?
You should keep an inventory of your kitchenware. Guests sometimes inadvertently take home some kitchenware. Count the silverware and replace it as necessary. Check the pots and pans, plates, glasses, cups and saucers, and cooking utensils.
Finishing Details
Airbnb hosts will typically have spices, condiments, butter, oil, microwave popcorn, snack cakes, and that sort of thing for their guests. Take this time to make sure that they are fresh. Check the expiration dates on everything so your guests will know they are fresh.
Fire up your own laptop. Can you get online? No problems? Have you left correct instructions for your guests so they know how to get online? Turn on the TV. Is the cable working? Is your cable/Roku/firestick working? Providing working technology in your short-term rental can help turn your Airbnb into a remote workspace.
All the tasks listed in this article are very simple to complete. However, it is the little things that make a big difference. Now, your Airbnb cleaners know what it takes to be an all-star cleaner!
