Last Updated on June 16, 2023 by Rental Recon
Staying at an Airbnb is more convenient than staying at a hotel, as you have more options for your destination. Aside from that, they generally can accommodate more people or can cut down your costs when traveling. As a common courtesy, some people wonder, do you have to clean an Airbnb before you leave?
Do You Have to Clean an Airbnb Before You Leave?
Airbnb hosts list checkout procedures when you book online. As a courtesy, you should look at the House Rules and clean up after yourself, especially if it’s a shared space. You don’t need to clean the floors or vacuum, but you should clean up any messes that you’ve made.
Does Airbnb Take Care of Cleaning?
An Airbnb host will bring in professional cleaners to scrub their rental after you’ve checked out. This process covers the entire cleaning process, so you won’t have to worry about a majority of the cleaning. The professional company will vacuum, wipe down all surfaces, and disinfect the entire Airbnb between guests.
For shared spaces, reliable hosts and Superhosts will do some tidying for guests. This is common courtesy and can help create a better guest experience. Below, hosts Beverlee and Suzie talk about why cleaning guest spaces is essential.
Can You Leave an Airbnb Messy?
Unless the host has specifically listed checkout procedures in the House Rules section of the listing, then you may be able to leave the Airbnb messy. However, you risk getting a bad Airbnb review in doing so. If you have many bad Airbnb reviews listed on your profile, then an Airbnb host may be less likely to keep your reservation reserved, or they may add on a cleaning charge.
Can You Leave Food in an Airbnb
You can technically leave any food at your Airbnb, as the cleaners or host will go through and clean up after you leave. However, you should always throw away any perishable foods or leftovers. However, there isn’t any worry if you don’t have time to clean up the fridge, freezer, or cupboards.
As long as the food left in the Airbnb isn’t left out or in areas not in the kitchen, you won’t get into any trouble. Just make sure that there isn’t food in inappropriate places, and if you’re in a rush, it’s best to let the host know by communicating with them. If you don’t know how to reach the hosts, here is a guide to contacting hosts by phone.
Airbnb Guest Cleaning Expectations
In the Checkout procedure and House Rules listed online on the Airbnb site, hosts will list their guests’ expectations. The list will include what a guest should do before leaving the Airbnb. The host will also print out the Airbnb guest expectations at the physical location most of the time.
Here is what you could expect to see as a guest:
- Placing bed covers and sheets into the washer
- Putting towels into the hamper
- Dishes should be rinsed and loaded into the dishwasher.
- Leftover foods that are open should be trashed
- It would be best if you placed the garbage or recycling in appropriate areas.
- Wipe down counters with a wet towel
- Clean up any messes left behind
- Etc.
Can Airbnb Host Charge Extra For Cleaning?
The cleaning fee is an optional charge that hosts can tack onto their listing for each booking covering cleaning expenses. The fee will be listed on the Airbnb site when booking a reservation. It’s entirely normal for hosts to charge an extra fee, as it covers their costs between guest cleaners.
Airbnb Cleaning Fee
The cleaning fee is a one-time charge for cleaning when you book a reservation with a host. It’s an extra fee on top of the nightly rate and is listed when booking a reservation. This one-time charge helps the Airbnb host keep the place tidy after you leave and helps prepare the rental for the next guests.
Even if you clean up the Airbnb before you leave, you will not have the cleaning fee returned to you. It’s not a deposit and is a one-time, non-refundable fee. So, don’t expect to get the money back at the end of your stay.
How to Leave Airbnb
An Airbnb should be left tidied up and not a huge mess. If there is some cleanup, then the host will not mind. However, any messes that take an exceptionally long time to clean will not be appreciated and will likely result in the next reservation being delayed.
So, here are some things guests can do to help thank their Airbnb hosts for providing a good Airbnb experience:
- Take the time to wipe down any messes that is left on countertops.
- If cleaning supplies are provided, mop or brush floors if they are unnecessarily dirty.
- Clean up the kitchen and make sure there is no food left out on the counters.
- Throw away any food that is not in an enclosed container.
- If there are stains, let the Airbnb host know right away so they can prevent permanent damage.
- Empty all the trash cans and take the trash out to the correct bin.
- Pick up any garbage, and don’t leave anything on the floor.
- If necessary, move all the used linen to the washing machine or hamper.
- Rinse all cooking appliances and make sure to load the dishwasher.
- Place all the furniture back in its original place.
Conclusion
If you want to avoid a bad review and not be charged extra for damages, you will need to do some basic tidying up before leaving your Airbnb. Hosts are also responsible for getting the rental clean before the next set of guests comes in. If you create a massive mess while leaving, they may have to tell the following guests to wait while the unit is being cleaned.
That’s why it’s highly suggested that you do basic cleaning before leaving. It’s a sign of respect and courtesy. If you’re staying inside a shared space, there is even more need to keep the place tidy, as they are living there. Hopefully, this has helped you better understand if you should clean an Airbnb before leaving.
