By Ryan Drew | Superhost and Vacation Rental Expert | Last Updated April 29, 2026
| Best Towels for Airbnb | Best Soap & Shampoo Dispensers | Best Bulk Toiletries |
| Airbnb Supplies Master List | Vacation Rental Essentials | Complete Airbnb Essentials — 225 Items |
The bathroom is where guests form their first impression of your hosting standards — and where that impression sticks. A hotel-quality bathroom doesn’t require a renovation. It requires the right products, stocked consistently, every single stay. After 9 years hosting in Boise, here’s exactly what I use, what guests notice, and what earns the review mentions that drive bookings.
This guide covers every bathroom essential organized by priority, with the products I actually reorder across my own listings.
“The soap dispenser gets mentioned in more of my guest reviews than anything else I own. The bathroom is where guests decide if you’re a 4-star or 5-star host.”
🧴 Best Soaps & Toiletries
🧴 Best Bulk Shampoo
🚿 Best Shampoo Dispensers
🤍 White vs. Colored Towels
📦 Best Bulk Supplies
🧻 Toilet Paper Etiquette
Bath Towels
Plush, white, hotel-quality towels are the single item guests mention most in bathroom reviews. I’ve had guests literally ask me where they can buy these for their own homes. Go white — it photographs beautifully, bleaches clean between every guest, and signals hotel-standard hygiene instantly. Provide one bath towel, one hand towel, and one washcloth per guest minimum, with extras in the closet.
900 GSM 100% Egyptian Cotton 8-Piece Towel Set - Premium Hotel Quality Towel Sets - Heavy Weight & Absorbent - 4 Bath Towels 30" x 55", 2 Hand Towels 20" x...
This is the single best investment you can make to protect your white towels. Leave a stack of black washcloths next to the sink — guests who wear makeup will use them instead of your white bath towels, saving you from permanent foundation and mascara stains. They cost almost nothing and save you from replacing towels constantly. Every listing I manage has these.
Soap Dispenser
This is the most-commented item in my guest reviews — by a significant margin. This three-compartment dispenser mounts in the shower and holds shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Guests love the hotel-style experience, and it eliminates the clutter of individual bottles entirely. Fill it with your bulk products, label each compartment, and it runs itself for weeks.
MaisoNovo Shampoo Dispenser for Shower Wall 3 Chamber - Drill Free Shower Soap Dispenser Wall Mount with Waterproof Labels - 3 Bottles 3 Wall Mounts
Shampoo & Conditioner
Ginger Lily Farms bulk shampoo and conditioner is what I use across all my listings. It’s eco-friendly, cruelty-free, smells great, and a single gallon jug lasts months when decanted into your shower dispenser. Guests with sensitivities appreciate the clean formula, and the eco angle is something you can call out in your listing amenities.
For guests with sensitivities or skin conditions, offering a gentle, fragrance-free shampoo option is a thoughtful differentiator. This sensitive formula looks luxurious, feels premium, and is safe for virtually every guest. Leave it alongside your main shampoo so guests with sensitivities can choose.
Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Shampoo Gallon Bottle
Body Wash & Hand Soap
Same Ginger Lily Farms family as the shampoo — consistent scent profile across your shower products, eco-friendly, and bulk-priced. Guests notice when products feel coordinated rather than random leftover bottles from different brands. This is the body wash that fills the third compartment of the shower dispenser.
Ginger Lily Farms Club & Fitness Aloe Vera Nourishing Body Wash, Softens, Nourishes and Cleans Skin, 100% Vegan and Cruelty-Free, 1 Gallon (801710)
For the vanity sink, a quality plant-based liquid hand soap in a nice pump dispenser looks and smells premium. J.R. Watkins smells amazing and is made from plant-based ingredients — guests notice. For an extra touch, individually wrapped hotel-style bar soaps alongside the dispenser signal that you’ve thought about hygiene standards the way a hotel would.
JR Watkins Gel Hand Soap, Lemon, 6 Pack, Scented Liquid Hand Wash for Bathroom or Kitchen, USA Made and Cruelty Free, 11 fl oz
Bath Mat
A non-slip bath mat is both a safety essential and a comfort item. Guests stepping out of a wet shower onto a hard floor is a slip-and-fall liability. A plush, non-slip mat eliminates that risk and adds a finishing touch to the bathroom floor. Go white to match your towels — it photographs better and bleaches clean.
100% Cotton Bathroom Mats - Soft and Extra Absorbent Non Slip Bath Rugs - Machine Washable Bathroom Rugs - Essential Bathroom Accessories - 20" x 30" (White)...
Hair Dryer
A hair dryer is an Airbnb listing amenity checkbox — guests filter for it. Missing it costs you bookings before guests even read your description. Mount it on the wall or leave it visible in a drawer, never shoved in a cabinet where guests spend 10 minutes searching for it. A wall-mounted hotel-style holder keeps it accessible and adds a professional touch.
Shower Curtain
Must-Have
A clean, attractive shower curtain can transform the entire look of a bathroom. Always use a separate waterproof liner inside the decorative curtain — it protects your floor, is easy to bleach clean, and keeps your decorative curtain looking fresh longer. Replace the liner every season or whenever it shows mildew. The decorative curtain is the first thing guests photograph in a bathroom — make it count.
N&Y HOME Waffle Weave Shower Curtain with Snap-in Fabric Liner Set, 12 Hooks Included - Hotel Style, Waterproof & Washable, Heavyweight Fabric & Mesh Top...
Toilet Paper
Must-Have
Don’t cheap out on toilet paper. Thin, single-ply toilet paper is one of the most commonly mentioned negatives in bathroom reviews — guests notice immediately. Stock a premium 2-ply minimum and always leave at least 2-3 extra rolls visible under the sink or in a basket. Running out mid-stay is an automatic negative review.
iDesign Kent Plastic Toilet Tissue Roll Reserve Organizer for Bathroom, Vertical Free Standing Compact Organizer, Holds 3 Rolls of Toilet Paper, Bronze
Must-Have
A small, lidded trash can next to the toilet is a non-negotiable bathroom essential. Without one, guests improvise — which leads to overflowing counters and frustrated cleaners. A sleek matte black or white lidded bin matches any bathroom decor and keeps waste contained.
SKINNY CAN SURF BLUE
The Details Guests Mention by Name
These aren’t strictly required, but they’re the items that separate a good bathroom from a memorable one — and a 4-star from a 5-star review.
Ample towel hanging space is one of those practical details guests deeply appreciate. Multiple hooks or a ladder rack lets couples hang towels separately, keeps them off the floor, and makes the bathroom look organized in listing photos.
Lynk® Over Door Hook Rack - Scarf, Belt, Hat, Jewelry Hanger - 9 Hook Organizer Rack - Bronze
A compact first aid kit in the bathroom cabinet shows guests you’ve thought about their safety. It’s an Airbnb listing amenity checkbox, it reduces your liability, and guests who actually need it remember it in their review. Point it out in your welcome guide.
Swiss Safe 2-in-1 First Aid Kit (120 Piece) + Bonus 32-Piece Mini First Aid Kit: Compact, Lightweight for Emergencies at Home, Outdoors, Car, Camping,...
A lighted mirror is the upgrade that makes guests feel like they’re staying somewhere genuinely thoughtful. It photographs beautifully, provides functional lighting for makeup and grooming, and adds a luxury hotel detail most Airbnbs don’t have. If you want a single item to set your bathroom apart, this is it.
MAVISEVER 40 x 32 Inch Led Lighted Bathroom Wall Mounted Mirror with 3 Touch Button - Dimmable, Anti-Fog & Adjustable Color Temperature Separate Control...
A small magnifying mirror on the vanity is a thoughtful addition for guests who apply makeup or wear contacts. It’s a hotel standard that most Airbnbs skip — and guests who use it mention it specifically in reviews.
Conair Reflections Double-Sided Incandescent Lighted Vanity Makeup Mirror, 1x/7x magnification, Polished Chrome finish
A single quality candle on the vanity adds warmth and ambiance — guests photograph it, mention it, and associate it with a premium stay experience. Keep it subtle: clean linen, light citrus, or unscented works for the widest range of guests. Avoid heavy floral or synthetic scents.
6 Pack Candles for Home Scented Aromatherapy Candles Gifts Set for Women Soy Wax Long Lasting Amber Jar Candles for Valentine Birthday Mother's Thanksgiving...
In cold-climate or mountain rentals, a towel warmer is one of those unexpected luxuries that guests rave about in reviews. Stepping out of a shower into a warm towel in January is a boutique hotel experience most guests have never had in an Airbnb. The ROI in reviews is disproportionate to the cost.
KES Swivel Towel Bar 13.8 Inch SUS 304 Stainless Steel 4-Arm Bathroom Swing Hanger Towel Rack Holder Storage Organizer Space Saving Wall Mount Brushed...
A subtle, automatic air freshener keeps the bathroom smelling consistently fresh between guests and throughout longer stays. Go subtle — a clean linen or light eucalyptus scent is all you need. An overpowering fragrance is more likely to trigger complaints than earn praise.
Poo-Pourri Original Citrus,Lavender Vanilla, and Tropical Hibiscus 1.4 Ounce Set
Airbnb Bathroom Essentials Checklist
Final Thoughts
A 5-star bathroom doesn’t require a renovation. It requires the right towels, a quality soap dispenser, consistent toiletries, and a few thoughtful extras that signal to guests you actually care about their experience. The bathroom is where guests decide if you’re a 4-star or 5-star host — and it’s one of the cheapest rooms to get right.
For everything your rental needs beyond the bathroom, see our complete Airbnb host essentials list — 225 items across every room.
