The Airbnb Turnover Cleaning Checklist (and how to enforce it)

A turnover is every task between one guest checking out and the next checking in. Getting it right, every time, is the difference between five-star reviews and refund requests. The problem isn't knowing what to clean — it's making sure it actually happened, on time, with proof.

The core turnover checklist

1. Strip & remake beds with fresh linen; note any stains or damage.
2. Bathrooms — sanitize toilet, shower, sink; restock toiletries and towels.
3. Kitchen — clean surfaces and appliances; check for left-behind food;

restock coffee, dish soap, sponges.

1. Living areas — vacuum/mop, reset furniture, fluff cushions.
2. Consumables — toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, welcome items.
3. Damage & maintenance sweep — log anything broken, missing, or worn.
4. Staging — thermostat, lights, welcome note, final photo of each room.
5. Proof — capture before/after photos for accountability.

Why a checklist alone isn't enough

A printed or spreadsheet checklist can't tell you whether the cleaner actually finished, or when, or which property. To run this at scale you need:

• Assignment — each turnover goes to a specific cleaner on their phone.
• Templates — the checklist is reused, not retyped, for every property.
• Photo proof — required photos on the items that matter.
• Timestamps — every completion tied to an actor and a time.
• Searchable history — pull up any past turnover in seconds.

How Maravo handles this

Maravo turns the checklist into an assignable, mobile-first template. Cleaners see a scoped task list, upload photo proof, and mark items complete; hosts get a timestamped, searchable record and an auto-logged cleaning expense. Reference photos show cleaners the expected result, and an optional before/after check flags mismatches for review.

FAQ

How long should a turnover take? It varies by property size, but templated, proof-backed turnovers reduce disputes and re-cleans regardless of duration.

Can I require photos? Yes — mark items as photo-required so the task can't be completed without proof.