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Vacation rental turnovers are where great guest reviews are won or lost.
The goal is simple: every unit guest-ready on time, every time. Reaching that goal requires a blend of clear standards, real-time scheduling, and proof-of-work.
Step 1: Set clear cleaning standards
The first step to a smooth changeover is having a written standard that no cleaner can misinterpret. A detailed Airbnb cleaning checklist (that also works for Vrbo, Booking.com, and other OTAs) keeps quality consistent across properties, teams and seasons.
What should a strong cleaning checklist cover?
- A room-by-room breakdown of tasks, with specific materials and time targets
- Items that must always be washed or replaced (e.g., towels, linens, pillow covers)
- Supplies that need to be restocked (e.g., toiletries, coffee pods)
- Safety and damage checks, including smoke detectors, locks and appliances
- The “finishing touches” that elevate the guest experience, such as folded towels, a welcome basket or staged lighting
If you’re wondering how to implement cleaning standards for Airbnb or vacation rentals, start with high-touch surfaces, bathrooms, kitchens, and beds. Ask that cleaners finish with a final pass and request photos for accountability.
Don’t assume the basics will be done unless you spell them out. With eviivo’s interactive Cleaning Dashboard, your checklist can be shared so staff can access it on their mobile phones.
Remember that your guests can play a vital role in cleaning too. Leaving a simple “check-out list” is both acceptable and appreciated. Common asks include:
- Putting dirty linens in a designated basket
- Reporting items that need repair or replacement
Starter Airbnb cleaning checklist
Copy the below and adapt it to apply to Vrbo and other OTAs:
- Entry: code verified, lights on, HVAC set, odors addressed
- Kitchen: surfaces sanitized, fridge cleared, dishes done, coffee setup refreshed
- Bath: tub and shower descaled, mirrors streak-free, amenities replenished
- Bedroom: linens replaced, mattress check, pillows fluffed, spare blanket available
- Living area: dusting top to bottom, soft furnishings reset, remote batteries checked
- Floors: vacuum and mop, corners checked, rugs reset
- Safety: smoke and CO alarms tested, fire extinguisher visible and in date
- Final pass: photos, thermostat set, welcome items in place, doors and windows secured
Step 2: Orchestrate the cleaning schedule from live bookings
Your booking calendar is your source of truth. By tying changeovers to real-time check-in and check-out data, you never miss a clean or double-book staff.
Make it easy to assign a clean the moment a reservation is created, modified, or cancelled. If you have external teams, consider implementing tools that make sharing data simple.
Tips on how to approach sharing your bookings calendar with cleaners:
- Grant limited access, so cleaners can securely view the details they need to complete the cleaning task without accessing any sensitive data (such as guest details)
- Send automated job tickets that include arrival and departure times, lock codes, parking tips, and checklist links
Step 3: Give cleaners everything they need on mobile
Cleaners work on the move. This means they need access to the day’s runsheet, the exact checklist for each unit, and a way to mark tasks complete – all via their mobile device.
Giving cleaners the ability to supply photos, notes, and stock counts as they work helps you verify task completion, track wear and tear, and forecast supply orders.
With the right mobile tools and processes in place, your team can also see when a guest requests early check-in and prioritize the right unit without endless back-and-forth calls.
Step 4: Measure and improve turnover performance
To optimize the performance of your cleaning, it’s important to keep track of the key metrics. Establish benchmarks that can help you drive improvements over time.
Metrics to monitor include:
- Average clean duration by unit type
- Volume and/or frequency of failed inspections
- Guest-reported issues within 24 hours
- Turnaround times from “vacancy” to “ready”
These metrics show where to coach staff, which units need more time, and where to invest in durable linens or small maintenance fixes that reduce future delays.
Step 5: Scale with smart tools that connect to your PMS
As your portfolio grows, keeping turnovers consistent becomes harder. That’s when specialized tools connected to your property management system (PMS) make all the difference.
By integrating a property care and operations platform such as Breezeway with a PMS like eviivo Suite™, you can take the guesswork out of turnover management and focus on exceeding guest expectations.
With Breezeway + eviivo, you can:
- Customize digital checklists for every unit
Build detailed Airbnb cleaning checklists tailored to specific property types or guest profiles, complete with reference photos and the ability to request photo uploads from cleaners for remote inspections. This ensures every turnover meets the same high standard, whether it’s a single studio or a multi-bedroom villa. - Streamline communication with your team and guests
Use templates that pull live reservation data from your PMS to send automated job assignments, task updates, or guest messages. - Track linens, inventory and supplies automatically
Monitor stock levels across all properties and receive alerts when items run low. Generate linen packing lists for each turnover so cleaners arrive fully prepared – and guests never arrive to missing essentials.
By connecting Breezeway with eviivo, you unify your operations – syncing booking data, guest details, and turnover tasks in one seamless flow.
Conclusion
With spotless management of vacation rental turnover cleaning, you ensure every stay starts in a property that looks and feels brand new.
The key to guest satisfaction when managing turnovers is combining operational discipline and smart processes. Firstly, establish strong standards and a clear Airbnb cleaning checklist to protect your reputation. Real-time scheduling tied to reservations keeps teams in sync – while supplying mobile access, requesting photographic proof of task completion, and monitoring KPIs helps build a reliable, scalable workflow.
To achieve all the above, consider connecting eviivo Suite to a specialized property care and operations partner like Breezeway. Together, this integration allows you to streamline vacation rental turnover cleaning, publish checklists to the field, and securely share your Airbnb calendar with cleaners – minus any manual coordination.
The payoff is a neater vacation rental business: calmer operations, fewer surprises, and consistently guest-ready rentals that support higher occupancy and repeat bookings.
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