By The Gen 2 Cleaners team · Updated · 6 min read
The short answer
- A turnover has five parts: reset, clean, linens, restock, and report.
- Stage every room to match your listing photos. Guests notice when it doesn't look like the pictures.
- Keep a full second set of linens per bed so laundry never holds up a same-day turnover.
- Photograph damage and missing items before the next guest arrives, while you can still file a claim.
- Most turnovers take 1.5 to 4 hours, depending on size and how the last guest left it.
1. On arrival: check before you clean
- 1Walk through the whole unit before touching anything.
- 2Photograph damage, stains, and anything missing, with timestamps.
- 3Check for items guests left behind and set them aside.
- 4Note maintenance issues: dead bulbs, low smoke-detector batteries, drips, a running toilet.
Doing this first matters: once you've cleaned, it's hard to prove what state the guest left the place in.
2. Start the laundry
- Strip every bed, including the mattress protector if it's stained
- Collect all towels, bath mats, and kitchen towels
- Start the first load immediately, since laundry is usually the slowest step
- Make beds from your spare set so the laundry isn't on the critical path
3. Kitchen
- Run the dishwasher, then unload and put everything back where the guide says
- Empty the fridge of guest leftovers and wipe the shelves
- Wipe the microwave inside, stovetop, counters, and appliance fronts
- Clean the coffee maker and empty the grounds
- Scrub the sink and take out trash and recycling
4. Bathrooms
- Scrub and disinfect the toilet, sink, tub, and shower
- Check the drains for hair (the fastest way to a bad review)
- Polish mirrors and fixtures
- Set out fresh towels, folded the same way every time
- Restock toilet paper, soap, shampoo, and conditioner
5. Bedrooms and living areas: reset and stage
- Dust surfaces, nightstands, TV stands, and remotes (disinfect remotes and light switches)
- Check under beds and sofa cushions for guest items and debris
- Make beds tight, with pillows arranged as in your listing photos
- Return furniture, throws, and decor to their photo positions
- Vacuum and mop all floors last, working toward the exit
6. Restock and final walk-through
- Coffee, tea, sugar, paper towels, trash bags, dish soap, and dishwasher pods
- Welcome notes, Wi-Fi card, and house guide in place
- Thermostat set to your guest-arrival temperature (Houston summers need the AC set ahead of time)
- Lights off, blinds set, doors and windows locked
- Send the host a short report: done, supplies running low, and issues found
Houston-specific tips
- Humidity: run the bathroom exhaust fan and check for mildew in shower caulk every turnover
- Hard water: descale shower glass and faucets weekly on busy listings, since scale shows up in guest photos
- Pests: never leave food out between stays, and wipe crumbs from inside drawers
- Big event weekends (the rodeo, concerts, conventions) mean back-to-back bookings, so plan cleaner coverage early
When to hand turnovers to a professional
If you're driving across town for every checkout, running more than one listing, or getting "cleanliness" comments in reviews, it's time. A good turnover service runs the same custom checklist every visit, handles same-day windows, and sends you a report with photos. Our Airbnb and short-term rental turnovers start with a sit-down to build a checklist for your specific listing.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an Airbnb turnover take?
Most turnovers take 1.5 to 4 hours, depending on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, how much laundry is done on site, and how the last guest left the unit.
What's the difference between an Airbnb turnover and a regular house cleaning?
A regular cleaning is only cleaning. A turnover also includes laundry and bed-making, restocking supplies, staging rooms to match the listing photos, and a damage and supply report for the host.
Should the cleaner restock supplies?
Yes. The cleaner is already in the unit and can see what's low. Most hosts keep a locked supply closet that the cleaner restocks from and reports on after each visit.
How do I handle same-day checkout and check-in?
Keep a second full set of linens for each bed, schedule the cleaner for checkout time, and use a standard checklist so the turnover takes the same time every visit.