What Airbnb hosts can learn from the hotel industry about cleaning
- Mar 1
- 4 min read
75% of guests are more likely to book a short-term rental if it’s serviced like a hotel.
That insight alone should make every Airbnb host and vacation rental property manager pause.
In a recent Host Planet Podcast episode, Jonathan Wicks from Well & Good Professional Services shared what short-term rental operators across the US – and globally – are getting wrong about cleaning, linens, guest essentials, and service consistency.
If you manage Airbnb properties, operate a vacation rental portfolio, or are scaling a short-term rental business in markets like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, or Europe – this is essential reading.
Why do hotel-level standards matter in vacation rentals?
Short-term rentals have grown into a mainstream segment of global travel. But many operators are still running them like informal home stays rather than professional hospitality businesses.
According to Jonathan, the biggest driver behind guest preference is confidence.
Guests know what to expect from a hotel:
Crisp white sheets
Reliable towels
Stocked amenities
Consistent cleanliness
With vacation rentals? It can feel like a gamble.
The takeaway: customisation works best when it sits on top of standardisation.
Professional hosting starts with a predictable foundation.
Should you use white linens at your vacation rental?
Many new Airbnb hosts make the same mistake: “let’s buy grey or brown towels so stains don’t show.”
Jonathan’s response is simple: guests know that too. Dark linens can create suspicion. White linens signal transparency.
White sheets:
Communicate cleanliness
Show clear laundering standards
Align with hotel expectations
Build trust instantly
In the short-term rental industry, perception drives bookings. And perception starts with what guests see when they walk in.
How long do short-term rental linens last?
If you’re budgeting for Airbnb cleaning operations, here’s a hard truth: high-quality bed linen typically lasts up to 18 months in a vacation rental setting.
That’s based on more than 300,000 turnovers Jonathan’s company has completed. But variance is huge. One guest can ruin a set on the first stay.
Global STR operators should:
Budget for ongoing linen replacement
Rotate inventory
Track wear by item type
Expect faster turnover for pillowcases, bath mats, and face cloths
“Buy cheap, buy twice” absolutely applies in the short-term rental business.
Stop treating laundry as an afterthought
One of the most overlooked operational mistakes in the Airbnb and vacation rental sector?
Bundling laundry into the cleaning fee without documenting or compensating it separately.
Laundry is a specialised process.
Hosts should:
Clearly define laundering standards
Document detergents and cycles
Compensate cleaners specifically for laundry
Consider off-site laundry services where possible
If you don’t define the process, you can’t control the outcome.
Should vacation rental hosts charge a cleaning fee?
Guests increasingly dislike surprise fees.
Cleaning fees have become controversial – especially when they inflate the final booking price.
Jonathan highlighted that many operators were charging excessive cleaning margins, leading to guest frustration and even online discussions about how to get fees removed.
The shift happening globally in STR:
Embed cleaning costs into nightly rates
Pay cleaners fairly and transparently
Remove tipping pressure
Reduce “bait and switch” pricing perception
In competitive Airbnb markets, transparent pricing can improve conversion rates.
The pump soap revolution (yes, really)
Guest surveys show 70% prefer clearly labelled pump-style soaps over tiny individual-use bars. Why? It signals abundance instead of scarcity.
A hotel-like experience in short-term rentals means:
Refillable pump soaps
Generous supply of toilet paper
Multiple coffee pods
Essentials stocked beyond the minimum
Jonathan recommends provisioning at least 10 nights’ worth of essentials.
The hotel cart principle: a game-changer for STR cleaning
In hotels, cleaners arrive with everything they need. In vacation rentals, cleaners often walk into properties hoping supplies are available. That’s a major operational weakness.
Professional property managers should ensure:
Cleaning professionals bring stocked kits
Supplies are not dependent on owner closets
No last-minute store runs
Standardised cleaning carts or kits are used
Consistency reduces errors – and errors cost reviews.
Why training and checklists matter in Airbnb cleaning
Unlike hotels, most short-term rental cleaners receive no formal industry training. That’s a problem in a sector that now represents a significant share of global travel.
Solutions:
Structured cleaning checklists
Photo-based expectation guides
Reference images from listing photos
Software platforms for accountability
Guests expect listings to match photos. Cleaners need to know exactly what that means.
Smart strategy: emphasise items instead of deep-clean chaos
One of Jonathan’s most practical tips is implementing “emphasis items” on a weekly rotation.
Instead of expecting:
Every baseboard
Every cabinet
Every window sill
to be cleaned every turnover…
Rotate emphasis areas weekly.
Example:
Week 1: baseboards and walls
Week 2: cabinets
Week 3: window frames
This prevents build-up without overwhelming cleaners. It's preventive maintenance for short-term rental operations.
Service vs Hospitality: the distinction that changes everything
Jonathan referenced a powerful quote: “Hospitality is in colour. Service is black and white.”
You cannot deliver great hospitality without reliable service.
For STR hosts worldwide:
Service = clean, stocked, predictable, safe
Hospitality = personal touches, branding, uniqueness
Get the black-and-white service right first.
What this means for short-term rental hosts globally
Whether you operate:
Airbnb listings in London
Vacation rentals in Florida
Chalets in the Alps
Beach houses in Australia
Cabins in Canada
The fundamentals are the same.
Guests want:
Confidence
Cleanliness
Consistency
Transparency
Professionalising your cleaning operation is not just operational hygiene. It's a revenue strategy.
Final thoughts: the future of STR is professional
Short-term rentals are no longer niche. They're mainstream global accommodation.
The operators who win in 2026 and beyond will:
Adopt hotel-level standards
Invest in training
Improve service transparency
Remove hidden friction
Think long-term, not shortcut-based
The bar is rising. And guests are paying attention.
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