A turnover cleaning checklist
Between two stays, a home has to go from lived-in to looking untouched. A written checklist is what turns a good cleaner's habits into a standard every cleaner can meet.
Before cleaning
- Open windows to air the home.
- Walk through every room and note any damage or missing items, with photos.
- Strip beds and gather towels first so laundry can start.
- Check for anything left behind by the last guest.
Kitchen
- Empty and wipe the fridge; throw away anything open the last guest left.
- Clean the hob, inside the microwave, and the oven if it was used.
- Check that all crockery is clean and back in place — including inside the dishwasher.
- Wipe appliance fronts and handles; stainless steel shows fingerprints quickly.
- Restock consumables and empty all bins.
Bathrooms
- Clean shower doors and screens so no water marks remain, and check the drain for hair.
- Clean taps, mirrors and tiles until they shine; guests notice limescale immediately.
- Replace toiletries and toilet paper; leave a spare roll in sight.
Bedrooms and living areas
- Make beds with fresh linen, neatly and identically each time.
- Dust surfaces including the tops of wardrobes, frames and lamps.
- Vacuum under beds and sofas, then wash hard floors.
- Check remote controls, chargers and light bulbs.
Details guests notice first
Hair anywhere in the bathroom, a dirty glass, crumbs in a drawer, finger marks on windows and mirrors, a smell in the bin. Put them at the end of the list as a final walk-through, done with fresh eyes.
Checking without being there
Ask for a few photos at the end of each turnover, always from the same angles: each bed, the bathroom, the kitchen worktop, the living room. Over time, these photos are also your best record of the home's condition.