How to Choose the Right Airbnb Cleaning Service

Factors to consider when selecting a cleaning service for your airbnb / vacation rental

Your guests' comfort and satisfaction largely depend on the cleanliness of your Airbnb property. Therefore, it's essential to choose a cleaning service that aligns with your hosting goals. Here are the key factors to consider:

1. Experience: Opt for a cleaning service with a proven track record in the short-term rental industry. Experienced cleaners understand the specific needs and expectations of Airbnb hosts. If they mostly only used to handling other types of cleanings, then they may not be a good fit. Cleaning vacation rentals is a very unique animal when it comes to scheduling, guests standards, restocking, and simple maintenance items like hot tub maintenance. Most “standard” cleaning companies won’t go above and beyond if they don’t understand or have the experience needed in the vacation rental industry.

2. Thoroughness: A good cleaning service should leave no corner untouched. Thoroughness is key to ensuring your property is in top condition for each guest. Airbnb guests want to walk into a home and have the feeling that it’s never been lived in before. It’s a high standard to meet, but a neccessary one.

3. Reliability: You need a cleaning service you can count on. Late cleanings or last-minute cancellations can result in guest dissatisfaction. Look for a service that is known for its reliability. Having an individual cleaner is generally a great way to save money, but it is the quickest way to create a scramble, emergency situation when their family member gets sick or they go out of town. Having a small company that has a few members of the cleaning team provides much of the same personal touch as an individual cleaner, without the risk of them not being reliable in this crazy industry.

4. Customization: Your property may have unique cleaning requirements. A flexible cleaning service should be willing to accommodate your specific needs. Be sure to ask good questions about how they handle customizations, and if they don’t have a good answer (such as cleaning check lists and training for new cleaners), then these customizations will likely get missed and the ball will get dropped.

5. Communication: Effective communication with your cleaning service is vital. They should be responsive to your messages and able to adapt to changes in your booking schedule. Since it’s such a fast moving industry, great communication is vitally important.

6. Reviews and References: Check for reviews or ask for references from other hosts who have used the cleaning service. Feedback from peers can be invaluable.

7. Restocking and Maintenance: Many cleaning companies aren’t willing to do things like laundry, restocking, and simple maintenance tasks. Especially if you are managing your vacation rental, Airbnb, or VRBO property remotely, it’s vital to get a cleaning company who is experienced and willing to do more than just clean.

8. Cost: While price is a factor, don't compromise on quality for the sake of saving money. A slightly higher cost for a top-notch service can pay off with positive reviews and repeat bookings. Better reviews leads to more bookings, and both lead to being higher in the search rankings. Saving $20/clean and going with the less quality service will cost you much more money than it will save you.

When you've found a cleaning service that meets these criteria, you're well on your way to ensuring your property is consistently clean and inviting for your guests.

To make an informed decision, it's advisable to reach out to multiple cleaning services, discuss your needs, and obtain quotes. This way, you can compare services and choose the one that best aligns with your hosting goals.