Airbnb cleaners are most commonly called turnover cleaners or vacation rental cleaners. The term turnover refers to the process of preparing a property between guest stays. Depending on the level of service involved, they may also be called short-term rental cleaners, Airbnb cleaning services, co-hosts, or property managers.
The Different Roles in Airbnb Cleaning
Turnover Cleaner
A turnover cleaner handles the property between guest stays. They clean, reset the space to the listing’s standard, and prepare it for the next arrival. This is the most common type of Airbnb cleaner and the role most hosts are looking for when they search for help.
Turnover cleaners are typically independent contractors or small cleaning businesses. They work to tight timelines, often with a checkout at 11am and a new guest checking in at 3pm, which means speed and consistency matter more than in a standard house clean.
Vacation Rental Cleaning Service
A vacation rental cleaning service is a professional company that specializes in short-term rental properties. They offer the same turnover cleaning as an independent cleaner but with the reliability, insurance, and systems of an established business. They are the better choice for hosts managing multiple properties or those who have had unreliable experiences with individual cleaners.
Airbnb Co-Host
A co-host manages more than just cleaning. They handle guest communication, check-ins, key exchanges, and coordinate cleaning between stays. Co-hosts are listed on the Airbnb platform as secondary hosts and typically take a percentage of the booking revenue in exchange for their services.
Some co-hosts do the cleaning themselves. Others coordinate and hire a turnover cleaner separately. If you want someone to manage the full guest experience and not just the cleaning, a co-host is the appropriate role.
Property Manager
A short-term rental property manager handles everything: listing optimization, pricing, guest communication, maintenance coordination, and cleaning oversight. They are suited to hosts with multiple units or those with no local presence near the property. Property managers typically charge between 15 and 30 percent of booking revenue.
Role Comparison at a Glance
| Role | What They Do | Best For | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Turnover Cleaner |
Cleans between guest stays on a set schedule | Hosts who just need reliable cleaning |
No guest communication or management |
| Vacation Rental Cleaning Service | Professional team covering full turnovers, restocking, and inspection | Hosts with multiple properties or high turnover |
Higher cost than independent cleaners |
|
Airbnb Co-Host |
Manages guest communication, check-ins, and coordinates cleaning | Hosts who want full hands-off management | Takes a percentage of booking revenue |
| Property Manager | Full service including listing management, pricing, and cleaning oversight | Hosts with multiple units or no local presence |
Most expensive option, typically 15 to 30 percent of revenue |
What Makes an Airbnb Cleaner Different from a Regular House Cleaner
A standard house cleaner works to a scheduled routine. An Airbnb turnover cleaner works to a fixed checkout and check-in window, often with no flexibility on timing. The property has to be guest-ready by a specific hour regardless of what the previous guests left behind.
Turnover cleaners also check for damage, report missing or broken items, restock consumables like toilet paper and toiletries, reset furniture to the listing’s layout, and sometimes photograph the property after cleaning. These responsibilities go beyond what a regular house cleaner typically covers.
What an Airbnb Turnover Clean Covers
- Full clean of all rooms: bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, and living areas
- Stripping and replacing all bed linen and towels
- Restocking toiletries, toilet paper, and kitchen essentials if arranged with the host
- Running the dishwasher and resetting kitchen items to their designated positions
- Checking for damage or items left behind by guests and reporting to the host
- Taking out rubbish and replacing bin liners
- Resetting the property layout to match the listing photos
For a full breakdown of timing, our guide on how long it takes to clean an Airbnb covers expected turnaround times by property size.
How to Find and Hire an Airbnb Cleaner
The Airbnb platform has a built-in feature that allows hosts to assign a co-host or connect with cleaning services directly from the hosting dashboard. This is a reliable starting point for finding cleaners familiar with the platform’s standards.
Local Facebook groups for Airbnb hosts in your area are another practical source. Experienced hosts in the same city regularly recommend cleaners they trust and can flag those to avoid.
Professional cleaning companies that offer dedicated Airbnb or short-term rental cleaning services are worth considering if reliability is a priority. They carry insurance, have backup cleaners available when someone calls in sick, and are less likely to cancel at short notice than a solo independent cleaner.
What to Look for When Hiring
- Experience with short-term rentals specifically, not just general house cleaning
- Availability that matches your checkout and check-in window reliably
- Clear communication when issues arise, such as damage, missing items, or a longer clean than usual
- Verifiable reviews from other Airbnb hosts rather than general cleaning clients
- Insurance coverage that protects both the cleaner and your property
- A backup plan for when the regular cleaner is sick or unavailable
How Much Do Airbnb Cleaners Charge?
Airbnb cleaners typically charge by the job rather than by the hour. In Los Angeles, turnover cleaning for a one-bedroom property generally runs between $80 and $150 per clean. Larger properties with more bedrooms and bathrooms cost more, typically $150 to $250 or above for three or more bedrooms.
Many hosts pass the cleaning fee directly to guests as a separate charge on the listing. Airbnb allows hosts to set a cleaning fee that guests pay at booking, which offsets the cost of professional turnovers.
When a Professional Cleaning Service Is the Better Choice
Independent turnover cleaners work well when they are reliable and available. When they cancel last minute or are unavailable during peak booking periods, a professional cleaning company with multiple staff and a backup system is a more dependable solution.
The Maid Squad provides dedicated Airbnb and short-term rental cleaning across Los Angeles with a 4.8-star rating and more than 5,000 customers served. Our team works to your check-in and checkout schedule, covers all turnover tasks, and communicates any issues found at the property after each clean.
Book your Airbnb cleaning today and keep your listing guest-ready after every stay.
Learn more about our Airbnb cleaning service and what each turnover covers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a regular house cleaner for my Airbnb?
You can, but a regular house cleaner may not be familiar with what a short-term rental turnover requires. They may not know to reset furniture to match listing photos, check for guest damage, restock consumables, or work within a tight checkout-to-check-in window. A cleaner with specific Airbnb or vacation rental experience is a more reliable choice for consistent results.
How do I find a reliable Airbnb turnover cleaner?
Start with the Airbnb hosting dashboard, which has a built-in option for finding and assigning cleaners. Local host communities on Facebook or Reddit for your city are also useful for verified recommendations from hosts in the same area. A professional cleaning company that specializes in short-term rentals offers the most reliability, particularly if your property has consistent bookings and cannot afford a last-minute cancellation.
What is the difference between an Airbnb cleaner and a co-host?
An Airbnb cleaner handles the physical cleaning of the property between guest stays. A co-host manages the broader guest experience, including communication, check-ins, and coordinating the clean. Some co-hosts also do the cleaning themselves; others hire a separate cleaner and manage the coordination. If you only need the property cleaned between stays, a turnover cleaner is sufficient. If you want full management of the listing, a co-host or property manager is the right choice.
Can Airbnb cleaners restock supplies and toiletries?
Many turnover cleaners and cleaning services offer restocking as part of the service or as an add-on. This typically covers toilet paper, hand soap, shampoo, coffee pods, and similar consumables. Arrange this in advance and ensure the host or property provides a restocking supply on-site. Some cleaning services charge extra for restocking; others include it in the per-clean rate.
How often does an Airbnb property need to be cleaned?
An Airbnb property needs a full turnover clean between every guest stay. If a guest stays for multiple nights, a mid-stay refresh may also be offered depending on the listing. Properties that are booked consistently may need cleaning multiple times per week. A professional cleaning service with availability that matches your booking calendar is the most practical solution for high-frequency turnovers.