The Airbnb Turnover Cleaning Checklist Miami Hosts Use Between Every Guest

cleanordex

Oct 17

5 min read

Cleanliness is the one Airbnb rating category guests judge in the first ninety seconds. In a market as crowded as Miami, where Miami Beach, Brickell, Wynwood and Sunny Isles hosts compete for the same travellers, a single 3-star cleanliness review can push a listing off the first page for weeks.

The hosts who stay at 4.9 and above do not clean harder. They clean to a written checklist, the same one, every single turnover, whether it is a Tuesday in September or the Saturday of Art Basel. This is the checklist CleanOrdex uses for Airbnb turnover cleaning in Miami. Use it as your own, or hand it to whoever cleans your unit.

Before the clean: the 5-minute walkthrough

Open every window covering and turn on every light. Dark rooms hide problems.
Photograph any damage, stains or missing items before touching anything. This is your evidence for a resolution claim.
Check for forgotten guest items in drawers, under beds, in the shower and the safe.
Set the A/C to 72°F. In Miami, a warm unit on arrival is the fastest way to a bad first impression and a humidity problem.
Start the first load of laundry immediately. Linens are the critical path of every turnover.

Bedrooms

Strip all beds. Inspect mattress protectors and pillow protectors; replace if stained.
Make beds hotel-style with fresh, pressed linens. Hospital corners, pillows plumped and aligned, decorative pillows in the same positions as the listing photos.
Dust headboards, nightstands, lamps, picture frames and ceiling fan blades.
Wipe light switches, remotes, door handles and charging stations.
Check inside closets and drawers. Remove hangers left askew, leave the agreed number, and confirm the iron, ironing board and luggage rack are in place.
Vacuum under the bed, not only around it.

Bathrooms

Scrub and disinfect the toilet inside and out, including the base and behind it.
Clean the shower and tub, including the glass, grout lines and drain. Remove every hair.
Polish the mirror, faucet and all chrome to a streak-free finish.
Replace towels with the full set defined in your listing: bath, hand and face towels per guest, plus a bath mat.
Restock toilet paper (at least two spare rolls), hand soap, shampoo, conditioner and body wash.
Empty and wipe the trash bin, then re-line it.
Check the exhaust fan is clean and working. Miami humidity makes this a mould-prevention step, not a cosmetic one.

Kitchen

Empty the dishwasher and put everything away in a logical, consistent place.
Inspect every glass, plate and piece of cutlery for residue or chips. Rewash anything doubtful.
Clean the stovetop, control knobs, backsplash and the front and inside of the microwave.
Wipe the inside of the refrigerator and dispose of all guest food unless your house rules say otherwise. Leave only sealed welcome items.
Degrease the range hood filter at least monthly.
Wipe the inside of the oven if used, and run the self-clean cycle on a schedule.
Sanitise the sink and the drain, replace the sponge and dish cloth every turnover.
Restock coffee, tea, sugar, salt, pepper, dish soap, dishwasher pods, paper towels and trash bags to your defined par level.

Living areas

Vacuum sofas, including under cushions. Check for crumbs, coins and sand.
Dust all surfaces, shelves, electronics and decor. Clean the TV screen with a microfibre cloth only.
Wipe the dining table and chairs, including chair legs and seat edges.
Check that remotes work, batteries are fresh and the Wi-Fi card is visible and correct.
Straighten books, games and decor exactly as in the listing photos.

Floors, glass and the Miami specifics

Vacuum and mop every hard floor, finishing toward the door so no footprints remain.
Clean sliding-door tracks. In Miami, sand and salt collect here faster than anywhere else in the unit.
Wipe interior glass and balcony doors; sea air leaves a film within days.
Sweep and hose the balcony or terrace, wipe outdoor furniture and check the cushions are dry.
Wipe the inside of the entry door and the welcome mat, and check for sand on the entry floor.

Laundry and linens

Wash linens hot with a hospitality-grade detergent; inspect for stains before drying, because heat sets them.
Fold and store spare sets in a sealed closet so guests find them clean, not dusty.
Keep at least two full sets per bed and per bathroom in rotation. Three sets is the standard for back-to-back bookings.

Restocking and the final staging

Restock to par: toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, soaps, coffee, water, welcome items.
Take all trash and recycling to the building's disposal area. Never leave it in the hallway.
Set the thermostat, close curtains to the staged position, turn on one or two accent lamps if arrival is after sunset.
Reset the smart lock or lockbox code if your system requires it.
Photograph every room from the same angle every time. These photos are your proof of condition and your quality-control record.
Send the host, or yourself, a written confirmation: unit ready, time completed, any damage or low-stock items noted.

How often should a short-term rental be deep cleaned?

A turnover keeps the unit guest-ready; it does not replace a deep clean. For a Miami rental with regular occupancy, schedule a deep clean every quarter, or every two months in peak season from December to April. That is when baseboards, inside cabinets, vents, grout, under appliances and mattress rotation get done. Hosts who skip this see their cleanliness scores slide slowly rather than suddenly.

What a professional turnover service should give you

Whether you use CleanOrdex or another company, hold them to these five points:

A fixed checklist that matches your listing, with linens and restocking defined, not improvised.
A fixed price per turnover. Ours starts at $250 and is confirmed in writing, so your margin is predictable.
Same-day turnovers between checkout and check-in, with the schedule held as booked.
Photo confirmation after every clean, plus a damage and low-stock report.
Vetted, insured teams. Your guests, your keys, your reviews.

Hosts running several units in Miami Beach, Brickell or Sunny Isles usually move to a membership plan, which lowers the per-turnover price and guarantees priority scheduling in high season.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an Airbnb turnover take?

A one-bedroom takes a trained team of two about 1.5 to 2 hours including laundry; a three-bedroom home takes 3 to 4 hours. Solo cleaners should plan for roughly double.

What is the most common reason for a low cleanliness score?

Hair in the bathroom, residue on glassware and sand on floors. All three are prevented by a checklist, not by effort.

Should I charge guests a cleaning fee?

Most Miami hosts set a cleaning fee that covers the turnover cost. Keep it close to your real cost; guests compare total price, and inflated fees hurt conversion.

Make every turnover identical

Send us your listing and your calendar, and we will come back with a specific turnover price and a checklist written for your unit. Request a quote or call (786) 282-8988. For more on what the top-rated hosts do differently, read the secret Miami Airbnb hosts use to get 5-star reviews.