Five-star Airbnb reviews aren’t won by the bedding thread count or the welcome basket. As we often say, five-star reviews start with cleaning, and they’re won in the first 30 seconds — when a guest walks through the door, drops their bag, and looks around. If anything looks wrong in those 30 seconds, the review is already at 4 stars before they’ve sat down.
This is the cleaning checklist used by professional turnover cleaners across Northeast Victoria. Whether you’re cleaning your own property or briefing a cleaner, this is what gets you to consistent five-star reviews.
Entry and First Impressions (5 items)
The first 30 seconds are dominated by what guests see, smell, and feel as they walk in.
- Front door and handle wiped down — first thing every guest touches
- Welcome mat clean and straight — replace it if it’s worn
- Hallway floors spotless — first 2 metres set the tone for the whole stay
- No lingering smells — air the property out for 30 minutes before guests arrive
- Lights on, blinds in their setting — never leave a property looking dim or cluttered
If the air smells stale, fix it immediately. Open windows. Use a neutral air freshener — not heavy floral scents that signal “we cleaned over something”. The goal is air that smells like nothing.
Kitchen (8 items)
The kitchen is where guests judge whether the property is genuinely clean or just “tidy”.
- Benchtops, splashback, and stovetop wiped and degreased
- Sink scrubbed, plug clean, tap polished
- Inside the microwave wiped (every single time)
- Dishwasher emptied and wiped inside
- Bin emptied, bin liner replaced, lid wiped
- Fridge emptied of guest leftovers, shelves wiped
- Cutlery drawer organised, no missing pieces
- Crockery counted — all wine glasses, mugs, plates accounted for
Guests will open the microwave to check if you actually cleaned. They will look in the fridge. They will count the wine glasses. Pretend they’re inspecting your work, because they are.
Bathrooms (7 items)
Bathrooms are where 1-star reviews come from. A spotless bathroom is non-negotiable.
- Toilet cleaned inside, around the base, behind — no exceptions
- Shower screen, tiles, and recess scrubbed — no soap scum, no hair
- Basin and tap polished — no toothpaste splatters
- Mirror polished streak-free — every angle
- Fresh towels, neatly folded — at least one towel + one face washer per guest
- Toilet paper stocked — always have at least 2 spare rolls visible
- Hand soap and shampoo restocked — never let guests find empty bottles
Hair on the floor is the single most common 1-star complaint. Vacuum the bathroom floor every turnover. If your cleaner doesn’t, fix that.
Bedrooms (5 items)
The bedroom is where guests will spend the most time. It needs to feel hotel-grade.
- Beds made with crisp, freshly laundered linen — hospital corners or hotel-style
- Pillows fluffed and arranged neatly
- Bedside surfaces dusted — including under the lamp base
- Wardrobes/cabinets cleared of any guest items
- Curtains/blinds in their open or closed setting — set the same way every time
Linen quality matters. Soft, properly laundered sheets in a neutral colour age better than fancy patterns. White is timeless and shows that they’re freshly washed.
Living Areas (5 items)
- All cushions plumped and arranged
- TV remote on the coffee table, batteries working
- Surfaces dusted — TV unit, side tables, bookshelves
- Floor vacuumed or mopped — corners and under furniture too
- WiFi password card visible — the most-asked question, eliminate it before it’s asked
The WiFi password card is the simplest 5-star booster. Print it. Laminate it. Put it on the coffee table. Done.
The Detail That Wins Reviews
Beyond the basics, these are the small touches that turn 4-star reviews into 5-stars:
- Tea, coffee, sugar, milk in the fridge — the first thing tired travellers want
- Photo report after every clean — proof of standard, useful for damage claims
- Single fresh flower or eucalyptus stem in a vase — costs $5, looks like $50
- Welcome card on the bench — even a simple “welcome, please call if you need anything”
- Local brochures or recommendations card — suggests you care about the experience
None of these are required. All of them are worth doing.
Common Mistakes That Cost Reviews
- Heavy fragrance products — guests notice and assume you’re masking something
- Streaky mirrors — instant clue that the clean was rushed
- Damp bath mats from the previous guest — replace every time, not just wash
- Wet kitchen sink with crumbs — looks like the previous guest’s dishes weren’t done
- Stains on the bottom of toilet bowls — under the rim is the test
- Dust on top of the TV — the camera angle of guest review photos
- Outdoor area not checked — cigarette butts, leaves, dog mess from previous guests
The Turnover Time Budget
For a 2-bedroom property in Wangaratta or Northeast Victoria, a proper turnover takes 90 minutes to 2 hours with one cleaner, or 45–60 minutes with a team of two. If your cleaner is doing it in 30 minutes, they’re cutting corners.
Same-day turnovers (checkout 10am, check-in 3pm) are tight but doable for properties that get good ongoing care. If you’ve ever wondered how same-day Airbnb turnovers actually work, we’ve detailed the process in another post. The first deep clean of a property always takes longer than subsequent turnovers.
Hand It Off to a Professional
If you’ve been doing turnovers yourself and feeling burnt out, that’s the most common reason hosts switch to professional cleaners. The savings on time and stress almost always outweigh the cleaning fee, especially when you start getting consistent 5-star reviews. For hosts looking for guidance, we also have a comprehensive guide on how to set Airbnb cleaning fees.
Our Airbnb cleaning service covers everything in this checklist as standard, plus linen service, restocking, and a damage report after every clean. Get in touch for a free quote based on your specific property.
Related
- How often should you have your home professionally cleaned?
- Deep cleaning service — for the first reset of a property before short-stay turnovers begin