Cleaning your Airbnb is probably the least exciting and most time-consuming side of being a host. How many hours do you spend cleaning after a guest leaves? How much should your Airbnb cleaning fee be?

What is an Airbnb Cleaning fee? The cleaning fee is a one time fee hosts charge their guests on top of the nightly rates. It covers expenses such as their time cleaning, the cost of any cleaning products, any incidental items that guests damage, and other expenses.

Using the proper cleaning products speeds up the process and helps you save time. We use CLR for glass shower doors, spot shot for carpets, and milk crates to carry all our cleaning supplies. To see all our Airbnb cleaning products click here.

What Is The Average Airbnb Cleaning Fee?

For hosts who clean the Airbnb themselves, the average cleaning fee is $65 per booking. With larger listings and hosts who hire a part-time/full-time cleaner, the average cleaning fee is $105 per booking.

What Airbnb Cleaning Options Do I Have?

1. Cleaning while your guests are staying with you: This is the most uncommon option. You can choose to clean your Airbnb daily or every few days but remember to let your guests know beforehand.

2. Cleaning your Airbnb after your guests check-out: This is the most common if you live near your Airbnb property. Set a specific check-out time in your listing description and plan to clean after your guests have reached their check-out time.

3. Hiring a cleaning service: If you have a larger Airbnb listing or live out of town then this option is for you. Most Airbnb hosts will communicate and schedule a cleaning after each guest check-out.

What Does An Airbnb Cleaning Fee Cover?

Airbnb cleaning fees cover any host expenses associated with preparing their listing in-between guests. This can be restocking cleaning products, the time it takes to clean, buying new towels, etc. What is done with the Airbnb cleaning fee is the host’s choice.

Our Top 3 Airbnb Vacuum Recommendations

When it comes to your Airbnb listing, a quality vacuum is a major solution to the time you spend cleaning. Over the years we have tried many vacuums, especially for our rugs and carpets. After doing every vacuuming job possible, we have listed our top 3 vacuums that are perfect for your Airbnb:

1. BISSELL Cleanview Bagless Vacuum Cleaner, 2486

Are you looking for a bargain in a vacuum?

We found the Bissell vacuum to be way underpriced for how it performs. For just $89.99, you get a 25-foot cord that can reach all the tough spots. Additionally, the Bissell is lightweight and built to last for a long time.

Even though the vacuum was meant for hardwood, laminate, and tile, it did a great job on dog hair. The head of the vacuum was low enough to fit under cabinets and vacuum right up to walls. If you are looking for a high-quality vacuum for a great price the Bissell is for you.

2. Eureka NEU182A PowerSpeed Lightweight Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner

As to the performance for the price, Eureka exceeded our expectations. The vacuum attachments gave the Eureka exceptional suction power.

If you have to travel to your Airbnb listings, this model is perfect for you. It’s lightweight and powerful. The bagless dirty holder is easy to dump and clean. We found most bagged vacuums to be a pain. If you are looking for an easy transition from carpet to rugs to the wood floor then Eureka is your best choice.

3. Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E

The vacuum power on the Shark Navigator was extreme. We use this vacuum at our home right now and it cleans up everything because of the power. Even if you think your house is clean, this vacuum will find the hidden dust and hair that older vacuums couldn’t. It is kind of pricey being $250 but you can find it on sale regularly for under $200. The reviews on Shark Navigator we almost perfect. If you want your Airbnb to be spotless with just one pass then this vacuum is for you.

Is The Airbnb Cleaning Fee Refundable?

Under flexible, moderate, strict, Airbnb cleaning fees are always refunded if the reservation is canceled before check-in. However, at the end of your reservation, you will not receive a refund for your Cleaning fee. The fee is included in the total price of your booking.

Are Cleaning Fees Negotiable On Airbnb?

Airbnb Cleaning Fees are not negotiable directly. You can only negotiate on a total reservation discount which includes nightly rate plus the cleaning fee.

How To Add An Airbnb Cleaning Fee

Adding Airbnb Cleaning Fee – Step 1

On the Windows, Mac or PC, first, visit the Airbnb website. Log into your account if you are haven’t done that yet. Now, you will have to click on a few tabs.

Start at the top of the Airbnb homepage, click on “Host” where a drop-down menu will appear. Scroll down until you see “Listings” and click on it.

Adding Airbnb Cleaning Fee – Step 2

Under Listings, scroll to the right until you see the “Price” tab. Make sure you are clicked on it and scroll down until you see the “Extra charges” tab.

Once on “Extra charges” tab, to the right, you will see an edit button. Click on it which will take you to where you can add an Airbnb cleaning fee.

Adding Airbnb Cleaning Fee – Step 3

Within the Extra charges tab, at the top, you will see a “Cleaning fee” section. To add an Airbnb cleaning fee, under the cleaning fee section you are able to add or change any Airbnb cleaning fee which will apply to every reservation.

Remember to click the save button at the bottom.

Check Out These Articles On Airbnbuniverse

Are You Supposed To Clean An Airbnb?

The standard Airbnb host does not clean while a guest is staying with them. One of the main reasons hotels are much more expensive is that they hire numerous employees to clean hotel rooms every day. With that expense gone hotels would be cheaper.

For guests, if hosts charge a cleaning fee they won’t expect you to clean up as much. Don’t trash the place and tidy up out of respect. If a host doesn’t charge a cleaning fee they will normally put their expectations in the listing description on what to clean such as bed sheets and dishes.

How To Be Competitive With Your Airbnb Cleaning Fee?

To be competitive in your neighborhood, you first need to check the going rate of cleaning fees around you.

Our fee method is to use the Airbnb app and search what the surrounding two neighborhoods are charging. Go through in detail and compare the size of your listings, how much they are charging per night and how often they are booking compared to other similar listings.

If your competitors aren’t booking then it could tell you their cleaning fee or nightly prices are too high. Get a feel for what is around you. Keep in mind how many hours your listing takes to clean.

Steps To Hiring An Airbnb Cleaning Service

You should always test any cleaning service before you decide to hire them on a regular basis. For us, whenever we try a new cleaning service, we give them a detailed list of what we expect done.

Usually, it will be the carpet, shutters, bathroom and anything else that takes a significant amount of time in between guest check-ins.

After the service is finished, whether they are still cleaning other parts of the listing or have left, inspect the quality of the work.

Furthermore, most cleaning services will charge a minimum cleaning hour rate (eg. 2 hours minimum) or a total price for what you want to be cleaned. Inquire beforehand and make sure the cleaners know what you expect.

Is The Cleaning Fee Included In The Airbnb Price?

The cleaning fee is included in the Airbnb price under booking total and by using the map feature while searching. How do I search for an Airbnb with cleaning fees included? While you are traveling and looking for places to stay on Airbnb, nightly prices can be deceiving. You think you have a set price, then when you go to pay the price increases. That is because you are not using the “Map Feature” on Airbnb.

Most people will search for a listing with the left side of the app which only shows what style of home it is (entire condominium, share room, private room, etc) the title, the price per night not including cleaning fees, and the guest ratings.

Do this instead, after searching the city you want to stay in, on the top right side it will have “show map” and by default, it will be turned off. Turn the feature on and a map shows up on the right.

With the map turned on, cleaning fees are included with the pricing. You can search the area on the map where you want to stay, but the best part is, the cleaning fees are included.

Should I Charge A Cleaning Fee On Airbnb?

Not all Airbnb hosts feel comfortable charging a cleaning fee. To be honest, the fee is somewhat hidden until you finalize the payment. If you don’t think that’s fair then there are alternatives.

Hosts often add the fee within the nightly rate price, the only downside is your price may seem higher then your competition and guests might not book with you. If you choose neither to charge a cleaning fee nor add it into your nightly rate, here are the best ways to get your guests to clean up after themselves:

1. Ask your guests to tidy up. You can send a short message on the Airbnb app the day before check-out asking to clean specific items in the listing.

2. Add all information in your welcoming book. This tends to be less invasive but not all guests will read your welcoming book.

A welcoming book is a binder letting guests know anything about your place(front door code or wifi password), directions to the grocery store or local favorite restaurants, etc. At the front of this book add your cleaning expectations and Airbnb guidelines.

Hosting From Another City?

State this in your Airbnb listing that you are not able to clean daily but don’t mention you are away. You will have to hire either a cleaning service company or someone off Craigslist to clean after a guest checks out.

What Should You Do If Your Airbnb Guests Ask You To Clean?

Here is how to cover yourself when it does happen because it will. First, specify in your Airbnb profile that you do or do not clean while your guests are staying with you.

If you don’t specify, it could cause confusion for a guest that’s brand new to the platform and think it’s similar to a hotel in that nature. Document all conversations whether it is on the Airbnb app or via text message.

Politely state your profile guidelines saying you do not clean while guests are staying and only before a guest arrives.

How To Use Your Airbnb Cleaning Fee To Discourage One Night Bookings

With cleaning fees, you can look at it as being divided among the length of your guest’s stay. $50 cleaning fee for a single night is $50, but amongst a 5-night stay most would look at it as $10 per night.

If you set your cleaning fee higher it tends to discourage guests who book one night at a time, but the great benefit is if you end up getting a single night booking last minute then your overall profits will go up.

Final Thoughts

The best thing you can do as an Airbnb host is to specify what your cleaning expectations are in your listing description. State whether you provide cleaning while your guests are staying with you, what you expect from your guests before they check out (stripping the bedding etc), and what to do if they run out of cleaning products. The greater the details the easier hosting will be.