Cleaning a short-term rental: a checklist between stays

The aim is to leave the property ready for the next guests. A short checklist followed in the same order at each changeover helps distinguish cleaning, restocking and technical checks.

1. Plan the changeover before guests leave

Keep the checkout time, next arrival, guest count, beds to make and any issues reported during the last stay on one changeover sheet. Keep last-minute updates alongside the original instructions so nobody has to piece them together from separate conversations.

Allow time for stained linen, faulty equipment or a change in arrival time. For back-to-back bookings, check that there is enough time to prepare the property properly. Only confirm a very early arrival once the changeover is organised.

2. Inspect the property before cleaning

Start with anything that could prevent the next check-in: access, hot water, lighting, visible leaks, unusual smells or missing equipment. Air the property if conditions allow. Remove rubbish and used linen, then check cupboards and the fridge.

Set forgotten belongings aside and notify whoever is in contact with the guest. Never dispose of them with used supplies. Record any damage factually and date the record without assuming that the last occupant caused it.

3. Check each area

• Kitchen: clean dishes put away, worktops, sink, fridge, appliances, bin and the supplies promised in the listing.
• Bathroom: shower or bath, washbasin, toilet, mirrors, visible drains, dry towels and supplies.
• Beds and sleeping areas: clean sheets, mattress protectors checked, linen free of odours and marks, and enough beds made for all guests.
• Living area: surfaces, floors, seating, accessible areas under furniture, remote controls and a layout consistent with the photos.
• Entrance and outdoor areas: clear access, a working door and a clean balcony or terrace if included in the stay.

Adapt the checklist to the property. In a studio with a sofa bed, open it to check it. If an apartment has a balcony, inspect that space too. Use products and cleaning methods suitable for each material and follow manufacturers’ instructions.

4. Manage linen and restocking separately

Separate clean linen, laundry to be treated and items to take out of use. Specify where spare stock is kept and how to report low supplies before they run out. The stock you need depends on the number of beds, how often guests change and how long laundering takes.

Use the same approach for supplies. Keep a list for each property rather than buying ad hoc. Record what is included and what is not so guests consistently find what the listing promises.

5. Confirm readiness and report any issues

Finish with a separate readiness check beyond the task list: beds, lighting, water, access and essential equipment. A few carefully framed photos can document the final condition without showing personal documents, access codes or private belongings.

Record a clear status: ready, ready with an issue to follow up, or work required before arrival. In the last case, assign someone and set a deadline. A message saying “cleaning done” alone does not tell you whether guests can check in.

France’s Service Public recommends a condition report at check-in and checkout for holiday lets, even when it is optional. An internal cleaning checklist complements this process. It serves a different purpose from a condition report agreed by both parties.

At Baytt, organising cleaning and linen and looking after the property are part of the management service we offer owners. For examples of the properties we manage, explore our work in Montreuil or the properties in Asnières.