Finding the Right Cleaner

I cannot understate how important cleaners are to a successful STR. They are the lynchpin to running a successful property.

Cleanliness standards have drastically changed in the past few years. Having a spotless place is now expected as the minimum. Under beds, inside the fridge, along the windowsills. Not only must everything be tidy, but absolutely clean of all dust and debris.

Word of mouth recommendations are going to be the best way to find reliable and competent cleaners. If you don’t have any contacts withing the STR community, start building those relationships now. There are many local groups through Airbnb, forums such as Reddit, Facebook and more. Join and participate in these groups. We also reach out individually to rentals in close proximity to us. Many have Instagram pages that they can be reached at, and we’ve even had others in the area welcome us to the community. All of these connections are potential opportunities. They can help you find good cleaners, but can also help you out if you get into a bind. We’ve taken over another’s rental when they had flooding that couldn’t be fixed before guests arrive. Having these connections will help when emergency strikes and can help guide you as you get started.

Another way to find good cleaners is a good old fashioned Google search. Read the reviews, have them do a walk through of the property and give a quote, and get a contract. This is a great option if you are not local. Typically, professional cleaners will have options to add laundry services, late check out and early check in fees, and come with larger crews that can get through a cleaning quickly. All of this comes at a cost, but can be worth it for peace of mind. Some will even have a handyman available or fee structures for basic maintenance. If you get the right professional cleaner, you won’t have to worry.

We have had good success with Turno. It took a few tries to find the right cleaner, but once we did, they’ve been the perfect fit. The biggest convenience of using Turno is that you can sync your calendar from Aribnb, VRBO, & etc, so that you don’t have to manually manage cleanings with your cleaner. You can always add cleaners you’ve hired yourself to Turno, but Turno will take a cut from both them and you. We pay an extra 5% to utilize their services, and it has been completely worth the time saved for us to not have to manage a calendar for the cleaners and keep track of payments. There are also features for cleaners to add photos, update inventory, flag issues, and for us to manually add cleanings. Turno helped us automate quite a few parts of our process.

With any new cleaner, there is an adjustment period. They are learning the property and your preferences, and you are learning their process and needs. Something as small as changing the type of laundry detergent you stock at the property can have a huge impact on your cleaner’s ability to operate efficiently. Anytime we take on a new cleaner, we walk through the property with them and discuss how we like things presented to guests, amenities offered, the level of cleaning required every time, and any quirks about the property. We also like to be present during the first cleaning for any questions they have. After the first cleaning, we will do another walkthrough and point out anything missed or that we want done differently. We make it clear that this walkthrough is for everyone’s benefit so expectations are clearly set for both parties. After the first cleaning, we will do a final check walkthrough before guests check in to see if the feedback from the previous cleaning has been implemented. We will do these walkthroughs until we feel confident that the cleanings are to standard. Don’t expect a perfect clean the first few times. Once we feel comfortable with not having to do walkthroughs every time, we will occasionally do a walkthrough without notice to ensure the standard hasn’t slipped. This method has helped ensure that cleanings meet our standard and stay to standard throughout the year.

Beyond ensuring your space is clean, your cleaners are your frontline defense. They are the ones that will notify you of guests breaking rules or any damage to the property. Build and maintain a good relationship with your cleaner, and you will see benefits in many facets. Our current cleaner not only lets us know of things missing and broken, but gives suggestions to new amenities and updates to be made to the properties. Often, they take care of minor issues without even being asked. This has only come about by trusting their feedback and adding items or processes that improve their experience. Always be looking for ways to improve.

Finding good cleaners can be a struggle, but is absolutely worth the time and effort. Cleanliness can be so subjective, but is arguably the most important aspect of a STR. You can be missing amenities or not be in a great location, but having a clean space can make or break the review. Take the time to find the right cleaner and build the relationship with them to be a partner in your property’s success.