Cleaning between guests: a checklist and how to set your cleaning fee

What's the first thing a guest notices when they open the door to your property? Before they look at the view or test the wifi, they notice whether the place is clean. Sand on the floor, a hair in the shower or a fridge with the last guest's leftovers outweighs any beautiful photo.

Cleaning between guests is the least glamorous part of hosting, but it's the part you repeat most often. In this guide you'll find a checklist by area, an orderly way to run each turnover and a simple method to decide whether to charge a cleaning fee, and how much. If you manage from the US and rely on someone local, a written system matters even more.

Key Takeaways

• A written checklist by area keeps cleaning from depending on someone's memory.
• The window between checkout and check-in is what drives everything: plan cleaning around your times.
• Your cleaning fee should come from your real costs, not from what the neighbor charges.
• Everything the guest pays should be clear before booking, including the cleaning fee.

Table of Contents

• Why cleaning shapes the stay
• Cleaning checklist by area
• How to organize the turnover
• How to set your cleaning fee

Why cleaning shapes the stay

What the guest finds in the first five minutes sets the tone for the whole stay. If the bathroom shines and the bed smells fresh, they forgive small details. If they find dirt, they start looking for more problems.

Cleanliness is also information

A clean space tells the guest that the host is paying attention. That builds trust in everything else: that the air conditioning works and that if something happens, someone will respond. After checkout on SimpleStay, guests rate cleanliness as one of the categories in their review, so it shows up on your listing too.

The Caribbean climate asks for more

In the Dominican Republic, humidity, sand and heat speed up problems that take longer to appear elsewhere. Mold in bathroom grout, ants drawn by a crumb or bedding that holds moisture are common issues. Airing out rooms, drying textiles well and checking damp corners should be part of every cleaning, not something done once a month.

Cleaning checklist by area

Write your checklist and share it with whoever cleans. These are the items that should never be skipped:

• Bedrooms: change sheets and pillowcases, check under the bed, dust nightstands, look for forgotten items.
• Bathrooms: clean toilet, sink and shower, remove hair from the drain, restock toilet paper, soap and clean towels.
• Kitchen: wash dishes and pots, empty and wipe the fridge, clean stove and microwave, take out the trash and put in a new bag.
• Living room and shared areas: sweep and mop, wipe tables, check cushions and sofa, put remote controls in place.
• Outdoors: sweep the balcony or terrace, wipe outdoor furniture, check for sand piling up at the entrance.
• Final check: test lights, air conditioning and wifi, leave windows closed and the space aired out.

What guests always check

Guests look first at the shower, the sheets, the toilet and the fridge. Give those priority even when time is tight.

Inventory and restocking

Use every cleaning to count what gets used up: toilet paper, soap, shampoo, trash bags, coffee. Restock before you run out, and note any small damage with a date and a photo.

How to organize the turnover

The turnover is the window between one guest's checkout and the next guest's arrival. If it's short, cleaning has to be well organized. This order works:

1. Confirm the checkout. Make sure the guest has left and returned the keys or locked up as agreed.
2. Inspect before cleaning. Walk through the property, photograph any damage and look for forgotten items.
3. Start with the linens. Put sheets and towels in the wash first, because they take the longest.
4. Clean from top to bottom. High surfaces first, then furniture, and the floor last.
5. Restock and check. Set out amenities, test the appliances and do a final round with the checklist.

Cleaning yourself or hiring someone

If you hire someone, agree in writing on what the job includes, how much each cleaning pays and what happens if a guest checks out late. Ask for photos when they finish, especially if you live far away.

Leave room in your schedule

Your check-in and check-out times decide how much time you have. If checkout is at noon and check-in at three, your cleaner has only a few hours. Before you accept an early check-in or late checkout, confirm the cleaning can adjust. To think those times through, read our guide on check-in, check-out, early arrival and late checkout.

How to set your cleaning fee

A cleaning fee is a fixed amount the guest pays once per booking, on top of the nightly price. It makes sense when each turnover creates a real cost that you don't want to fold into the nightly rate.

Work out your real cost

Add up what each cleaning costs you: the cleaner's pay, washing sheets and towels, products and the amenities you restock. That total is your starting point.

Illustrative example. If you pay US$20 for the cleaning, US$8 for laundry and US$7 for products and amenities, your cost per turnover is US$35. With that number you decide whether to charge it as a cleaning fee or spread it into the nightly price.

Think about the length of your stays too. Over two nights, a high cleaning fee weighs heavily on the total. Over a week, it spreads out more.

How it works on SimpleStay

In the SimpleStay listing editor, the cleaning fee is optional. If you turn it on, the guest pays the nightly price times the number of nights, plus the cleaning fee you set. SimpleStay charges the guest no service fee, so that total is what they see before booking. Prices are shown in US dollars. Stripe processing, bank fees, currency conversion and taxes may apply separately.

A routine that shows

Good cleaning goes unnoticed when it's there, but it's very noticeable when it's missing. A written checklist, a clear order and a fee based on your real costs give you control over a task that repeats with every booking.

When your property is ready, publish it on SimpleStay with your nightly price, cleaning fee and clear times. Every new listing gets a free trial of 30 days, or 7 days for listings located in the United States. After that it's US$50 a month per property, with 0% SimpleStay commission.

List your property with a free trial

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to clean an apartment between guests?

It depends on the size of the property and how many people stayed. Time your first few cleanings and use that number to set your check-in and check-out times with a buffer.

Do I have to charge a cleaning fee?

No. On SimpleStay the cleaning fee is optional. You can include the cost of cleaning in the nightly price or charge it separately as a fixed amount per booking. What matters is that the guest sees a clear total before booking.

How do I calculate a fair cleaning fee?

Add up what each turnover costs you: the cleaner's pay, laundry, products and the amenities you restock. That's your base cost. Then think about your typical stay length, because a high fee weighs more on a short stay.

What should I do if I find damage after a guest checks out?

Take dated photos before cleaning, write down what you found and contact the guest in writing, clearly and respectfully.

Does the guest pay any service fee besides the cleaning fee?

On SimpleStay, the guest pays US$0 in SimpleStay service fees. They pay the nightly price times the number of nights, plus the cleaning fee if the host set one. Stripe processing, bank fees, currency conversion and taxes may apply separately.