Cleanliness is the only criterion that a traveler judges within thirty seconds, even before placing their luggage down. It’s also the one that appears most frequently in negative reviews, and the one where a defect can cost you part of your stay. Here’s what really matters between two rentals, and what it actually takes.
Key takeaways
- The cleanliness is notated separately by travelers and affects the Superhost status, which requires an average of 4.8.
- Housing found to be dirty upon arrival entitles you to a refund or to relocation: it is your payment that is reduced.
- The housekeeping fees you charge are included in the Airbnb commission. The tourist tax, however, is excluded.
What a failed marriage really costs
It is often assumed that a home that is not very clean deserves a slightly lower rating. The reality is more brutal, and it amounts to a lot of money.
A special note, and an average that decides everything
Travelers don’t just note your accommodation as a whole. They also note separately the cleanliness, the accuracy of the listing, the arrival, communication, location, and the value for money. So cleanliness is visible as such on your page, and that’s the first line a wary traveler will read.
This average also determines the Superhost status, which requires 4.8 out of 5, With less than % 1 cancellation, a response to % 90 messages within twenty-four hours, and ten stays in the year, losing this status means losing visibility and the reassuring badge.
The refund, and the remaining note
This is the point that most owners discover too late. A traveler who finds a dirty accommodation has 72 hours to report it, with photos to support it. If the problem is confirmed and you do not resolve it, the platform can relocate you or refund you, and your payment is reduced accordingly. You lose the night, the cleaning fees you had billed, and the bill remains.
A hair in the shower does not trigger this. A dirty bed, a full trash can, or a bathroom that is obviously not cleaned, yes.
The housekeeping between two stays, in order
A rental household is not a home household. It is timed, it always follows the same order, and it ends with a check. Here’s how the check we perform on the properties we manage works.
- The situation before touching on anything. We photograph what is broken, stained, or missing. After a quick wipe down, it’s too late to claim anything.
- The laundry first. Bed sheets and towels removed and taken away, beds made with clean linen. This is the longest task, it sets the rhythm for the rest.
- The kitchen. Fridge emptied and cleaned, plates, oven and microwave defrosted, dishes counted and put away, trash out and bag replaced.
- The water pieces. Shower, sink, toilet, faucet, mirror, joints. The limestone is visible in the photos as in the bathroom.
- The floors and surfaces. Vacuum cleaner and dust pan, handles, switches, remote controls.
- The re-stocking. Toilet paper, soap, dish soap, sponge, trash bags, coffee capsules if you provide them.
- The final check. We open the windows, check that everything is working, and take a few photos of the rental property. These photos are your proof if a traveler disputes it.
How long does it really take?
It takes an hour and thirty to two hours for a studio apartment; two to three hours for a two-bedroom apartment; even more for a second bathroom or a terrace. That’s why leaving at 10 a.m. and arriving at 4 p.m. leaves no margin: six hours for a household, a commute, laundry, and sometimes two more accommodations to be taken care of. Owners who accept arrivals at noon soon discover why no one does.
The places that no one cleans
They are always the same, and it is always them who trigger a negative review, because a traveler who discovers them wonders what they have not seen.
- Visit dishwasher filter and the one for the washing machine, never looked at until the day it started smelling bad.
- Visit bottle of capsules the coffee machine and the water tank.
- Visit Below the beds and the backs of the night tables.
- Visit shower joints and the knob is tarnished.
- Visit four, That travelers use it more than they think.
- Visit air conditioning vents and the ventilation grilles, which are turning black and visible.
- Visit terrace, The garden furniture and outdoor cushions, forgotten because they are outside.
OUR SERVICE
Housekeeping and laundry
Professional cleaning between each stay, hotel linen provided and laundered, and replacement of consumables. Included in the comprehensive management.
The laundry, the job that everyone underestimates
This is where the difference between a well-maintained home and a makeshift one becomes apparent. A grimy sheet or a shabby towel are immediately noticeable, and cost much more in terms of opinion than they would have cost to replace.
Three games, not two
The rule is simple: one game on the bed, one clean game in reserve, one game in the washing machine. With only two games, the first machine breakdown or the first series of stays will disqualify you. On a property that runs during the summer, the third game is not a luxury; it’s a safety margin.
Buy or rent
Hotel laundry costs more per night, but it is washed, pressed, and replaced when worn out. It also saves you the hassle of doing laundry between arrivals. Buying it costs less on paper and much more in time. The real calculation is not the price of the cloth, but the number of rotations you are able to perform on a Saturday in August.
In any case, choose a solid white color. It’s machine washable at high temperatures, it matches any outfit, and it photographs better than any other color. This is also what travelers mistakenly associate with the product.
How much to charge for cleaning services
The question comes up every time it’s posted online, and the answer depends on two mechanisms that few owners know about.
The first one: the cleaning fees are included in the commission. Airbnb applies its percentage to the nightly rate and to the fees you charge. The tourist tax, however, is excluded. Charging 60 € for a cleaning service therefore does not bring you 60 €, and the calculation changes again with the transition from 15.5 % single fees to the host's charge. We detail this in our article on platforms commissions.
The second one: The traveler compares total prices. High housekeeping fees for a short stay blow the price per night displayed in the results, and you have to filter out the ones that don’t. For two nights, 80 € of housekeeping adds 40 € to each night. This is why a well-rated property doesn’t receive any requests during low season.
In practice, two settings work well on the Côte d’Azur: moderate cleaning fees coupled with a minimum stay length during the high season, or fees included in the nightly price for accommodations aimed at short stays. What doesn’t work is billing the actual cost without looking at what it adds up to for a two-night stay.
What the ranking requires in terms of cleanliness
If you are aiming for a ranking in the tourist accommodation sector, and you should be, cleanliness is not a matter of personal preference: it is included in the control grid. The accredited organization checks the general condition, the condition of the bedding and bathroom facilities, the presence of the advertised equipment and their proper functioning. A spotless accommodation that has a broken dishwasher loses points, just as a well-equipped but poorly maintained accommodation does.
The ranking is valid for five years and increases your tax deduction from 30 to 50 %. We explain the full calculation in our article on the income from a seasonal rental.
The mistakes that cost a grade
- Clean up before you notice. The damage disappears with the first stroke of a sponge, and with it your recourse. The details of the procedures are in our article on damage to his Airbnb.
- Two consecutive stays without a margin of error. A late departure, and it’s the next arrival that finds a half-finished apartment.
- Have the traveler do the cleaning. Asking to wash the dishes and take out the trash is normal; asking to run the vacuum cleaner while you charge a cleaning fee ends up in the reviews.
- Photos that no longer match. A sofa replaced, a wall repainted, a terrace redesigned: if the ad shows something else, the traveler notes the precision, not just the cleanliness.
- Not having a plan B. A cleaning woman fell ill on an August Saturday without anyone to replace her, and it’s a refund.
What it gives when it’s handled by a team
Sur chaque logement que nous gérons dans les Alpes-Maritimes, le ménage est fait par notre équipe entre chaque séjour, avec le linge fourni et blanchi, le réassort des consommables et un contrôle photo avant chaque arrivée. Ces photos servent deux fois : elles prouvent l’état du logement en cas de litige, et elles nous permettent de repérer une usure avant qu’un voyageur ne la signale. C’est tout l’objet de l’intendance d’une location saisonnière.
It’s also a question of coverage: on a Saturday in August, several departures and arrivals overlap on the same day. A team absorbs this, not a single person alone.
OUR SERVICE
Complete management
Ménage, linge, accueil des voyageurs et maintenance : vous ne touchez plus à rien. Et rien à payer tant que votre logement n’est pas loué.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to clean a rental property?
An hour and thirty to two hours for a studio, two to three hours for a two-bedroom apartment, and even more time with a second bathroom or a terrace. That’s why leaving at 10 a.m. and arriving at 4 p.m. leaves little leeway, especially when several accommodations are booked on the same day.
Are cleaning fees subject to the platform commission?
Yes. Airbnb calculates its service fees based on the nightly rate and the fees charged by the host, including the housekeeping. Taxes, and therefore the tourist tax, are excluded. Charging 60 € for housekeeping does not bring you 60 €.
What happens if a traveler finds the accommodation dirty?
He has 72 hours to report the problem with photos. If the problem is confirmed and you do not resolve it, the platform can relocate you or refund you, and your payment is reduced accordingly. The notice, however, remains published.
Should I buy my own linen or rent it?
Rented linen costs more per night, but it is bleached, ironed, and replaced when it wears out. Purchasing is cheaper on paper and much more expensive in terms of time. In both cases, plan for three sets: one on the bed, one in reserve, and one in the wash.
Does cleanliness count for the ranking in the tourist accommodation sector?
Yes, it is included in the inspection checklist, right along with the condition of the bedding, the bathrooms, and the proper functioning of the advertised amenities. The rating is valid for five years and increases the tax deduction from 30 to 50 %.
Sources and updates
Article verified on September 25, 2026: composition of Airbnb service fees, AirCover for travelers, criteria for Superhost status, star-rated furnished holiday rentals. The reported housekeeping periods are those that we observe in the properties we manage on the Côte d’Azur.
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