Professional Cleaning Between Guests: The Protocol That Guarantees 5 Stars

On Airbnb, cleanliness is the most rated, most commented-on criterion in reviews, and the one with the biggest impact on your ranking in search results. A cleanliness rating of 4.6 pushes your listing below the premium visibility threshold. A rating of 4.95 or above places you among the best listings in your category and neighbourhood. The difference between these two levels has nothing to do with the size or luxury of the property — it comes down entirely to the rigour and consistency of the cleaning protocol applied at every turnover.

Why cleaning in short-term rentals is different from ordinary cleaning

Cleaning between two short-term-rental stays is not ordinary cleaning. It is a full hotel-standard reset protocol, carried out in 2 to 4 hours, in a flat a stranger has just used for 1 to 7 nights. The expected standard is that of a 4-star hotel. Airbnb guests in 2026 have very high cleanliness standards: they know the cleaning fee they paid covers a professional service, and they rate accordingly.

The complete 47-point checklist — room by room

At Hexuvium, we have developed a 47-point cleaning protocol structured around 5 zones. This checklist is used at every turnover by our cleaning providers, with systematic photo validation for each zone.

Zone 1: Kitchen — 12 critical points

1. Oven: Clean the inside with a suitable degreasing product (not just wiping visible surfaces — including the rack and the base)
2. Microwave: Lemon juice + water, 3 minutes at full power, then easily wipe the softened inside. Clean the turntable.
3. Fridge interior: Remove any food left behind, clean the shelves and drawers, eliminate odours with baking soda or an activated-charcoal pad
4. Fridge exterior: Top, handle, door seals (mould is common in the black seals)
5. Hob: Descaler on the joints, an old toothbrush for corners. Final polish with a dry microfibre cloth.
6. Extractor hood: Grease filter (clean or replace depending on the model), interior, exterior grille
7. Underneath appliances: Toaster (remove and empty the crumb tray), coffee machine (jug, filters, limescale in the reservoir), kettle (monthly descaling)
8. Inside drawers and cupboards: Crumbs, forgotten packaging, check for any insects or rodents
9. Worktops: Full disinfection with a suitable food-safe product, especially around the sink
10. Sink and taps: Descaling, tap polishing, cleaning the trap if there is an odour
11. Cupboard handles: Greasy fingerprints — often overlooked but noticed by meticulous guests
12. Kitchen floor: Sweeping, mopping with a product suited to the flooring, behind and under appliances where accessible

Zone 2: Bathroom — 10 critical points

13. Shower and bath seals: Full descaling with an acidic product or concentrated white vinegar, thorough rinsing, drying with a clean cloth. Black mould on the seals is the first thing noticed and mentioned in reviews.
14. Taps and shower head: Removal of limescale deposits (white vinegar or an anti-limescale product), final polish with a dry microfibre cloth — no visible limescale
15. Mirror: No streaks at all (dry microfibre cloth in circular motions, never spray directly — droplets leave halos)
16. Shower tray or bath: Descaling the base, cleaning the sides, drain grille (hair, black deposits)
17. Toilet: Inside the bowl (toilet cleaner + brush, under the rim), outside (seat, hinges, behind the bowl — a frequently forgotten area)
18. Floor under fixtures: Under the vanity unit, behind the toilet, corners (build-up of hair and dust)
19. Towel rails and hooks: Limescale build-up, handprints
20. Restocking: Fresh towels folded hotel-style (triangle or roll fold), hand soap, shower gel/shampoo, 2 visible toilet rolls
21. Anti-fog mirror if present: Check it works
22. Ventilation: Dust the ventilation grille (a classic dust trap)

Zone 3: Bedrooms — 10 critical points

23. Full bedding: Sheets + pillowcases + duvet cover — a complete change at every turnover, washed at 60°C minimum, taken out of the dryer before it creases or is ironed
24. Bedding folding and presentation: Tight bed corners, pillows aligned, duvet well centred and taut — hotel-style presentation
25. Under the bed: Accumulated dust, any items guests may have left behind (clothes, charging cables, medication — report immediately)
26. Wardrobe and closet: Hangers aligned uniformly, removal of any forgotten clothing or items, dusted shelves
27. Bedside tables: Dusted and disinfected surfaces, drawers checked for forgotten items
28. Desk or workspace: Dusted, disinfected, cables tidied
29. Electrical outlets and switches: Greasy fingerprints — clean with a slightly damp wipe
30. Interior windows: Glass free of fingerprints, dusted window sills
31. Radiator or heater: Dusted between the fins (build-up is visible)
32. Floor: Vacuum under the bed and in the corners, mop suited to the flooring

Zone 4: Living room and common areas — 8 critical points

33. Sofa and armchairs: Brush off crumbs, check under the cushions (remote control, forgotten items, food), treat any stains with a product suited to the fabric
34. Coffee table and side tables: Dusting and disinfecting surfaces, underneath the tables
35. Remote controls: Clean with a disinfecting wipe — the most-touched surfaces in the property after door handles
36. TV screen: Gentle dusting with a dry microfibre cloth (never damp), fingerprints on the edges
37. Shelves and furniture: Full dusting of all horizontal surfaces, behind decorative objects
38. Living room windows: Fingerprints on the glass, dusted sills
39. Interior front door: Handle (the most-touched surface), frame, lock
40. Living room and hallway floor: Vacuuming, mopping, behind furniture where accessible

Zone 5: Final check before the cleaner leaves — 7 mandatory points

41. Welcome basket: Set out and present the freshly stocked welcome basket (chocolates, coffee, tea, water, local products depending on your package)
42. Consumables checked: Toilet paper (2 rolls/bathroom), soap, shower gel, shampoo, coffee (capsules or pods), tea bags, bin bags
43. Welcome temperature: Heating or air conditioning set to 20–21°C for arrival (winter: switched on 2 hours before the expected arrival)
44. Ambient lighting: Switched on for an evening or dark-daytime arrival
45. Welcome guide visible: Clearly placed on the table or worktop
46. Final walk-through of the property: A pass through every room for an overall visual check — nothing forgotten, no stains, no items out of place
47. Validation photos: 6 time-stamped photos via the Turno or Properly app — cleaned kitchen, bathroom, made bed(s), tidy living room, entrance, overall view

Cleaning service price guide by Belgian city

The rates for professional cleaning services specialising in short-term letting vary by city, property size and frequency. Here are the ranges observed in 2025–2026:

Rates excl. VAT for a standard turnover clean (linen not included). A surcharge of 15–30% applies for Belgian weekends and public holidays.

The 3-set linen system — never run short

The 3-set linen system is the professional method for never running short of clean linen, even with very tight turnarounds:

Set 1 — In use (on the beds and in the bathroom)

The set currently in place in the property for guests during their stay.

Set 2 — Being washed or ready for the next turnover

The set removed at the previous turnover, being washed or already clean and ready to be put out for the next turnover. This set goes through your laundry provider or is washed/dried at home or at a launderette.

Set 3 — Backup stock

The backup set stored in the property or at the cleaner's, usable immediately if there is a serious stain on set 1 or 2, a delay at the laundry, or an unexpected extended stay. This set guarantees that a 2-hour express turnover is always possible without waiting for linen.

Hotel-quality linen specifications

• Sheets: 180–200 thread count, percale or sateen cotton, plain white (makes it easy to check cleanliness and gives a hotel-like look)
• Duvet covers: Percale cotton, button closure (more durable than a zip), washed at 60°C
• Towels: 550–650 g/m² minimum, cotton terry, plain white or cream. Size: 70×140 cm for bath towels, 50×90 cm for face towels
• Recommended number of sets: 3 full sets per bedroom, 3 sets of towels per person of maximum capacity

The 3-hour turnover protocol (same-day turnover)

Same-day turnovers (morning checkout, afternoon check-in) are the toughest test of a cleaning system. Here is the protocol we apply to achieve a 3-hour turnover for a 2-bedroom flat:

• H0 — Cleaner arrives (as soon as checkout is confirmed, ideally 11am): Open up the property, air out every room immediately, start the washing machine with the turnover's linen (set 1 → wash), begin cleaning the kitchen
• H0+45min: Kitchen finished, bathroom(s) underway (the most time-consuming zones)
• H1+15min: Bathrooms finished, bedrooms underway (set 2, already clean, put on the beds)
• H2: Bedrooms finished, living room and common areas
• H2+30min: Final check, consumables, welcome basket, validation photos via Turno
• H3: Property ready, cleaner sends validation photos, availability notification sent to the owner

Eco-friendly cleaning products available in Belgium

More and more travellers are conscious of the environmental impact of the cleaning products used. Here are the eco-friendly brands available in Belgium at Colruyt, Delhaize, Carrefour and Makro:

• Ecover (a historic Belgian brand, Malle, Antwerp province) — a full range: washing-up liquid, bathroom cleaner, laundry detergent, toilet cleaner. EU Ecolabel certified. Proven performance on a par with conventional products. Available throughout Belgium.
• L'Arbre Vert — an affordable eco range (Colruyt, Lidl). Laundry detergent, multi-surface cleaners, washing-up liquid. Good value for money for bulk purchases.
• Frosch (a German brand widely available in Belgium via Colruyt and Delhaize) — bathroom cleaner, descaler, laundry detergent. Concentrated formulas (less plastic).
• Sonett (available in Belgian bio shops) — a certified organic range, ideal for owners who want a strong "green" message for their guests.

For heavy-duty descaling (Belgian limescale — Brussels water is very hard, TH 25–30°f), concentrated white vinegar at 14° (available at Action, Lidl, Carrefour) remains the most effective and cheapest product, at 0 €.89/litre.

Quality control: the 6 mandatory photos after each turnover

Systematic photo validation is the key to effective remote quality control. Here are the 6 photos we require at every turnover via Turno or Properly:

1. Kitchen: Overall view of the clean worktop and tidied appliances
2. Bathroom: View of the shower/bath, the mirror and the folded towels
3. Main bedroom: Overall view of the whole made bed
4. Bedroom 2 (if present): Same framing
5. Living room: Overall view of the sofa, coffee table, tidy living space
6. Welcome basket: Photo of the basket positioned and presented

These photos are time-stamped and geolocated by the app. They serve as your evidence in the event of a guest complaint about cleanliness — and your coaching tool for gradually improving your cleaner's quality.

Guide to difficult situations

Smell of tobacco or cannabis

If a guest has smoked in the property despite the ban: air the property out for 4–6 hours, use fabric deodoriser on all soft surfaces (sofa, curtains, mattress), place bowls of baking soda in every room for 24 hours. If the smell persists: steam-clean the textiles, use an ozone generator (rentable, 40 €–80 €/day). Bill the extra costs to the guest via Airbnb's claims procedure (deadline: 72 hours after checkout).

Undeclared pets

Hair on furniture and bedding, specific odours: reinforced vacuuming with a pet-hair brush, steam-cleaning of soft surfaces, bedding washed at 60°C with an anti-allergen product. Extra cleaning fee: 40 €–80 € depending on the extent, billable via the Airbnb Resolution Centre.

Water damage or major stains

Photograph immediately and thoroughly before any intervention. Notify the owner within the hour. Do not carry out repairs beyond your remit (painting, damaged furniture). Your photo documentation is essential for the Airbnb claim and the insurance.

Deep disinfection clean (turnover after an ill guest)

If you are informed of, or notice signs of, illness: double the bathroom protocol, disinfect all contact surfaces (handles, remote controls, switches, taps) with a virucidal disinfectant (Dettol, Sanytol), wash all bedding even if it looks clean, maximum ventilation. Extra cost: 20 €–40 € to factor into your pricing policy or absorb in your maintenance reserve.

Choosing the right cleaning providers: non-negotiable criteria

Essential selection criteria:

• Specific experience in short-term letting (ask for verifiable references)
• Availability at weekends and on Belgian public holidays
• Ability and habit of using a coordination app with photos (Properly or Turno)
• A main provider AND a backup provider — essential for busy weekends
• Ability to manage consumables (stocking, counting, flagging shortages)

Managing consumables — systematise to never run out

Organise your consumables into standardised turnover kits: resealable bags or boxes containing the exact allowance for a standard stay. Buy in bulk via Amazon Business, Metro or Makro to cut the unit cost by 30 to 50%.

Work out your consumables cost per stay — with good organisation, it should be under 6 €–8 € per turnover, regardless of the property's size.

Conclusion

Rigorous, consistent professional cleaning is your best insurance against bad reviews, and your first lever for achieving and maintaining Superhost status or its equivalent. At Hexuvium, we handle this entire process for every property — selected providers, standardised protocols, systematic photo quality checks, and immediate reporting of any anomaly before the next guest arrives.