Ask any experienced STR host what their most important vendor relationship is, and the answer is almost always the same: their cleaner.
A great cleaning service means 5-star review after 5-star review. A bad one means complaints about hair in the shower, unmade beds, and sticky kitchen counters — exactly the kind of reviews that hurt your ranking and scare off future guests.
Finding someone great is worth significant effort. Here's how.
Why STR Cleaning Is Different
Most house cleaners — even excellent ones — aren't set up for STR work. The challenges are different:
- Same-day turnovers: Checkout at 11am, checkin at 3pm. That's four hours to clean, restock, and reset an entire property.
- Variable schedules: Unlike a weekly residential cleaning, STR cleanings happen whenever a checkout occurs — sometimes three times a week, sometimes once.
- Supply restocking: Toiletries, paper products, and kitchen supplies need to be counted and replenished on every visit.
- Damage inspection: Your cleaner is often the first to discover a broken lamp, stained mattress, or missing item. They need to know how to document and report this.
- Last-minute requests: A same-day booking might mean a cleaning job appears with only a few hours' notice.
A cleaner who does beautiful bi-weekly residential work may struggle with STR turnovers. You need someone who has specifically done this before.
Where to Find STR Cleaners
Option 1: STRVend Directory
Browse STR cleaning companies in your market — these are vendors who specifically specialize in short-term rental work and are familiar with the turnaround times and requirements.
Option 2: Local STR Host Groups
Facebook groups and local Airbnb host communities are gold for cleaner recommendations. Search "[Your City] Airbnb Hosts" and ask for recommendations. These are real experiences from people running the same type of business you are.
Option 3: Your Property Manager
If you're working with an STR property manager (even just a co-host), they almost always have cleaning relationships you can plug into.
Option 4: Referrals from Other Hosts
The STR community tends to be collaborative. If you meet another host at a local meetup or connect through a Facebook group, ask who they use.
What to Look for in the Interview
Before hiring, ask:
- How many STR properties do you currently service? You want someone with direct STR experience, not someone willing to try it.
- Can you handle same-day turnovers? Non-negotiable.
- What's your availability for last-minute cleans? Does 24 hours' notice work? 48?
- Do you restock supplies, or does the host need to handle that? Many services will restock from a supply kit you provide, or charge extra for sourcing supplies.
- How do you handle damage reporting? They should have a clear process — ideally photos sent immediately.
- Are you insured? Professional cleaners should carry liability insurance.
What to Pay
STR cleaning rates vary by market and property size. General benchmarks:
| Property Size | Typical Cleaning Fee | |--------------|---------------------| | Studio/1BR | $65–$100 | | 2BR | $100–$150 | | 3BR | $150–$225 | | 4–5BR | $225–$350 | | 6+ BR large home | $350–$600+ |
These are fees charged to guests via the booking platforms. What you actually pay your cleaner should cover their time, supplies, and a reasonable margin. Don't pay so little that your cleaner can't afford to prioritize your property.
Important: If you're paying a cleaner significantly below market rate, they will drop you the moment a better client comes along — right when you need them most.
Setting Your Cleaner Up for Success
The cleaner is only as good as the systems you give them.
Create a detailed checklist. Don't assume anything. Your checklist should cover every room: what gets cleaned, what gets restocked, what gets staged (pillows fluffed, toilet paper fanned, welcome basket placed).
Use a turnover calendar tool. Apps like Turnoverbnb (now Turno), Properly, or your PMS platform can automatically send cleaning jobs to your cleaner when a checkout is booked, including the checkout and checkin times.
Maintain an on-site supply kit. Keep a labeled cabinet or bin with backup toiletries, paper products, and cleaning supplies so your cleaner isn't improvising when something runs out.
Build a damage reporting protocol. Ask them to text you photos of anything broken or stained immediately after discovery, before checkout time passes. This is essential for filing damage claims through Airbnb or Vrbo.
Pay on time, every time. Treat your cleaner like the essential business partner they are. Late or inconsistent payment is the fastest way to lose a great one.
When to Find a Backup
No matter how good your primary cleaner is, you need a backup relationship. People get sick, have family emergencies, and take vacations. A single point of failure in your cleaning operation is a serious business risk.
Maintain at least one backup who knows your property and can step in on short notice. Many hosts work this out informally — their primary cleaner refers a colleague when they're unavailable.
Find STR-specialized cleaning companies in your market on STRVend →