Holiday rental cleaning checklist: what to do between every guest

A good changeover follows the same order every time: air the property, strip the beds, clean from top to bottom and from the back of the property to the door, restock, then check and photograph every room before the next guests arrive. The checklist below is the one we work from for holiday rentals and Airbnb homes between Manilva and Fuengirola. Use it for your own team, or let us take the changeover off your hands.

Why a fixed checklist matters for holiday rentals

Guests judge a rental in the first few minutes. A hair in the shower or a half-empty bottle of washing-up liquid is often what ends up in a review, not the view from the terrace. A fixed checklist means every changeover is done the same way, whoever does the cleaning. It also gives you something to check against when a guest raises a problem. On the Costa del Sol many owners manage their property from abroad. A written checklist, combined with a photo report after each clean, is how you know the work was done without being there yourself.

Before you start: the changeover in the right order

1. Open windows and doors to air the property while you work.
2. Strip all beds and collect used towels, bath mats and kitchen cloths.
3. Empty every bin, including bathroom and terrace bins.
4. Check for lost property and damage before you clean, so nothing is thrown away or wiped over.
5. Clean from top to bottom: dust high surfaces first, floors last.
6. Work from the back of the property towards the entrance, so you never walk over a floor you have just mopped.

Kitchen checklist

• Countertops, splashback and sink cleaned and dried
• Hob, microwave inside and out, oven and fridge checked and cleaned
• Fronts of appliances and cabinets wiped, handles included
• Dishes, glasses and cutlery clean, dry and back in place, with a quick count against your inventory
• Fridge empty of guest leftovers
• Coffee machine, kettle and toaster emptied and cleaned
• Basics restocked: washing-up liquid, sponge, dishwasher tablets, bin bags, kitchen roll

Bathroom checklist

• Toilet cleaned inside, outside and behind the base
• Sink, bath or shower cleaned, with no hair in drains or on the shower floor
• Mirrors and chrome polished without streaks
• Cabinet fronts wiped
• Fresh towels and bath mat laid out
• Toilet paper, soap and any toiletries you provide topped up

Bedroom checklist

• Beds made with fresh linen, mattress protector checked
• Floors cleared and cleaned, including under the bed
• Bedside tables and other tabletops dusted
• Cabinet and drawer fronts wiped; drawers and wardrobes empty and checked for forgotten items
• Spare blanket and pillows clean and in place

Living areas, terrace and the whole property

• Floors vacuumed and mopped throughout
• Surfaces and furniture dusted
• Light switches, door handles and remote controls wiped
• Sofa cushions straightened and checked underneath
• Terrace furniture wiped and the terrace swept, if this is part of your agreement
• Wi-Fi details, house rules and welcome information visible and up to date

The final check before the next guests

This is the step that is most often skipped. Walk through the property as if you were the guest:

• Do all lights work, and is the air conditioning or heating set correctly?
• Is there enough linen and stock for the next booking, not just this one?
• Is anything broken or missing that needs to be reported to the owner?
• Take photos of each room as it was left.

Linen, keys and stock: the parts guests notice

Clean linen and towels are the heart of a changeover. Keep at least one spare set per bed so a late check-out never holds up the next arrival. Keys need the same care: agree on one system, whether that is a lockbox, key holding or a handover through your property manager, and stick to it. A short stock list (toilet paper, soap, dishwasher tablets, coffee, bin bags) avoids last-minute shopping trips. Our changeover service covers turnover between check-out and check-in, linen and towel service, key holding and access coordination, damage and stock reporting and a photo report after every changeover.

Regular clean, deep clean or refresh between guests?

Most changeovers are a regular clean: the standard room-by-room routine above. A deep clean takes more time and detail and is worth planning at the start and end of the season, or after a long stay. A refresh is a short visit for a property that is already clean, for example to dust, air and prepare it before an owner or a late booking arrives. You can compare the three and see an indicative price for your property size in our instant estimate.

Doing it yourself or hiring a changeover team

If you live nearby and have one property, a checklist and a good routine may be enough. It becomes harder when bookings follow each other on the same day, when you are abroad, or when you manage several properties. Then the value is in reliability: someone who arrives on time, follows the same checklist and tells you what they found. We clean holiday rentals in Marbella, Estepona, San Pedro, Puerto Banús, Manilva and the rest of the coast up to Fuengirola, in English and Spanish. Read more about our holiday rental changeovers or ask us about your property.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a holiday rental changeover take?

It depends on the size of the property, how it was left and what is included, such as linen or terrace cleaning. We agree the timing and the checklist with you before the first changeover, so it fits your check-out and check-in times.

Do I need to be there for the changeover?

No. Many owners on the Costa del Sol are abroad. We can work with key holding, a lockbox or access through your property manager, and send a photo report after every changeover.

Is laundry included in a changeover?

Linen and towel service is part of our changeover offer. Laundry and ironing are priced separately on request, based on the amount.

What happens if a guest has damaged something?

We note damage and missing items during the changeover and report them to you, with photos, so you can follow it up with the guest or the platform.

How much does a holiday rental clean cost?

It depends on the type of clean, the size of the property, its condition and any extras. Our instant estimate shows an indicative price in 30 seconds; displayed rates exclude 21% IVA, and the final price is confirmed once we know the property.

By the Purely Clean Costa team