The Airbnb Turnover Checklist, Between Every Guest
A turnover is a clean against a clock, with a review riding on it. This checklist covers what has to happen between checkout and check-in, and the second half sets out the Montgomery County rules every host there should know.
Published 14 October 2026 Checklists By the Quick Cleaning Services team
Bedrooms: What Guests Notice First
An Airbnb turnover checklist is built around what the next guest sees in the first minute. The bed is first.
Strip and remake
Linens stripped and the bed remade with a fresh set from the host’s supply.
Check protectors
Mattress and pillow protectors checked and changed if needed.
Look for left items
Under beds and behind doors, plus wardrobes cleared of anything the last guest left.
Surfaces and floors
Lamps, sills and surfaces dusted; floors vacuumed.
Bathrooms: Zero Trace of the Last Guest
Reset every fixture
Toilet, shower, tub and sink cleaned and reset.
Polish to streak-free
Mirrors and fixtures, which are where streaks show.
Hair, everywhere
From drains, floors and corners. This is the most common complaint in short-stay reviews.
Towels and supplies
Fresh towels folded for display; soap, toilet roll and toiletries topped up from what the host keeps in the unit.
Kitchen and Living Areas: Back to Neutral
Dishes and counters
Dishwasher emptied, sink and counters cleared.
The fridge
Checked, with guest leftovers removed.
Stovetop, microwave and appliance fronts
Exteriors wiped, microwave inside cleaned, stovetop wiped.
The small things
Cushions straightened, remotes and keys located and put back.
Trash out
Bins and recycling emptied and liners replaced.
What Montgomery County Requires of Hosts
These points are taken from the county’s Department of Permitting Services. Rules elsewhere in Maryland differ, and the county is the authority for any specific property.
A county license
All short-term residential rentals must be licensed through the Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
Primary residence
The dwelling unit used as a short-term rental must be the property owner’s or owner-authorised resident’s primary residence.
What counts as short-term
The county treats a unit as a short-term rental when it is available for rent for less than 30 consecutive days.
Guest limits
The maximum number of adults aged 18 and over per short-term residential rental is six, and the maximum per bedroom is two.
Other jurisdictions
The City of Frederick, for example, requires short-term rentals to register unless exempt. Our area pages summarise local rules where they are published.
What Hosts Ask Before Handing Over the Turnovers
The host. Turnover cleaning works from the linens and consumables kept on site, and restocks from that supply.
Share the checkout and check-in times when you book. Same-day turnovers are possible when the window and the size of the unit allow it.
It is noted and reported to you with photos, so you can raise it through the platform. Cleaning does not repair damage.
From your supply on site, yes. Tell us what the standard setup is and it is reproduced each time.
That is the aim. A team that knows the unit works faster and notices when something is different.
Making Every Changeover Look the Same
A photo of the finished setup
One photo per room of how it should look at check-in removes guesswork for anyone cleaning.
A locked supply cupboard
Linens and consumables in one place, with a par level, so nothing runs out mid-season.
Calendar access
Turnovers are scheduled against your booking calendar, so the clean is always timed to the next arrival. Listings around Rockville are on the same weekly route. For the money side, see what goes into a cleaning quote.
Guests Check In at Three. The Unit Will Be Ready.
Tell us about the unit, the usual checkout and check-in times and how often it turns over. You will get a flat price per turnover.
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