Host Guides › Vrbo Cleaning Checklist for Vacation Homes: Whole-House Turnover and Deep-Clean Schedule
Vrbo Cleaning Checklist for Vacation Homes: Whole-House Turnover and Deep-Clean Schedule
Vrbo lists whole homes: cabins, lake houses, beach houses and condos that families and groups rent together. That changes the cleaning job. A one-bedroom apartment turnover is mostly about speed. A vacation home turnover is about scale and systems: more beds, more bathrooms, more dishes, outdoor areas, hot tubs, game rooms and a lot more ways for something to get missed.
This checklist is built for that kind of property. If you host a smaller apartment on several platforms, our Airbnb cleaning checklist covers the standard room-by-room turnover. This guide adds what whole-home rentals need.
First, the Vrbo-specific rules that affect cleaning
- Put the cleaning fee in the fee fields. Vrbo's host-collected fees policy says mandatory fees like cleaning must be entered in the designated fees section of your listing or software and shown before booking, not only mentioned in the description (Vrbo host-collected fees and taxes policy). Don't plan to collect a cleaning charge any other way.
- Disclose checkout tasks up front. List the few things you'd like guests to do at checkout in your listing and your welcome book. If you host in California, a state law (AB 2202) requires hosts to disclose any fee or penalty for uncompleted checkout cleaning tasks before booking (California Legislative Information). The simplest policy anywhere: keep checkout tasks light and don't charge for them.
- Cleanliness shows up in reviews. Whatever the platform, a missed item in a big house gets noticed by a group of eight people, not one. That's why whole-home turnovers need a written list.
The vacation-home turnover order
A large home cleaned in a random order wastes hours on laundry waits and walking back and forth. Use this sequence:
- Walk through and document (10–15 minutes). Before cleaning anything, photograph every room, the hot tub, the deck and the garage. Note damage, missing items, extra guests' signs (air mattresses, extra towels used) and anything left behind.
- Strip every bed and start laundry. In a house with 8 or more beds, laundry is the bottleneck. Start it first and keep machines running all turnover. If you use a linen service, bag and tag linens now.
- Start the dishwasher with whatever guests left, then empty the fridge of guest food.
- Outdoor areas and hot tub, while laundry runs: they need daylight and they're easy to forget at the end.
- Kitchen.
- Bathrooms, top to bottom.
- Bedrooms and bunk rooms: make beds as linens come out of the dryer.
- Living areas, game room and entry.
- Restock to par levels for the maximum guest count, not the last group's size.
- Floors last, working toward the exit.
- Final walkthrough and "ready" photos of every room, then lock up and set the thermostat for arrival.
Whole-house cleaning checklist
Kitchen (for big groups)
- ☐ Fridge and freezer emptied of guest food; shelves and door bins wiped
- ☐ Every dish, pot and utensil clean, dry and put away (check the backs of cabinets for "hidden" dirty dishes)
- ☐ Dishwasher emptied, filter checked, door seal wiped
- ☐ Oven, stovetop, microwave, toaster crumb tray, coffee maker and blender cleaned
- ☐ Small appliances back in their labeled spots
- ☐ Counters, backsplash, cabinet fronts and handles wiped
- ☐ Inventory spot-check: plates, glasses, wine glasses and mugs counted against the guest maximum
- ☐ Trash and recycling out; bins washed if needed
- ☐ Pantry staples restocked: salt, pepper, oil, coffee, filters, dish soap, dishwasher pods, paper towels
Bathrooms (repeat for each)
- ☐ Shower, tub, glass and grout cleaned; drains cleared of hair
- ☐ Toilet cleaned inside, outside, base and behind
- ☐ Mirror, faucets and fixtures polished
- ☐ Towels set out for the number of beds the bathroom serves
- ☐ Toilet paper (2 spare rolls minimum), soap, shampoo, conditioner and body wash restocked
- ☐ Hair dryer and cabinets checked; trash emptied
- ☐ Floor washed, including behind the door
Bedrooms and bunk rooms
- ☐ Every bed made with fresh linens, including top bunks, trundles and the sofa bed
- ☐ Mattress protectors checked for stains; swapped if needed
- ☐ Under beds, behind nightstands and inside drawers checked for guest items
- ☐ Closets: hangers, spare blanket and pillow in place
- ☐ Bunk bed rails and ladders checked for loose hardware
- ☐ Lamps and bulbs working; blinds working
Living areas, game room and entry
- ☐ Sofas and cushions vacuumed and reset; throws folded
- ☐ Remotes wiped and in place; TV set back to the home screen and streaming accounts signed out
- ☐ Games and puzzles put back; obvious missing pieces noted
- ☐ Fireplace: ash removed when cool, glass cleaned, firewood restocked
- ☐ Entry: shoe area tidy, hooks clear, welcome book in place
Outdoor areas
- ☐ Deck and patio swept; furniture wiped and arranged
- ☐ Grill cleaned, grates brushed, propane level checked
- ☐ Fire pit cleared and safe
- ☐ Outdoor toys, kayaks, bikes and beach gear counted and stored
- ☐ Trash cans emptied, lids secure (animals find vacation homes fast)
- ☐ Exterior lights working; walkway clear
Hot tub (if you have one)
- ☐ Cover removed, debris skimmed, waterline wiped
- ☐ Water tested and treated following the manufacturer's instructions and any local health rules
- ☐ Filter checked on your set schedule; drain-and-refill dates logged
- ☐ Cover replaced, latched and locked
- ☐ Hot tub log updated: date, readings, chemicals added, initials
Final walkthrough
- ☐ Every room matches the listing photos
- ☐ Thermostat set for arrival; windows closed and locked
- ☐ All doors locked; door code updated if you change codes between guests
- ☐ "Ready" photos of every room sent to the host
Restocking for the maximum guest count
Vacation homes run out of supplies in ways apartments don't, because a group of ten uses consumables fast. Set a par level for each item, meaning the number that should be in the home after every turnover, and base it on your guest maximum:
| Item | Par level idea | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toilet paper | 2 rolls per bathroom, plus a backup pack | Running out is the most common "urgent" message |
| Paper towels | 2 rolls in the kitchen | |
| Dishwasher pods | Enough for 1 per night of the longest stay | |
| Trash bags | A full box | Groups make more trash |
| Coffee and filters | A starter supply | Note it as a starter in the welcome book |
| Bath towels | 2 per guest at maximum occupancy | Plus pool or beach towels if you have water access |
| Bed linens | At least 2 full sets per bed | One on the bed, one clean; many hosts keep a third |
Keep the backup stock in a locked owner's closet and have the cleaner record what they used on a restock log. That turns "we're out of everything" into a simple weekly order.
Deep-clean schedule for vacation homes
Turnovers keep the home guest-ready. Deep cleans keep it from slowly wearing down. Schedule these by the calendar, not by memory:
Monthly (or every 8–10 turnovers):
- Wash mattress protectors and pillow protectors
- Clean inside the oven and microwave thoroughly
- Wipe baseboards, light switches and door frames
- Clean the dishwasher and washing machine filters
- Vacuum under furniture and behind appliances you can move
Quarterly:
- Wash or replace shower curtains and bath mats
- Wash duvets, blankets and throws
- Clean windows and screens inside and out (seasonally for larger homes)
- Deep-clean grout and re-seal if needed
- Dryer vent cleaned (a fire-safety item; check the manufacturer's guidance)
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries as needed
Seasonally or twice a year:
- Steam-clean upholstery and rugs
- Clean gutters and check the roof after storms
- Service the HVAC system and replace filters on schedule
- Prepare for the season: winterize outdoor plumbing in cold climates, bring out pool towels in summer
- Full inventory count: dishes, linens, games, outdoor gear
Make it work with a cleaning team
Large homes are often cleaned by two or three people. A few rules keep a team consistent:
- Split by zone, not by whim. One person takes kitchen and living areas, one takes bedrooms and laundry, one takes bathrooms and outdoor areas. Rotate the zones over time so everyone knows the whole house.
- One checklist per zone, each ending in photos.
- A shared damage and inventory log, filled in the same day. That's your record if you ever need to request reimbursement for damage through the platform.
- A written SOP for anything unusual about the home: the hot tub, the fireplace, the owner's closet, the trash schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Does Vrbo have its own cleaning checklist requirements?
Vrbo sets policies on how cleaning fees are listed and disclosed, and hosts are responsible for presenting a clean, safe home. The detailed checklist is up to you, which is why a written list for your specific home matters.
How long does a vacation home turnover take?
It depends on the size of the home, the number of beds and whether laundry is done on site. Time your first few turnovers with the checklist and use that to set your schedule and your cleaning fee.
Can I charge Vrbo guests if they skip checkout chores?
Keep checkout tasks light and disclosed. In California, any fee or penalty for uncompleted checkout cleaning tasks must be disclosed before booking. Most hosts are better off not charging for skipped chores at all.
Can I use the same checklist for Airbnb and Vrbo?
Yes. The cleaning standard is the same. Just keep your checkout instructions and fee settings consistent on every platform where the home is listed.
Get the full system, ready to print
The Key & Kit Turnover Cleaning Checklist System includes a two-page master turnover checklist, a cabin and vacation-home add-on (hot tub log, fireplace and outdoor gear), restock par levels, a damage and inventory log, a deep-clean calendar and a cleaner SOP. It comes as a print-ready PDF and an editable Word/Google Docs file.
See the Turnover Checklist System →
Smaller unit, or want to try first? Download our free one-page Apartment Turnover Card.
This checklist is general guidance. Follow manufacturers' instructions for hot tubs, appliances and safety devices, and check your platform's current policies and local rules.