To think this AirBnB review was unfair?

[QuiteDisgruntled]

Recently stayed in a studio apartment with kitchenette (fridge, sink, hob, small worktop). Washing up liquid, paper towel and sponge provided but no other cleaning equipment.

Before leaving we washed breakfast things and left on drainer. Wiped surfaces and table, stacked placemats and scooped up some crumbs from the floor with my hands.

I’ve just read the host’s review which says “OK, but kitchen left messy”. I’ve checked other reviews from the host which are all in the style of “great guest, recommended!” so it’s not as though they’re generally leaving picky or negative reviews.

Honestly I’m baffled - I think how we left the place was perfectly acceptable. Am I missing something?

I’m hesitant in using airBNB because of this. We paid £70 cleaning fee, hefty booking fee and 3 days before departing she emailed me to say we needed to bring our own bedding or cost € (bedding included on website) & 5 A4 pages of instructions incl extensive cleaning: oven, microwave, toilets, showers, stripping beds, vacuuming etc lists id don’t do this and don’t do that’s.
We did vacuum and left the place in a very good way but I did not pay extra for bedding or do extensive cleaning. the owner had all her personal things every where, especially in the kitchen there was no work surface so I moved so bits out of the way & forgot to return them and one plastic item drying in drainer, we got a damning review and we spent a couple hours of our holidays cleaning.

We broke a cheap wine glass and wrapped it up so it wouldn’t cut anyone and popped in the bin, she took it out and photographed it as part of review.

the gas didn’t work for hob and leaked which we had to try and sort.

terrible experience and out a dampener on the next 2 visits we had planned in airBNB for our 2 week holiday (they were tbf fine)

We have an annexe on Airbnb. Only 2 rules - no smoking in cottage and please take your shoes off as carpeted. If you don't like them then don't book. It is not a hotel.
However we do expect people to put crockery and cutlery away - you leave how you find. Otherwise I have to wash up again as everything is covered in water stains especially cutlery. No cleaning charge but basic tidiness expected.
And for the record, my council only licenses me for under 30 day let's so I'm not depleting the housing stock.

I use airBnB all the time, you are staying in accomodation that is privately owned by someone else, why wouldnt you keep it clean and tidy. I hate to thing what all your houses look like. I always strip the beds (although its not expected of us), leave the dirty towels in the shower, and I always put the dishes back into the cupbored after I have washed them and befoe I leave. Think thats where you went wrong op, dishes in the dish drainer look untidy. I also always take the rubbish out.

I must be a very relaxed BnB host as I don't ask my guests to do anything and whatever they do for me is then a bonus! I'm on 3 different platforms.

Is the no shoes rule on the listing?

Why would you spend hours of your holiday cleaning when they charge a cleaning fee? It's taking the mickey charging extra for cleaning and then be fussy about a few things out of place. I'd rather people leave used crockery out after washing, so it can be checked it's clean, before putting back

No wonder Abnb is so popular to do. They charge guests for doing their own cleaning, and can blackmail them with bad reviews if it isn't professional standards.

This really doesn't happen. I've never seen anyone say they have been asked to clean to professional standards. Put the dishwasher on and the rubbish out , maybe.

It's hosts who suffer from bad reviews from guests so it's unlikely they would risk asking people to clean to professional standards I would say.

This is an urban myth perpetuated by people who have actually never experienced it.

I presume you left them an honest review such that people viewing would not consider booking it themselves?

I’ve stayed in one where the list was long! Including wash the dishes and put away, wipe the worktops and hob, empty and wipe the fridge out then turn it off and leave the door open, wash and dry the bedding and towels, and take the rubbish to the recycling bins (5 minutes drive away), sweep the patio/pool area.

I got into a back and forth with the owner because we’d have had to get up at 2am to wash and dry all the linen in time for a 10am check out, so I just stuck it in the washing machine and left it running.

This place was in Italy. We paid €6000 for the week, and there was a €600 cleaning fee on top. I’ve never used Airbnb since.

Most of that isn't unreasonable.

wash and dry the bedding and towels

This is ridiculous! I would have complained about that to AirBnB on arrival.

Just by way of balance, and to counter some of the general AirBnB hate, we stayed in four different Airbnbs during this trip:

-one provided a cupboard full of food and snacks at our disposal, and the host gave us loads of helpful tips to make the most of our stay plus towels,,toys and an umbrella for a trip to the beach, and left us the most lovely review. Only cleaning instruction was to leave used towels in bath.

-one where we arrived to beers and ice cream in the fridge, They brought us fresh bread every other day and home grown vegetables. They said there was nothing we needed to do prior to check out and wouldn’t even let us take the bins out

-one gave us a bowl of fresh fruit when arrived, sent us great restaurant recommendations, and sent a nice message thanking me for leaving the place tidy despite us having done nothing special.

The hosts at the place who left us a poor review were also incredibly nice and helpful during the stay which is why the review was so surprising.

It really shouldn’t matter if the drainer looks untidy, you’re leaving it ready for cleaning not ready for inspection. The beds look untidy because they aren’t made. The bathroom looks untidy because dirty towels are pulled in the bath. Surely the point is not ‘looking tidy’ but not leaving an excess of cleaning work behind. I didn’t leave a Jenga tower on the drainer, just two plates and two cups which would take 10 seconds to put away (only reason I didn’t do it myself was I needed to leave them to air dry as the tea towel was soggy). IF that was the reason for the bad review that’s pretty OTT.

It's completely bloody unreasonable if you're paying a €600 cleaning fee. It's a fucking cheek!

Also, a lot of European places expect guests to bring their own linen.

Bonkers!!

I don't think they should be allowed to charge a cleaning fee if they expect you to do it yourself. Suppose that's how hotels and other professional holiday accommodation companies beat Abnb, as it's all in with the price, and no extras or dumb reviews after you paid them to stay there.

Air b and b host here , all our reviews are 5 star
night rate low , as want the place used and booked up ,
my cleaning costs are double what I charge
in addition I do all the linen ironing fresh flowers ,garden etc cake on arrival
my place is pristine!
I look carefully at host reviews before excepting a booking , recently accepted a guest booking who only had one review!(big mistake)
The sheets where stained with weird purple oil
It took 3 boil washes and lots stain remover
to return to white
two white good quality towels had excrement on them
( threw away )
the fridge and freezer full of left over food !
and the new flat screen tv was scratched.whole house covered in greasy finger prints
and food left on every pan etc
had to re wash the lot.
all this in three bloody nights
i left an honest review saying I would never host
them again.
I work really hard to make a beautiful place for guests , and treat my guests with respect
I do not ask them to clean or strip beds
but it’s soul destroying when you get a lousy guest tbh

We tend to pay about 300-400 a night, there is cleaning charge of 200 on top normally. If you pay cleaner 15 an hour, that buys 13 hours of cleaning time.
No way would I do cleaning. I normally load dishwasher, put towels in bath, put toys back in the playroom, take bins out and that's that.
Under no circumstances will I hoover, strip beds, etc.
I also avoid staying in places which have ridiculously strict rules in the listing.
Served us fine so far.

Yes some (far too many) people are disgusting. I used to be amazed at just how dirty and untidy people could leave someone in one night. Often after a week or two the places were just awful. I would hate to see some of their homes unless, of course, they are just filthy pigs when away because someone else is doing everything

Surely you just don't book Airbnb 's that have a cleaning charge or an awful cancellation policy.
I've stayed in around 85 around the world but mainly in the UK and never had a problem.
I also let one out with no cleaning charge and full refund for late cancellation, and rarely have it left messy.
The moans are from a few disgruntled customers but thousands enjoy the accommodations and versatility they provide. And by the way, some properties such as mine, are not leading to a full time rental drought as it is only allowed to be let to family members or short term up to 30 days - local council rules, not mine.