Air B n B guests no longer need to clean up after themselves

[lonelylou09]

Wondering what everyone's thoughts are on the upcoming changes to Air BnB bookings where owners will no longer be able to ask guests to strip beds, remove rubbish or even wash up after themselves.
I'm a cleaner and I'm worried this will mean I can no longer do changeovers properly.
I currently do a 5 bed 3 bathroom that sleeps 10 and it takes me the whole check out time (5 hours) to turn the property over. That's with guests having to strip beds, remove rubbish to correct outside bins and at the very least load up the dishwasher and put it on.
If I have to add this on to It could easily add on an hour which means check out or in times would have to be adjusted and people already moan or turn up 2 or 3 hours early or leave an hour late.
So I'm guessing I'm asking what peoples thoughts are if you use air B and b. Do you do these things if asked and would continue too if you can't be asked to? Or do you think this isn't your place to do it? Does it make a difference if there is a cleaning fee charged separately?
My view is it's not a hotel ..its self catering and you should leave it as you found it. I always put a lot of effort into trying to ensure when the guests arrive it feels like no one was there before then and it's theirs for the week.
If I stay anywhere...even a hotel I'll strip the bed and set the bins ready to make it easier for the cleaner.
But although most guests are great you do get some that you just wonder what Thier own home is like.

Agree with everyone else, if 5 hours is not enough then you need to work with another cleaner.

I don't mind taking the bins out if it's in the UK and the bins are just outside the door. Takes 2 minutes. But i'm not loading up the car overseas with black bags or recycling and driving round looking for somewhere to dump them. Towels in the bath is fine too. Stripping the beds again is not a huge chore now my kids are older and can do their own but was a pain in the arse when they were little. I am not ever getting the hoover or duster out.

Airbnb is not supposed to be cheaper than a hotel. It is a completely different thing. People choose airbnb or other self-catering properties because they want more space, a whole house/flat rather than just a room, a kitchen, washing machine etc.

That's an issue between the cleaner, the owner and air b and b. If I'm paying someone to clean it I'll give everything a wipe down but I'm not wrestling with the beds.

I will continue to do what I have always done. Empty bins, wash dishes or put in dishwasher and switch on ( we usually leave before departure time so cycle should finish shortly after cleaners arrive), strip bedding and ensure toilet is clean, oh and fridge is emptied.

Unfortunately some owners have spoiled it for everyone by having excessive demands whilst simultaneously demanding cleaning fees. I stayed in a lovely cottage a couple of times but wouldn’t go back because it had become grubby and felt unloved despite a cleaning fee.

I don’t think people should be leaving unwashed pots and pans or rubbish strewn around a rental, it’s just disrespectful. However I am not hoovering, dusting or cleaning windows on holiday.

But giving everything a wipe down is what the cleaner is paid to do.

My latest stay in an Airbnb has jokingly been referred to by my family as ‘The bin place’ due to so many signs and messages and complicated instructions about the 3 outside bins, each stated to be a ‘reminder’ when there was actually no mention when I booked.

The cleaning standard was not good. The place was dusty and there was fluff in corners and at the sides of the wooden stairs. There were 2 towels hanging up in the bathroom, which I assumed had been used.

I paid just under £2.5k for a 2 week stay, having to wash sheets mid stay as no spares provided. The host must have saved a fortune on cleaning fees during my stay as no changeovers.

He wanted all crockery put away, and I would have managed that if his dishwasher had not twice failed to operate properly, by not releasing the tablet. I still did my best drying by hand using the one tea towel provided.
He also asked that all furniture was put back in place ( fair enough) and all floors swept.

I like to leave a place clean, I will deal with any crumbs, spills, etc. I will leave used towels where requested.

I am not willing to do their general cleaning for them.
He also gave me a several page long message telling me why less than 5 stars could harm his rating.

In all conscience I couldn’t give him 5 stars, so I didn’t rate him at all.

So I welcome these new rules, except parts of the washing up one. I think it’s just common decency to load stuff in the dishwasher and switch it on. Waiting for it to finish and unloading is less reasonable.

I leave the place tidy. Cleaning fees are often part of the charge so I don't hoover up. Also some hosts ask guests to be gone by 9am so I am not going to do too much if that is the case. I presume the cleaners live locally so they have got a job due to owners wanting places clean. I am all in favour of the new rules.

I've never used Airbnb. This is one of the reasons. It's very off-putting that you pay a cleaning fee and then have to do half the cleaning on top.

My mother in law has a spotless house, gorgeous, and goes on several holidays a year. One of the greatest joys she has on those various holidays is not having to clean up after herself. It's part of the break. She tips the cleaners very well the entire time, but it's a major factor in her enjoyment that she's not striping beds, washing the shower doors after use and it's one of the luxuries that she's paying for. Why is Airbnb any different?

If the owners can't turn the property around in time they need to hire more or better cleaners.

The price of cottage/ other self catering holidays is very high. We always did everything required before we left under the COVID rules but owners want you out by 10.O0. If I'm on a Monday to Friday break I don't want the day before, a fifth of my holiday took up with any packing/cleaning etc and if I'm going to be out by 10.00 it's a lot to ask that beds are stripped bins done etc, packing for the family done and out by 10.00. I will leave the rooms tidy, dishwasher emptied, sides wiped but other than that, this is a holiday quite expensively paid for and the owners incorporate the price of cleaning into that. If you won't have enough time, and I can understand that, then the owners need two cleaners for that property. The cost of a second cleaner shouldn't impact their profit margin much and if it does they will have to adjust their pricing.
The owners, like any other business, will have to adjust to a changing market. I recently paid £1400 for a 4 night cottage holiday. I have also had 4 nights all inclusive abroad for 4 of us for £1600. This included flights and all food and drink. Owners of self catering properties will not make their properties an attractive proposition when the customer has far more choice if they continue to expect the same from their customers as they did during covid.

Well I'm pleased you can do all that within that time but are you also making up 8 beds with flat sheets to boot? On arrival I'll do a visual inspection of property to check for damage, missing or moved items. I then remove all the used bedding and towels to where it gets collected and bring fresh ones in and sort out to which beds. I then sort the rubbish which includes checking all bins inside property are empty and bags replaced..there are 4 bins in the kitchen alone and 6 different bins outside. These all need a quick check through and then carrying over to where they get collected and then new bins in place. I'll then replenish staple items supplied and start making beds and laying out folded towels. All this can take two hours including cleaning out the log burner and getting more logs.
Upstairs is 3 beds and 1 bath - 1 hour. That leaves me 2 hours to do 2 beds downstairs, that bathroom and separate loo, plus living room, hall and stairs. Big dining room and a full kitchen clean to include fridge and oven. Inside cupboards and making sure everything is back where it should be. Unloading the dishwasher and wiping down all cupboard doors. If by some miracle I've got any time left I use that time to do more cleaning that I don't get around too. I also order the next lot of laundry and check the staple items left to make sure owner is aware if she needs to order more. I'd love to see someone do all that to a high standard quicker

@DanaScullysLegoHair I don’t really agree. How much is the cleaning fee? £50? I genuinely don’t know. But if it’s £50 then the host is essentially saying “the fee for cleaning (on the basis that you leave the place not littered with rubbish everywhere and help us out by stripping your own sweaty bedding) is £50”.

Yep we don't expect guests to do any cleaning but I guess everyone definition of that is different. Id rather my guests didn't try to clean ..I remember one that had decided to clean the windows which I do every week. Only god knows what she had used as they were awful and it looks ages to clean them.
Some do hoover but it's not required as I still have to do a thorough clean anyway. We allow dogs as well so that can increase work load.
We have a hugely complicated bin system but the outside bins are just outside the back door so they aren't expected to take with them. This seems a ridiculous ask as they will likely have a full car and no one wants rubbish in their car.

Do you charge a cleaning fee? If not, charge one and hire a cleaner

I don't see why doing your own washing up would be considered cleaning for the next person. They are your dishes. I don't do any washing up for any of my regular clients as that's more considered as housemaid/ keeper work and doesn't come under expectations of cleaning.
We don't expect anything to be cleaned or hoovered

Thanks for that. I guess I've not really thought about the impact of guests having to strip beds because I always do it when staying anywhere as it doesn't take a minute to do your own bed.
But I can see if you're the one guest left to strip everyone's bed then it's not pleasant before driving home

Years ago I had a holiday let which was never left anything but immaculate by renters because they were decent human beings with a bit of respect for themselves and the person coming in to clean after them. I didnt ask them to clean. Bins werent mentioned because it didnt occur to me that normal people wouldnt empty their own bins.They just did it, because decent people would be mortified to leave a place a pit. Standards seem to have changed.

I also leave holiday lets clean and tidy. Emptying your own stinking bins is basic civilty.

Everybody saying " I dont go on holiday to empty bins and tidy" is a filthy pig. Do you leave your decency standards at home or what? You are not socking it to the property owner, you are shitting all over the poor sod that has to go in and clean up after you.

I used to own a holiday home (before AirBB), & did not expect guests to do anything - apart from vacate by the stated time. The rental charge covered the change-over.

Any tasks done were a bonus for my cleaner.
Similarly, I don't want to do any work when I'm on holiday.

One of the reasons I don't use air bnb is because they charge a huge cleaning fee and mostly want you to also clean it.
You should be given enough time to clean it between guests of course. If you aren't, then that's between you and the owner.

No I totally get what you're saying .I did another one every week owned by an old couple and they had laminated signs on everything and it was not very relaxing or welcoming. Things like 'Do not put anything on this sideboard - it's antique' and on the toilet ' do not flush anything down here - please use the bin' and another for same toilet ' do not sit on toilet with lid closed'
I did used to wonder how they ever got any bookings.

Whilst I agree that air BnB and hotels are a different proposition, and I will pay more for the extra space/cooking ability, I am fed up of some of the onerous demands of hosts and definitely welcome these changes. It is like they want it every way: charge cleaning fees but expect you do do most of the work including cleaning ovens and hoovering, early check out time but expect dishwashers unloaded and put away and bins fully emptied. Again, fine if bin is outside but not good when you have to drive there with luggage and fully laden car and black bins of rubbish. Also the terms vary between hosts so if you are using multiple times a year you need to check specific arrangements each time. I’m going off the whole model and often preferring a hotel where terms and conditions are more standard.

And a separate peeve is that some don’t have basic cleaning products but never really clear in advance. If I know I need to bring a cleaning sponge, I’d rather bring one from home rather than have to buy a pack of 6 on holiday! I have got used to the fact that I will be expected to buy rubbish bags even though I consider that a basic requirement.

I have found the US air bnbs we have stayed in tend to be much better stocked vs European ones, not sure if that is a general theme.

Everybody saying " I dont go on holiday to empty bins and tidy" is a filthy pig.

I am happy to empty bins - assuming there is a wheely bin outside the door or round the back of the garage to put it in. I don't think it's reasonable to ask guests to lug bags half a mile down a farm track, or collect glass in a box then drive round looking for a bottle bank.

I also think it's unreasonable to expect sweeping, hoovering, dusting or wiping down of surfaces.

These comments are precisely why Air BnB have brought this in. There is clearly a perception that you have to spend 'hours cleaning' 'leave it spotless' 'scrub' when in fact most people only ask guests to wash up their crockery and put the bins out which is 'half the cleaning' apparently. It is just a perception but even going off this thread it's stopping people booking.

I'm a host and don't have any rules and in 10 years have only had one guest leave dirty dishes. So I don't think it will make any difference. Decent people will wash up and put the rubbish out just as they do now.

The other perception is 'extortionate' 'enormous' cleaning fees. It's been over a year since the cleaning fee has been shown as a separate charge- it's now averaged out over the amount of nights so you don't even know if a host is charging one or not.

The other perception is the time it takes to clean. People seem to think it's just like cleaning your own home. I got told on another thread that I spend too long cleaning and I don't need to clean the shower trap, windows or skirting boards!!! They don't realise it's a deep clean every single time.

Yes exactly this! I wouldn't expect any of the guests to vacuum, wipe down anything but it makes a huge difference if they leave it tidy to the ones that leave rubbish under every bed, move furniture and leave a pile of washing up rather than putting the dishwasher on. I want to do my best to ensure they arrive feeling like the place is clean and fresh and theirs for the week.
On my general cleans there's no way I would wash up for my clients ..I'm there to clean ..not be their housekeeper.
But everyone's definition of what 'cleaning' entails varies

@AddledPeacock yes the variation in requirements is annoying and often you don’t know what they are until after you have booked and they send out instructions.
In town centres I do tend to stay in apart hotels in preference to Airbnbs these days. I like the anonymity of them, knowing in advance what is expected because of clear websites and cleaning is generally of a certain standard. Usually cheaper as well.

I've had several threads about this on FB pop up for me. Some hosts are complaining that they'll end up with 7 days of dirty dishes in the sink - how many dishes etc are they supplying?!!

Anyway I think some of it is fair - there is always a huge cleaning fee plus being asked to do all these extra tasks. I wouldn't leave bins overflowing or loads of dishes in the sink, but, as an example, what if you have an 8am flight, and you're an hour from the airport, with small children? In that case I just want to throw clothes on and get them straight to the car at 5am, not faff about with stripping beds.

Hosts keep saying "these jobs only take a few minutes" but also that their cleaners will now need an extra couple of hours, so which is it??

A 10am checkout is the latest you can check out, many people need to get away a lot earlier for a long journey/other commitments. You pay to have a nights sleep, not to get up at 4am to clean the house in order to leave by 7am.