For Airbnb hosts, understanding how long a proper cleaning should take is essential for scheduling turnovers, setting cleaner expectations, and determining fair pricing. At Cleanbnb, we’ve cleaned thousands of vacation rentals and have developed reliable time estimates based on property size and features. Let’s break down realistic cleaning timeframes to help you plan effectively and ensure your property receives the attention it deserves.
Factors That Impact Cleaning Time
Before diving into specific estimates, it’s important to understand that several factors influence cleaning duration:
- Guest condition: A property left relatively tidy requires less time than one with excessive messes
- Turnover vs. deep clean: Standard turnovers are quicker than periodic deep cleanings
- Cleaner experience: Specialized vacation rental cleaners work more efficiently
- Cleaning supplies: Professional equipment speeds up the process
- Property layout: Open floor plans are typically faster to clean than compartmentalized spaces
- Furnishing density: Minimalist properties clean faster than those with many decorative items
- Special features: Hot tubs, outdoor kitchens, and other amenities add cleaning time
Time Estimates by Bedroom Count
Here are our standard turnover time estimates based on bedroom count for properties in average condition:
Time Estimates by Bathroom Count
Bathrooms are among the most time-consuming areas to clean properly. Add the following time to your base estimate for each bathroom:
Time Estimates by Bed Count
Each bed requires proper changing and making, which adds time to the cleaning process:
Time Estimates by Square Footage
Square footage provides another useful way to estimate cleaning time, especially for open concept properties:
Special Features Adding Cleaning Time
Don’t forget to account for these special features when estimating cleaning time:
Real-World Examples
To illustrate how these estimates work in practice, here are some common property types with realistic cleaning times:
Downtown Studio Apartment (600 sq ft)
- 1 bathroom, 1 queen bed
- Standard cleaning time: 2-2.5 hours
2-Bedroom Condo (1,200 sq ft)
- 2 bathrooms, 1 queen bed, 2 twin beds
- Standard cleaning time: 3.5-4.5 hours
3-Bedroom Suburban Home (2,000 sq ft)
- 2.5 bathrooms, 1 king bed, 2 queen beds, 1 sofa bed
- Standard cleaning time: 5-6 hours
5-Bedroom Luxury Vacation Home (4,000 sq ft)
- 4.5 bathrooms, 2 king beds, 3 queen beds, 2 sofa beds, hot tub, pool
- Standard cleaning time: 8-10 hours (team cleaning)
Why Rushing Cleaning Is Costly
While it might be tempting to push for faster turnovers, rushed cleaning often leads to:
- Missed details guests will notice
- Incomplete sanitization
- Reduced cleaner morale and higher turnover
- Poor reviews mentioning cleanliness issues
- More frequent deep cleanings needed
At Cleanbnb, we’ve found that properly allocating adequate time for thorough cleaning ultimately costs less than dealing with the consequences of rushed work.
Finding Your Property’s Sweet Spot
Every property is unique, so we recommend tracking actual cleaning times for your specific property over 5-10 cleanings to establish your baseline. This data will help you schedule turnovers effectively and set appropriate expectations with both guests and cleaners.
Need help determining the right cleaning schedule for your Cincinnati Airbnb? Contact the Cleanbnb team for a personalized consultation and cleaning time estimate based on your specific property features.