When choosing between an Airbnb and a hotel for your next stay, cleanliness is often a top concern. The truth is, neither option is inherently cleaner than the other—it ultimately comes down to who’s responsible for the cleaning and how much they care about doing a thorough job.
Hotels: Standardized but Not Guaranteed
Hotels typically have standardized cleaning protocols and dedicated housekeeping staff. In theory, this means consistent cleaning standards across all rooms. Many hotels, especially those belonging to major chains, have strict cleaning checklists and regular inspections.
However, standardization doesn’t always equal spotlessness. Hotels with overworked, undertrained, or unmotivated cleaning staff may cut corners. A housekeeper rushing to clean 15+ rooms in a shift might not have time to deep clean or notice issues in hard-to-reach areas.
Airbnbs: Variable but Often Personal
With Airbnbs, cleaning responsibility typically falls to either the host themselves or a cleaning service they hire. This introduces more variability in cleaning standards.
When hosts clean their own properties, there’s often a personal investment in maintaining high standards. After all, their ratings and future bookings depend on guest satisfaction. Many hosts take pride in their properties and clean them as meticulously as they would their own homes.
On the other hand, some hosts may outsource cleaning to services that vary in quality and thoroughness, similar to hotels. And without institutional oversight, individual hosts might develop blind spots in their cleaning routines.
What Makes the Difference?
Several factors determine cleanliness regardless of accommodation type:
- Accountability and care: A hotel manager who prioritizes cleanliness or an Airbnb host who takes pride in their space will ensure higher standards.
- Time allocated for cleaning: Both settings can suffer when cleaners are rushed between guest turnovers.
- Transparency and consequences: Both rely on reviews to maintain standards, though a single bad review might impact an individual Airbnb host more significantly than a large hotel.
- Inspection processes: The best establishments, whether hotels or Airbnbs, have verification systems in place.
How to Ensure a Clean Stay
To maximize your chances of a clean stay:
- Read recent reviews specifically mentioning cleanliness
- Look for Airbnb “Superhosts” or hotels with cleanliness awards
- Check photos for signs of general upkeep and attention to detail
- Consider reaching out before booking to ask about cleaning protocols
The Bottom Line
Neither Airbnbs nor hotels have a definitive edge when it comes to cleanliness. A well-managed hotel with dedicated housekeeping can provide consistently clean accommodations, while an attentive Airbnb host might offer an impeccably maintained space with personal touches.
What truly matters is the commitment to cleanliness by whoever is responsible for maintaining the space. A host or hotel management team that prioritizes guest experience and takes pride in their property will likely provide a cleaner stay, regardless of accommodation type.
The next time you’re deciding between an Airbnb or hotel, look beyond the platform itself and focus on indicators that reveal how much the specific property prioritizes cleanliness.