Airbnb and Holiday Let Cleaning in Ireland: A Turnover Guide

A turnover clean resets a short let to exactly the same standard between every guest: strip and remake the beds, clean the kitchen and bathrooms, empty the bins, restock the basics, check for damage, and report back to the host. It differs from a regular house clean in two ways: it happens in a fixed window between checkout and check-in, and the result has to look the same every single time, because guests notice and review it.

What a turnover clean covers

Area	Every turnover	Every few turnovers
Bedrooms	Strip and remake beds, check under beds and in wardrobes for left items, dust, hoover	Wash duvets and pillows, turn mattresses, hoover curtains
Kitchen	Dishes done and put away, fridge emptied of leftovers, surfaces, hob, microwave, sink, floor	Oven, inside presses, descale kettle
Bathrooms	Toilet, shower, bath, sink, mirror, floor, fresh towels	Grout, shower head, extractor fan cover
Living areas	Dust, hoover, straighten furniture, wipe remote controls and switches	Sofa under cushions, skirting, windows inside
Outside	Bins out, doorstep and path tidy	Windows outside, garden furniture

Turnover checklist

Start the laundry first so it runs while you clean.

• Open windows to air the property
• Strip all beds and gather towels, and start the first wash
• Walk through every room and note any damage, breakages or missing items, with photos
• Collect rubbish and recycling from every room, and empty all bins
• Clear the fridge of guest leftovers and wipe the shelves
• Run, empty and put away the dishwasher, and check all crockery is clean
• Put out a fresh dishcloth and sponge
• Clean the hob, microwave, worktops, sink and kettle
• Clean bathrooms top to bottom and put out fresh towels
• Remake beds with fresh linen
• Dust surfaces, then hoover and mop throughout
• Restock toilet roll, soap, washing-up liquid, bin bags, tea, coffee and other basics you provide
• Test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
• Check heating, hot water, wifi and lights are working
• Do a final walk-through as if you were the guest, and send the host photos

Fresh cloths matter: safefood advises cleaning or replacing dishcloths and sponges at least every two days, so each guest should start with clean ones. When you wipe out the fridge, a quick check with a thermometer confirms it is at 5°C or below. Our kitchen hygiene guide has more.

Linen and towels

Linen is the part of a turnover that most often goes wrong, because a late checkout or a slow dryer leaves no time to wash and dry a set.

• Keep spare sets. Have enough that a clean, dry set for every bed is always on the shelf while the last one is washing.
• Choose bedding that washes hot. For guests with dust mite allergies, the HSE recommends washing bedclothes at 60°C, so bedding that tolerates that temperature is a sensible choice.
• Decide on site or off site. Washing on site needs a good machine and dryer and adds time to each turnover. A linen hire or laundry service costs more but frees up the cleaner.
• Check every item. Stains, tears and hairs on white linen show up in guest photos.

Safety checks at every turnover

Guests rely on you for basic safety, and the turnover is the natural moment to check.

• Smoke alarms. The HSE advises testing smoke alarms weekly with the test button, keeping them free of dust and replacing standard batteries yearly or as soon as they warn.
• Carbon monoxide alarms. The Housing Agency recommends a weekly test with the test button, following the maker's instructions.
• Cleaning products. Families with small children stay in short lets. Keep products in their original labelled containers in a locked or high press, as the National Poisons Information Centre advises, and never decant them into drinks bottles.
• Pet-friendly lets. Phenol-based disinfectants are particularly toxic to cats, so choose products carefully and follow the label's rinsing instructions. See our guide to cleaning products around children and pets.

The short-term letting register

On 13 May 2026 the Government announced that Fáilte Ireland's short-term letting register would open on 1 December 2026, with operators required to register by 31 December 2026. The published plans cover accommodation let for up to 21 nights, nationwide, with annual renewal and registration numbers shown on listings.

Two points for hosts:

• Fáilte Ireland still states that commencement depends on the necessary legislation being passed, so check its FAQ for the current position before relying on the dates.
• Registration duties fall on the host and the property, not on your cleaner. Fáilte Ireland says registration is not its Quality Assurance scheme, so be wary of anyone claiming the register certifies turnover cleaning.

Hiring a turnover cleaner

Turnover cleaning suits cleaners who can work to tight, changing schedules. When you are talking to candidates, agree:

1. The window. Checkout and check-in times, and how quickly you need confirmation that the property is ready.
2. Same-day turnovers. Can they cover back-to-back bookings, weekends and bank holidays?
3. Cover. What happens if they are sick or on holiday? Companies can usually send someone else; an independent cleaner may need a named backup.
4. Reporting. Photos after each clean, a note of damage or missing items, and a running list of supplies that are low.
5. Access. Key safe, lockbox or smart lock. Our guide to giving a cleaner a key covers what to agree.
6. Price and extras. Per turnover or hourly, and what happens after a very messy checkout.
7. Insurance. Ask a business for current public liability evidence, and check with your own insurer what your policy covers. See cleaner insurance.

If you hire one person who works only for you, on your schedule and under your direction, check whether they are actually your employee. Revenue looks at the real arrangement, including control and whether they run their own business, not just what you call it. Our guide to employing a cleaner and tax explains the rules.

We did not find enough published turnover prices to give a reliable range, so ask for quotes based on bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry and how often you have changeovers. Our cleaning brief builder helps you describe the job. Browse holiday let cleaners or cleaners by county, for example Kerry, Clare, Galway and Donegal. If you let long term too, see cleaning between tenants.