Airbnb Cleaning Checklist for Albanian Apartments

Pre-clean (5 min)

• Walk through the apartment with phone in hand
• Open windows for air (especially after a smoking guest — they happen)
• Check for damage vs reference photos: photograph anything new BEFORE cleaning starts
• Empty any food left in the fridge; photograph it first if it's significant
• If the apartment was left in an unreasonable state, message the manager before proceeding

Bedrooms (15 min per room)

• Strip the bed completely — pillows, pillow protectors, duvet, sheets, mattress protector if soiled
• Check mattress for stains; flip if needed
• Remake with fresh linens (your linens or rotation linens — never reuse)
• Pillows fluffed and centred; throw blanket folded at the foot of the bed
• Dust headboard, side tables, lamp shades, picture frames
• Wipe down door handles, light switches, drawer handles
• Empty all drawers and check under the bed — every turnover (left items don't make it back to guests)
• Vacuum entire floor including under the bed and along skirting
• Mop hard floors
• Curtains aligned, blackout blind tested
• Behind-the-door check — this is the #1 missed area

Bathroom (20 min)

• Toilet: inside, outside, base, bolts at the base, behind the toilet, the seat hinges
• Shower: walls, floor, drain (HAIR — every time), shower head, glass screen
• Bathtub if present, including the rim and the overflow drain
• Sink, faucet, mirror, soap dish, drinking glass (washed in dishwasher)
• Floor: sweep then mop, including behind the toilet
• Towel rack wiped, fresh towels hung evenly (4 face, 4 bath, 2 hand for a 2-bed)
• Toilet paper restocked (2 rolls always — never one)
• Hand soap topped up, shampoo and shower gel checked (50%+ remaining or replace)
• Hair dryer cord wound properly, plugged in
• Bin emptied, new liner

Kitchen (25 min)

• Dishwasher: empty if running, contents put away
• Sink: cleaned, drain clear, taps shined
• Counters: cleared, wiped, undersides of any movable items (kettle, toaster) checked
• Stovetop: rings removed, deep-cleaned, glass-top apartments need streak-free finish
• Oven: light check, deep clean monthly
• Microwave: inside, plate removed and washed, exterior wiped
• Fridge: inside (door seals especially), top and sides, fridge magnet alignment
• Cabinets: handles, fronts, glass doors if any
• Cutlery drawer: organised, top tray wiped
• Crockery: 2 plates checked for chips, retired if chipped
• Restock: coffee (50g+ remaining), sugar, salt, dishwasher tabs, washing-up liquid, sponge (replaced if used)
• Bin emptied, new liner, lid wiped
• Gap between fridge and counter — #2 missed area

Living area (15 min)

• Sofa: cushions removed, vacuum under and behind, cushions reset symmetrically
• Throw blanket folded
• Coffee table: cleared, wiped
• TV: screen cleaned with proper microfiber (no streaks), remote control batteries checked, remote in standard position on coffee table
• Surfaces: bookshelves, side tables, mantelpiece — dusted
• Floor: vacuum entire area, mop hard surfaces
• Light switches, door handles, window latches wiped
• Window glass: monthly deep clean; quick wipe of fingerprints each turnover

Entrance and corridor (5 min)

• Doormat shaken outside, or replaced
• Floor swept and mopped
• Shoe rack tidied (any guest shoes left? — photographed and removed)
• Coat hooks empty
• Mirror wiped
• Door (inside and outside) wiped

Balcony (10 min — essential in coastal Albania)

• Furniture wiped — sun damages plastic over a summer, replace before it looks tired
• Floor swept (sand is the enemy)
• Drain check — Albanian summer storms produce flash flooding on blocked balconies
• Plants watered if present
• Outdoor lights tested
• Ashtray emptied even if your listing prohibits smoking (they smoke anyway)

Final 10 minutes — the part most people skip

• Walk through the entire apartment ONE MORE TIME with phone in hand
• Photos: bedroom (made bed, two angles), bathroom (towels and toilet), kitchen (clear counter), living area (cushions), balcony
• Air freshener: light spray, not overpowering. Some markets prefer no scent — confirm with manager.
• Air conditioning set to 24°C cooling or 22°C heating (depending on season)
• Lights off, blinds at 30% open (welcoming light without sun damage)
• Front door locked, keys deposited in agreed location
• Photos uploaded to shared folder, turnover marked complete in the management system

What to consider stocking permanently in the apartment

Beyond turnover-specific items, every Airbnb apartment in Albania should have:

• First-aid kit (plasters, paracetamol, antiseptic)
• Working torch with batteries (Albanian power cuts still happen in summer storms)
• Spare fuses if the building uses replaceable ones
• Iron and ironing board
• Beach towels separate from bath towels in coastal apartments — guests treat them as the same, which they shouldn't
• An adapter or two (Albania uses Type F / Schuko but Type C also fits)
• House manual, two languages minimum, including emergency numbers, WiFi password, washing machine instructions, AC remote instructions, parking guidance

The honest answer about cleaner training

An untrained cleaner gets 60–70% of this list right. A trained cleaner gets 95%. The gap shows up in your reviews. We pay our cleaners €8–€12 per turnover (€10–€18/hour for the actual cleaning time) rather than the €5–€7 per turnover that's common in the Albanian market because trained cleaners stay longer and the quality holds.

If you're managing your own apartments, the single best investment is to write the checklist down, walk the cleaner through it once, and pay them slightly above market. Quality cleaning is the single biggest determinant of long-run Albanian Airbnb performance, more than location, more than photos, more than pricing.