In a holiday rental, cleanliness isn’t just another detail: it’s the first thing guests notice when they open the door, and one of the ratings that weighs most heavily in Airbnb and Booking.com reviews. A single hair in the shower or a creased sheet can cost you a star, and in places with as many listings as Cádiz, El Puerto de Santa María or Jerez, that star shows up in your occupancy.
The challenge is that there’s rarely time to spare. Check-out is usually at 11am and check-in at 3pm or 4pm, so in four or five hours you have to clean, change the linen, restock and make sure everything works. That’s why working from a fixed checklist makes all the difference: nothing gets forgotten and the result is equally good at every turnover. This is the checklist we use at Hola Limpio in the holiday apartments we look after across the province of Cádiz.
Before you start: kit and order of work
A good turnover starts before you walk through the door. It’s worth always carrying the same kit:
- Microfibre cloths in different colours, one for each area (bathroom, kitchen and the rest), so you don’t carry germs from one place to another.
- Products for each surface: all-purpose cleaner, degreaser, glass cleaner, bathroom limescale remover and a disinfectant.
- A vacuum cleaner, a mop with a two-compartment bucket and a window squeegee.
- Bin bags, gloves and a complete set of clean bed linen and towels.
As soon as you arrive, walk through the property and take photos of the state the guest left it in, especially if anything is broken, stained or out of the ordinary. Then open the windows to air the place, strip the used bed linen and empty every bin. The recommended order of work is always top to bottom and inside out: dust high surfaces first, then worktops and furniture, and finally the floors, starting with the room furthest from the front door.
Room-by-room checklist
Hallway and living room
- Dust furniture, shelves, picture frames, lamps and the TV remote.
- Wipe light switches, door handles and the front door with a damp cloth: they’re the most-touched surfaces in the flat.
- Vacuum the sofa and cushions, and check for stains or items left between the seats.
- Clean windows and mirrors so they’re streak-free.
- Vacuum and mop the floor, including the corners and under the sofa.
Bedroom
- Make the bed “hotel style”: sheets pulled tight, corners tucked in and pillowcases free of creases.
- Check the mattress protector and change it if there’s any mark on it.
- Look under the bed and inside wardrobes and drawers: that’s where forgotten belongings turn up.
- Leave enough hangers, neatly arranged, in the wardrobe.
- Wipe the bedside tables and headboard, and check that the lamps work.
Bathroom
This is the room guests inspect most closely and the one behind most negative reviews, so it deserves twice the attention.
- Disinfect the toilet inside and out, including the base and the back.
- Clean the shower or bath, screen and taps with limescale remover, then dry them so no water marks are left.
- Remove every hair from drains, the floor and the corners.
- Clean the basin, mirror and counter, and empty the bin.
- Put out clean towels, always folded the same way, and restock toilet paper and soap.
Kitchen
- Empty the fridge and wipe it inside, leaving no food from previous guests.
- Clean inside the microwave, the oven if it has been used, the hob and the extractor hood.
- Check the coffee machine, toaster and kettle, emptying coffee grounds and crumbs.
- Make sure crockery, glasses and cutlery are complete, clean and dry.
- Wipe worktops, cupboard fronts, sink and tap, and take out the rubbish and recycling.
Terrace and outdoor areas
- Dry-sweep the sand before mopping, and wipe the table and chairs.
- Rinse railings and glass with fresh water if there’s sea salt on them. We explain how in our guide to protecting your home from sea salt and the Levante wind.
- Check the clothes airer is folded away and that no beach towels have been left behind.
Restocking and the welcome kit
An apartment can be spotless and still get a poor review if it runs out of toilet paper or coffee. Check this minimum at every turnover:
| Item | Recommended amount |
|---|---|
| Toilet paper | 2 rolls per bathroom, plus 2 spare |
| Hand soap and shower gel | 1 full dispenser per bathroom |
| Shampoo | 1 bottle per bathroom |
| Towels | 1 bath towel and 1 hand towel per guest |
| Coffee, sugar, salt and oil | A basic kit for the first morning |
| New cloth and scourer | 1 of each |
| Dishwasher tablets and washing-up liquid | Enough for at least 3 washes |
| Bin bags | A roll in the kitchen |
A small welcome touch, such as a bottle of cold water or a note with local recommendations, costs very little and often gets mentioned in reviews.
Final check and photo report
Before you leave, walk through the apartment as if you were the guest about to arrive:
- Smell. Air the rooms, take out the rubbish and avoid strong air fresheners: the best smell is simply clean.
- Lights and appliances. Check the bulbs, TV and air conditioning, and make sure the remote has batteries.
- Wi-Fi. Check it works and that the password on display is correct.
- Details. Curtains and blinds in the same position, beds perfect and towels in place.
- Photos. Take a photo of every finished room and send them to the owner or property manager.
The photo report protects you against complaints, lets you check the property without travelling to it, and keeps a record of any damage or forgotten items you found.
What’s different in Cádiz, El Puerto and Jerez
Cleaning a holiday rental on the Cádiz coast has its own quirks. In summer, beach sand comes in on suitcases, towels and shoes, and ends up on floors, sofas and in shower drains, so you need to vacuum thoroughly at every turnover rather than just sweep. Sea salt clouds the windows and marks terraces and railings within days. And in winter, the humidity in the old-town flats of Cádiz means keeping a close eye on mould in bathrooms and wardrobes.
The calendar matters too. Carnival in Cádiz, summer all along the coast, the Horse Fair, the MotoGP Grand Prix and Easter week in Jerez all push occupancy up and leave very tight cleaning windows, often with several turnovers on the same day. Planning staff, linen and restocking well ahead for those weeks avoids nasty surprises.
Common mistakes
- Cleaning without a checklist and relying on memory: something always gets missed.
- Using the same cloth for the bathroom and the kitchen.
- Having only one set of sheets per bed, with no margin if one gets stained or the laundry runs late.
- Not checking under beds and sofas.
- Leaving the previous guest’s food in the fridge.
- Not taking photos at the end, which leaves the owner without evidence if there’s a complaint.
When it pays to outsource the cleaning
If you live far from the property, manage several apartments or have almost daily turnovers in high season, handing over the cleaning saves you time and lowers the risk of bad reviews. At Hola Limpio we offer holiday rental and Airbnb cleaning from €35 per turnover: we follow this checklist, change the linen, restock the essentials, manage the keys and send you photos when we finish. We work in Jerez, Cádiz city, El Puerto de Santa María and the rest of the bay. Get in touch and we’ll put together a quote that fits your booking calendar.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to clean a holiday rental between guests?
A studio or one-bedroom flat usually takes between an hour and a half and two hours. A two- or three-bedroom apartment takes between two and a half and four hours, depending on how the guests left it and whether there's a terrace.
Is it better to wash the bed linen at the property or use a laundry service?
If you have guests several times a week, an industrial laundry usually pays off, because the linen comes back pressed and every turnover is quicker. What really matters is having at least three complete sets per bed.
What should I do if a guest leaves the property very dirty or damaged?
Photograph everything before you start cleaning, with the date and time, and report it to the platform as soon as possible within its claim deadlines. A photo report after every clean gives you a clear record of the state the property was handed over in.