How often to deep clean (between full turnovers) in an Airbnb

Every 90 days (~3 months). Cost: $200–$500. Best left to a pro.

How often to deep clean an Airbnb

Every 90 days, minimum — quarterly, on top of every-turnover cleaning. Deep cleans are not a substitute for full turnovers; they’re the in-between reset that catches what turnover cleaners skip when they’re racing the 11am-to-3pm window.

Expect to pay $200–$500 per deep clean for a 2-3 bedroom property, depending on square footage, finish level, and whether your cleaner charges hourly or per-job. Larger properties (4BR+) or premium-tier listings push $500–$800.

Why deep cleans matter more for STR

Turnover cleaners are paid to flip a property in 3-5 hours. That’s enough time to strip beds, wipe surfaces, vacuum, mop, and restock — not enough to pull the fridge out, scrub baseboards, descale showerheads, or get inside the oven racks. Grime accumulates in the gap.

Guests don’t review “the baseboards” — they review the overall feeling of cleanliness. And the human eye catches the cumulative drift around month three: dust on top of the ceiling fan, fingerprints on light switches, soap scum on the shower glass that no longer wipes off. One 4-star review with “could have been cleaner” tanks your conversion for 90 days.

What a real deep clean includes

A proper quarterly deep clean covers eight things turnover skips:

Inside appliances. Oven (racks out, soaked, scrubbed), microwave (interior + turntable), dishwasher filter, fridge (pull out, vacuum coils, wipe interior + door seals), freezer defrost if needed.
Baseboards and door frames. Hand-wiped. Sock-on-foot for big runs.
Light fixtures and ceiling fans. Bulbs wiped, glass globes washed, fan blades degreased.
Inside cabinets and drawers. Crumbs, sticky residue, expired items tossed.
Behind and under furniture. Move the couch, the bed, the dresser. Vacuum + mop where they sat.
Window tracks, sills, and blinds. Q-tip the tracks; vinegar-soak the blinds.
Grout and caulk inspection. Note any failing lines for the next paired re-caulk pass.
HVAC vents and returns. Vacuum the grilles, wipe the louvers.

If your cleaner’s deep clean is under 4 hours for a 2BR, they’re skipping things.

DIY vs pro

A motivated host can DIY a quarterly deep clean in 6-10 hours (full day’s work). You’ll save $200-$400 per cycle but burn the time. Most multi-property hosts hire it out and trade money for the freed hours.

The hybrid: DIY the first deep clean to set the standard, photograph the result, then hand the photo set to a pro cleaner as the spec. They now know exactly what “deep clean” means at your property.

When to upgrade the cadence

Pet-friendly listings — bump to every 60 days
High-occupancy (>80%) — bump to every 60 days
Properties with carpet — bump to every 60 days (grit grinds fiber)
Humid climates — bump to every 60 days (mildew forms faster)

Signs you missed it

Sticky kitchen surfaces no longer responding to spray
Grey film on shower glass that wipes don’t lift
Dust visible on ceiling fan blades from the floor
“Felt a bit grimy” buried in an otherwise-5-star review
Cleaner asks for an extra hour on every turnover (they’re compensating)

Any of these means the quarterly deep clean got skipped or short-changed.

Maintenance schedule generator — bake the quarterly deep clean into the calendar so it never slips
Damage cost lookup — what skipped deep cleans cost in shortened appliance and surface life

FAQ

How often should you deep clean (between full turnovers) in an Airbnb?

Every 90 days (~3 months). Skip it and you risk: Grime buildup leads to lower review scores; hard surfaces lose finish over time.

Is this a DIY job or pro?

Best handled by a licensed contractor — schedule it once a year and forget about it.

How much does it cost?

Typical range is $200–$500 per occurrence.

Last verified 2026-05-08.