 *Photo: Unsplash*
Montreal is one of Canada's most competitive short-term rental markets, with thousands of active listings across the Plateau, Griffintown, Old Montreal, and Rosemont. In a city where algorithm visibility is driven by review scores, a single uncleaned corner can mean a 4-star instead of a 5-star review — and a 4-star score pushes your listing down in Airbnb search results.
The difference between a 4.5-star listing and a 4.9-star listing almost always comes down to cleanliness. Guests compare short-term rentals to boutique hotel standards, and in a city where boutique hotels are everywhere, your turnover clean has to match that bar on every single checkout.
This checklist covers everything a professional Airbnb turnover requires — organized by room, adapted to Montreal conditions, and built from real host experience.
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What Is an Airbnb Turnover Clean?
A turnover clean is the deep cleaning that happens between guest checkouts and the next check-in. It is different from a standard recurring clean in several key ways:
- Time pressure: Most hosts have a 4-hour window (11 AM checkout to 3 PM check-in). Everything must be finished within that window.
- Hotel-style staging: Beds must be made with precision. Towels must be folded neatly. Decor must be arranged symmetrically.
- Restocking: Toiletries, coffee, garbage bags, and other consumables need to be replenished after every checkout.
- Inspection mindset: You are not just cleaning — you are looking for damage, stains, missing items, and maintenance issues that need to be flagged before the next guest arrives.
A professional turnover clean takes 2–4 hours for a 1–2 bedroom unit, depending on how the previous guests left it.
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Room-by-Room Airbnb Turnover Checklist
Bedrooms (repeat for each bedroom)
- Strip all bedding: fitted sheet, duvet cover or flat sheet, all pillowcases
- Inspect the mattress protector for stains or odors — replace if needed
- Make the bed hotel-style: tight corners, centered duvet, symmetrical pillows
- Dust the headboard, nightstands, and bedside lamps
- Check inside drawers and under the bed for items forgotten by the previous guests
- Vacuum the floor thoroughly, including under the bed and along baseboards
- Wipe down any closet doors and organize hangers
- Set blinds or curtains to a neutral position (halfway open is the standard for listing photos)
Bathrooms
- Scrub the toilet inside and outside, including the base, hinges, and flush handle
- Clean and polish the sink and faucets
- Scrub the shower or tub, paying close attention to grout lines and corners
- Clean the mirror streak-free using a microfiber cloth and glass cleaner
- Wipe down tile walls, chrome fixtures, and the shower curtain rod
- Refill or replace hand soap, shampoo, and conditioner
- Stock at least 2 rolls of toilet paper per bathroom
- Empty, wipe out, and reline the wastebasket
- Replace towels: at least 1 bath towel and 1 hand towel per guest, folded hotel-style
- Mop the floor, paying extra attention to corners and behind the toilet
- Wipe the exhaust fan cover if dusty
Kitchen
- Wash and put away all dishes — nothing in the sink or on the drying rack
- Run the dishwasher if needed; unload and put everything away before the next guest arrives
- Wipe all countertops and the backsplash
- Clean stovetop grates, drip pans, and burner rings — Montreal guests cook, and stovetops accumulate grease fast
- Wipe the stove exterior and oven front panel
- Clean the microwave interior and exterior
- Check the refrigerator for any food left by the previous guests — remove and discard everything
- Wipe refrigerator shelves and the door gasket
- Clean and polish the kitchen sink and faucet
- Empty the coffee maker grounds and clean the carafe
- Restock coffee, tea, and sugar (a standard Airbnb host courtesy)
- Check every bin in the unit — take out all garbage and replace garbage bags
- Wipe the kitchen table and chairs
- Sweep and mop the kitchen floor
Living Room and Common Areas
- Vacuum all upholstered furniture, including under and between cushions
- Fluff and arrange cushions and throw pillows symmetrically
- Dust all surfaces: TV stand, shelves, coffee table, and windowsills
- Clean the TV screen with a dry microfiber cloth — no liquid
- Wipe remote controls with a disinfectant wipe
- Check under and behind furniture for forgotten items
- Vacuum rugs; mop hardwood or tile floors
- Straighten all decor and wall art
- Open windows briefly to air out the space if weather permits
Entrance and Hallway
- Sweep and mop the entrance floor — in Montreal winters, salt and slush accumulate on every entry
- Replace or shake out the entry mat
- Wipe down the interior side of the front door and the door handle
- If your unit has an exterior iron staircase (very common in Plateau, Rosemont, and NDG), sweep debris and wipe handrails — this is both a guest safety issue and a liability concern
- Verify the key lockbox code is working correctly
Final Walkthrough — Never Skip This Step
- Test every light fixture
- Set the thermostat to 20°C (68°F) — a neutral temperature guests can adjust themselves
- Confirm the Wi-Fi network name and password are posted and that the connection is working
- Do a smell test in every room: cooking odors, mustiness, or any off-odor are the number one reason guests leave negative cleanliness reviews
- Open and test every window and lock
- Confirm all exterior entry points are secured
- Take 3–5 timestamped photos of each room for your records — this protects you in the event of a damage dispute
- Leave a welcome note or small gesture if that is part of your hosting style
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Montreal-Specific Airbnb Turnover Challenges
July 1 — Peak Turnover Season in Montreal
July 1 is Canada Day, but in Montreal it carries a unique significance: nearly 40% of Quebec leases expire on June 30, making July 1 the biggest moving day in North America. Streets are gridlocked, building elevators are booked solid for furniture moves, and cleaning services reach maximum demand.
If you host in Montreal, book your turnover cleaning team well in advance for the June 28 to July 3 window. Same-day availability disappears fast. Hosts who wait until June 28 to book for July 1 often can't find anyone.
Winter Floor Care
From November through March, guests track road salt and slush into your unit on every arrival. Salt leaves white residue on hardwood floors and is corrosive to wood finish over time. Your winter turnover routine must include dedicated floor care: sweep first to remove salt crystals before mopping, and use a pH-neutral floor cleaner on hardwood to avoid damaging the finish.
Adding a heavy-duty boot mat at the entrance is one of the best investments a Montreal Airbnb host can make. It traps salt before it reaches the hardwood and reduces cleaning time significantly.
Exterior Iron Staircases
Many Montreal Airbnb units — especially in Plateau-Mont-Royal, Rosemont, Mile-End, and NDG — feature the city's iconic exterior spiral iron staircases. Guests use these on every arrival and departure, so they need attention during every turnover.
In summer: sweep leaves, bird droppings, and debris. In fall: wet leaves on iron stairs are a serious slip hazard — sweep after every rainfall. In winter: ice forms on iron faster than on concrete. A small rubber mat at the top landing and the bottom landing is essential. Wipe the handrail — guests hold it every time they enter.
STR Permit Requirements
Since 2019, Montreal short-term rental operators are required to hold a classification certificate issued by the Corporation de l'industrie touristique du Québec (CITQ). When inspectors assess your classification, the cleanliness standard of your unit is one of the factors evaluated. A professionally maintained unit supports your classification rating.
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DIY vs. Professional Airbnb Turnover Cleaning
DIY works well if: - You have one listing with flexible check-in and check-out times - You live nearby and can reliably be there within the standard 11 AM to 3 PM window - You enjoy the hands-on hosting experience and have all your supplies on site
Professional turnover cleaning makes sense if: - You manage more than one listing or work with a co-host - Same-day turnovers are frequent — back-to-back bookings leave no margin for a slow solo clean - You want consistent 5-star cleanliness without investing your own time - You want someone accountable if a checklist item is missed before a guest arrives
Sparkling Stays offers dedicated Airbnb turnover cleaning in Montreal. We work within tight check-in and check-out windows, follow host-oriented checklists, and handle restocking and staging. Same-day turnovers are available. Book online or call 438-867-8770.
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How Much Does Airbnb Turnover Cleaning Cost in Montreal?
| Unit size | Estimated turnover clean price | |---|---| | Studio | $80–$110 | | 1-bedroom | $100–$140 | | 2-bedroom | $140–$195 | | 3-bedroom | $180–$260 | | 4-bedroom or larger | $230+ |
*Same-day or short-notice turnovers may be priced higher. These are Montreal market ranges as of 2026. Factor your cleaning cost into your nightly rate — it is a standard operating expense for any Airbnb host.*
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Related Resources
- [Move-Out Cleaning Checklist for Montreal Renters](/en/blog/move-out-cleaning-checklist-montreal)
- [How to Choose a Move-Out Cleaner in Montreal](/en/blog/how-to-choose-a-move-out-cleaner-montreal)
- [Airbnb Cleaning Services in Montreal](/en/services/airbnb-cleaning)
- [Post-Renovation Cleaning Checklist Montreal](/en/blog/post-renovation-cleaning-checklist-montreal)
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Q: How long does an Airbnb turnover clean take in Montreal?
A: A studio or 1-bedroom unit typically takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours for a professional team. A 2-bedroom takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours. Hosts doing the clean solo should add 30 to 60 minutes. For July 1 turnovers, budget extra time — building access and parking are slower due to moving-day traffic throughout the city.
Q: What supplies should I stock for guests in a Montreal Airbnb?
A: At minimum: dish soap, toilet paper (at least 2 rolls per bathroom), hand soap, shampoo and conditioner, coffee and tea, and garbage bags under every bin. Montreal guests in winter also appreciate a boot mat near the entrance and extra blankets. Guests arriving from out of province in summer often expect air conditioning or at least a fan — worth noting in your listing description.
Q: Can I charge guests a cleaning fee on Airbnb?
A: Yes. Airbnb allows hosts to add a cleaning fee that is displayed transparently to guests before they confirm a booking. Most Montreal hosts charge between $50 and $150 depending on unit size. Setting a fee that covers your actual turnover cost — whether DIY or professional — is standard practice and guests expect it.
Q: How do I manage same-day turnovers in Montreal?
A: Same-day turnovers — one guest checking out at 11 AM and the next checking in at 3 PM — require a fast, organized cleaning team and pre-stocked supplies. Book your cleaning service well in advance for peak dates: summer weekends, Grand Prix week, Osheaga festival weekend, and the entire July 1 window. Have all replacement toiletries, linens, and garbage bags stored in a host closet on site so your team does not need to wait for supplies.
Q: What is the most common cleanliness mistake Montreal Airbnb hosts make?
A: Skipping the smell test. Cooking odors — fish, spices, strong sauces — linger in units long after a surface clean. Before leaving the unit, stand in the center of each room and breathe deeply. If there is any off-odor, open windows for 20 minutes, check the kitchen bins and the area around the stove, and use a neutral odor eliminator. Do not mask odors with heavy air fresheners — many guests are sensitive to fragrance and will mention it in reviews.
Q: Does Sparkling Stays offer emergency or last-minute Airbnb turnovers in Montreal?
A: Yes. We offer same-day Airbnb turnover cleaning in Montreal when availability allows. For urgent bookings, call 438-867-8770 directly rather than booking online — we can confirm availability and dispatch a team faster by phone than through the online booking system.
Q: Do I need to provide cleaning supplies for the turnover team?
A: If you hire Sparkling Stays, we bring all professional-grade cleaning supplies and equipment. You only need to have restocking items ready on site or in a host closet: replacement toiletries, toilet paper, garbage bags, coffee, and tea. We handle all cleaning chemicals, mops, vacuums, and microfiber cloths.
