Looking for Tips on Hosting a Month-Long Stay

[Annette1174]

Hi all,
I have a guest staying for one month coming up and would love to get your advice on best practice for longer stays.

For example:

• How many sets of bedding and towels do you typically provide (so guests can wash themselves)?

• Do you stock consumables like toilet roll, kitchen roll, cleaning products for the full stay, or just an initial supply?

• Anything else you’ve found important to cover for month-long bookings?

I want to strike the right balance between being well prepared and setting reasonable expectations.
Thanks in advance — appreciate any tips or lessons learned.

[Joelle43]

Hello @Annette1174 

Good question!  I think you'l find different answers to your question as there is no right or wrong answer  but with a month stay guest, I actually asked them what they preferred.  Did they want me to leave them a spare set of bed linen plus towels and let them do the washing (not what I prefer to be honest as this can lead to stains being permanently fixed) or I would swing by and give them a change of linens and take away the dirty ones?

I only have a washing machine, no dryer and no garden to hang the sheets outs so tricky but these guests in question, really wanted minimum interaction from me I could tell so respected that.  Having said that, I have guests staying 3 weeks in May and when asked which option they preferred, they jumped at the chance of not having to wash and dry the sheets/towels!  I have specified that they will be responsible for actually making the beds at the changeover😉

So I would say that communication is key and each guest is different. I also specify that they will find lots of consumables when they arrive but they will have to stock up if they run out.  I hope this helps!

All the best
Joëlle

[Annette1174]

Thank you Joelle, much appreciated. 

[Nandini11 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Annette1174 😊

I haven’t hosted anyone for a full month yet, but I have hosted guests for 10–15 days, and I’d like to share a few practices that might be helpful for longer stays too:

• Consumables:
  If I know a guest is staying longer, I usually restock essentials in advance — such as shower gel, shampoo, soap, handwash, dishwashing liquid, sugar, and salt. After that, I clearly set expectations that guests will manage refills themselves if needed.

• Bedding & towels:
  I normally change bed sheets and towels every two days, but only after asking the guest. If they prefer not to have them changed, I still provide one extra set and keep it in the wardrobe so they can use it when required.

• Cleaning & housekeeping:
  During check-in, I clearly explain that the housekeeper comes on alternate days. Her timing is anytime between 12 noon and 4 pm. She handles general cleaning.
  For utensils, I make it clear that guests are expected to clean up after themselves. I’ve also placed a small flyer in the kitchen saying “Clean after yourself” to avoid confusion.

• Paid extras:
  If guests want the housekeeper to clean utensils or request extra services, I charge additionally. I always document this properly and collect payment through Airbnb only, to stay safe and in line with Airbnb policies.

Bonus tip from my experience: 
I strongly recommend keeping all communication documented on Airbnb chat — especially anything related to cleaning, extra services, or payments. It really helps avoid misunderstandings later.

Hope this helps, & happy hosting! 😊🌸

[Annette1174]

Thank you Nandini, much appreciated. 

[Elisa]

Hi @Annette1174 😊, 

Thank you for asking these great questions here, and congratulations on this booking!

What did you end up deciding after discussing with our hosts?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

[Eunice226]

@Annette1174 I keep things pretty simple because I already offer what I believe is the best deal guests can find.

For longer stays, I usually discount heavily — in some cases close to 60% off the nightly rate for a full month. At that price point, it’s honestly far below what any hotel could offer, especially considering the space, privacy, and location.

For example

• I provide bedding and towels sufficient for the first week

• I stock consumables (toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, etc.) for the initial period only

• After that, guests are expected to launder items themselves and purchase additional supplies as needed, just like they would in a long-term rental

This is always made clear upfront so expectations are set properly. In my experience, guests staying a full month are perfectly fine with this trade-off because the price more than makes up for it.

The key is transparency: great price, clear boundaries, no surprises.

[Chione0]

This is exactly what I do! Thanks!

[Donna-Broom0]

We discount for longer stays with the discount depending on season - low season bigger discount, high season lower discount.

• Provide current bedding and one extra set per bed 

• Stock consumables (toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, etc.) for the initial arrival

• Guests are responsible for washing all laundry and purchasing additional supplies

We have found mid-term rentals (greater than 30 days) a great way to fill low season bookings, and in some situations all seasons for otherwise low performing properties - owners love that!

Good luck!

Donna

iTrip Chattanooga & Northwest Georgia

[Margarita510]

Si tienen una estancia de un  mes, les dejo unas sábanas de recambio, toallas extra y siempre papel higiénico por si lo necesitasen hasta que conozcan la zona y puedan ellos comprar lo que realmente necesiten.

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If they have a one-month stay, I leave them some spare sheets, extra towels, and always toilet paper in case they need it until they get to know the area and can buy what they really need.

Translation added by Community manager

[Elisabeth1209]

Hi,

we have made beds when the tenants arrive. Further we provide 2 extra bedlinen  they can use.

Towels: per person 1 big one, 1 smaller one and a towel for the pool.

In the house we provide 3 rolls of toiletpaper on the stand, washingpowder, tablets for the dishwasher and cleaning supplies in the cupboard. Also rubbish disposal sacs. Wood for the woodburner and a gasbottle for the gas heater. It’s all in the price. No cleaning during there stay. They can clean the house by there self. So they have full privacy. Only the poolman comes to clean the piol every week. But he is self maintained 

[Veruska6]

@Veruska6 @Annette1174 Buonasera se la permanenza e'  medio-lunga le consiglio la fornitura settimanale delle lenzuola e del set asciugamani .

L'ospitalità è data anche dalla richiesta se volesse degli accessori per la pulizia non solo personale ma proprio della camera, appartamento, di modo che non si troverà alla fine a sgobbare per dover magari rimediare le pulizie non fatte con efficienza e, soprattutto se ha dei vetri delle docce in cui si depositano il calcare e i residui di sporco, sarà poi più difficoltoso quando farà il check-out l'ospite.

A volte è capitato che i miei ospiti chiedessero la scopa e la paletta , semplicemente per un piccolo riassetto e poi avrebbero loro stessi comprato stracci e spazzolone, dipende da come voglia Lei impostare . A volte l'ospite consigliato da noi ne è felice perchè si sente coinvoilto e sta come a casa , rispettoso delle regole, altri come una hostess che è stata da me ha lasciato il delirio.

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@Veruska6 @Annette1174 Good evening, if your stay is medium-long, I recommend the weekly supply of sheets and towels.

Hospitality is also given by the request if he would like accessories for cleaning not only his personal but also the room, apartment, so that he will not find himself in the end having to slave away having to fix cleaning that was not done efficiently and, especially if he has shower glass where limescale and dirt residues deposit, it will then be more difficult when the guest checks out.

Sometimes my guests have asked for a broom and dustpan, just to tidy up a bit, and then they'd buy the mops and brushes themselves. It depends on how you want to set things up. Sometimes the guests we recommend are happy because they feel involved and at home, respectful of the rules. Others, like a hostess who stayed with me, left raving.

[Google translation added by OCM]

[Hannah1599]

We have 30+ listings, and this is how we handle it.

How many sets of bedding and towels do you typically provide (so guests can wash them)?

- For towels, we provide two sets per person since we have a washer and dryer in the unit. 
- For bedding, we provide one extra set in the unit so guests can change it if they want. 

Do you stock consumables like toilet roll, kitchen roll, and cleaning products for the full stay, or just an initial supply?

- We provide a starter kit only: two kitchen rolls and three toilet rolls each bathroom. We also provide a vacuum for their stay. Once the supplies run out, guests are responsible for purchasing their own.

Anything else you’ve found important to cover for month-long bookings?

- We usually let guests know that we offer additional cleaning services to help keep the unit in good condition during their stay. 

[Helen3]

I leave a spare set of linens and towels so guests can wash them at the listing @Annette1174 

I factor in a fortnightly clean so I can check the property is being maintained.

i provide a starter kit of kitchen, cleaning, toiletries etc to last about a week .

[Elicneth0]

Thanks for asking—monthly stays are where having clear expectations really helps. Here are my best practices:

• Bedding & towels (sets provided):
  I typically leave 2 sets of sheets per person and 2–3 sets of towels per person(depending on the setup). The goal is to give guests enough coverage to wash on their own, while also avoiding the “we ran out” situation during the first part of the stay.

• Consumables (initial supply vs. replenishment):
  I provide an initial, reasonable supply for the start of the reservation—things like toilet paper, kitchen towels/paper, basic cleaning products, dishwashing essentials, trash bags, etc.
  For the rest of the month, I set an expectation that replenishment is either through a mid-stay restock or an agreed replenishment plan (depending on the host’s preference/policy).

• Cleaning for longer stays:
  Even if guests wash themselves, I like to include a mid-stay cleaning (or a scheduled visit every few weeks). It keeps the place fresh and gives a chance to refresh bathrooms/kitchen and linens.

• What matters most to communicate upfront:
  I summarize everything in the welcome message:

  • what is provided at check-in
  • what is consumable and how it’s handled for the month
  • where supplies are located
  • any simple house routines (trash, cleaning products, etc.)

• Extra things that reduce messages:
  A small “starter kit” with the basics (cleaner, sponge, detergent, trash bags, paper essentials) and a short checklist for the apartment layout helps guests settle in faster.

Hope this helps—happy to share specific numbers or wording if anyone wants to compare notes.