cleaning amenities

[Tony24]

In the amenities section appears all of a sudden , cleaning before checkout, what does this mean? 

[Krisy2]

I was wondering too , so rang Airbnb , the lady I spoke with seemed a little confused but said, that it means that a guest needs to clean up before leaving, but if you have a cleaning fee leave it unchecked.    I still find it confusing though...my guest have the whole house so I wouldn’t expect to clean it all , just a general tidy up wipe kitchen bench , do dishes and take out trash.  I will have to put that in the house rules just to leave the place tidy.  $40 cleaning fee just covers the thorough preparing of the room before and after a guest leaves .  Cleaning products don’t come cheap.

[Kerry185]

I would like this clarified too. I was just updating my listing and noticed it.  What does it mean?  I need to know.  To me it looks like as a host I offer end of stay cleaning but I do not! Why was it automatically filled in?

[Carla-and-Mel0]

I had the same question but got my answer from Marco - Airbnb Support Team.... Thank you Marco!

[Carla-and-Mel0]

**[Private conversation removed in line with Community Center Guidelines]

[Sarah977]

@Carla-and-Mel0 @Marty-and-Rob0  How can "cleaning before check-out" be an Amenity if it means the guest is expected to clean? That makes no sense at all. Nor does "cleaning before check-out" make sense. Why would you clean BEFORE a guest checks out? If it's supposed to mean the host cleans, it should say "Cleaning during stay". Typical Airbnb convoluted and unclear wording. Sounds like CS has no idea what it means either, since different reps tell you completely opposing things. 

[Susan868]

Omigosh -- To get a cleaning fee after you have advertised that there would be no cleaning fee (due to requiring guest to clean up a bit before checking out), one would have to call it an "optional on-demand service" and go through the Resolution Center?  I am tired just thinking about it.   -- But thanks for posting their response.

[Marty-and-Rob0]

I just now called Airbnb and they told me it does mean we go in and clean while they are there. But that is not what a representative told somone else.   So do we call a third rep to see what they say. It does not make scense that in Logistics which has two other items that are positive for guests that the third means something they would have to do "like clean"

I just talked to another representative and she said it is if we expect them to clean up before they leave.

Marty

[Daniel534]

To me it sounds like they're asking if we offer cleaning before their check out.  So is it an amanity they can have where we will clean the hosue for them like a hotel does, during the stay?

[Taz5]

Yep. Wish it was less confusing. I wouldn't mind doing a mid-stay cleaning for people...

[Lucy459]

I have gotten in touch with air bnb support, who say that "it is an option you have to let guests know you can organize a cleaning person to clean the apartment - while they are staying."

[Jay502]

Makes sense now, thank you Lucy502!

[Susan868]

That is what makes the most sense.  That they can have an optional amenity of having cleaning done during their stay -- like a hotel.  And for guests, what makes it an amenity is that there is no additional fee for this service.   It makes sense from a host perspective if you want to do the mid-stay cleaning(s) as a way of reducing wear-and-tear or just making sure things are going well.   

[Judith71]

yes

[Angie108]

I, too, have been confused by the "cleaning before checkout" option.  If it means that the GUEST is expected to clean, it should read "CLEAN before checkout," and that's not an amenity--it's a responsibility. I expect my guests to clean up their messes. 

I think (and I've just suggested this to AIRBNB) they should provide check boxes for clarification IF we select "cleaning before checkout. " Example:   ____ fresh towels and linens after ____ days of your stay. 

                                                          ___ Vacuuming, empting trash, and fresh linens after ___ days of your stay. 

Offering these options would indeed be an amenity and might justify a cleaning fee.  Or an additional cleaning fee.  

I believe guests are expected to do basic picking up before they leave--or why would we rate them on "cleanliness" after their departure?   Nothing steams me more than walking in to find that a guest has not washed a single dish during their stay, leaving days-old food to coagulate on dishes . . .