Is cleaning up vomit a part of standard cleaning for hosts after guests check out?

[Noddy0]

Hi all!

A group of guests stayed at my property. They probably partied, got drunk and vomited all over the place, as there were beer cans and vodka bottles in the bedrooms. However they wrote in the review that their friend got sick due to altitude sickness. 

When the housekeeper went for cleaning, she was shocked to see the mess they had left behind and asked me for extra money for cleaning the vomit.

I requested them for extra cleaning fee via the app and they declined. They then gave me a 1 star rating for asking the extra cleaning fee! 

I requested Airbnb to remove the negative rating as it brings down the average drastically and told them that it was a clear case of retaliatory review. Submitted the pictures, screenshot of timelines etc but in vain. 

Anyways, can someone please tell me if cleaning up vomit is a part of standard cleaning service? 

[Emiel1]

@Noddy0 

IMHO accepting a booking for a group of six students from an account (a medical student) with no reviews is a risk.

The review says (among other things):

Unfair Cleaning Fees:** We were asked to pay an additional **Rs 1,000** because a guest fell ill due to high altitude and cold weather. Charging extra for an accidental illness felt unfair and unprofessional, as professional cleaning should be a standard part of the service.

Seems to me Airbnb need to do some education towards this guest or even better: suspend the account.

I liked you review written for the guest, no host will accept this guest again !

[Noddy0]

Thanks Emiel1. Understood. 

[Elaine701]

@Noddy0 

Nobody likes this kind of thing. But unfortunately it's a cost of doing business. And if you decide to confront the guest with it, that cost will double, even triple, and in the worst case lead to refunds or even suspension or delisting.

This guest may very well have given you a glowing 5* review (if for no other reason than guilt). But you just had to confront them. I fully understand why, but...

So how much extra did your cleaners ask for? Was it enough to justify suffering the retaliatory review?

You did the right thing in your review of the guest though. They'll need to close their account and start a new one now (if they want to book another Airbnb that is).

Try prevention rather than enforcement. Screen your guests. Ask friendly questions. Their answers (or lack of them) can reveal a lot. You eventually develop a good sense of the fragrances a red flag guest gives off. You'll soon recognize those smells and learn to tactfully repel them. 

Good luck. 

[Noddy0]

Thanks Elaine. The housekeeper asked for Rs 1000 Indian Rupees = USD 10 extra, through the app itself. 

[Patricia2526]

Hi @Noddy0 

Oh wow! that’s really unpleasant, and honestly frustrating that they didn’t even clean up after themselves.

If my cleaner reported something like that and asked for extra pay, I’d probably just absorb the cost as part of doing business rather than confront the guest directly especially if everything else about the stay was manageable. Sometimes protecting your peace (and avoiding potential back-and-forth or retaliation in reviews) is worth more than the extra fee.

That said, if you clearly have an additional cleaning fee stated in your house rules especially for messes beyond normal use (like bodily fluids, excessive trash, or spills) then it’s absolutely reasonable to enforce that. Having it documented gives you a stronger position if you decide to request reimbursement through the platform.

Out of curiosity, was it just a one-night stay? Short stays like that can sometimes lead to heavier messes. Also, I noticed you didn’t mention the beer and vodka bottles in your review was that intentional? Including those details can help future hosts get a clearer picture of the guest’s behavior without being overly emotional about it.