Before the cleaner arrives
Confirm the guest check-out time, the earliest cleaner access time and the next check-in deadline before the job is scheduled.
Make sure keys, concierge instructions, parking information and building access are current. A cleaner waiting for access can destroy a tight turnover window.
Separate cleaning from host tasks. If linen change, restocking, rubbish removal, consumable counts or damage reporting are required, state those items clearly before the clean.
Bedrooms and linen
Strip or reset beds according to the agreed linen arrangement. Check mattress protectors, pillows and visible bedding for marks that require escalation rather than hiding them under fresh linen.
Dust accessible surfaces, wipe high-touch points, vacuum or mop the floor and leave bedside areas uncluttered. Presentation matters because bedrooms are one of the first areas guests photograph when something feels wrong.
If the host supplies spare linen, keep clean and used linen physically separated so the next turnover does not begin with guesswork.
Kitchen reset
Clean the sink, benchtops, splashback, cooktop and visibly used appliance surfaces. Remove obvious food residue and check the fridge only to the extent agreed with the host.
Empty rubbish and recycling, replace liners where supplied, and return chairs, stools and small items to a consistent presentation position.
Restocking should follow a host-approved list. Cleaning teams should not improvise stock levels, substitute products or dispose of guest items without a clear rule.
Bathrooms
Clean toilets, basins, mirrors, taps, shower screens, baths and accessible tiled surfaces. Pay particular attention to hair, soap residue, water marks and the areas around fittings that quickly make a bathroom feel unfinished.
Reset towels and amenities only where they form part of the agreed turnover service. Confirm whether consumables are supplied by the host, stored on site or delivered separately.
Final presentation and reporting
Finish floors last, then do a visual walk-through from the entry as if you were the arriving guest. Look for bins, fingerprints, crooked cushions, open cupboards, loose hair, missed mirrors and anything that breaks the sense of a reset property.
Report damage, unusual stains, missing items or maintenance issues rather than silently working around them. A simple photo and note can save the host from discovering a problem after the next guest checks in.
For recurring short-stay work, use one consistent checklist and one escalation path. That is what turns cleaning into an operating process rather than a series of unrelated visits.
What changes the turnover scope
Same-day check-in pressure, parking restrictions, lift bookings, linen volume, heavy guest use, balconies, additional bathrooms, pet hair and restocking requirements can all change the real time needed.
For Starshine jobs, include these details in the quote so the clean is priced and scheduled around the property rather than an unrealistic generic turnover time.
Need help with the actual clean?
Use the Starshine quote form with the service, suburb, property details and timing. Straightforward residential work may receive an indicative estimate; complex or site-based work is reviewed against the real scope before final pricing.
Get a quote