How Much Should You Pay Your Cleaner?

Guests might never meet your cleaner, but they’ll definitely notice their work. 

A spotless space? That’s what keeps the five-star reviews rolling in. A half-hearted cleanup? That’s how you end up with frustrated guests and refund requests.

Here’s the short version: If you're pinching pennies with your cleaner—you're shooting yourself in the foot. 

Smart hosts know that investing in great cleaners has guaranteed ROI. You pay a little extra, but you score consistent, high-quality cleans—leading to more five-star reviews, more bookings, and less operational headache. That’s money in your pocket.

Let's break it down.

Know Your Market Rates

Before you negotiate a price, do your homework. What’s the going rate for Airbnb turnovers in your city? This will be more than what you'd pay for a typical house clean because Airbnb cleaning comes with extra tasks.

Beware of Bargain-Bin Cleaners
Sure, there’s always someone willing to undercut the market rate, but ask yourself: Do you really want the cheapest cleaner handling the most important part of your guest experience? If someone’s charging suspiciously lower than everyone else, there’s a good chance corners are being cut. 

Account for All Their Costs
Calculate your cleaners real hourly rate after factoring in drive time, gas money, cleaning supplies, and actual hours worked. If it’s not enough for a decent living in your area, you can’t be surprised if they ghost you right before a same-day turnover.

Invest in Five-Star Quality

Cleaner Turnover is a Hidden Cost
Look, I get it. Running an Airbnb is a business, and cutting costs is tempting. 

But when you squeeze your cleaner to cut costs, they’ll either leave or (worse) start doing a subpar job. Then you spend your own time scrambling to find a replacement. That alone could cost you more than if you’d just paid them fairly in the first place.

Cleaning Airbnbs is Skilled Work
Cleaning an Airbnb is not just wiping down counters. They’re:

• Restocking supplies

• Checking for damage

• Handling last-minute schedule changes

• Ensuring everything is perfect for your next guest

You Get What You Pay For
Don’t ask someone to do 5-star-hotel-level cleaning at less than Taco Bell wages. The difference between “okay” and “amazing” might be a few extra dollars per hour. Those few dollars could be the difference between a three-star or a five-star review.

Create a True Partnership

It’s More Than a Paycheck
Money’s important, but people don’t stay for the paycheck alone. They stay because they feel valued. 

Small gestures go a long way. People remember appreciation, and that fosters loyalty. Here are a few simple moves:

• Send a quick text after you get your next five-star review—let them know they played a big part in it.

• Give them an extra $5-$10 bonus for every five-star cleanliness rating (tiny cost, huge impact).

• Drop them a holiday card, or even just a handwritten thank-you note every once in a while.

Foster an Ownership Mentality
If you want a cleaner who treats your place like it’s their business, you’ve got to make them feel like they’re apart of something bigger.

Let them know you value their input and trust their judgment.

Cleaners who feel valued will report maintenance issues, show up on time, and treat your property with care. That means less stress for you and fewer frantic phone calls. A great cleaner can make your life easy; an uncommitted one can make it miserable.

The Bottom Line

Want five-star reviews on autopilot? Then pay well (because good cleaners aren’t cheap, and cheap cleaners aren’t good) and reward performance (because everyone likes to feel appreciated).

A great cleaner is your most valuable asset in the Airbnb game. Treat them like one, and they’ll do great work for years.

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