Airbnb Laundry Optimization: 10 Systems to Save Time, Cut Costs & Protect Your Reviews

Laundry is one of those unglamorous parts of hosting on Airbnb that quietly affects everything. Fresh sheets and fluffy towels set the tone for a great stay, but keeping up with them can eat away at your time, your margins, and even your reviews if you are not careful. The good news is that with the right systems in place, laundry doesn’t have to be the reason turnovers run late or costs creep up. Hosts who streamline this part of operations see faster cleans, fewer headaches, and happier guests.

Below, we will look at practical ways to simplify your laundry workflow, reduce waste, and build a setup that actually supports your Airbnb business. A full discussion of the topic will follow, including tips you can implement right away.

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Why Laundry Is the Silent Killer of Airbnb Profits and Reviews

Laundry is one of the few tasks that affects every single stay, no matter how short or simple the booking is. Sheets, towels, blankets, kitchen linens, even small items like makeup cloths and dish towels all cycle through guests constantly. When laundry piles up or turns into a scramble during a tight turnover, everything else slows down. Cleaners fall behind, check-in times get tight, and a stay that should feel effortless starts off on the wrong foot.

Guests might not comment on your cleaning process, but they absolutely notice the results. Fresh linens, soft towels, and a spotless bed are some of the biggest drivers of five star reviews and return bookings. When laundry is rushed or inconsistent, it shows right away.

This is why investors need to think of laundry as an operations system rather than a chore. A repeatable setup creates faster turnovers, fewer mistakes, and a smoother experience for both guests and cleaners.

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Choose Your Airbnb Laundry Model: DIY, Hybrid, or Fully Outsourced

Every Airbnb business handles laundry a little differently, and the best approach depends on your time, your budget, and how many properties you manage. Most hosts fall into one of three models.

• The DIY model works for solo hosts or anyone who prefers full control. You or your cleaner handle all washing, drying, and folding right inside the property. It is simple and affordable, but it quickly becomes a bottleneck once you start getting back to back bookings or managing more than one listing.
• The hybrid model splits the workload. Your cleaner handles urgent items like sheets and towels on-site, while bulky or slow-drying items go to a local laundromat or wash and fold service. This setup protects your turnover times without putting all the pressure on your cleaner or your machines.
• The fully outsourced model removes laundry from your plate entirely. Some hosts partner with local linen services that pick up, wash, and return fresh sets. Others work with full-service property managers like Awning, where laundry, linens, cleaning, and restocking are handled as part of a unified operations system. This is ideal for investors or anyone who values time savings and consistency.

To choose the right model, look at your average nightly rate, occupancy, and portfolio size. Higher occupancy and multiple properties usually justify outsourcing because the time and labor savings outweigh the cost. Lower occupancy or a single listing might work just fine with a DIY or hybrid approach.

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Build a Scalable Linen Inventory System (Par Levels and Standardization)

A smooth turnover starts long before your cleaner arrives. It begins with having the right amount of linens on hand so no one is scrambling on a busy checkout day. In the hospitality world, the sweet spot is usually two to three full sets of sheets and towels per bed. This gives your cleaner one set to use, one set in the wash, and often an extra set ready for back to back stays. Platforms like Breezeway and Eliya Linen often recommend similar par levels because they keep operations predictable and prevent last minute laundry emergencies.

Standardizing your linens makes everything even easier. Most hosts stick to all white, hotel style sheets and towels because they wash well in bulk and are simple to replace. Once you pick your SKUs, label everything clearly. Color coded bins or shelves help cleaners grab what they need without guessing. A tidy, consistent storage setup makes every turnover faster and a lot less stressful.

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Design an Efficient Turnover Laundry Workflow

A smooth turnover starts with a simple sequence that every cleaner can follow. The most reliable approach is to strip the beds as soon as you walk in, pre-treat any stains you see right away, and get the first load running before you touch anything else. That first cycle buys you valuable time while you handle the rest of the space.

It also helps to separate high-priority items from the things that can wait. Sheets and towels should always be washed first since guests will notice them immediately. Throws, decorative blankets, and kitchen towels can move to the end of the list or even to the next load if timing gets tight.

To make this repeatable, give your cleaners clear checklists and written SOPs. A simple step-by-step guide keeps everyone aligned and helps keep turnovers within a reasonable window like three to four hours, even on busy days.

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Machines, Detergents and Products That Protect Linens and Reviews

The right laundry setup can make or break your turnover routine. Many Airbnb hosts choose washers and dryers with large capacities and quick cycle times so they can handle multiple sets of linens without slowing down the clean. Reliability also matters because a machine that breaks during a busy weekend can throw off your entire schedule. Hosts often look for models that can handle frequent use, simple controls, and consistent results.

Detergents play a big role too. Guests appreciate linens that smell fresh but not overpowering, and many travelers prefer fragrance free or hypoallergenic products. These options clean just as well while reducing the chance of skin irritation or complaints about strong scents.

A small collection of stain fighting tools can also save you money. Makeup towels, mattress protectors, pillow protectors and a basic stain kit help prevent permanent damage. These items extend the life of your linens and keep everything looking guest ready.

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Automation & Software: Put Laundry Tasks on Autopilot

One of the easiest ways to cut laundry time is to let software handle the reminders and scheduling for you. Tools like Breezeway and Turno allow you to automatically trigger laundry tasks the moment a guest checks out. Instead of texting cleaners or updating a spreadsheet, the system sends clear instructions based on your calendar so everyone knows what needs to be washed and when. Host Tools can also sync with your booking platform and push updated tasks to your team without any extra work on your end.

Tracking linens gets a lot simpler when you add QR codes or printed labels. Platforms like The Laundry Boss make it easy to assign codes to sheets, towels, or full sets so you can track their condition and rotation across different stays. Pair this with smart locks and synced calendars and your cleaners will always know which linen set to use, which to bag for washing, and what needs to be replaced before the next guest arrives.

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When Outsourcing Laundry Actually Saves You Money

A lot of hosts assume doing laundry themselves is always cheaper, but that is not always the case. Once you factor in water, electricity, detergent, machine wear, and the hours spent washing, drying, and folding, in-house laundry can quietly become one of your biggest time drains. 

Services designed for short term rentals, such as hampr or Happynest, often charge a predictable per-bag or per-pound rate, which makes the math surprisingly easy. A full-service property manager typically folds laundry into a larger operations package, so the cost is spread out across turnovers, cleanings, and restocking.

Most hosts know they have outgrown DIY laundry when they hit high occupancy, manage more than one property, or find themselves spending several hours a week doing laundry instead of managing the business. That is usually the tipping point where outsourcing starts putting money back into your pocket.

Vacation rental linen programs take things even further. They handle bulk purchasing, keep standardized sets in rotation, and replace worn items before guests ever notice. The result is cleaner, more consistent linens, fewer last minute issues, and better long term revenue because you are protecting your reviews and your time.

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Scaling Laundry Systems for Multi-Property Investors

Once you start managing more than one Airbnb, laundry becomes a real operations puzzle. What works for a single unit rarely holds up across an entire portfolio, which is why setting property wide standards is essential. The goal is to make every turnover feel predictable for cleaners and seamless for guests. Many investors stick with all white linens so everything can be washed together, labeled consistently, and replaced in bulk without hunting for exact matches. 

Clear storage systems, simple labeling, and uniform towel and sheet sets help cleaners move quickly because every property follows the same playbook. Tools like Breezeway and DataCalculus make it easier to keep track of inventory, assign tasks, and monitor quality.

As your portfolio grows, the question becomes whether to centralize laundry or keep it at each property. Centralized laundry gives you more control and efficiency, but distributed laundry can be faster for tight turnovers. The right choice depends on your layout, staffing, and occupancy levels. 

Companies like Awning make this easier by bundling laundry, cleaning, supply restocking, and even pricing optimization into a single management system. Investors who prefer not to run these processes themselves often find that handing laundry over to a professional manager removes one of the biggest bottlenecks in scaling.

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Your Airbnb Laundry SOP and Checklist (Copy and Customize)

A solid laundry SOP keeps turnovers smooth even when you are not on site. It gives your cleaners a clear path to follow and removes guesswork during busy back to backs. Below is a simple framework you can copy and adjust to fit your property.

Step by Step Laundry SOP

Before guests arrive:

• Confirm par levels are stocked in the linen closet.
• Check that stain kits, detergents, and dryer sheets are available.
• Make sure the washer and dryer are empty and ready to go.

Right after checkout:

• Strip all beds and gather towels, kitchen linens, and extras.
• Start the first load immediately since sheets and towels take longest.
• Pre treat stains using your standard kit.
• Separate linens by type so drying times stay predictable.

During the clean:

• Flip loads as needed.
• Replace items with clean pars from storage so the cleaner never waits on the machine.
• Fold towels and store fresh sets in the designated location.

Final walkthrough:

• Confirm all required items for the next guest are in place.
• Empty the machines.
• Restock any low supplies and note anything that needs replacing.

Turnover Checklist and Par Level Guide

Day of turnover checklist:

• Two complete sheet sets per bed ready to use
• Full towel sets for each guest plus one backup set
• Kitchen towels and cleaning rags replaced
• Stain treated items labeled for a separate wash
• Machines emptied and ready for the next cleaner

Par level basics:

• Three full sets of sheets per bed
• Three full towel sets for maximum occupancy
• Extra pillow protectors and mattress protectors
• Two sets of kitchen linens
• One dedicated bin for damaged or stained items

Bringing It Into Your Operations Playbook

Once you lock in your laundry SOP, add it to your overall operations guide so every cleaner and co host works from the same playbook. If you prefer a hands off setup, you can hand the entire process to a full service manager like Awning. Their teams handle linens, laundry, cleaning, restocking, and property care so you can focus on growing your portfolio instead of running loads between stays.

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Bringing It All Together

Laundry might not be the most exciting part of hosting, but it has a huge impact on how smoothly your Airbnb runs. With the right systems in place, it becomes one less thing to stress about and one more way to impress guests. Clear SOPs, reliable par levels, and consistent workflows help you keep turnovers quick, linens fresh, and reviews strong.

If you want to save even more time and take laundry completely off your plate, Awning’s full service property management can help. Their team handles cleaning, laundry, restocking, and all the operational details that keep guests happy. Reach out to Awning to see how much easier hosting can be when the behind the scenes work is handled for you.