Airbnb Revises Policy to Ban Host-Mandated Deep Cleaning by Guests
Airbnb will no longer allow hosts to require guests to perform extensive cleaning tasks such as stripping beds or taking out trash, a change that has sparked mixed reactions among hosts.
Airbnb announced on Wednesday that, for reservations made on or after November 20, hosts will be prohibited from requiring guests to carry out cleaning duties that are typically handled by professional cleaners. The new rule bars requests such as stripping beds, washing and storing dishes, and removing trash from the property.
The company said the update responds to long-standing guest complaints about extensive checkout instructions and additional cleaning fees. Some hosts expressed dissatisfaction, with discussions on Reddit and Facebook suggesting coordinated actions, including a possible strike or raising cleaning fees to offset the need for hired cleaners.
"Guests can certainly be expected to wash their dishes or put them in the dishwasher and remove their dirty linens," one host said, adding that guests receive a personal connection and a unique environment that hotels do not provide.
Other hosts welcomed the change. A user identified as a super host wrote that any host objecting to the policy should consider leaving the platform, while another host described the previous expectations as "insane."
Airbnb has not indicated any further adjustments to its host-guest guidelines at this time.