The Airbnb Turnover Playbook: A Fast, Repeatable System San Antonio Hosts Swear By

Oliver Owens
Sep 24, 2025
6 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

If you host in San Antonio, you already know: great reviews live and die on your turnover. Guests will forgive a hiccup with the TV faster than they’ll forgive a sticky floor or hair in the shower. The wild part? Most turnovers don’t fail because someone didn’t try. They fail because the order of operations is off, the team is improvising, or no one has a clean way to prove the job was done right.

At U B Lazy Cleaning Service, we handle short-term rental (STR) cleanings from Southtown to Stone Oak. We’ve seen the scramble, the back-to-back departures, the late flights, and that 10:00 a.m. checkout followed by a noon arrival because—surprise—someone booked last night at 1:43 a.m. This playbook is the same structure we use for our Airbnb/VRBO clients to keep five-star reviews rolling and host anxiety low. Use it as-is, or hand us the keys and we’ll run it for you through our Commercial Cleaning and Residential/Deep Cleaning programs.

Why Turnovers Go Sideways (and How to Prevent It)

Common failure points

Cleaning starts in the wrong room, so footprints cross finished floors
Laundry runs out of time (sheets are still damp at check-in)
Stains are “set” because the wrong product was used first
No photo proof, so disputes are awkward
Re-stock guesswork leads to missing basics (two coffee pods for a four-person stay)

Fix: adopt a repeatable flow with specific roles, time boxes, and photo steps. When the order is right, the speed follows.

The U B Lazy Turnover Flow (90–150 minutes for a standard 2/1 or 2/2)

Think: Air out → Triage → Laundry first → High to low → Dry to wet → Floors last → Stage and verify.

1) Entry & Air-Out (3–5 minutes)

Prop doors/windows briefly if weather allows; switch HVAC fan to On for 15–20 minutes.
Quick walk-through: note damage, missing items, odors, and maintenance flags in your checklist app.
Start a 3–5 photo set of the property as found (protects you and helps spot patterns).

2) Laundry Sequencing (start immediately)

Strip beds and start sheets first. Small units: sheets + pillowcases in load 1; towels in load 2.
If you host back-to-back, keep two full par sets of linens per bed and bath so one set is always “clean and dry,” one is “in use.”
- Pro tip: Store spare sets in sealed bins inside the owner’s closet to avoid dust and pollen (cedar season friends, we see you).

3) Kitchen Reset (20–30 minutes)

Run dishwasher immediately if any dishes are present; hand-wash knives and wood/bamboo pieces.
Degrease cooktop, fronts, and hardware; wipe the inside of microwave (ceiling too) and appliance pulls.
Empty fridge; wipe shelves, gaskets, and door bins. Toss anything open; leave two bottles of cold water if that’s part of your brand.
Trash out; new liner in; wipe the bin inside and the cabinet floor.
Stage: neatly stacked dish set for guest count, coffee station stocked (inventory matrix below).

4) Bathrooms (15–20 minutes each)

Spray and dwell times matter—apply product first, clean mirrors and dust fans while it works.
Scrub/shampoo the shower/tub; squeegee glass; polish fixtures dry (no water spots).
Detail toilet hinge area and base; wipe the wall behind it.
Stage: folded towel sets, two rolls TP visible, spare hiding spot noted in the checklist.

5) Bedrooms & Living Areas (20–30 minutes)

High dust (tops of headboards, fans), then lamps, remotes, switches, and pulls with a damp microfiber.
Make beds hotel-tight: fitted, flat, duvet/cover; pillows fluffed with tags hidden.
Vacuum upholstery, especially arms and headrests.
Declutter surfaces; arrange decor consistently for your listing photos.

6) Floors Last (10–20 minutes)

Vacuum edges first, then center; slow passes.
Damp-mop hard floors with neutral pH; exit the room backward so you don’t track.

7) Final Stage & Photo Verification (5–10 minutes)

Lights set, blinds consistent, thermostat to your preferred setpoint.
Five hero angles that match your listing photos (kitchen wide, living room wide, each bedroom, each bath).
Close out notes: anything low, anything broken, and “ready” timestamp.

Need this as a printable with checkboxes? Say the word—I’ll drop a branded PDF you can give to your team or keep in the owner’s closet.

The Restock Matrix (No Guesswork, Fewer Messages)

Per guest stay (standard 1–3 nights):

Coffee/tea: 4 pods OR 10–12 oz ground, filters as needed
Sugar/creamer packets: 6–8 total
Paper towels: 1 roll on holder + 1 spare
TP: 2 rolls visible per bathroom + 1 spare under sink
Trash liners: 2 extras under kitchen sink
Hand soap + dish soap: top up to ¾ full (swap bottles when scuffed)
Shampoo/conditioner/body wash: hotel-size per guest, or refill bulk dispensers to ¾
Laundry pods: 2–4 in a labeled jar (out of reach of kids)
Salt/pepper/oil: small bottles disposed/replaced regularly to avoid residue

Owner closet (locked):

Full spare linen set per bed + quilt/duvet
Two towel sets per guest capacity
Bulbs, batteries, lint rollers, stain sticks, first-aid basics
Back-stock of all consumables above

Stain & Odor Triage (Save Your Linens)

Time is everything with linens. The wrong first step “sets” stains.

Wine/coffee: rinse with cool water from the back of fabric; enzyme treatment; then normal wash.
Oils/mascara: pretreat with a small amount of dish soap; dab, don’t rub; launder warm.
Blood: cold water only; enzyme; wash cold first, then warm if needed.
Urine/pet: enzyme cleaner; 10–15 minute dwell; launder warm; sun-dry when possible.

If a guest leaves heavy smoke or food odors, open the place up, run the HVAC fan, and set a bowl of vinegar in the kitchen for an hour (remove before guests). Over-fragrancing is not your friend; “neutral” wins reviews.

Speed Without Sloppiness (Where Hosts Usually Gain 20–30 Minutes)

Two-person team: one starts laundry → bathrooms; other starts kitchen → bedrooms. Meet at floors.
Rolling supply caddy per level: cuts steps; no “where’s the glass cleaner” moments.
HEPA vacuum with a caddy clip: upholstery tool at hand = you’ll actually use it.
Color-coded microfibers: glass (blue), baths (white), kitchen (yellow), gen surfaces (green).
Checklists on the wall inside the owner’s closet: physical + digital redundancy.

When we run turnovers as part of Commercial Cleaning, the same two techs handle the same listing whenever possible. Familiarity is free speed.

Messaging Templates You Can Copy

Pre-arrival (24–48 hrs):

“Hi [Guest], we’re excited to host you tomorrow. Check-in is 3 p.m. If you arrive early, we’ll text you the moment the cleaning team finishes. Safe travels!”

Early arrival request:

“Thanks for checking! We have an outgoing guest the same day. Our cleaners will prioritize your suite and let us know if it’s ready early. I’ll update you as soon as I get the all-clear.”

Post-stay nudge:

“Thanks again for staying with us, [Guest]. If everything was five-star, a quick review really helps our small business. If anything felt off, please reply here—we’ll make it right.”

We’re happy to run these communications for our managed clients; otherwise, keep them saved in your phone so you’re never typing from scratch in the H-E-B parking lot.

Photo Proof = Dispute Armor

Every turnover should end with:

Five staged angles matching your listing photos
Any damage/missing items clearly documented
Supply/restock photo (open cabinet with restocks visible)
Laundry room “empty machines” shot if you’ve had issues in the past

Photos protect you with platforms and keep your cleaners honest without awkward conversations. We attach these automatically in our work order close-out.

Compliance Corner (Save This Link)

San Antonio has specific short-term rental rules (Types 1 & 2, caps in certain districts, etc.). When you’re planning occupancy and scheduling quiet hours, it helps to know the basics. A solid free resource for readers is the City of San Antonio Short-Term Rental regulations page from the Development Services Department. Adding that link in your welcome guide builds trust with neighbors and guests alike.

When to Call U B Lazy (and What We Handle for Hosts)

Full turnover service: clean, laundry, restock to your matrix, staging, photo proof, and locked owner closet checks
Mid-stay refresh: light tidy, towel swap, trash + kitchen reset, bathrooms wiped
Deep resets: quarterly or after heavy use—blinds, baseboards, vents, upholstery vacuuming, grout touch-ups
Supply management: we track par levels and restock from your owner closet or approved bulk order

Start simple: set your cadence with Commercial Cleaning for turnovers, add a seasonal Deep Cleaning, and keep a biweekly Residential Cleaning for owner-occupied second homes.

Questions or want us to build the restock matrix for your specific property?

(210) 744-2656 or Contact Us.

Host FAQ (Short and Straight)

How many sets of linens do I need?

Two full sets per bed and bath minimum; three if you often do same-day flips.

Bulk dispensers or minis?

Bulk looks modern and cuts plastic waste, but keep them ¾ full and wipe nozzles every turnover.

Do I need fragrance?

No. Guests equate “fresh” with neutral. Over-scenting leads to complaints and allergies.

Can we use green products and still clean well?

Absolutely. Our Green Cleaning options pair safer products with HEPA vacuums and microfiber systems that actually remove residue.

What about construction dust after a reno?

Book a post-renovation Deep Cleaning—construction dust behaves differently and needs a different approach.

The Takeaway

Five stars aren’t magic—they’re systems. Get the order right, fix laundry timing, remove guesswork with a restock matrix, and take photos every time. Do that, and your reviews stay steady even when your calendar gets busy.

If you’d rather not manage the moving pieces, hand us the playbook. We’ll run the turnovers like clockwork, protect your listing with photos, and keep the small things from becoming big problems.