How to get your kitchen ready for Airbnb guests
Amazon affiliate link info: This post may contain affiliate links. Making a purchase with an affiliate link does not cost you any more, but I may receive a small commission to help keep this site running. Learn more here.
Does my Airbnb have to have a kitchen?
In short, no your Airbnb does not have to have a kitchen, but a lot of people choose short term rentals over hotel rooms because they have a kitchen. In fact, having a kitchen is #3 on the top 25 amenities people search for on Airbnb after a Pool and WiFi.
Keeping groceries on hand and preparing your meals can cut down on having to dine out or be hangry when traveling. Some people just prefer not to dine out every meal because it’s unhealthy, and it’s expensive. Having a well-stocked and appealing kitchen is a huge draw for your Airbnb.
How to set up the kitchen area in your Airbnb
The 3 key areas that I focus on are:
Focus on cleanliness when setting up your Airbnb kitchen
Declutter your kitchen when setting it up for an Airbnb
Add your personal touch when setting up your Airbnb kitchen
Focus on cleanliness when setting up your Airbnb kitchen
Of all of the rooms in your rental, the kitchen is where cleanliness is of the utmost importance. Your kitchen should be spotless! Scrub down counters with washable microfiber clothes and then follow with a good disinfectant.
1. Microfiber Cloths // 2. Method Anitbac // 3. Garbage Disposal Cleaner
Wash out the sink and make sure it shines. Run a cleaner through the garbage disposal to ensure there are no funky smells. Place a new sponge, kitchen brushes and a clean dish towel in the sink area. Put away all kitchen cleaners under the sink, and make sure there’s a safety latch in place for small children.
1. Sponges // 2. Kitchen Brushes // 3. Dish Towels
Make sure the trash can is as clean as the day you bought it. Take that bad boy outside and spray it with a hose if you need to.
If your stove has burners that can be removed, pull those out and clean or replace them. And don’t forget to clean your backsplash, hood, and hood filters. Make sure the inside of your stove is clean as well. Use an oven cleaner and if your stove has it run a cleaning cycle.
Your fridge needs to be clean on the inside and outside. I use a stainless steel cleaner and remove all the clutter from the outside of the fridge. Make sure there are no funky odors in your fridge. Scrub down all of the inside shelves and drawers and get rid of leftovers and expired items. One time I checked into an Airbnb and the fridge was full of poorly sealed leftovers (I think there was an entire duck in a stockpot - no joke I almost barfed. Long story short the entire place was filthy and we left and got our money back.)
Wipe off any condiment jars and lids that may be sticky and check the expiration dates on your condiments. Get rid of the mustard from 2019 - you know who you are.
1. Method Stainless Steel Cleaner // 2. Refrigerator Filter // 3. Magic Eraser Kitchen
There are a lot of schools of thought on how to leave your fridge. If you live in your rental full-time, you are probably going to have some stuff in there. Clear a fair amount of space for your guests if you need to leave other items in there. If your home is a full-time rental, get rid of any opened items, it’s your call on condiments I leave a few condiments from previous guests but I don’t let them build up because it’s sort of nasty. I did stay in an Airbnb once and their cleaner would leave unopened alcohol for the next guest which we appreciated.
Clean kitchen floors and run any rugs through the washing machine or power wash them if needed. Make sure your dishwasher is empty and all the dishes are put away. Twice I’ve stayed in Airbnbs where the cleaners forgot to empty the dishwasher and I couldn’t find anything because I didn’t think to look there. Also, as a guest, it’s not my job to put your dishes away.
Declutter your kitchen when setting it up for an Airbnb
Leaving a bunch of personal knick-knacks, junk mail and other clutter in your kitchen area makes it feel messy, cramped, and disorganized. Before guests arrive, make sure you’ve cleared the kitchen of any personal or unnecessary items that aren’t essential to the function of the kitchen. Put away any small appliances that the guests probably won’t use (*ahem* bread maker) to clear space for food prep.
Go through all of your cupboards and purge - do you really need 7 flasks, 23 shot glasses and 47 different coffee mugs? Take this opportunity to Marie Kondo the heck out of your kitchen. It will be good for you, and it might even spark joy in your guests. You are going to feel good afterward, trust me, and it will make it easier for your guests to find items which means less messaging back and forth.
Add your personal touch when setting up your Airbnb kitchen
My go-to for making guests feel welcome in my kitchen is to leave a bottle of wine (if the guests are over 21) and a nice handwritten note to welcome them to their home-away-from-home (you can have your cleaner or property manager write this if you are not managing the property yourself). My short term rental in Lodi, CA is surrounded by great wineries, so we always select a local wine for an added touch.
I also find that having a well-stocked coffee bar is an easy, impressive, and thoughtful bonus for your guests. In addition to a regular coffee maker, I offer a french press and a coffee grinder. Along with local coffee. I also offer a nice selection of teas. Honey, sugar, and stevia are available as sweeteners.
1. French Press // 2. Coffee Grinder // 3. Assortment of teas
For a final personal touch, I set the table. Matching dishes, placemats, cloth napkins, and silverware, are ready and waiting for my guests, and make them feel extra welcome.
1. Dishes // 2. Placemats // 3. Cloth Napkins
To see how I set up my kitchen, including table settings, watch my video tutorial where I guide you through the process.
The kitchen is the heart of any home - even your Airbnb. Here are some great ways to ensure your guests feel at home in their vacation rental kitchen space.
Want more great advice? Check out my blog post: 5 secret weapons for your short term rental