This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Here’s the Airbnb restocking checklist I run through after every single guest stay, room by room.
Managing 15 Airbnb properties means I have a turnover routine down to a science. These are the exact items I restock between every single guest, no exceptions, no guessing. If you host even one property, this list will save you from the panicked “wait, did we run out of paper towels” moment mid-turnover.
The Bathroom Restock
Toilet paper. A fresh or mostly full roll on the holder, folded neatly at the end. It’s a small touch, but it signals the space was actually prepped for them, not just cleaned. I also leave 3 extra individually wrapped rolls tucked in a cabinet, or somewhere guests can easily find if they need more.
Recommended: Toilet Paper, also like this brand
Bathroom amenities. Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and a small bar of soap in every bathroom. I use the Oasis Bliss set across all 15 properties. It photographs beautifully for listing photos, and guests consistently mention it in reviews.
Hand soap at every bathroom sink and the kitchen sink. Non-negotiable; guests notice immediately if it’s missing or nearly empty.
Recommended: Hand Soap, plus a refill option so you’re not buying new bottles every turnover
Makeup towels. A small stack in every bathroom. Guests use these instead of ruining your good towels with makeup or self-tanner, and they’re a cheap way to protect your linens.
Recommended: Makeup Towels
The Kitchen Restock
Paper towels. An almost full or full roll set out by the sink, with a spare roll underneath. Same logic as the toilet paper: it should look intentional, not scraped together.
Recommended: Paper Towels, or a more budget-friendly option
Dish soap and a brand new sponge. I use the small Palmolive bottles and always swap in a fresh sponge for every guest. A used sponge is one of those small things that quietly tanks a review.
Recommended: Palmolive Dish Soap
Dishwasher pods. Kept under the sink.
Recommended: Dishwasher Pods
Trash bags. I leave 5 extra, sometimes fewer depending on the property, tucked under the sink or in a nearby cabinet.
Recommended: Trash Bags
Washer pods. 5 extra pods for guests doing laundry mid-stay.
Recommended: Laundry Pods
Kitchen towels. A couple of clean ones set out, not just whatever was left from the last guest.
Recommended: Kitchen Towels
The Hidden Stash
This is the one most hosts forget. I keep a small stash of light bulbs and batteries, AA, AAA, and 9V, tucked into a kitchen drawer or cabinet. It’s not front and center, but it’s findable if a guest needs it. This covers dead remote batteries, a bulb that burns out mid-stay, or a chirping smoke detector at 2 am. It’s a small thing that prevents a 2 am guest message you really don’t want to deal with.
Recommended: 9V Batteries, AA Batteries, AAA Batteries, and Light Bulbs
A Note on Starter Packs
I don’t leave giant bulk quantities of everything out for guests. I learned that lesson the hard way after finding a guest digging through a fresh tub of dishwasher pods with wet hands, which melted the whole thing into a ruined, unusable mess. Now I leave what I call a starter pack, enough for a normal stay, with a little extra added in for longer bookings. If guests need more than that, they’re welcome to grab it at a store nearby. It’s not about being stingy; it’s about protecting the product and ensuring sustainable restocking across 15 properties. More on exactly how I calculate that in the next post.
Check out my Starter Pack Method here: Starter Pack Method
Depending on the Property: Rounding Out Your Airbnb Restocking Checklist
Some of my properties have pools, grills, or Keurigs, and what I stock shifts a little based on what the space actually has. Pool towels, grill utensils, and Keurig cups when the owner wants them included. I’ll break that down property by property in a future post once I’ve got photos to show you what that looks like in practice.
Want your guests to know exactly where to find everything without sending you a single message? My Airbnb Welcome Book walks them through the whole house, kitchen, WiFi, and everything in between.
This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.