cleaning notes
The Vacation-Rental Turnover Checklist Traverse City Hosts Swear By
A practical room-by-room turnover checklist for short-term rental hosts across Traverse City, Suttons Bay, and Elk Rapids — so every guest walks into a spotless, five-star space.
In Northern Michigan, summer turnovers happen fast. A guest checks out at 11, the next one arrives at 4, and in those few hours the whole place has to be reset, cleaned, and restocked. After years of turnovers from downtown Traverse City to the lakeshore in Elk Rapids and Suttons Bay, here’s the checklist our crews work from.
Kitchen
- Wash, dry, and put away every dish — including anything left in the dishwasher.
- Wipe down counters, the stovetop, the inside of the microwave, and the front of the fridge.
- Empty and wipe the fridge of any food a guest left behind.
- Restock the basics you provide: coffee, filters, dish soap, paper towels, trash bags.
- Take out all trash and recycling and reset fresh liners.
Bathrooms
- Scrub and disinfect the toilet, sink, shower, and tub.
- Replace towels with fresh, folded sets and restock toilet paper.
- Wipe mirrors and any water spots off fixtures.
- Refill soap and check that the hair dryer and any amenities are in place.
Bedrooms and living areas
- Strip and remake every bed with clean linens — check under beds for left-behind items.
- Dust surfaces, sills, and the tops of furniture.
- Vacuum or mop all floors, including under the couch cushions.
- Reset the space: remotes in place, blinds even, throw pillows arranged.
The five-star details
The difference between a good review and a great one usually lives in the small things:
- A quick check for cobwebs in corners and on the porch.
- Streak-free glass on doors that face the water — guests came for the view.
- A faint, clean scent rather than a heavy perfume cloud. (We use our plant-derived, low-fume Qodesh Love Cleaner so the place smells fresh, not fumey.)
- A final walk-through with fresh eyes, as if you were the arriving guest.
When the schedule gets tight
During peak season, the hardest part isn’t the checklist — it’s having someone reliable to run it on a same-day deadline. That’s exactly what we do for hosts and property managers across the Grand Traverse region. If you’d like dependable turnovers this season, request a quote or call (231) 944-8983.