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As the pandemic continues, it’s important that we all do our part to help curb the spread of COVID-19. Because health and safety is especially critical at this time, we’ll take you through the required five-step cleaning process, plus share tips and precautions if you work with professional cleaners.

From how long a cleaner should wait before entering a place to what they should wear while they clean, these recommendations and requirements can help your cleaners work more safely.

It’s important to remember that even if you’ve hired help, you’re still responsible for making sure your place is cleaned properly. To help set you and your cleaner up for success, here are some important requirements, tips, and guidelines:

Because cleanliness matters more than ever, hosts of accommodations must follow Airbnb’s five-step cleaning process, which helps you provide a consistent cleaning standard between every stay. This five-step process is based on Airbnb’s cleaning handbook, which was developed in partnership with leading hospitality and medical hygiene experts.

The process includes clear steps—prepare, clean, sanitize, check, and reset—so you or your cleaner will know exactly what to do and when to do it. This includes allowing appropriate time to pass before your cleaners enter your space, ventilating rooms before and while you clean, and wearing a mask and gloves the entire time.

To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, please make sure your cleaners understand the five-step cleaning process and how to follow it. You may also want to allow more time than usual for your cleaners to complete the full process.

If you and your cleaners are searching for more information on how to put these requirements in practice, here are additional resources from organizations like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that can help:

• Wait to enter the space after guests leave. It’s important to consult your local authority for guidelines on the appropriate length of time to wait before you or your cleaners enter the space. For example, the CDC suggests waiting 24 hours to help reduce your exposure to germs. If that’s not possible, we recommend waiting at least three hours, or as long as possible after the guest leaves, before entering the space.
• Ventilate rooms before and while you clean. Regulatory authorities such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC recommend opening outside doors and windows and using ventilating fans to increase air circulation in the space before beginning to clean and sanitize. Ventilate the space for as long as possible before and during cleaning.
• Wear a mask and gloves. If you’re meeting the cleaner in person, make sure you both wear a mask and maintain 6 feet (2 meters) of distance from each other at all times. Cleaners must wear a mask and gloves while they clean.
• Provide the right equipment. If possible, provide your cleaners with personal protective equipment (PPE) like face masks, disposable gloves, etc.
• Use approved cleaning supplies. Stock disinfectant and sanitizer solutions that are registered with your relevant governmental agency, such as the European Chemicals Agency or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

We’ve compiled a list of Airbnb resources to help you navigate the cleaning process and set up your cleaner to work safely:

• Check out the cleaning handbook, a comprehensive resource with expert-backed guidance and safety tips
• If you, a guest, or your cleaner may have COVID-19, find out who to contact, how Airbnb can help, and more
• Learn about guidelines and rules specific to your region in this Help Center article about responsible hosting
• For more education, tips, and custom cleaning checklists, visit the cleaning section of your Performance tab

We know these cleaning tips can add more time to your routine, but by using them in between each stay, you’re taking important steps toward protecting yourself, your guests, and your cleaners. Thank you for being a host and helping to protect the community.

This content is based on publicly available information from the CDC. The CDC does not endorse this content or Airbnb. Airbnb makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to this content provided for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.