Timing Your Turnover: How Long Does It REALLY Take to Clean a 3-Bedroom Airbnb?
As a short-term rental (STR) owner in the Lowcountry, you know the "Checkout Clock" is the most stressful part of the day. Between the 10:00 AM checkout and the 4:00 PM check-in, you have a narrow window to erase every trace of the previous guest and make the home feel brand new.
One of the most frequent questions we get at Elite Southern Turnovers is: "How long should it take to clean a 3-bedroom Airbnb?"
The short answer? For a standard 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home, a professional-grade turnover typically takes 4 to 6 hours.
But in the world of hospitality, "clean" is a moving target. Here is the breakdown of why that 5-hour average exists and how to tell if your property needs more (or less) time.
The "Hospitality Clean" vs. The "House Clean"
The biggest mistake new hosts make is timing their Airbnb flip based on how long it takes to clean their own home. Residential cleaning is about maintenance; STR cleaning is about restoration.
A professional turnover includes tasks you’d never do in a standard house cleaning, such as:
The Sanitization Pass: Disinfecting every remote, light switch, and door handle.
The Inventory Audit: Counting every spoon, coffee pod, and roll of toilet paper to ensure the next guest isn't left hanging.
The Digital Reset: Logging out of Netflix accounts and checking the Wi-Fi router.
The Staging: Fluffing pillows to a 45-degree angle and "triangling" the toilet paper to signal "newness."
Why 3 Bedrooms Take 5 Hours: The Breakdown
If you are cleaning solo, here is how those hours are usually spent:
Kitchen (60–90 mins): This is the heart of the turnover. It involves cleaning inside the microwave, checking the oven, "zeroing out" the fridge, and polishing stainless steel until it’s streak-free.
Bathrooms (30 mins per bath): This includes scrubbing grout, polishing chrome, and the most important task: a deep-check for hair in the drains.
Bedrooms (20–30 mins per room): Stripping linens, checking under the bed for "left-behinds," and meticulous bed-making.
Laundry (The Wildcard): Washing, drying, and folding linens for three bedrooms can take 3+ hours. This is why professional teams use "par inventory" (swapping dirty linens for pre-laundered sets) to keep the clock moving.
3 Factors That Can Add +1 Hour to Your Clock
The "Lowcountry Dog" Factor: We love our pet-friendly rentals, but pet hair is a time-sink. Removing fur from rugs and upholstery can easily add an hour to the job.
Outdoor Living Spaces: In Charleston, the porch is part of the house. Sweeping cobwebs, wiping down patio furniture, and cleaning the BBQ grill are essential "above and beyond" tasks.
Same-Day Flips: When a guest leaves at 11:00 AM and another arrives at 3:00 PM, the "pressure" factor increases. Efficiency drops when you're rushing, which is why a two-person team is often required for tight windows.
How to Speed Up the Process (Without Cutting Corners)
If your turnovers are taking 8+ hours, you don't have a cleaning problem—you have a system problem. To get back into that 4–6 hour sweet spot, we recommend:
Triple Sheeting: A hotel secret that makes bed-making twice as fast.
Off-Site Laundry: Stop waiting for the dryer. Take the dirty laundry home and bring a fresh set every time.
Standardized Kits: Use a wearable cleaning caddy so you aren't walking back and forth to your supply closet.
Leave it to the Pros
At the end of the day, your time is your most valuable asset as a host. At Elite Southern Turnovers, we specialize in the "Luxury Restoration" standard that keeps Charleston rentals in the 5-star category.
Ready to stop watching the clock? [Click here to get a flat-rate quote for your 3-bedroom property today.]