Airbnb announced they were going to prevent hosts from asking for certain tasks prior to check-out, like vacuuming, doing laundry, and stripping the beds. They call these “unreasonable.” I've never asked a guest to vacuum or do the laundry (though I have asked them to start a load of towels), but stripping the beds is a task that I would encourage EVERY GUEST who stays at an Airbnb to do. Here is why:

Cleaning short term rentals shouldn’t be “hidden” work. Let’s foreground its value rather than try to hide it.

Oh, potential Airbnb guest and/or stockholder, fret not. Cleaning fees are your friend. Allow me to explain.

THE best part of Airbnb, in my experience, is that the platform allows hosts to host in way that feels comfortable, safe, and worthwhile to them. Cleaning fees are one tool hosts (like me) use to make our space available to more people.

Airbnb Cleaning fees are a powerful tools for hosts, but cleaning fees also matter politically.