The short answer: restock by area after every stay. That means the bathroom (toilet paper, soap, shampoo), the kitchen (dish soap, sponges, trash bags, coffee if you offer it), the bedrooms (spare linen sets) and the cleaning caddy. Set a minimum count for each item so you reorder before you run out. Airbnb's own cleaning tips say to refill amenities like soap and shampoo and to swap used dish sponges for new ones at turnover.
This list fits any short-term rental, whichever site you list on. For the rest of the hosting routine, see our guide to running a vacation rental with Tagwell.
The essentials guests expect
Airbnb's help center lists five basics it strongly encourages every host to provide:
- Toilet paper
- Soap for hands and body
- One towel per guest
- One pillow per guest
- Linens for each guest bed
Airbnb suggests offering more for larger groups and longer stays, and says that listing these essentials without actually providing them can lead to penalties. Everything else on this page is up to you, but whatever your listing promises, keep it stocked.
Restock checklist by room (printable)
Fill in your own minimums once, based on your largest group and longest typical stay, plus a buffer for a same-day turnover. Then count at each turnover.
| Area | Item | Minimum on hand | Count today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom | Toilet paper | ||
| Bathroom | Hand soap and body wash | ||
| Bathroom | Shampoo and conditioner | ||
| Bathroom | Bath and hand towels (one bath towel per guest, plus spares) | ||
| Kitchen | Dish soap and dishwasher detergent | ||
| Kitchen | New sponges, still wrapped | ||
| Kitchen | Paper towels and trash bags | ||
| Kitchen | Coffee, tea and filters (if you offer them) | ||
| Bedrooms | Clean sheet sets (a spare set for each bed) | ||
| Bedrooms | Pillows (one per guest) and spare pillowcases | ||
| Laundry | Laundry detergent | ||
| Cleaning caddy | Multipurpose cleaner, glass cleaner, cloths, mop pads, vacuum bags | ||
| Safety | Spare batteries for smoke and CO alarms | ||
| Safety | First aid kit supplies |
Bathroom and kitchen
These run out fastest. Airbnb's cleaning tips name dish soap, hand soap, body wash, shampoo and conditioner as amenities to refill, and suggest replacing dish sponges with a new one still in its wrapper. As the cleaner quoted in those tips puts it, guests notice little details, so top up bottles rather than leaving a near-empty one.
Bedrooms and linens
Keep at least one spare set of clean sheets and towels for each bed. Airbnb's cleaning tips point out that spare sets are what make same-day turnovers possible, and that big, thick towels take a long time to dry. Count linens as a supply too: sets wear out and go missing.
The cleaner's caddy
Airbnb suggests keeping all your cleaning supplies in one place, such as a portable caddy or a locked owner's closet, and restocking it regularly so you're never caught short between guests. One spot also makes counting quick: whoever cleans can see at a glance what's low.
Safety items
- Smoke and CO alarms: Airbnb strongly recommends both where there are fuel-burning appliances, and asks hosts to test them regularly and keep the listing's safety details accurate. CPSC says to test alarms monthly and replace batteries once a year, so keep spares in the owner's closet.
- Replacement dates: the U.S. Fire Administration says to replace a smoke alarm 10 years from its manufacture date. CO alarms have their own end-of-life date; see our CO detector replacement guide.
- Fire extinguisher and first aid kit: Airbnb lists both as optional safety amenities. If you list them, check them at each deep clean and restock the first aid kit when it's used.
If an alarm starts chirping between stays, our guide to why a smoke detector chirps walks through the usual causes.
How to track stock across turnovers and listings
- Write one list per property, by room, with a minimum for each item.
- Count at every turnover. It takes a few minutes if supplies live in one place.
- Reorder below the minimum, not when it hits zero. Allow for delivery time.
- Save the exact product: brand, size and where you buy it, so anyone can reorder the right thing.
- Agree who restocks. If your cleaner does it, ask them to report what's low after each visit.
Questions people ask
What are Airbnb "essentials"?
Airbnb's help center lists toilet paper, soap for hands and body, a towel and a pillow for each guest, and linens for each guest bed. It says marking a listing as having essentials without providing them can lead to penalties.
How much toilet paper should I leave?
Airbnb doesn't set a number. It suggests more for bigger groups and longer stays, so plan for your largest group and longest typical stay, then keep a spare pack in the owner's closet.
Should hosts provide coffee?
Coffee isn't on Airbnb's essentials list, so it's your choice. If your listing mentions it, keep it stocked and count it like any other supply.
Who restocks, the host or the cleaner?
Either can work, as long as it's written down. One simple setup: keep stock in one place and have the cleaner restock and report what's running low after each turnover.
How do I keep track of supplies across several listings?
Give each listing its own list with a minimum count for every item, and reorder when the count drops below it. Tagwell does this with Supplies; more than one listing needs Tagwell Plus.
Let Tagwell remember for you
Add this to your home in a tap, get a reminder when it's due, and keep the part details on file. Free to start.
Sources
- Airbnb Help Center: Providing essential amenities for guests
- Airbnb Resource Center: Clean like a pro with these expert tips
- Airbnb Resource Center: The amenities guests want
- Airbnb Help Center: Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms (article 514)
- CPSC: CO alarms
- U.S. Fire Administration: Smoke alarms
General guidance only. Follow your manufacturer's instructions, and call a licensed professional for gas, electrical, roofing or anything that feels unsafe.