Why Cleaning Makes or Breaks Your Rental Reputation
On Airbnb and Booking.com, cleanliness is the first score checked by potential guests. A cleanliness rating below 4.7 out of 5 triggers a visible drop in search results. On the French Riviera, where guests compare your apartment to four-star hotels, a single hair in the shower or a smeared glass in the cupboard is enough to spark a negative review.
Professional cleaning in holiday rentals follows precise standards, quite different from regular housekeeping. Here is the complete checklist used by the Riviera Luxe Concierge teams.
Before You Start: Organisation
Timing is the main constraint. During peak season on the French Riviera, check-out is usually at 10 AM and check-in at 4 PM, leaving six hours to clean, prepare linen and inspect. For a 50 m² one-bedroom apartment, allow 2.5 to 3 hours with a two-person team. For a four-bedroom villa with a pool, plan for 5 to 6 hours with three people.
Equipment to prepare before each visit: HEPA-filter vacuum cleaner, steam mop, multi-surface cleaner, anti-limescale bathroom cleaner (essential on the French Riviera where water is very hard), kitchen degreaser, glass cleaner, separate microfibre cloths for each zone (use different colours for kitchen, bathroom and other areas), gloves, bin bags, restocking kit (shower gel, shampoo, toilet paper, coffee, tea).
Checklist: Entrance and Common Areas
Entrance and hallway: dust shoe rack and shelving, clean light switches and door handles (priority contact points), vacuum and mop floor, check that keys and the welcome booklet are in place, clean any mirror.
Living room: remove all personal items left by previous guests (check under cushions, behind furniture), dust all horizontal surfaces including remote controls, clean TV screen with appropriate cloth, vacuum sofa and armchairs, flip cushions, wash cushion covers if needed, clean coffee table and side tables, clean windows on the inside, vacuum and mop floor. Check USB ports and chargers: nothing left by guests.
Terrace or balcony if present: clean garden table and chairs, sweep or blow away leaves, check barbecue if present (grill to clean after each use), clean railing.
Checklist: Kitchen
The kitchen is the most time-consuming room. Start by emptying and cleaning the fridge: remove all food left behind (unless your policy allows guests to leave non-perishables), wipe down shelves and drawers with appropriate cleaner, check best-before dates on provided condiments.
Oven and microwave: full degreasing of the interior, clean microwave turntable. Hob: degrease, check that grates and burners are clean. Extractor hood: clean filters (schedule monthly). Dishwasher: check it is empty and clean, clean the filter. Coffee maker and kettle: descale monthly, wipe exterior each visit. Sink: anti-limescale clean, plug, taps. Cupboards: check crockery is clean and correctly stored, ensure consumable stock is adequate. Worktop: full degreasing. Floor: sweep then mop.
Checklist: Bathroom
The bathroom must compete with a hotel. Strict control points:
Shower or bath: full anti-limescale clean of walls (visible limescale guarantees a negative review on the French Riviera), clean grout (reseal with silicone if blackening), clean tray, check drain. Taps: descale and polish to a shine. Toilet: full clean inside and outside, seat, cistern, base. Washbasin: anti-limescale clean, polished taps. Mirror: streak-free clean. Floor: mop. Towels: full replacement with fresh linen (see linen standards below). Restocking: shampoo, shower gel, soap, toilet paper (minimum two rolls per bathroom). Bin: emptied and bag replaced.
Checklist: Bedrooms
Bedding: change sheets and pillowcases systematically, even after a short stay. Pillows and blankets should be aired. If the property has a mattress protector, inspect it. Sheet folding: neat hotel-corner folds make a real difference in photos and at arrival.
Surfaces: full dusting (bedside table, chest of drawers, headboard if wood), clean lamps and shades. Wardrobes and drawers: check guests left nothing behind, wipe if marked. Floor: vacuum and mop. Windows: clean inside. Shutters or blinds: test operation.
Linen Standards: The Critical Point
On the French Riviera, international guests have hotel-level expectations. White linen is the norm. Yellowed or tan-stained linen generates complaints. Have at least two sets of linen per bed (one in use, one in the wash or stock). Professional laundry costs between 15 EUR and 25 EUR per bed set on the French Riviera. For a two-bedroom apartment, linen costs run 40 EUR to 60 EUR per turnover in peak season.
If you manage linen in-house: wash at 60°C minimum, dry flat to prevent shrinkage, iron duvet covers and pillowcases without exception. Bath towels should be folded uniformly (thirds fold or spa-style roll).
Realistic Timing by Property Type
Studio apartment (35 m²): 1.5 to 2 hours, one person. One-bedroom apartment (50-60 m²): 2.5 to 3 hours, one or two people. Two-bedroom apartment (80 m²): 3.5 to 4 hours, two people. Three-bedroom villa without pool: 4 hours, two people. Four-to-five-bedroom villa with pool: 5 to 7 hours, three people.
These durations include cleaning, linen preparation and final inspection. They do not include exceptional work (carpet stains, breakage, etc.).
Costs on the French Riviera
Holiday rental cleaning is typically charged to the guest as a separate fee on the platforms. Current 2025 rates on the French Riviera: studio: 50 to 70 EUR, one-bedroom: 70 to 95 EUR, two-bedroom: 90 to 130 EUR, four-to-five-bedroom villa: 150 to 250 EUR.
If you outsource to a specialist holiday rental cleaning company, expect hourly rates between 25 EUR and 40 EUR per hour depending on the provider and location (Cannes and Monaco command higher rates than Valbonne). Riviera Luxe Concierge coordinates all cleaning services as part of its rental management offering.
The Final Inspection
After each clean, a quick 15-minute inspection is essential. Verify: full checklist completed, no items left by previous guests, no unreported damage, hot water working, air conditioning or heating set to a comfortable level, shutters functioning, welcome kit in place (water, coffee, fruit if provided), welcome booklet visible. Photograph the property before every check-in: this documentation protects you in any deposit dispute.
