The products your cleaner uses directly affect how your property looks, smells, and feelsto guests. Cleanliness is the #1 factor in Airbnb reviews — and it's not just about effort. The right products make the difference between a property that looks clean and one that feels clean.
Here's what professional Airbnb cleaners in Edinburgh actually keep in their caddy — product by product, with UK-available options and the reasoning behind each choice.
The golden rule: clean-smelling, not chemical-smelling
The biggest mistake amateur cleaners make is dousing a property in bleach and air freshener. Guests don't want to walk into a property that smells like a swimming pool or a perfume counter. The best turnovers leave a property that smells fresh and neutral — not chemical.
This means:
- Unscented or lightly scented products as your default
- No plug-in air fresheners (they mask, they don't clean)
- Good ventilation during and after cleaning — open windows for 15 minutes
- If you want a signature scent, use a single high-quality reed diffuser in the hallway — not competing fragrances in every room
The professional cleaning caddy: product by product
1. All-purpose surface cleaner
Your workhorse. Used on kitchen counters, dining tables, bathroom surfaces, door handles, light switches, and remote controls.
- Top pick: Method All-Purpose Cleaner (Pink Grapefruit or French Lavender) — plant-based, light scent, leaves surfaces streak-free. Guests recognise the brand and associate it with quality.
- Budget alternative: Dettol Anti-Bacterial Surface Cleanser — effective, widely available, slightly more clinical smell.
- Eco alternative: Ecover All-Purpose Cleaner — biodegradable, minimal scent, works well on most surfaces.
Pro tip: use the all-purpose spray on a microfibre cloth, not directly on surfaces. Less waste, better coverage, no spray residue on mirrors or glass nearby.
2. Bathroom cleaner
Bathrooms are the #1 area guests inspect and the #1 source of cleaning complaints in reviews. You need a product that cuts through limescale, soap scum, and watermarks — Edinburgh has notoriously hard water.
- Top pick: Viakal Limescale Remover — the industry standard for hard water areas. Spray on taps, shower screens, and tiles. Leave 5 minutes, wipe, rinse. Glass-like finish.
- For toilets: Harpic Power Plus — apply under the rim, leave while you clean the rest of the bathroom, scrub and flush. Non-negotiable.
- For mould: HG Mould Spray — essential for Edinburgh bathrooms, especially in older tenement flats with poor ventilation. Spray on grout and silicone sealant, leave 30 minutes, rinse. Prevents return for 2–3 weeks.
Edinburgh-specific note:Victorian and Edwardian tenement bathrooms often have cast iron baths, original tile, and sash windows that condensate badly. HG Mould Spray is non-negotiable for these properties — you'll use it on almost every clean, particularly in winter.
3. Glass and mirror cleaner
Streak-free mirrors and glass are one of those subtle details that separate a 4-star clean from a 5-star one.
- Top pick: Windolene Spray — classic, effective, no streaks when used with a glass microfibre cloth.
- Alternative: Method Glass Cleaner — mint scent, non-toxic, good for properties where you want to stick to one brand.
Pro tip: always buff mirrors with a dry microfibre cloth after wiping with cleaner. The two-cloth method is what separates professional results from amateur ones.
4. Kitchen degreaser
For hobs, extractors, splashbacks, and oven doors. Regular all-purpose cleaner won't cut through cooking grease.
- Top pick: Elbow Grease All-Purpose Degreaser — cheap (about £1), genuinely effective on cooked-on grease, available in every supermarket.
- For ovens: Oven Pride — bag-and-soak system for oven racks. Not needed every turnover, but essential for deep cleans and end-of-tenancy.
- The Pink Stuff paste — a cult favourite that actually works. Brilliant for stainless steel sinks, hobs, and stubborn marks. Use sparingly — it's mildly abrasive.
5. Floor cleaner
Edinburgh properties are a mix of original hardwood, laminate, tile, and carpet. You need different approaches:
- Hard floors: Flash All-Purpose Floor Cleaner — dilute in a bucket, mop with a flat microfibre mop. Low residue, dries fast, light scent.
- Laminate: Method Squirt + Mop — spray directly on the floor, mop with microfibre. No bucket needed. Ideal for quick turnovers.
- Carpet: vacuum thoroughly with a cylinder vacuum (not upright) — for Edinburgh tenement flats, a compact cylinder vacuum is essential because of tight hallways and stairs. Spot-clean stains with Vanish Oxi Action spray.
6. Disinfectant
Used on high-touch surfaces: door handles, light switches, remote controls, flush buttons, taps.
- Top pick: Zoflora concentrated disinfectant — the UK's favourite. Dilute in a spray bottle (1 capful per 400ml water). Linen Fresh and Midnight Blooms are the most popular scents for holiday lets. Kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses.
- Alternative: Dettol All-in-One Disinfectant Spray — ready to use, no dilution, convenient for quick passes between rooms.
7. Washing-up liquid and dishwasher tablets
- Washing-up liquid: Fairy Original — leave a fresh bottle under the kitchen sink for guests. It's the brand guests expect. A small thing, but it signals care.
- Dishwasher tablets: Fairy Platinum All-in-One — leave 2–3 tablets in a visible container near the dishwasher. Pre-wash tablets don't work as well and guests will complain about dirty dishes.
The colour-coded microfibre system
Every professional cleaning operation uses colour-coded cloths to prevent cross-contamination. This is industry standard and non-negotiable for hygiene:
| Colour | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | General surfaces, glass, mirrors | Low contamination risk areas |
| Green | Kitchen surfaces, food prep areas | Food-safe areas kept separate |
| Yellow | Bathroom surfaces (sinks, tiles, baths) | Bathroom-specific, not mixed with kitchen |
| Red | Toilets and high-contamination areas | Highest risk — never used anywhere else |
Buy microfibre cloths in packs of 10 per colour. Wash at 60°C after every use. Replace when they stop absorbing properly (typically every 200–300 washes).
What NOT to use in an Airbnb
- Bleach on coloured grout or natural stone — it discolours grout and etches marble, granite, and limestone. Edinburgh's period properties often have natural stone surfaces.
- Abrasive creams on glass cooktops — scratches are permanent and guests will notice.
- Scouring pads on stainless steel sinks — use The Pink Stuff with a soft cloth instead.
- Strong-scented air fresheners — they trigger allergies, clash with other scents, and many guests find them off-putting. If a property smells bad, fix the source — don't mask it.
- Cheap toilet bleach in the bowl "for show" — blue toilet water looks tacky, not professional. A clean toilet doesn't need a visual gimmick.
Restocking: what to leave for guests vs what cleaners bring
Leave for guests (replenished every turnover)
- 2 toilet rolls per bathroom (plus 2 spare under the sink)
- Washing-up liquid and 2–3 dishwasher tablets
- Hand soap at every sink
- Bin bags (at least 3 spare)
- Tea, coffee, sugar, and UHT milk (basic hospitality pack)
- Mini toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, body wash) — or refillable dispensers
Cleaners bring (not left at property)
- All cleaning products
- Microfibre cloths (colour-coded set)
- Mop and bucket
- Vacuum cleaner (or use the property's)
- Rubber gloves
- Caddy to carry everything
Cost per turnover: the supplies breakdown
How much do cleaning supplies actually cost per turnover? Less than most hosts think:
- Cleaning products consumed per turnover: £1.50–£3.00 (sprays, cloths, disinfectant)
- Guest consumables restocked: £3.00–£8.00 (toilet rolls, soap, tea/coffee, bin bags)
- Total supplies cost per turnover: £4.50–£11.00
The cost is negligible compared to the impact on reviews. A missing toilet roll or empty soap dispenser costs nothing to fix but can cost you a star in your cleanliness rating.
The professional edge
At Edinburgh Cleaning Co, our cleaners arrive with a fully stocked caddy — all the products above, colour-coded cloths, and a turnover checklist that includes restocking. You never need to buy, store, or manage cleaning supplies yourself.