Airbnb ’s Enhanced Cleaning Protocol—the first overarching standardized guidelines for cleaning and sanitization in the home sharing industry—is now available to support hosts and governments in advance of reopening communities for travel. The guidelines are informed by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and developed in partnership with leading hospitality and medical hygiene experts, including former Surgeon General of the United States, Vivek Murthy.
Cleanliness has always been top of mind for hosts on Airbnb and our Enhanced Cleaning Protocol will support hosts in elevating their cleaning practices and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
All hosts in the U.S. can access the enhanced cleaning educational materials through the Resource Center, including a Quick Start Guide and Cleaning Handbook with guidance on the use of personal protective equipment, how to clean every room in a home, what to sanitize, and what supplies to have on hand. These materials are available to hosts in the U.S., with other countries and regions to follow shortly. In addition to cleaning guidelines, hosts should ensure they comply with guidance from governments or health authorities in their local jurisdictions.
To enroll their homes in the Enhanced Cleaning Protocol, Hosts can go directly to their Airbnb accounts, where they can review the guidelines, and complete a quiz and an attestation. Hosts who commit to following the cleaning protocol will receive a special call-out on their listing in the coming days so guests know they are committed to an enhanced cleaning and sanitization routine.
If hosts are unable to commit to our cleaning protocol, they can also choose to opt into a new feature called Booking Buffer, to create a longer vacancy period between stays, with no activity other than cleaning, which should follow appropriate guidelines. Reservations will be automatically blocked during that time frame, currently set at 72 hours in the U.S.
In an effort to ensure hosts are equipped with the best practices for cleaning, we will continue to develop new education materials and features to help get them up to speed. In the meantime, we ask that hosts also comply with cleaning guidance from government or health authorities in their local jurisdiction.
Supporting Communities
Our Enhanced Cleaning Protocol builds on Airbnb’s strong historical track record of cleanliness: 94 percent of all Airbnb reviews show that guests are satisfied with cleaning, scoring it at 4 or 5 stars after their stays.* By following this cleaning protocol, hosts are taking significant steps toward protecting themselves, their guests and the communities in which they live.
In addition, governments and health authorities will be able to refer to these guidelines to help inform the reopening of communities and their tourism economies. We will continue to collaborate with local governments, medical experts and other authorities to help ensure appropriate precautions are taken, support COVID-19 response efforts, and carry out any other applicable requirements.
