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Are you a new Airbnb host setting up your short-term rental? You have landed in the right place! I am a 14x Airbnb superhost with four successful vacation rentals on 30A. At Our Little Lifestyle, I share my first-hand experience with people like you! Today, we are going to talk about the ever-important Airbnb bathroom. This includes the Airbnb bathroom essentials you need and what you don’t need!
Setting Up Your Airbnb Bathroom
A clean and well-equipped Airbnb bathroom is crucial to your success as an Airbnb host. Just as I point out in my Airbnb bedding post, this is one aspect that you want to feel like a hotel. The bedroom and the bathroom should always be sparkling clean, have the necessary amenities, and be free of personal items and excess clutter.
Likewise, it’s always beneficial to chat with your cleaners first. Determine if they prefer only white towels (for easy bleaching), whether they provide any of the paper goods, and so forth. In most cases, the cleaning company will have a set workflow, and they are the ones in the rentals between guests, not you.
Now, I am ready to guide you in gathering the essential items to create a top-notch Airbnb bathroom that will help earn you 5-star Airbnb reviews and Airbnb superhost status!
Airbnb Bathroom Essentials + Links to Shop
Whether you have one bathroom or several bathrooms in your short-term rental, you need each to be fully stocked for guests.
Do you have any shared Airbnb bathrooms that accommodate more than one family? In that case, you must account for that to ensure your guests don’t have to share essential items.
You always need around 3 complete sets of anything changed between guests, such as towels and bath mats. For other things, including shower curtains and liners, you really should have at least one backup.
Here are must-have items in any Airbnb bathroom! Everything is also saved in my Airbnb Bathroom Essentials list on my Amazon storefront for easy shopping.
Airbnb Bathroom Towels
You will need several types of towels in your Airbnb, including bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths. Makeup wash clothes are also a great touch.
When it comes to choosing Airbnb bathroom towels, I actually have an entire blog post dedicated to this. So, read Let’s Talk Airbnb Towels + Our Superhost Favorites for a more detailed explanation.
Bath Towels
You want these to be large enough to wrap around and quick drying. The waffle weave style quick drying towels are my favorite as they can fully dry in just hours. Remember, your Airbnb doesn’t have towel service like a hotel. So, you want to avoid thick, heavy, and wet towels hanging for days on end, unable to be reused by the guest.
In general, you want to leave 2 bath towels per guest. I like leaving these in the bathrooms stacked on a shelf above the toilet because I have minimal cabinet space. Some hosts leave a bundled towel set on each bed. It typically includes 2 bath towels, 1 hand towel, and 2 washcloths.
Bath Towel Recommendations:
Hand Towels
Each bathroom should have one clean hand towel on the towel ring or bar and another extra under the sink. It’s always nice when these match the bath towels, too!
Hand Towel Recommendations:
Washcloths
You may not realize this, but some people like to use washcloths in the shower for their bodies. So, you should have two white wash clothes available per person: one for their face and one for their bodies. These will need to be replaced often due to staining, so do not need to be fancy.
Including black makeup washcloths in your Airbnb bathroom will also help minimize the staining on your white washcloths. Always make sure to wash them in hot water first to get out all of the remaining black dye. Or, they may bleed into future loads of laundry.
Wash Cloth Recommendations:
Makeup Wash Cloth Recommendations:
Pool Towels
We also provide four pool towels for guests to use. Upon check-in, these are sitting atop the bed in the bedroom. However, since they are towels, I wanted to mention them here.
Pool Towel Recommendations:
Shower Curtain & Liner
If you have a walk-in shower, skip to the next section. But if you have a standard Airbnb bathtub and shower combo, you will want an easy-to-wash shower curtain. We wash our shower curtains often, so opt for a nice waffle-weave white shower curtain. A backup or two is always essential.
Choosing a white shower curtain also keeps the bathroom feeling light, airy, and fresh. Stay away from bright-colored or patterned shower curtains.
For liners, look for some that are mold and mildew-resistant. But, know that these need to be changed often. I change mine every time I set foot into our rentals, which is around once every 4-6 weeks. Choose shower curtain rings that have two sides, like these, so that it’s easy to swap out the liner!
Also, I know there are curtain and liner combo products where you can snap off the liner to wash. I have noticed during my travels that those often become discolored quickly. Maybe they aren’t being washed often enough, or maybe they are just stained. But, I like to keep it simple, and therefore prefer the basic clear liners.
Shower Curtain Recommendations:
Liner Recommendations:
Curtain Rings Recommendations:
Airbnb Bath Mat
Similar to what you would see at a hotel, you should provide a fresh bath mat for every set of guests. White, easy-to-wash, and maintained bath mats are best.
Bath Mat Recommendations:
Airbnb Bathroom Toilet Paper
Every bathroom should have a fresh, wrapped roll of toilet paper on the holder and at least one more under the sink. This is one item that you need to talk to your cleaner about. For example, my cleaners stock each bathroom with two. So, in my house manual, I list what is included as a starter set and make sure to denote two rolls of toilet paper.
While I would love to provide an endless supply, we have limited storage, and the cleaning company workflow will need to take priority here. As long as you manage expectations and clearly list what is included upon check-in, you should be okay with two rolls. But, if you can provide more, it is always appreciated by guests! Also, make sure you are choosing quality toilet paper.
Toilet Paper Recommendations:
Plunger and Toilet Brush
These are non-negotiable in a vacation rental! I am always shocked when I stay at another Airbnb, and there is no plunger. In most cases, there is no front desk or housekeeping to call for a clogged toilet emergency.
Include both items and allow guests to take care of business themselves, Literally. And speaking of toilets. The OXO products are my favorite. We use them in every unit and have never had an issue!
Furthermore, I prefer that both the plunger and the brush are hidden, like in the OXO toilet plunger we use in our rentals. But, whatever you do, don’t leave a plunger just sitting on the floor.
Plunger Recommendations:
Toilet Brush Recommendations:
Bathroom Hand Soap
Again, talk to your cleaners here. Mine provides a bar of soap for both the sink and the shower. But I prefer providing liquid hand soap as well. So, I buy inexpensive hand soap and leave several backups under the sink.
Consider using refillable soap dispensers, too. I plan to switch to this style next year. There are many great refillable hand soap dispensers available on Amazon.
Hand Soap Recommendations:
Refillable Soap Dispenser Recommendations:
Soap Refill Recommendations:
Toiletries For Your Airbnb Bathroom
In addition to the hand soap, you or the cleaning company should also provide a starter set of essential toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and/or soap.
Consider eco-friendly and hypoallergenic options for toiletries. You will also want to buy these in bulk, and often, they generally come as toiletry sets that include everything. I would also grab individually wrapped makeup wipes. You can either put them out with the toiletries or leave a bunch in the borrow basket, which I will talk about below.
Alternatively, you can provide shower-mounted dispensers for shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. These are a great idea, if and only if your cleaners can refill them to the top each and every turn. Otherwise, you open yourself up for extra headaches.
Toiletry Recommendations:
Shower Dispenser Recommendations:
Bulk Refill Recommendations:
Airbnb Bathroom Wastebasket
Straightforward enough, a small wastebasket with a liner/bag for trash is needed in every bathroom in your short-term rental.
Wastebasket Recommendations:
Hair Dryer
Offering a hairdryer is always a nice touch and a standard at a hotel. Choose an easy-to-use, compact, yet powerful hair dryer. Consider buying a hair dryer bag for it to be stored in.
I have toyed around with the idea of including a hair straightener and curling iron as well. However, I am not sure if people would rather bring their own. Do you have any thoughts? Leave me a comment!
Hairdryer Recommendations:
Hooks + More Hooks
This is something that I have another dedicated blog post about them. I have hooks all over my vacation rentals, and my guests always tell me they appreciate them!
So, you will want to have a long bar with hooks for towels like this one from Home Depot I use. Then, you will want to add these white double-pronged hooks (2 sets) to the front and back of the bathroom door. And if there is a linen closet in the bathroom, put them on that door as well.
Also, include hooks inside the shower. I like to use suction cup hooks. These are great for wet swimwear and washcloths and keep them from dripping all over your moldings.
Multi Hook Rack Recommendations:
Other Hook Recommendations:
Essential Bathroom Cleaning Supplies
As with the plungers above, you will also want to include any necessary and expected bathroom cleaning supplies such as counter spray, Lysol, toilet bowl cleaner, air freshener, Windex, etc.. A container of Lysol Wipes is also nice to include, as is a bottle of wrinkle releaser.
You don’t need specific recommendations here. Just pick up your favorite cleaning supplies at Target like you would for your home. But a caddy in which to keep them organized is a great addition.
Elevating Your Airbnb Bathroom Experience: Nice-to-Have Extras
The items above are non-negotiable and must be included in every Airbnb bathroom. But some additional items are a great extra touch. That is important when it comes to earning 5-star reviews and achieving superhost status!
Airbnb Bathroom Makeup Mirror
I provide a small two-sided makeup mirror in our bathroom. You can purchase them anywhere, but I’ll include a few of my favorites next.
Makeup Mirror Recommendations:
First Aid Kit
This is an important item I mentioned in my 7 Airbnb Must Haves That You Don’t Know You Need blog post. I keep a first aid kit under the sink in our Airbnb bathrooms, and you should, too!
First Aid Kit Recommendation:
Garment Steamer
This may or may not be kept in the bathroom. We include ours in the bedroom closet, which is why it’s included in my Must Have Airbnb Closet Essentials blog post.
I wanted to mention it here as it serves dual purposes. Trust me, you do not want your guests trying to steam their clothes in the bathroom by running a hot shower for an hour. This can cause excessive moisture buildup and permanent damage.
Garment Steamer Recommendation:
Step Stool For Kids
If you are hosting families with young kids, make sure to have a small foldable step stool available for them to use. This is very handy when washing little hands or brushing teeth at night. We keep ours in the kitchen area or a closet.
Folding Stool Recommendation:
A Full-Length Mirror
If you don’t have one in the bathroom itself, include it in the bedroom or a hallway just outside of the bathroom. I have several linked in the Airbnb Furniture and Decor section of my Amazon Storefront.
A Second Area to Get Ready
And speaking of that, it’s also helpful to have additional “getting ready areas” when you have more than 1-2 people using a bathroom. This is for someone to blow dry hair, put on makeup, etc., and is typically a dresser and mirror setup in the adjacent bedroom.
Here are two of ours as an example. Do provide a silicone mat for the dresser. We had our brand new Ashley Furniture Jennily Dresser (shown in the first photo below) top ruined in the first month by a hair straightener. Ensure outlets are available nearby, or you have an extension cord so people don’t have to move furniture to access power.
Borrow Basket
This is my secret weapon! I talk about my borrow baskets in several other posts, including my Best Coffeemaker blog post and Airbnb Essentials blog post.
In a nutshell, it’s a plastic bin that I keep in the bathroom and kitchen where guests can take or leave something. I often restock it with feminine hygiene products and various zip-lock bags with everything from safety pins to laundry detergent. I notice guests often leave behind aerosol beauty products and sunscreens for other future guests to use. It’s a great way to have that option available but not have people just leaving random stuff behind in drawers and under sinks. That can get disorganized really quickly!
Just make sure to mention your Borrow Baskets in the house manual so that people know their purpose.
Borrow Basket Recommendation:
Extra Airbnb Bathroom Amenities
Other optional amenities like toothpaste and toothbrushes, mouthwash, Q-tips, and razors are always a nice touch. But, once again, you want to manage expectations and avoid leaving yourself open to disappointed guests when these items are not there.
These are the types of things that I often stock in the borrow basket when I am there. It’s a nice treat, especially when a guest forgets something. But, it is not an amenity that your cleaners have to manage.
Speaking of cleaners, originally, I provided kleenex in our bathrooms. I even purchased a cute bamboo cover for the box. This is not part of their standard items for each turn, and after a few messages from guests who ran out of kleenex, I nixed it. I would love to be able to offer this, but again, work hard to identify and limit pain points like that.
Airbnb Bathroom Accent Rug
If you have beautiful new bathroom floors, you don’t need these. My bathrooms still need to be updated. So, until I can re-do them, I have a particular Target Threshold rug in each of them just below the sink. These help cover up the ugly travertine floors. Depending on your Airbnb bathroom layout and flooring, you should do the same.
I love these washable Geometric Border Tufted Rug by Threshold at Target. I have black in a couple of units and grey in the others. They are nonskid, so don’t move around, and don’t show messes. At $30 each, I replace them a few times yearly because it’s simply easier than bringing them home to wash them. I have a matching one in the hallway at each of our one-bedroom condos as well, and love them! It seems everyone else does, too, because they boast an almost perfect 5-star review!
Other Items In The Closet
Lastly, I would love for you to read my Airbnb Closet Essentials post. It contains many items that overlap with the bathroom and need to be included in one or the other.
What to Skip in Your Airbnb Bathrooms
Now that you know everything you NEED, let’s talk about what you DO NOT NEED. Keep it minimal, easy to clean, and as airy as possible in your bathrooms.
Avoid over-the-top luxury items unless you are in a luxury market. Most Airbnb guests with champagne taste bring their own favorite products. Robes and slippers aren’t necessary unless your cleaners can guarantee they are laundering robes and providing fresh slippers for each new set of guests.
I want to emphasize the value of simplicity and practicality here. Avoid anything extravagant or unnecessary items that will clutter countertops or gather dust on shelves. This includes artwork, candles, or plants. One or two are fine, but most let the space remain functional.
Furthermore, make sure not to overstage your photos. Your Airbnb bathroom photos should look exactly how guests will see them upon arrival. Only show Airbnb bathroom accessories in your pictures if they are in your actual bathroom for guests to use.
On the other side of the coin, avoid low-quality products. Read reviews before purchasing, and don’t skimp. I can stress enough the importance of guest comfort and durability in a busy short-term rental.
Organization in Your Airbnb Bathroom
Make sure to keep Airbnb bathroom essentials organized. Use a label maker for items such as the borrow basket or just inside the drawer with your hair dryer. You will have to rearrange and reset your rental when you visit, but everything should have a set place it belongs.
Lastly, pay attention to feedback from guests. Every rental in every market is different. If you notice a pattern where guests appreciate or lack a particular item, take note and adapt based on guest suggestions.
Wrap Up: Airbnb Bathroom Essentials
I hope that this blog post helps you set yourself up for success! Make it count where it matters, and avoid the extra fluff and hassles where you can and need to. The best Airbnb bathrooms are the clean ones. That is what’s most important!
Regardless, a clean and well-equipped Airbnb bathroom is a requirement if you want to maximize revenue and success as a host! You are responsible for and able to create a welcoming ambiance in the Airbnb bathroom.
Also, one more item that I almost forgot. Make SURE to have a velcro drain snake in your owner’s or cleaners’ closets. You will no doubt have clogged or slow-draining tubs and sinks at some point. These allow you or your cleaners to pull up the inevitable wad of hair that will be stuck in there.
Are you a seasoned host? Feel free to leave a comment with your own hosting tips and experiences. I love hearing about things I forgot, and I appreciate conversations here!
More Airbnb Hosting Resources
And if you are looking for more Airbnb hosting resources, check out my other blog posts! If you click here, you can access my FREE 5-Star Airbnb Hosting page. It links to all other posts in a very easy-to-follow manner.
Also, please hop over to Facebook and join my new 5-Star Airbnb Hosting Facebook group!
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