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For any new Airbnb host, setting up their space is often a fun and exciting yet overwhelming step. There is so much to buy! Here at Our Little Lifestyle, I make it easy for you with detailed, organized Airbnb buying guides. These guides are full of first-hand tips and links to everything that I actually use in my 5-star Airbnb Rentals. It’s a lot to go through, so today, I want to talk specifically about the Airbnb basics that I buy multiple of.
After doing this for six years, I have learned which Airbnb items get broken or disappear most often. Additionally, I have figured out what items are most crucial to have on hand if something malfunctions.
Setting Up Your New Airbnb
This list is very important for brand-new Airbnb hosts because you often want to buy these extras from the start. There is nothing worse than realizing you have to place a couple of plates, only to find them discontinued. In that case, you are either left with mismatched plateware or you need to buy a whole new set. I would definitely opt for the latter. But, we want to avoid that!
I am going to jump right into this list of Airbnb basics, but here are a few quick links to sections of my website that you might want to visit:
Airbnb Basics That I Buy Multiple Of
So, here are 16 Airbnb basics or categories of essentials that I always have backups of! These are specifically Airbnb items for guest use. In my owner’s closet, I have quite a few Airbnb host favorites stashed away, including everything for deep cleaning my Airbnb rental. These are all honestly Airbnb basic requirements for all rentals and essentials that Airbnb guests expect.
#1 Coffee Mugs & Drinking Glasses
You could have probably guessed this, but wine glasses top the list of Airbnb basics that I have to replace at our four Airbnb rentals. Sometimes, they break, and other times, I think people take them to the beach or out and about and then discard them.
Mismatched glassware and kitchen items are a pet peeve of mine. They make a place feel lived-in and less polished, so you always want to buy extras from the beginning. I always recommend getting a full extra set. You can keep extras in your owner’s closet or your cleaner’s closet with other Airbnb supplies. However, I like to keep these in a cabinet above the fridge so that my cleaners can easily pull out new mugs and glasses as needed!
For anything that comes in a set, make sure to buy from places like Amazon or Target, which tend to keep the same items in stock for longer. Grabbing those cute glasses from Homegoods may seem like a good idea, but it’s often really hard to find replacements down the road. I have used these coffee mugs from Target for a long time, and they have never been discounted.
#2 Silverware & Dishes
This is an extension of the last one, but do the same thing for your silverware (link to what I use) and all dishes. I keep my extras in the same cabinet wth the extra cups. Often, when I am at our rental properties, I notice we are short a plate or bowl and really enjoy having them on hand!
Forks, spoons, and knives always disappear faster than you think. I recommend starting with plenty in your silverware drawer and having extras on hand. Again, silverware sets are notoriously hard to match, and I can promise you that eventually you will go through an entire extra set. You’ll be glad you bought extras!
Make sure to check out my full Airbnb Kitchen Essentials blog post for more key Airbnb ideas.
#3 Remote Controls
As my readers know, I am a big fan of ROKU smart TVs in Airbnb rentals because of their easy-to-use guest mode feature. Read my post called Choosing The Best TVS For Your Airbnb to learn more.
One thing I really appreciate about the ROKU TVs is that the remotes are inexpensive and universal. This is good because remotes tend to go missing, either in luggage or accidentally wrapped up with linens. I have two controllers out per TV in our rentals and several extras in the closet. Since they are universal, this ensures that they can always turn on the TV!
Shop backup Roku TV controllers here!
#4 Wine Keys/Corkscrews
Maybe it’s because they are small that they disappear the most. Or maybe they are taken out for a picnic or beach day and then left behind. But I always make sure to have a corkscrew and two basic wine keys in each of my rentals. This is one of those Airbnb basic requirements, and having both styles is always thoughtful.
#5 Coffee Makers
As one of the most used items in a short-term rental property, coffee makers see their fair share of wear and tear. In my post Choosing The Best Coffee Makers For Your Airbnb, I share that we have a single-cup Keurig and a traditional drip coffee machine in each rental.
I also have a backup of each stored away in my owner’s closet or the cleaner’s closet. Over the years, I have had to replace maybe five of them, often because of user error or broken pots. But before I started keeping extras on hand, it would cause a lot of stress trying to get a replacement in there before the next guest.
#6 Ice Cube Trays
These are cheap and tend to break, so just have plenty on hand for guests to use. I replace this item whenever I do an annual Airbnb Deep Clean & Refresh, along with even more Airbnb basics.
#7 Salt & Pepper Shakers
I’m not sure where these go, but I used to feel like Jimmy Buffett looking for that lost shaker of salt. So, now, I keep these inexpensive two packs of salt and pepper in our rental with a backup on hand. My listing says that I provide salt and pepper, so I need to make sure it’s always there.
#8 Sound Machines
Basic sound machines are one of the Top Seven Airbnb Must-Haves That Most New Hosts Forget. Guests really appreciate them, especially if you have a baby-friendly Airbnb.
I have noticed that these go missing from time to time. I think these Airbnb basics accidentally get packed up and brought home. So, I have started keeping two of these sound machines in each of our condos. Having an extra is helpful if people are sleeping on the sofa bed, and it just provides a backup. Since they are so inexpensive, I keep an extra in my owner’s closet to restock as needed.
#9 Bath Mats & Towels
The next few sections are more obvious, and in my Airbnb bedding and Airbnb Towels posts, I share my exact workflow for linens. But, basically, I have 3-4 sets in rotation at any given time. Additionally, I have 2-3 backup sets unopened at the bottom of my cleaners’ closet for them to put into rotation.
Guests tend to stain towels often, and it’s typically self-tanner and makeup. So, it’s important to have plenty of extra towels on hand. Again, you don’t want a mismatched set down the road, so shop smart!
#10 Sheets and Duvet Covers
Keeping with the same idea as above. I always encourage new Airbnb hosts to consider these consumables. They will get stained, and your cleaners can do their best to remove them. However, unless they are 100% successful, it’s better to replace them.
It’s best to have these on hand for your cleaners to easily pull as needed, rather than relying on inventory and replacing them yourself when you visit.
#11 Pillows & Pillow Protectors
You must have pillow protectors on your pillows and extras on hand to replace them as needed. After having a couple of pillows go missing in the past, I also keep a set on hand. In my Airbnb rentals, storage space is a precious commodity, so I like pillows that come rolled and vacuum-packed, like these popular pillows on Amazon.
Click here to read by Aibnb Pillow Guide!
#12 Duvet Inserts
My cleaners always rotate two duvet inserts and swap them out to wash every few turns. Typically, if there is a wine spill or a sheet stained, it will sink into these. You want your duvet inserts completely stain-free.
If you use comforters instead, then I would have several on hand using the same strategy I use for my Airbnb bedding.
#13 Mattress Pads/Protectors
This is the last Airbnb linen-related item, but you need to protect your mattress with a full zippered waterproof and allergen/bed bug safe encasement. Then, I have another mattress protector over it, followed by a mattress pad. Maybe it’s overkill, but I do not like having to replace expensive mattresses.
For the mattress pad, I have a backup on hand and rotate them the same way I do my duvet inserts.
Click here to read my Airbnb Mattress guide!
#14 Beach Chairs & Umbrellas
If you are advertising extra amenities such as beach gear, I would try to have a backup. On several occasions, I have had to scramble to replace these during a same-day turn, often paying my cleaning company extra to purchase them.
Do you want to know the number one excuse I get when I ask guests where they went? That they left them on the beach unattended, and someone took them. Super frustrating, right?
If you are advertising beach toys, backpack coolers, etc., consider having extras on hand as well!
#15 Batteries (AA/AAA)
We keep our extra batteries in two places. First, a small quantity of both AA and AAA batteries is kept in a small container in the kitchen. These are for guests to use if the batteries stop working in a controller or smoke detector. Don’t leave too many because they are likely to get taken, and who doesn’t want free batteries?
Just kidding, if you want to learn all about how to be a better Airbnb guest, read Don’t Ghost Your Host: Tips For Being A Great Airbnb Guest!
I also keep a bunch more in my owner’s closet so that I can put fresh batteries into my smart locks every time I visit. I just take the partially used ones home and throw them in with ours.
#16 Light Bulbs
Lastly, you should have a full set (or two) of extra lightbulbs on hand. If you have various temperatures and wattages, make sure to label the boxes so that your cleaner can quickly and accurately replace lightbulbs as needed between guests!
Buying Backups For Your Airbnb
These are all Airbnb basics that are easy to stock up on and have on hand in your Airbnb rental. That said, sometimes other things break or go missing. In the past, I have had a Crock Pot fail, a bedside lamp break, multiple toilet seats break, and a blow dryer go missing, among other things.
If you find yourself in this situation and aren’t close by to deal with it, use a service like Walmart or Target’s same-day delivery. Even some hardware stores offer fast delivery. You can also use services like Shipt or Instacart to get things delivered quickly to your guests, cleaners, or yourself when you’re there!
More Tips For New Airbnb Hosts
If you learned something here in this post about Airbnb basics, you will get a lot from my other posts. They are full of valuable, first-hand, honest Airbnb hosting tips. My goal is to work smarter, not harder, while making my vacation rental profitable. I pride myself on being a top-rated Airbnb host and providing a top-notch guest experience. Positive reviews with most every booking are key to a successful Airbnb!
We love to travel, so planning for situations such as when Airbnb basics get broken helps limit the unavoidable crisis-type situations that most Airbnb hosts encounter. If this sounds like something you’d like to do, make sure to read Protecting Your Three Ps: Property, Profits, & Peace.
Or, just click here to read all of my Airbnb hosting blog posts for more tips and must-haves for Airbnb rentals.
Pin These 16 Airbnb Basics For Later
