11 Things New Airbnb Hosts Forget to Put in Their Short-Term Rental

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After hosting thousands of stays across my own four Airbnb rentals, I can tell you that guests don’t remember your decor or those extra welcome amenities as much as you think they will. They tend to appreciate the items they actually need and use most during their stay. Which is why today I want to share 11 Airbnb essentials that many new Airbnb hosts forget when setting up their short-term rental property!

These are the must-have Airbnb items that made a guest’s stay easier… or the ones that, when missing, can lead to frustration and poor reviews.

If you’re setting up a new Airbnb short-term rental property, I always recommend starting with my Ultimate Airbnb Setup Checklist first, so you don’t miss the big stuff. But if you already think you have that covered, these are the things I see hosts forget all the time—and they’re usually the easiest fixes.

11 Things New Airbnb Hosts Forget with Links

What New Airbnb Hosts Often Overlook

Most new Airbnb hosts focus solely on their Airbnb furniture, decor, and making the space look good in photos. Or, they try to do it all, offering the things they “think” guests want, which are often harder to execute. The things they think they can “do better” than other Airbnb hosts. But, honestly, many of these good intentions can lead to the “no-good-deed-goes-unpunished” situations that are all too common in the world of Airbnb hosting.

Once, I read a post from a frustrated Airbnb host who thought they were going above and beyond by leaving out a welcome snack basket for their guests. However, shortly after arrival, the Airbnb guests asked to swap them out for gluten-free snacks instead. Sounds easy in theory, but for remote hosts, that’s easier said than done! Would it have been better to have left nothing?

So, today, I want to focus on the small, practical details and standard Airbnb amenities that actually impact your guest experience and lead to great reviews. These Airbnb essentials are often overlooked, but they are the items that truly make your rental feel complete.

Short on Time? Don’t Miss These Airbnb Essentials

Make sure to save this first-hand Airbnb hosting blog post for later so you don’t forget anything. That said, if you are in a hurry and looking for quick links, here you go!

11 Things New Airbnb Hosts Forget (That Guests Actually Notice)

Let’s quickly break down each of these Airbnb essentials. And, I will include easy-to-shop links for all of my recommendations in each section! Make sure you have all of these before launching your new Airbnb and save yourself some headaches down the road.

#1 Full-Length Mirror

Your Airbnb guests want to see their full outfits, especially if you are in a vacation destination. Having a full-length mirror in each Airbnb bedroom is especially important if they’re getting ready for events, dinners, or photos.

You still want mirrors over the dressers and in the bathrooms, but also add a full-length Airbnb mirror. Make sure that it is securely mounted to the wall for safety. A full-length mirror in an Airbnb is a simple addition that instantly makes your space feel more complete.

Click here to shop some of my favorite full-length mirrors for Airbnb rentals!

#2 Blackout Curtains

Not having blackout curtains is one of the fastest ways to get complaints from Airbnb guests, especially in beach or city locations. Many guests want to sleep in, and light streaming in from the windows can put a quick stop to that. Oftentimes, new Airbnb hosts buy curtains that are too sheer and don’t block light well.

In addition, if you cater to families with little ones who require naps, make sure there are blackout curtains in those spaces, as well as any living space that will have a sleeper sofa. Blackout curtains are an easy upgrade that makes a big difference.

Click here to shop my favorite Airbnb Curtains, including blackout curtains!

#3 Mattress Protectors

The mattress in your Airbnb is one of the top items you need to protect from spills, bedbugs, and allergens. Yet, many new Airbnb hosts don’t buy a high-quality mattress protector that fully encases their expensive Airbnb mattress. If executed the right way, your Airbnb guests should never be able to damage the mattresses in your short-term rental property!

In my rentals, I use a special three-layer mattress protector and mattress pad system that I highly recommend you incorporate at your new Airbnb rental.

Click here to shop my favorite Airbnb mattress protectors!

#4 Wine Opener

Your Airbnb kitchen can be fully stocked, but if your guests have a bottle of wine and can’t open it, it becomes a problem quickly. So, not only do I recommend including a wine opener in your Airbnb, I actually suggest having two.

I include a regular waiter’s style wine key as well as a standard corkscrew. Doing so ensures that there is always a backup, and most people know how to use at least one of these wine openers.

Wine keys are another Airbnb essential that I recommend having backups of, as they tend to disappear over time.

Click here to shop Airbnb wine openers!

#5 Flashlight

Power outages are always a real possibility at a vacation rental, and having a simple flashlight in a drawer can be incredibly helpful when these happen.

A flashlight one of the items that I recommend in my Airbnb Emergency Preparedness blog post. It’s one of those thoughtful touches guests appreciate. I would have extra batteries on hand as well, stored in your cleaner’s closet or tucked away in the cabinet above your refrigerator if you have one.

Shop basic flashlights for your Airbnb!

#6 First Aid Kit

One of the most overlooked Airbnb extras is a first-aid kit. In fact, I have an entire blog post about why you need first-aid kits in Airbnbs. Keep it simple and easy to find! You can even include one in each bathroom or store one in the kitchen pantry if space allows.

I believe that having a first-aid kit on hand adds a layer of trust and makes your rental feel better prepared. Guests really appreciate having Band-Aids and basics available, especially when traveling with kids! Plus, when you have Band-Aids on hand, it can help prevent guests from staining your Airbnb bedding with small cuts or scrapes.

Shop my favorite Airbnb first aid kit!

#7 Luggage Rack

Many new Airbnb hosts may not realize this, but suitcases on beds and floors leave stains and cause wear and tear. That is why having a luggage rack available keeps things cleaner and more organized.

Amenities such as luggage racks also give your Airbnb a more hotel-like feel. It’s one of those extras that guests appreciate. Make sure to have (at least) one per bedroom or closet.

Shop Airbnb luggage racks here!

#8 Garment Steamer or Iron

This one should seem pretty straightforward! That said, we travel a lot, and I am surprised at how many rentals don’t have either a garment steamer or an iron. Or they have an iron but no ironing board, which leaves you open to damages on tables and dressers.

In 2026, garment steamers are typically easier for guests to use than bulky irons and ironing boards. That said, I offer both in all of my rentals. If possible, include them in each bedroom closet, and I prefer the smaller, ironing boards that you can hang in closets. But, at a minimum, have these available in the laundry room.

Click here to shop steamers and irons for Airbnbs!

#9 Ample Hangers

When setting up a new Airbnb rental property, providing just a few hangers isn’t enough. Guests often bring more clothing than expected and tend to take hangers home by mistake, which is why I always keep extra hangers on hand, as these are among the most common items to go missing between stays.

Additionally, every time I am at our rentals, I always make sure all of the hangers match. Often, people leave behind wire hangers or mismatched hangers, which can make your Airbnb closet look messy. I remove those and replenish as needed.

If you are hosting families with young children, consider offering children’s size hangers as well. This is a piece of Airbnb guest feedback I received that hadn’t even crossed my mind. Now I often get compliments on them.

Shop the top Airbnb hangers here!

#10 Extra Trash Bags

You may notice in my other posts that we leave starter sets for most consumables at our rental properties and always list exactly what is included in my Airbnb House Manual. That said, I always make sure there are ample trash bags because it helps guests keep our place clean!

Yes, sometimes the whole roll walks away, or people use them for dirty clothes. But I would never want my guests to run out of trash bags and not be able to clean up after themselves.

I always leave extras under the kitchen sink, and if I notice the roll is low, I replace it with a new one.

Click here to buy my favorite Airbnb trash bags!

#11 Enough Hooks

When traveling, your Airbnb guests need places to hang towels, bags, hats, jackets, swimsuits, and everything else. It’s nice to give them a way to keep things off the floor. This is why I add dozens of discreet white hooks to the walls and doors in all of my Airbnb rentals.

And guests mention that they appreciate these more than anything else. In my Airbnb hooks blog post, you will see that I add hooks on both sides of doors and in bathrooms whenever possible.

Of course, still include larger hooks by the entrance and in my Airbnb bathrooms. These are really just extras for everything else!

Click here to see my favorite Airbnb hooks!

Don’t Skip These Airbnb Essentials That Most New Airbnb Hosts Forget

These Airbnb extras are not expensive, flashy, or require much extra work. But together, they make your Airbnb feel complete and well thought out. These are the small details guests remember—and often mention in reviews, which are key if you want to become an Airbnb superhost!

If you’re setting up your Airbnb or want to double-check your setup, I always recommend going back through your essentials and making sure nothing simple is missing. This is especially important for new Airbnb hosts!

Shop My Airbnb Essentials

If you are a new Airbnb hosting just getting started, make sure to read my Ultimate Airbnb Setup Checklist. It goes room by room to help ensure your Airbnb is set up for success before your very first guest arrives!

You can also browse my most-used Airbnb essentials in these Amazon Airbnb Lists! I include everything I use in my top-rated rentals, along with alternatives that are just as good.

Click here to browse all of my Airbnb Hosting blog posts!