Laundry for short-lets and Airbnbs in Lagos: a host’s guide
Guests notice a lot of things in a short-let, but few things shape a review like the bed and the towels. Crisp white sheets and fresh, fluffy towels say “this place is cared for”. A faint smell, a stain or a thin, greying towel says the opposite.
For hosts in Lekki, Victoria Island and Ikoyi, laundry is also one of the biggest jobs between check-out and check-in. Here’s how to handle it well.
The standard guests expect
Airbnb’s own guidance to hosts is simple: make beds with fresh linen and provide clean towels for every guest, with at least one towel per guest and linens for each guest bed. In practice, guests expect:
- Freshly washed, ironed or smoothly folded sheets and pillowcases.
- Clean duvet covers (and a clean, fresh-smelling duvet underneath).
- At least one bath towel per guest, plus hand towels and a bath mat.
- No stains, hair, or lingering smells.
How many sets of linen do you need?
The usual rule of thumb is three sets per bed: one on the bed, one in the wash, and one clean in storage. That way a same-day turnover never depends on the last load being dry.
| Item | Per bed or per guest | Sets to own |
|---|---|---|
| Fitted and flat sheets | Per bed | 3 sets |
| Pillowcases | 2–4 per bed | 3 sets |
| Duvet covers | Per bed | 3 |
| Bath towels | 1 per guest | 3 per guest |
| Hand towels and bath mats | Per bathroom | 3 |
Choose white or one consistent colour. White can be washed hot and brightened, it looks hotel-fresh in photos, and sets are easy to mix and match.
A turnover routine that works
- Strip everything as soon as guests leave, including pillow protectors and the duvet cover, even if the bed looks unused.
- Check for stains and damage straight away. Treat stains while they’re fresh, and set aside anything torn or badly stained.
- Bag linen and towels separately. Towels shed lint onto sheets.
- Make the bed from the clean stored set, so the turnover isn’t waiting on the laundry.
- Inspect under good light. Look for hair, marks and creases before you photograph or hand over.
Dealing with common stains
- Make-up and fake tan on pillowcases and towels: pre-treat with liquid detergent before washing; don’t use hot water first, as it can set the stain.
- Sweat and body oils: pre-treat collars of pillowcases and wash at the hottest temperature the label allows.
- Blood: rinse in cold water as soon as possible, never hot.
- Food and drink: blot, don’t rub, and treat before it dries.
Always test stain removers on a hidden corner first.
Keep linen fresh in storage
Lagos humidity is the enemy of stored linen. Make sure everything is bone dry before it’s put away, store it in a ventilated cupboard (not sealed plastic), and rotate sets so the same ones aren’t always at the bottom.
Buy linen that lasts
Cheap linen is a false economy in a short-let. It pills, thins and greys quickly under frequent washing, and guests notice. When you buy:
- Choose cotton or a cotton-rich blend for sheets. It’s breathable in Lagos heat and survives hot washes.
- Go for heavier towels. Thicker towels feel more luxurious and last longer, though they take longer to dry.
- Buy in matching batches so a replaced pillowcase doesn’t stand out.
- Retire items early. A sheet with a permanent stain or a towel with a frayed edge costs you more in reviews than it costs to replace.
A pre-arrival linen checklist
Before each guest arrives, check that:
- Beds are made with clean sheets, pillowcases and a clean duvet cover.
- There’s at least one clean bath towel per guest, plus hand towels and a bath mat.
- Spare pillows and a spare blanket are clean and stored where guests can find them.
- Nothing smells musty, from the cupboard or the bedding itself.
- A full clean set is still in storage for the next turnover.
Building laundry into your pricing
Laundry is a real cost of every stay, so account for it when you set your cleaning fee and nightly rate. Track what each turnover costs, including linen replacement over time, rather than guessing. Outsourced laundry with clear invoices makes this much easier to measure.
Doing it yourself vs outsourcing
Doing laundry in-house works for one unit with occasional bookings. As bookings increase, the costs add up: water, power, detergent, machine wear, and the time your cleaner spends washing instead of preparing the flat. Big items like duvets, blankets and curtains are especially hard to wash and dry properly at home.
Outsourcing makes sense when:
- You have back-to-back bookings and need fast, reliable turnovers.
- You manage several units.
- Duvets, curtains and rugs need regular deep cleaning.
- You need proper invoices for your bookkeeping.
How WashAmClean works with hosts
We collect from and deliver to Lekki, Ajah, Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Oniru. Every order is logged, sorted by colour, washed, dried, ironed where needed, folded and packed, and you can track it online at every stage. Invoices are issued through Zoho Books, and you can view them in our online customer portal, which makes reconciling costs easier.
For regular or volume work, see laundry for businesses and get in touch to talk about your units and what you need cleaned. For a single turnover, simply book a pickup.
