SparkBNB

Cleaning Manual & Equipment

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How job offers work (the cascade)

  1. Payment confirmed → the system sends the job to the best-ranked verified cleaner in range. Top-ranked = your tier + rating.
  2. You have 5 MINUTES to accept each offer. Push + in-app + SMS + email all fire simultaneously — respond in whichever is fastest.
  3. If you don't accept in 5 min, the offer moves to the next cleaner. After 3 attempts (15 minutes total), the job goes to the open marketplace — any verified cleaner can grab it.
  4. Your on-time acceptance rate affects tier. Pro and Elite cleaners get first-look offers ahead of Rookies.
  5. Night bookings (10pm–6am local): payment captures immediately but the cascade doesn't start until 6am the next morning.
  6. Working in a cleaning company? Your dispatcher can accept on your behalf from the company Dispatcher page.

Required equipment (every job)

  1. Vacuum cleaner (HEPA preferred)Standard for carpets, rugs, upholstery. HEPA helps with allergen complaints.
  2. Mop + bucket or flat microfiber mopHard floors. Microfiber = fewer streaks.
  3. Microfiber cloths (min. 10)No paper-towel residue on glass, mirrors, appliances.
  4. All-purpose multi-surface cleanerCounters, sinks, non-porous surfaces.
  5. Glass / mirror cleanerStreak-free mirrors + windows.
  6. Bathroom cleaner (disinfecting)Toilets, showers, tile grout.
  7. Toilet bowl cleaner + brush (per property)Don't cross-contaminate between properties.
  8. Dish soapSinks, stovetop grease, stuck-on residue.
  9. Trash bags (13-gal kitchen + smaller)Always leave a fresh liner in every can.
  10. Disposable gloves (nitrile, powder-free)New pair per property.
  11. Smartphone with GPS + cameraCheck-in, completion photos, host messaging.
  12. Reliable transportationOn-time check-in + carrying equipment.

Strongly recommended equipment

  1. Paper towels (bulk)Quick wipe-downs.
  2. Non-scratch scrub spongesStuck-on food without scratching stainless.
  3. Grout brush or stiff-bristle brushTurnover cleans often need grout attention.
  4. Small step stool (folding)Ceiling fans, high shelves, top of fridge.
  5. Lint rollerCouches, bedspreads, pet hair.
  6. Extension dusterCeiling corners, overhead fans, crown molding.
  7. Shoe covers or clean dedicated shoesFreshly-mopped floors shouldn't be your dirty shoes.
  8. Face maskChemical exposure in small bathrooms + host preference.

Before you arrive

  1. Confirm the booking in the app. Review property notes, pet info, access code, WiFi password, checkout time.
  2. Plan to arrive WITHIN 10 minutes of the scheduled start (strict — on-time % affects your tier).
  3. Load all required equipment + a fresh pair of gloves + fresh microfiber cloths.
  4. Wear clean, closed-toe shoes. Hosts photograph floors.

On arrival

  1. Enter through the access method specified (lockbox / smart lock / key / front desk).
  2. GPS check-in via the app — tap "Check in" on the job card. This starts the timer.
  3. Walk through every room BEFORE you start. Note anything broken, missing, damaged. Photograph it.
  4. If something looks off (prior guest left belongings, obvious damage, blocked access), message the host via the app immediately.

Clean in this order (top-to-bottom, back-to-front)

  1. Open windows where possible to air the space.
  2. Strip beds + start laundry IMMEDIATELY — it runs while you do everything else. Collect all towels + linens into the laundry load (per host's linen protocol).
  3. Dust from the top down: ceiling fans, vents, shelves, picture frames, windowsills, baseboards.
  4. Wipe down all light switches + door handles + pulls with disinfecting cleaner.
  5. Mirrors + glass surfaces with streak-free glass cleaner + microfiber (not paper towels).
  6. Kitchen — appliances outside: stovetop, oven front, fridge front, microwave inside + out, sink + faucet polished, counters, cabinet fronts at eye level.
  7. Kitchen — inside: check fridge for leftovers/spills; wipe inside microwave; sink basin and garbage disposal; coffeemaker + utensils left clean and staged.
  8. Bathrooms — toilet (bowl + seat + base + behind), tub/shower (walls, fixtures, drain), sink + faucet, mirror, vanity.
  9. Replace all consumables: toilet paper (always at least 2 rolls visible), hand soap, dish soap if low, shampoo/body wash/conditioner for the host's amenity kit.
  10. Restage towels: hand towels in bathroom, bath towels folded neatly, kitchen towel by sink.
  11. Bedrooms: remake beds with fresh linens in a hotel-corner fold. Fluff pillows. Decorative pillows back in place. Throws folded at foot of bed.
  12. Floors last. Vacuum every room including under the bed and couches (use crevice tool on edges). Mop hard floors after vacuum.
  13. Empty every trash can. Put a fresh liner in each.
  14. Take out the trash to the proper bin/dumpster as specified by the host.
  15. Complete the laundry cycle: dryer, fold, stage.

Completion photos (minimum 5, up to 10)

  1. Angle 1: front door / entry (shows you're at the right property + arrived).
  2. Angle 2: staged bedroom (made bed, full room view, centered).
  3. Angle 3: staged bathroom (folded towels, cleared vanity, toilet lid closed).
  4. Angle 4: kitchen (clean counters, sink, appliances visible).
  5. Angle 5: floor shot (vacuum marks or mop lines visible, no debris).
  6. Optional: any angle you'd want to see if you were the host.
  7. Good light matters. Open curtains. Don't shoot into windows.
  8. Upload via the app — tap "Complete" once all photos are in. The app stamps them with the booking ID.

Safety rules

  1. If at any time you feel unsafe, leave immediately. Report via the app. You will NOT be strike-penalized for leaving an unsafe situation.
  2. Never mix chemicals. Bleach + ammonia = toxic gas.
  3. Never remove anything from the property. Anything left by guests should be photographed and messaged to the host.
  4. Never use the host's internet for anything personal.
  5. Never invite anyone else into the property. If you work with a partner, they must be on the booking.

If you're running late or something goes wrong

  1. Running >15 min late? Message the host via the app IMMEDIATELY. On-time % is a tier gate, but clear communication avoids strikes.
  2. Can't access the property? Message host + SparkBNB support. Don't leave until someone responds.
  3. Found damage you didn't cause? Photograph + message host BEFORE you clean around it. Otherwise you could be blamed.
  4. Illness or emergency? Cancel in-app with as much notice as possible. Strike policy scales with how late you cancel.

Never do

  1. Never contact the host off-platform to arrange direct work. This violates the Contractor Agreement and gets you permanently banned.
  2. Never skip the checklist to save time. Dispute resolution photos are the gold standard — if they're not there, you lose.
  3. Never use the property for personal purposes (cooking, napping, bringing others, storage).
  4. Never consume host-provided snacks, drinks, or amenities unless explicitly told "help yourself" in the booking notes.
  5. Never discuss tips with the host. If they want to tip, they do so through the app after approval.