The Deep Bench Strategy: Why More Cleaners = Less Stress

Hey there,

I'm going to keep saying this over and over again until it sticks: Have more cleaners than you think you need.

I know what you're thinking. "Logan, that sounds expensive. Why would I pay more people when I could just get by with fewer?"

Here's why, and this comes from real experience, not theory.

When 9 Checkouts Becomes Your Easy Day

Last week, I was looking at our calendar from way back when we thought 9 checkouts in one day was a lot. Nine same-day turns on a Monday. Back then, that felt overwhelming.

Now? We regularly handle 20+ cleans in a single day. And you know what makes that possible? Not better scheduling software (though that helps). Not faster cleaning techniques (though those matter too).

It's having what I call a deep bench of cleaners.

The Same-Day Turn Reality Check

Here's the thing about same-day turns that most people don't talk about enough: they can't be rescheduled.

When someone's checking out at 11 AM and the next guest is checking in at 4 PM, you have maybe 4-6 hours to completely turn that property. Sometimes less.

And if your cleaner calls in sick? If they get stuck in traffic? If their car breaks down?

You can't call the host and ask them to delay check-in. You can't push the booking to tomorrow. The guest is already traveling, probably already at the airport.

That clean HAS to happen.

Your Backup Plan Needs a Backup Plan

This is where the deep bench saves your business.

When one cleaner can't make it, you need options:

• Maybe you pull someone from a non-same-day turn clean

• Maybe you call someone from your backup roster

• Maybe you reach out to that local Facebook cleaning group you've been networking with

But here's the key: These aren't desperate measures. They're planned strategies.

Building Your Deep Bench (Without Breaking the Bank)

You don't need to hire 20 full-time cleaners. Here's how to build your bench smart:

Core Team: 3-5 reliable, trained cleaners who know your standards inside and out

Backup Roster: 4-6 cleaners you've worked with before, trained on your systems, who you can call for overflow

Emergency Network: Connections with other cleaning services, independent cleaners in local groups, even former employees who might take occasional work

The investment in training these extra people pays for itself the first time you avoid a missed clean.

The Real Cost of Not Having Backup

Missing one same-day turn doesn't just cost you that cleaning fee. It costs you:

• The cleaning fee (obvious)

• The host's trust (harder to measure)

• Future bookings with that host (expensive)

• Your reputation in the local Airbnb community (priceless)

• The stress and scrambling (exhausting)

One missed clean can cascade into weeks of lost business.

What This Looks Like in Practice

When I see 20+ cleans scheduled for a day now, I don't panic. I know we have:

• Our core team assigned to the most critical same-day turns

• Backup cleaners on standby for the day

• Contact info for emergency coverage

Is it more complex to manage? Yes. But it's also why we can confidently take on more properties and grow our revenue instead of staying stuck at 9 cleans per day.

Start Building Your Bench Today

If you're reading this and thinking, "I need better systems for this," you're right. But don't wait until you're overwhelmed to start building.

Start with one extra cleaner you can call in emergencies. Then add another. Build relationships before you need them desperately.

Your future self (and your stressed-out Monday morning self) will thank you.

Ready to Scale Your Cleaning Business?

Speaking of systems, if you want to learn the exact processes we use to manage 20+ properties without dropping the ball, I've put together everything in our Airbnb Cleaning Online Course.

We've brought back the introductory price of $149 for unlimited access for a limited time. Inside, you'll get:

• Complete scheduling systems and backup protocols

• Cleaner hiring and training frameworks

• Quality control checklists and processes

• Real case studies from our own business

This isn't just theory; it's the exact system we use to run our cleaning operation.

Get the course here →

Help Breezeway Help You Better

Before you go, our partners at Breezeway want to understand what challenges you're facing in your cleaning business. They're working on new features and improvements based on real feedback from cleaners like you.

Take this quick 2-minute survey. →

Your input helps them build better tools for our industry, so it's worth the few minutes.

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