We know that hosts with private rooms or common areas want more guidance around how to clean their spaces, especially during COVID-19. In addition to following the COVID-19 safety practices, we've put together some guidelines for hosts with common areas or shared spaces.

• Follow the five-step enhanced cleaning process before each guest check-in for all common areas, as well as the guest’s private room
• Common areas may include the:
  • Bathroom(s)
  • Dining room
  • Entryway
  • Garage
  • Kitchen
  • Laundry room
  • Living room

• Practice social distancing with guests, and encourage them to do the same
• Make sure that your home can accommodate socially distanced occupancy of all common areas. For example, if your shared living room only has room for three people who are 6 feet (2 meters) apart, you would cap your total guest count at two so that you and/or your guests could be in the space at the same time.
• The total number of people should also not be greater than the maximum number of people that are allowed to congregate in your listing, according to your local government guidelines (if applicable)
• Remember to update your listing to reflect any new limitations on guest count

• Consider limiting the guest areas to only the necessary spaces, like a primary bathroom if you have more than one. This is to avoid unnecessary exposure for you and your guests and to help decrease the number of spaces you need to clean and sanitize after they check out.
• To clarify which areas are accessible to guests, update your listing details to make this clear ahead of time. You can also remind them with friendly signs in your space.
• Limit your own use of any common areas you don’t need to access (for example, avoid using the guest bathroom if you have your own en-suite bathroom)

• As part of our COVID-19 safety practices, guests and hosts are required to wear a face mask or face covering when interacting with each other
• Hosts should also wear a mask in common areas at all times
• Please take extra precaution around social distancing in shared spaces where guests share sleeping quarters, like bedrooms or living rooms
• Make sure to wash your hands often, and avoid touching your face at all times
• Don’t travel or host if you’ve recently been exposed to or have symptoms of COVID-19
• For more info, please read the health and safety practices guidelines for hosts and guests on Airbnb

• Keep the windows open to increase air circulation in common areas, when safe to do so

Keep in mind that some governments may place restrictions on hosting private rooms or may impose additional obligations or requirements for private rooms. Please make sure to review and follow any additional cleaning guidance from government or health authorities in your local jurisdiction.

NEXT: Stock up on these cleaning supplies

Information contained in this article may have changed since publication. The five-step enhanced cleaning process provides a simple set of requirements for cleaning your listing. For more information on how to implement those steps, please refer to the entire Airbnb cleaning handbook. As a host, you may need to take extra steps to protect yourselves, your teams, and your guests, and you should always consult and comply with any relevant local laws or guidelines. Airbnb is not responsible for any injuries or disease resulting from following this cleaning process. For cleaning guidelines and rules specific to where you host your region, please bookmark this Help Center article.