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Travelers who use Airbnb hate its cleaning fees. You know, those annoying expenses attached to a property that supposedly cover the costs of tidying up the place for the next visitor.

In fact, they got so bad that in November, Airbnb said it was planning to make some big changes and make customer bills more transparent that should, in return, incentivize hosts to reduce or forgo them altogether.

To show you that this decision was long overdue, we at Bored Panda decided to compile some of the most absurd Airbnb cleaning fees people have noticed. Having said that, I guess it's better late than never, eh?

Continue scrolling to check them out and don't miss the conversation we had about the platform with travelers and authors of the blog Finding the Universe, Laurence and Jessica Norah; you'll find it spread in between the pictures.

#1

Port Huron, MI, Outrageous Airbnb 67$/Night Listing Came Out To 261$. Can't Forget The 150$ Cleaning Fee That Will Be Conducted By The Guest

Port Huron, MI, Outrageous Airbnb 67$/Night Listing Came Out To 261$. Can't Forget The 150$ Cleaning Fee That Will Be Conducted By The Guest

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#2

Fees That Add $653 To A 2-Day $210 Per Night Airbnb

Fees That Add $653 To A 2-Day $210 Per Night Airbnb

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Ni Na
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's the reason why I now only use Hotels in USA. I loved airbnb a few years back in the USA but now it's almost double the price as a hotel.

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Airbnb cleaning fees are a one-time charge pocketed by hosts to cover things like doing laundry or scrubbing toilets between stays. They're separate from the base price and are in addition to service fees or charges for optional add-ons.

A NerdWallet analysis of 1,000 U.S. Airbnb reservations with check-in dates in 2022 or 2023 found that the median cleaning fee per listing for a one-night stay was $75.

The analysis also discovered that cleaning fees amounted to about 25% of the total price paid. In fact, in almost 40% of listings, they were from 20% to 29.9% of the actual price. On a few listings, cleaning fees were even higher than the nightly rate.

#3

$59 For One Night

$59 For One Night

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#4

Airbnb Owner Expects Us To Tip His Cleaning Service He Hired On Top Of The $250 Cleaning Fee

Airbnb Owner Expects Us To Tip His Cleaning Service He Hired On Top Of The $250 Cleaning Fee

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However, that doesn't mean that the site is all bad. "We have used Airbnb many times over the years in destinations around the world," Laurence and Jessica Norah told Bored Panda, adding that one of the most recent apartments they rented was in Nairobi, Kenya, and they had it for four nights.

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"We've generally had a positive experience with our stays. We have had a couple of negative experiences—one where the apartment had many issues like no heating or hot water, and one where the apartment no longer existed. In both cases Airbnb support was quite helpful," the couple recalled.

#7

This Is Why Nobody Wants To Use Airbnb Anymore… Price Nearly Doubled After All The Fees

This Is Why Nobody Wants To Use Airbnb Anymore… Price Nearly Doubled After All The Fees

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Eric G
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly, the best thing to happen for the housing market would be a complete collapse of Airbnb and all those investors that bought homes they don't use to use as Airbnb rentals. Also looking at you apartment owners that rent out apartments for airbnb. Airbnb has been a massive contributor to the global housing crisis causing expensive homes and way too high rents

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#8

How Airbnb Allows You To Be Charged A Large Cleaning Fee Then Be Required To Clean Before You Check Out

How Airbnb Allows You To Be Charged A Large Cleaning Fee Then Be Required To Clean Before You Check Out

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tHeBoRdEsTpAnDa
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of these by themselves is fine, but together? What are you even paying the service fee for????????????????

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#9

Sure Can't Wait For The Airbnb Bubble To Pop

Sure Can't Wait For The Airbnb Bubble To Pop

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Pink kitty
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's like home delivery for take away food. Used to be cheap. Then they started adding minimim order, delivery fees, and service fees and charges. The total of the fees is almost the same as the food total

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When choosing a property, Laurence and Jessica said the most important thing is to read its latest reviews and to make sure people are getting the experience that is advertised.

"When we have had issues, they have nearly always been with properties with very few or no reviews, where it's hard to see exactly what you are getting," the couple explained.

#10

My Airbnb Estimate - No Wonder Bookings Are Down

My Airbnb Estimate - No Wonder Bookings Are Down

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The Deez
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How in the WORLD do they justify a booking fee when THE BOOKING IS DONE THROUGH AN APP?!?

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#11

This Airbnb Would Have Only Cost Us $278 To Book For 2 Nights, But Has A $405 Cleaning Fee!

This Airbnb Would Have Only Cost Us $278 To Book For 2 Nights, But Has A $405 Cleaning Fee!

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#13

My Airbnb Host Wanted Me To Tip Housekeeping…on Top Of The $200 Cleaning Fee

My Airbnb Host Wanted Me To Tip Housekeeping…on Top Of The $200 Cleaning Fee

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"I've heard you loud and clear—you feel like prices aren't transparent," Airbnb CEO Brain Chesky tweeted in November.

The updates come as Airbnb has seen travel demand rebound from its pandemic lows. But it is still confronting a more uncertain economic environment, including high inflation and recession fears, that could weigh on its customers' purchasing decisions.

"We started as an affordable alternative to hotels, and affordability is especially important today," Chesky wrote on Twitter. "During this difficult economic time, we need to help our Hosts provide great value to you."

#14

In Our Airbnb In The Middle Of Nowhere

In Our Airbnb In The Middle Of Nowhere

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Tara Moov
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Leave a tip on top of the fees we charged you, but don't be like that other tipper that we mock to other guests for not meeting our tipping standards! No need for us to thank you for your generosity as a closing to this note; shaming and bullying you into leaving more money in addition to what we already collected should do the trick. Come back again!"

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#15

This Misleading Airbnb Listing That Was Most Definitely Not $74/Night

This Misleading Airbnb Listing That Was Most Definitely Not $74/Night

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Tara Moov
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Does this host even get guests with that kind of skewed invoice system? (I'm certainly not booking this one!)

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#16

Just A Short List

Just A Short List

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vglw
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Michigan time? I live in the part of Michigan that is in central time or do they mean the part of Michigan that is in eastern time? What in the seventh level of h*ll is Michigan time.........lol

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Still, sometimes you might just prefer a hotel. "It's a lot easier for shorter trips," Laurence and Jessica Norah said. "We normally use Airbnb for stays of 3 nights or more as otherwise, the hassle of coordinating check-in and check-out times can be tricky."

"In addition, a hotel is really useful for things like leaving luggage behind, and on-site amenities like a printer or restaurant. Often, a hotel can also be more reasonably priced as well."

#18

I’m Paying $200 Cleaning Fee And Expected To Do Most Of The Cleaning!

I’m Paying $200 Cleaning Fee And Expected To Do Most Of The Cleaning!

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Tim
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks like it might be somewhere remote, hence the "bear box". Leaving dirty dishes can lead to animals like, well, bears, smashing into the house / cabin / whatever. Same with the BBQ. Even if it's just for a few hours.

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#20

Why?

Why?

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Wesley Yuen
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The service fees going to AirBnB, the taxes goes to government (it’s the same fees charged at a hotel)

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#21

Insane

Insane

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Dorothy Stovall
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I want to know what the "service fee" is on all these. I'm done with AB&B anyway after spending four nights in Galveston, Texas (100+ degrees and only getting down to the mid 80s at night) where we were paying $150 a night for a unit smaller than a hotel room with a window unit that couldn't keep it any lower than 82 degrees at night. All this and claimed it was walking distance from the beach (yeah, if you're willing to walk 11 miles). Whole list of cleaning demands AND a steep cleaning fee. This is not the first time we've been cheated by

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#22

How About No

How About No

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cat favrot
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You know who else is infamous for this nonsense? Ticketmaster. You know what words have never been uttered in the same sentence? "Wow, I really love Ticketmaster." Especially after you spend 20 minutes navigating through the ticket buying process just for a fee that is often more expensive than the tickets you're trying to buy. AirBnB is just as annoying and shady.

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#23

Not Cool

Not Cool

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Praecordia
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No the wild part is when they give you a list of cleaning chores to do before check out on top of that fee. Lol

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#24

Charge Ya Momma

Charge Ya Momma

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LAP
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These reminders seem perfectly reasonable...turn off the lights, don't leave trash out in the open, what's wrong with that? Even the cleaning fee is not crazy. But the reason I'd never choose this place is because of their $205 service fee. $205 for what? To use an app? I'd choose a hotel instead.

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#25

Will Never Use Airbnb Or Vrbo Again. These Fees Are Insane!

Will Never Use Airbnb Or Vrbo Again. These Fees Are Insane!

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#26

My First Airbnb Bill. I Booked This In February. The Website Says Nothing About Cleaning Or Service Fees Which Raises The Price 30%. Should Have Stayed In A Hotel

My First Airbnb Bill. I Booked This In February. The Website Says Nothing About Cleaning Or Service Fees Which Raises The Price 30%. Should Have Stayed In A Hotel

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#27

Airbnb Is Refusing To Give Refund After Host Demands $250 Extra Before Arrival, Not Mentioned In Original Posting

Airbnb Is Refusing To Give Refund After Host Demands $250 Extra Before Arrival, Not Mentioned In Original Posting

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#28

Fees On Airbnb

Fees On Airbnb

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#30

Airbnb Advertised As $20/Night - With Over $100 Of Additional Fees

Airbnb Advertised As $20/Night - With Over $100 Of Additional Fees

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Note: this post originally had 49 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.