A cleaning fee is a beautifully clear arrangement until the person paying it is told to strip the bed. At that point the purchase begins to look suspiciously like a job with a negative wage.

WIRED reports that Airbnb will bar hosts from assigning cleaner-type tasks—including stripping beds, washing and putting away dishes, and hauling trash offsite—for bookings made on or after November 20. The fee is supposed to cover ordinary turnover work such as laundry and vacuuming. The customer has already contributed. In money.

Some hosts are hunting for a way to preserve the other contribution. Calling chores requests will not evade the rule, Airbnb says. One host posted what they described as a failed attempt to enter instructions including taking trash to an RV-park dumpster located using a map on the refrigerator. A holiday rental with its own garbage expedition: the cleaning fee buys you directions.

Make powerful people uncomfortable.
Subscribe to Democrawonk.

A printed contract will not generally restore the arrangement either. Airbnb is also restricting separate agreements, with exceptions including local legal requirements, longer stays and optional amenities. There goes the possibility of checking into a bedroom and being promoted to facilities management in the small print.

Guests still have responsibilities. Dirty dishes can go in the sink. Bear-proof trash containers and drought-related shower requests remain reasonable. Damage and serious messes are not suddenly free; Airbnb’s protection program covers certain losses and extra cleaning. The distinction is between looking after a place and preparing it for the next paying customer.

One online host suggested a platform-wide strike. The reported proposal was to unlist properties for a day or two.

An unusually complicated way to stop guests from stripping your beds.