By Guest Blogger and Customer Kelly D.
When I first got into managing short-term rental properties, I was focused on the basics: clean sheets, good Wi-Fi, a fully stocked kitchen, and a five-star check-in experience. And for a while, that was enough. We had happy guests, glowing reviews, and bookings that filled the calendar.
But over time, I started to notice a pattern. Despite all our cleaning protocols and attention to detail, there were certain issues we just couldn’t clean our way out of—namely, smells.
If you manage an Airbnb, VRBO, or any short-term rental, you probably know what I’m talking about. One group leaves after a cozy holiday celebration or a pet-friendly weekend escape, and the next guest walks in to... last night’s dinner. Or maybe the smell of wet dog. Or, worst case, a lingering haze from someone who didn’t quite respect the “no smoking” rule.
And as a property manager, you can’t just rely on opening the windows and hoping for the best. That's not good enough anymore.
That’s when I discovered what a game changer it is to install air purifiers in each of our properties.
The Guest Experience That Opened My Eyes
We had a beautiful cabin nestled up in the mountains. It’s pet-friendly, has an open floor plan with a chef’s kitchen, and people love using it to gather with friends and family.
One winter, a guest booked a long weekend and brought their dog. Totally fine by us; pet fees were paid, the house was cleaned afterward as usual. But when the next group arrived, they sent a message within 10 minutes of check-in:
“We’re super excited to be here, but there’s a strong smell of wet dog in the living room. Just wondering if there’s anything that can be done?”
We sent our local cleaner over to refresh the space again, did a linen swap, used a room spray; everything short of bringing in a professional carpet cleaner. They were kind and understanding, but the review they left was a 4-star instead of a 5, with the comment, “Great stay, but the house didn’t smell fresh when we arrived.”
It’s a small thing, but in a business where reviews and cleanliness ratings are everything, that loss of a star stung. And it wasn’t a one-time issue. Over the years, we’ve had residual odors from curry, bacon, seafood, cigars, campfire smoke, and even just heavy cologne. Our turnover cleans were thorough, but some smells just... linger.
Why We Turned to Air Purifiers
That experience pushed me to explore solutions beyond cleaning products. I wanted something that would work before, during, and after a guest’s stay. Something I wouldn’t have to think about or manually reset each time.
Enter: air purifiers.
I started with one of our smaller cabins and installed a PuroAir unit in the main living space. I chose it because it had a true HEPA filter, an activated carbon layer, and an auto-sensing fan that adjusts based on the air quality. The goal was simple: let the purifier run in the background, catching smells, allergens, and particles as they occurred—not after the fact.
Within 24 hours, the difference was obvious. The air felt cleaner. The usual “cabin scent” of wood, fireplace, and whatever last night’s dinner was had been replaced with... nothing. Just neutral, fresh air. And that was exactly what I wanted.
How Air Purifiers Changed Our Turnover Routine
Once I saw how well it worked in one property, I added units to all of our listings, mountain cabins, desert homes, and everything in between.
Here’s what changed almost immediately:
- Fewer guest complaints about odors or stale air
- Better air quality ratings in post-stay reviews
- Less pressure on our cleaners to mask smells or perform last-minute odor removal
-
Peace of mind knowing wildfire smoke, allergens, or lingering germs weren’t going unaddressed
Now, our cleaners simply check the filter indicator during turnover and make sure the unit is on. No sprays, no candles, no scrambling to eliminate cooking smells with windows open in the middle of winter.
It’s like having an invisible layer of cleanliness that supports all the work we’re already doing.
The Unexpected Bonus: Guest Safety and Wellness
Beyond just odor control, I started realizing how much value these purifiers add for guests who are sensitive to air quality.
We’ve had guests with asthma, allergies, or even just general wellness concerns comment positively on how fresh and clean the home feels. One guest wrote:
“As someone with allergies, I really appreciated that the host had an air purifier running in the living room. It made a huge difference.”
That feedback stuck with me. It’s easy to focus on the surface-level stuff—linens, dishes, décor—but for some people, what’s in the air is just as important as what’s in the fridge.
Especially during wildfire season, the purifier has been an absolute necessity. Even though the fires were miles away, the air in our mountain properties became hazy and full of particulates this past summer. It’s not something you always notice visually, but it affects your breathing, sleep, and comfort.
Knowing that the PuroAir unit is working in the background, automatically adjusting to conditions, gives me and my guests peace of mind.
Why I Recommend This to Other Property Managers
If you manage STRs, you know how important it is to differentiate your listings from the hundreds (or thousands) of others in your market. Cleanliness and comfort are key to repeat bookings, good reviews, and Superhost status.
An air purifier might seem like a small detail, but it signals something big: you care about your guests’ environment.
It’s not just about covering up smells—it’s about elevating the overall experience. And unlike other amenities, it doesn’t require any extra effort on the guest’s part. They don’t have to “turn it on” or “use it.” It just works.
And from a business standpoint? It saves time, protects your property, and helps prevent negative reviews tied to things that are hard to scrub away.
What I Look for in a Good Air Purifier for STRs
Not all purifiers are created equal, especially when it comes to rentals. Here’s what made me stick with PuroAir for all our properties:
- True HEPA filtration: filters allergens, dust, pet dander, and smoke particles down to 0.1 microns*
- Activated carbon filter: absorbs odors from food, pets, and smoke
- Auto mode: adjusts fan speed based on air quality so you don’t have to guess
- Quiet operation: guests don’t notice it’s running
- Sleek design: blends into any room without looking like a medical device (or a robot from the future!)
And yes, I also love that it just works. I don’t have to educate every guest or cleaner about how to use it. Set it and forget it.
Final Thoughts
Air purifiers might not be the first thing that comes to mind when outfitting your short-term rental. But after managing multiple properties across different environments and guest profiles, I can confidently say: they’ve become an essential part of our hosting toolkit.
They help our homes smell neutral, feel clean, and support better guest health—without adding to our team’s workload. They’re a small investment with a huge return.
So if you’re tired of battling odors, worried about lingering smoke, or just looking for a way to level up your guest experience, do yourself (and your guests) a favor—install an air purifier. You won’t regret it.