A couple on TikTok who own several Airbnbs in South Carolina took to social media to share their live reaction to changes made to Airbnb’s policies. Their objections to some of the changing standards led viewers to call the couple out online.
Posted by TikTok Restoredbythevalks (Gabriel and Laura Valk), their video included them reading off of an email they received from Airbnb regarding new “house rules” that would take effect near the end of November 2026.
The objections came from what Airbnb considered ‘reasonable request’ hosts can ask of their guests, like taking out the trash, washing dishes (or starting a dishwasher), and doing laundry. This would now all come to an end.
In the Valk’s video, Laura was especially annoyed by these changes and let her frustration be known. She complained that the dishes made the Airbnb smell. “It smells so bad if it’s left out,” Laura says. (Guests, however, can still leave dishes in the sink.)
When Gabriel read that guests aren’t allowed to start the dishwasher, she was dumbfounded. She then rants about dishwashers taking as long as “two hours” to run—the time it takes her to clean the Airbnb. However, if she finishes cleaning before then, she’s left sitting around until the dishwasher is done.
And when it came to laundry, she had a problem with that as well, specifically bed sheets. “Ew! I don’t want to be touching people’s sheets.” But admits she wears gloves.
Gabriel, on the other hand, was a little more agreeable about the changes, understanding Airbnb wanting to be “more like a hotel.” As far as the cleaning is concerned, “That’s why they pay us the cleaning fee,” Gabriel says.
Viewers online roast the Valks for having to do their job
Commenters flocked to the Valk’s TikTok video to share their opinions, with the biggest takeaway being that many argued it was their job as Airbnb hosts. “Oh no, your cleaning fee has to actually be used for cleaning,” one viewer wrote sarcastically. “Instead of having us do it and pocket the money.”
This sentiment continued, with one of the most liked comments on the video being: “If I’m on vacation AND paying a cleaning fee, I’m NOT [expletive] cleaning for you!”
Several even called the Valks out, suggesting being Airbnb hosts wasn’t for them. “‘I don’t wanna touch peoples sheets’ then don’t get into this business or hire cleaners with the CLEANING FEE people PAY YOU,” said one viewer. “Why are you renting your place if people gross you out so much?!” said another.
One TikTok user suggested the changes to Airbnb’s policy was a “long-overdue reality check” to hosts that “got comfortable collecting passive income while expecting paying guests to do all the work…”
The roasting in the comment section continue, as more and more viewers argue they either do the job like their paid to do or seek revenue elsewhere. Hotels and motels having cleanliness standards for a reason—Airbnbs shouldn’t get to skirt around that because it’s someone’s property.
