Airbnb Appliance Instructions: How to Explain Everything Guests Need
The single most common reason guests message hosts mid-stay isn't the WiFi. It's the appliances.
The induction hob that won't turn on. The washing machine with symbols nobody understands. The coffee machine that needs a specific capsule. The heating that seems broken but just takes 20 minutes to warm up.
Every one of these generates a message — usually at an inconvenient time. And every one is preventable with clear appliance instructions.
This article shows you exactly how to write them, with copy-paste templates for the appliances guests struggle with most.
Why appliance instructions matter more than you think
A guest who can't work your oven doesn't just send one message. They send a message, wait for your reply, try again, send another message, and end their interaction frustrated — even if the appliance was working perfectly the whole time.
Multiply that across every guest, every stay, and appliance confusion becomes one of the biggest hidden time costs of hosting.
Worse, it shows up in reviews: "Lovely apartment, but we struggled to figure out the heating" — a four-star review for what was actually a five-star property. The appliance worked. The instructions didn't exist.
Clear appliance instructions solve this completely. They're a core section of any house manual. Right after check-in, appliances are the first thing guests interact with.
The principle: explain like the guest has never seen it before
The mistake hosts make is assuming appliances are intuitive. They're not — not to someone who's never used your specific model.
Your induction hob is obvious to you because you use it every day. To a guest, it's a black glass panel with symbols they've never seen. Your washing machine makes sense to you. To a guest, it's a dial with abbreviations in a language that might not be theirs.
The fix: write instructions as if explaining to someone who has genuinely never seen the appliance. Name the buttons. Describe what happens. Include a photo when the appliance is unusual.
Templates for the appliances guests struggle with most
Induction hob
The hob is touch-controlled — there are no physical knobs.
- Touch the power symbol (circle with a line) and hold for 2 seconds. The panel lights up.
- Touch the cooking zone you want (front-left, back-right, etc.)
- Use the + and − symbols to set the heat level (1 = low, 9 = high)
If nothing happens when you touch it, make sure the surface is dry — water on the panel can block the sensors. A small "L" on the display means the child lock is on; hold the key symbol for 3 seconds to unlock.
Oven
The oven is electric with a fan setting.
- The left dial sets the mode. For most cooking, use the fan symbol (a fan with a circle around it).
- The right dial sets the temperature.
- It takes about 10 minutes to preheat — the orange light goes off when it's ready.
The oven door is heavier than it looks — that's normal, not a fault.
Washing machine
The washing machine is in the [location].
For a standard load:
- Add a detergent pod directly into the drum (pods are under the sink)
- Close the door firmly until it clicks
- Turn the dial to "Eco 40°" — good for almost everything
- Press Start
A normal cycle takes about 2 hours. The door stays locked until a few minutes after the cycle ends — this is a safety feature, not a malfunction.
Dishwasher
- Dishwasher tablets are in the cupboard above — put one in the small compartment inside the door and close the flap
- Press the power button (top left)
- Select "Eco" for a standard wash
- Press Start and close the door
The Eco cycle is long (about 3 hours) but uses the least water and energy. For a quick wash, select the "Rapid" program instead.
Coffee machine
The coffee machine uses [Nespresso / pod type / ground coffee].
For Nespresso:
- Lift the lever at the top
- Drop in a capsule (there are 10 in the left drawer to get you started)
- Lower the lever
- Place your cup and press the large cup button for a lungo, small button for an espresso
The machine needs about 30 seconds to heat up the first time. The light stops blinking when it's ready.
Heating
The heating is controlled by the thermostat on the hallway wall.
- Press the + and − to set the temperature
- We recommend 19–21°C in winter
- The radiators take 20–30 minutes to warm up fully — they're slow starters, so don't worry if they feel cool at first
Please turn the heating down to 17°C when you go out for the day — it keeps the apartment comfortable without wasting energy.
Air conditioning
The AC remote is [location]. Point it at the unit on the wall.
- Power button turns it on/off
- "Mode" cycles through cooling (snowflake), heating (sun), and fan
- Temperature arrows set the target
For comfortable cooling, set it to 24–25°C — lower than that wastes energy without feeling much cooler. Please switch it off when you leave the apartment.
TV and streaming
Turn on the TV with the [brand] remote (the black one).
- Source button switches between TV channels and apps
- Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube are pre-installed
- You're welcome to log into your own accounts — just remember to log out before you leave
If the screen is black, check that both the TV and the box underneath are switched on (two separate remotes).
The photo trick that saves the most messages
For any appliance with a non-obvious control, take a photo and add an arrow pointing to the button that matters.
A photo of your oven dial with "use this setting for most cooking" written next to the fan symbol eliminates the single most common oven question. A photo of your thermostat with the target temperature circled does the same for heating.
One photo per tricky appliance. It's the difference between a guest who figures it out in five seconds and one who messages you and waits.
Where appliance instructions belong
Appliance instructions work best inside a complete welcome guide, alongside check-in info, WiFi, and house rules — all in one place guests can return to whenever they need it.
The problem with printed instructions or PDFs: they're in one language, and the family from Italy staying in your apartment can't read your French notes on the washing machine.
Welkome lets you write your appliance instructions once and have them auto-translated into 6 languages. Guests scan a QR code and read everything in their own language — including how your specific coffee machine works. Free for 1 property.
Frequently asked questions
How detailed should appliance instructions be?
Detailed enough that a guest who has never seen the appliance can use it without messaging you. For obvious appliances (a kettle, a toaster), a mention is enough. For anything with non-obvious controls (induction hobs, smart thermostats, multi-remote TV setups), give step-by-step instructions.
Should I include photos of my appliances?
For any appliance with controls that aren't immediately obvious, yes. A photo with an arrow pointing to the right button prevents more questions than a paragraph of text. It's especially valuable for international guests who may not read your language fluently.
What appliances cause the most guest questions?
In order: heating/AC (guests think it's broken when it's just slow), washing machines (confusing symbols), induction hobs (no visible knobs), and coffee machines (wrong capsule or unclear buttons). Cover these four thoroughly and you'll eliminate most appliance messages.
Should appliance instructions be translated?
Yes, if you host international guests. Appliance confusion is worse across a language barrier — a guest reading washing machine instructions in their second language makes more mistakes. Auto-translation removes this friction entirely.