A guest standing in front of an unfamiliar remote or control panel needs a next step, not an entire manufacturer's handbook. Good appliance instructions connect the words in the manual to the exact buttons, labels, and equipment in your rental.
Use the cards below to write a guest-facing explanation for four common tasks. Each card includes an editable text template and a short filming outline. The operating details must come from your installed model and its official instructions; these examples do not establish safe settings for an unknown appliance.
Write one card for one guest task
Name the task rather than the appliance category. “Watch the living-room TV” is easier to distinguish from “Use the bedroom TV” than two sections both called “Entertainment.”
Use the same structure on every card: where the item is, the action the guest wants to complete, a small number of verified steps, what successful operation looks like, and how to ask for help. A nearby photo should show the actual controls rather than a similar-looking model from a retailer.
Airbnb's house-manual guidance also recommends clear appliance instructions. The templates and testing method below are an original way to organize your own property-specific content.
Reusable appliance instruction card
TASK: [One specific guest task] LOCATION: [Room and precise location] DEVICE: [Make/model or a clear description that distinguishes it] Before you start: [Only the relevant, manufacturer-verified prerequisite.] [Verified action using the exact button or label.] [Verified action and what the guest should see.] [Verified action that completes the task.] You will know it is working when: [Visible or audible confirmation.] When finished: [Manufacturer-appropriate stopping or shutdown step.] Need help? Contact [monitored contact method] and describe [useful visible information]. Do not open covers, dismantle the device, or attempt a repair.
Host-only record: keep the exact model, official instruction source, last verification date, and person responsible for checking the card. That maintenance record does not need to be shown to guests.
TV instructions: identify the right remote first
A TV card should identify which remote controls the screen and which controls the streaming device, where applicable. Do not assume that every guest knows what an input label such as HDMI means. State the label they will actually see.
Watch the living-room TV
The living-room TV is [location]. Use the [distinctive description] remote for [its function]. The [second remote, if present] is for [its function]. [Verified power-on action.] [Verified input or home-screen selection, using the exact on-screen label.] [Verified way to open the available channel or app.] The screen should now show [expected screen]. Available viewing options: [Only the services or channels actually provided and permitted for guest use.] Personal accounts: [Your actual guest account policy]. If you sign in to your own account, sign out before leaving. When finished: [Verified way to turn the system off.] If the expected screen does not appear, contact [help method] and tell us what you see. Please do not move cables or change system settings.
Suggested video length: about 20–40 seconds, as an editorial target rather than a product requirement. Film the remote close enough for its identifying label to be read, then the specific button, then the screen showing success. Do not record personal profiles or account credentials.
TV video narration
“To watch the living-room TV, use this [remote description]. First, [verified action]. Next, choose [exact label]. When you see [screen], select [verified viewing option]. To finish, [verified action]. The same steps are written below this video.”
Coffee-machine instructions: name the supplies that fit
Your card should identify the machine and the compatible supplies you actually provide. A capsule machine, espresso machine, and filter brewer should not share one generic operating sequence. Avoid adding cleaning, pressure-release, or descaling steps to a basic guest card unless the manufacturer explicitly requires them for normal use and you have verified the process.
Make a coffee
The coffee machine is [location and model]. The supplies for this machine are [compatible supplies and where they are stored]. Before use: [Manufacturer-verified preparation and safety information relevant to normal guest use.] [Verified preparation step for this exact model.] [Verified selection or loading step.] [Verified start step and expected confirmation.] Please use only [approved consumable or supply description]. When finished: [Verified normal-use finishing step, without repair or maintenance procedures.] Need help? Contact [help method]. Do not dismantle the machine or attempt a repair.
For the video, show the machine's identity, the correct supplies, the normal operating controls, and the successful result. Keep hands and the camera clear of hot surfaces and moving parts. The official instructions take precedence over a shorter script.
Coffee-machine video narration
“This is the [model] coffee machine. The supplies for it are here: [location]. Before starting, [verified preparation]. Then [verified action] and select [exact control]. You should see [confirmation]. When finished, [verified normal-use step]. Please contact us rather than trying a repair.”
Dishwasher instructions: remove the detergent guesswork
A dishwasher card can identify the detergent supplied, where it belongs, and the cycle you have verified for ordinary guest use. Do not publish a universal detergent dose or recommend a product simply because it looks similar to the one the machine requires.
Run the dishwasher
The dishwasher is [location and model]. The detergent provided for it is [product description], stored in [location]. Before starting: [Verified loading and preparation guidance from this model's instructions.] [Verified detergent step, including the correct compartment and model-appropriate amount.] [Verified cycle selection using the label on this machine.] [Verified start/door sequence for this model.] The cycle has started when [actual confirmation]. If the machine displays [information you can accurately explain], [manufacturer-verified response or contact the host]. For other errors, contact [help method] and tell us the displayed message. Please do not substitute unapproved cleaning products, open service panels, or attempt a repair.
The useful close-ups are the detergent label, the correct compartment, and the start confirmation. A video of someone loading an entire dishwasher is less useful than showing the controls the guest needs to identify.
Dishwasher video narration
“Use the dishwasher detergent stored here, [location]. For this model, [verified detergent instruction]. Select [cycle label], then [verified start step]. This [indicator] shows that it has started. For an error or anything unexpected, contact [help method] rather than changing service settings.”
Thermostat instructions: distinguish guest controls from service settings
Write instructions for the controls guests are permitted to use. Do not invent a universal temperature limit or imply that every heating system responds immediately. Any limits, operating notes, and waiting guidance should reflect your equipment and actual house policy.
Adjust the room temperature
The thermostat is [location]. It controls [room or zone]. To adjust the temperature: [Verified action to wake or view the control.] [Verified guest adjustment using the exact label or button.] [Verified confirmation, if needed.] The display shows [meaning of the relevant number or symbol]. House guidance: [Accurate guest-use instructions and any verified limits.] If the room is not responding as described, contact [help method]. Please do not open equipment panels or change installer/service settings.
Film the control with its labels visible. The narration should identify which room or zone it serves. A decorative wide shot of the room will not explain which control to press.
Thermostat video narration
“This thermostat controls [zone]. To adjust it, [verified action], then choose [verified control]. This part of the display means [confirmed meaning]. Please follow [actual house guidance]. If something is not working, contact [help method]; you do not need to open any equipment.”
Make the written card useful without the video
Keep the steps beside the clip rather than hiding them behind a play button. Use readable labels, a transcript, and accurate captions for any narration. Avoid relying on audio alone, background music, a color distinction alone, or an arrow that is never explained in text.
If an appliance has no verified instructions yet, publish a clear help contact instead of guessing. For safety-critical or specialist equipment, use appropriate manufacturer and professional guidance rather than extending these general templates.
Test each card with someone who did not write it
Use this repeatable acceptance check before putting an instruction card into the guest manual:
| Check | Pass condition | What to change if it fails |
|---|---|---|
| Identify | The reader chooses the correct device and remote | Add the room, model, or a clearer photo |
| Start | The reader finds the exact named control | Replace generic words with the actual label |
| Confirm | The reader recognizes successful operation | Add the real screen, light, or other confirmation |
| Finish | The reader knows the normal finishing step | Add the verified stop or shutdown instruction |
| Ask for help | The reader finds a real monitored contact | Replace vague “contact us” wording |
These are suggested checks, not measured StayPerk customer results. Recheck the card whenever the equipment, controls, remote, supplied consumables, or relevant house policy changes.
Add the cards and videos to your guest manual
Start with the task guests are most likely to struggle with at your property. Add its written card and a short, accurate video to the same manual so the guest can read or watch the instructions.
StayPerk supports guest manuals with text and videos. You can begin a draft before creating an account, then create an account when you are ready to download, print, or publish. Optional paid transactions have separate fees; the manual has no monthly subscription.
Use the guest manual sections guide to organize the rest of the property information.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers related to this resource.
How long should an appliance video be?
Long enough to show one complete normal-use task clearly. About 20–40 seconds is a useful starting target for a simple task, not a rule. Do not remove a necessary warning or operating step just to meet a duration.
Can I use the same instructions for every property?
Only when the relevant equipment and workflow actually match. Recheck the model, controls, supplies, and contact information at each property instead of assuming a copied card is correct.
Can a video replace the manufacturer's instructions?
No. A short guest-facing clip helps explain a verified task. It does not replace the official operating instructions or establish safe procedures for an unknown device.
Should I create a separate QR code for every appliance?
Only where it makes the instructions easier to reach and the destination has been tested. Use an existing working instruction URL or the manual URL. Do not invent a deep link that the manual does not support.
Useful StayPerk pages
Continue with the role page, sample manual, pricing, or contact path that matches your next step.
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