Connect BookingSync (Smily) to a cleaning schedule

To connect cleaning management to BookingSync, also known as Smily, the simplest approach is to export your reservations calendar as an iCal feed and plug it into a cleaning scheduling tool. Each checkout becomes a job, assigned to a cleaner who receives it on their smartphone. This article covers the connection methods, configuration, automatic task triggering, post-integration tracking, and the most common sync issues.

In brief

• BookingSync Pro is aimed at professional rental managers; Smily is designed for individual hosts managing 1 to 10 properties. In both cases, the calendar can be exported as an iCal feed.
• The iCal export is a one-way feed: the cleaning tool reads it but never changes your bookings.
• A cleaning job is created from each checkout and updated when a stay is modified or cancelled, provided the feed is re-read in time.
• After connecting, tracking runs through cleaner notifications, checklists, photos, and consumable monitoring.
• If something is out of sync, check the iCal link first, then the refresh interval, then the property in question.

Table of contents

• What "integrating cleaning" with BookingSync actually means
• Ways to connect BookingSync or Smily to your cleaning workflow
• Setting up the connection, step by step
• Triggering and assigning a cleaning job automatically
• Tracking instructions, progress, and confirmation
• What to do when the sync stops working
• Our view
• Getting started with CleanClac
• Adapting the setup to your type of rental
• FAQ
• Sources

What "integrating cleaning" with BookingSync actually means

BookingSync is a French property management software for short-term rentals. According to L'Écho du Mardi, it comes in two versions: BookingSync Pro, aimed at professionals and covering the full range of vacation rental operations including cleaning, and Smily, designed for individual owners with 1 to 10 properties.

Both tools centralise bookings from Airbnb, Booking.com, and other channels, preventing double bookings. What they do not always replace is the on-the-ground organisation: who cleans which property, at what time, with which checklist, and how you know the job is done.

Integrating cleaning means passing one piece of information along: "the guest checks out Thursday at 11 am, the next one arrives Thursday at 4 pm." That information needs to reach the cleaner without anyone retyping it, and it needs to come back as a confirmation. Three requirements follow:

1. A single source of bookings, your BookingSync or Smily calendar.
2. A scheduling tool that turns each checkout into a job.
3. Feedback: job started, job done, issues flagged, consumables noted.

Ways to connect BookingSync or Smily to your cleaning workflow

There are three practical approaches, from the most accessible to the most technical.

For the vast majority of hosts and small property managers, iCal is enough. It has one decisive advantage: it requires no admin rights, no sharing of passwords, and no development work.

Why iCal is the simplest method

The Smily help manual explains how to export the calendar as an iCal feed: in the Bookings section, open the calendar view, click "Share" at the bottom right, then copy the link shown. That link is what you paste into your cleaning scheduling tool.

The feed contains the booked periods for each property. From the checkout dates, the tool creates the cleaning jobs. We explain how this format works in detail in our guide to iCal sync with Airbnb and Booking.com.

Limitations to know before you start

The same manual notes that iCal sync is one-way and not instant: it can take up to 6 hours. It also states that bookings in "tentative" status do not appear as blocked in the iCal export. In practice:

• a booking confirmed late in the day may appear in the cleaning schedule with a delay;
• a tentative stay does not trigger a cleaning job;
• when a checkout and a check-in fall on the same day, it is best to allow some margin and message the cleaner directly.

If your turnovers are tight, see our page on same-day turnover cleaning.

Setting up the connection, step by step

Configuration typically takes a few minutes per property. Here is the sequence we recommend.

Step 1: prepare the calendar in BookingSync or Smily

Before exporting, check that each property is connected to its channels (Airbnb, Booking.com, Abritel, Vrbo) and that bookings are up to date. An export is only as good as the source calendar. Also make sure each property has a clear name: "Studio Old Port" is more useful than "Property 3", because that name will appear on the cleaner's phone.

Step 2: copy the iCal link for each property

Follow the path described above: Bookings, calendar view, Share, copy the link. Repeat for each property. Keep these links private: anyone who has them can see your occupancy dates.

Step 3: add the property in the cleaning tool

In CleanClac, you create the property and paste in the calendar link. Checkouts appear in the schedule straight away. At the same time, fill in the details the cleaner needs: address, access code, floor, special instructions, usual cleaning duration, number of beds.

Step 4: invite your cleaners

Each cleaner gets their own smartphone login and sees only the properties assigned to them. You can invite your regular team at no extra cost, or, in an emergency, find a local contractor through the app.

Step 5: test with a real booking

Create a test booking in BookingSync, wait for the next refresh, check that it generates a job on the correct date and time slot, then delete it. This catches any timing issues before the first real turnover.

Triggering and assigning a cleaning job automatically

Once the feed is connected, each checkout becomes a task. Three settings determine how well the automation works.

The timing of the job. By default, cleaning is scheduled on the checkout day. If the next check-in is the following day, the cleaner has a window. If it is the same day, that window shrinks and the task should be flagged as urgent.

Assignment. Assignment can be automatic, with each property linked to a specific cleaner or team, or manual when you prefer to choose case by case. Property managers covering several geographic areas usually assign by zone and keep manual assignment for cover arrangements.

Stay modifications. If a guest shortens, extends, or cancels their stay, the BookingSync calendar changes. At the next feed read, the job date is adjusted and the cleaner is notified. This is why the refresh interval matters: a last-minute change should always be followed by a direct message to the cleaner.

Our page on automatic cleaning scheduling from your bookings shows what the manager sees day to day.

Tracking instructions, progress, and confirmation

A useful integration does not stop at creating the task. Here is what to track.

Instructions and checklists

Each job comes with its own checklist: tasks to complete, order, points to watch. You can start from our library of 166 illustrated cleaning tasks and keep only the ones that apply to your property. A precise checklist reduces missed items and makes onboarding a new cleaner much easier.

Real-time progress

The dashboard shows which properties are pending, in progress, or done. For a manager working remotely, this replaces the "is it finished?" phone calls. It also lets you act early if a job has not started and the next guest arrives in two hours.

Confirmation and proof

At the end of the job, the cleaner sends a cleaning report with timestamped photos. If there is a dispute about the condition of the property or a negative review mentioning cleanliness, you have dated evidence. For greater transparency with guests, the guest cleaning card makes this tracking visible to them.

Consumables

Each clean uses linen, products, paper, and supplies. Tracking stock by cleaning job means you never discover a shortage at check-in: the cleaner flags what is running low and you receive an alert.

What to do when the sync stops working

Problems almost always come from one of the following causes. Checking them in this order saves time.

1. The iCal link is wrong or outdated. Copy the link again from the Share button in the calendar, with no spaces or missing characters, and paste it back into the property.
2. The refresh interval has not elapsed. According to the Smily manual, an iCal sync can take up to 6 hours. Wait before concluding there is an error.
3. The booking is still tentative. Tentative status does not appear as blocked in the export. Confirm the booking in BookingSync.
4. The property is linked to the wrong calendar. In a multi-property setup, a copy-paste error between two listings is common. Compare the property name in both tools.
5. A modified booking has not moved the cleaning job. Check the date in BookingSync first, then manually reassign or reschedule the task if the next check-in is imminent.
6. A channel is not feeding into BookingSync. The problem is upstream. Fix the connection between BookingSync and the platform before touching the cleaning tool.

If a duplicate appears, delete the extra job rather than the property. If several properties are out of sync at the same time, the cause is almost always in the source calendar.

Our view

We see the same pattern every week: the host or property manager already has a PMS that works, and cleaning is still coordinated by text message, spreadsheet, or chat. The calendar is correct, but the information never reaches the person doing the cleaning.

Our view is that you should not change your PMS to solve this problem. You need to plug your existing calendar into a simple tool that a cleaner understands in ten seconds on their phone. That is why we built CleanClac with individual logins per cleaner, a very clean mobile interface, and compatibility with all existing PMS tools.

We charge no commission on jobs: you pay a subscription per active property, not a percentage of your team's work. You can invite your own cleaners or find a local contractor at no extra cost.

Our advice: start with one property, run a full turnover with photos and a checklist, then roll it out to the rest of your portfolio.

Jonathan

Getting started with CleanClac

CleanClac automates cleaning scheduling from your Airbnb, Booking.com, Abritel, or Vrbo bookings, and from your BookingSync or Smily calendar. You assign tasks automatically or by hand, your cleaners receive notifications, and you track reports, photos, and stock from a single dashboard.

The prices published on the pricing page are as follows:

On annual billing, the 2026 price comparison shows 59.99 € per year for 2 properties, 119.99 € per year for 5 properties, and 24 € per year for each additional property. To explore the tool, you can try CleanClac. If you are weighing up several options, our Airbnb cleaning software comparison sets out the key criteria.

Adapting the setup to your type of rental

The basic configuration is the same everywhere, but the settings vary by property type.

• City studio with fast turnovers: use short checklists, a dedicated cleaner, and an alert whenever a checkout and a check-in fall on the same day.
• Country house or coastal property: travel time and seasonality change how you organise things. We cover this in our article on cleaning seasonal rentals at the coast, in the mountains, or in the countryside.
• Portfolio of several dozen properties: assign by zone, name a team lead, and reserve manual assignment for cover arrangements.
• Between seasons: schedule a more thorough deep clean, as detailed in our seasonal deep-clean protocol.

FAQ

Can I connect BookingSync to a cleaning tool without any technical skills?

Yes. The iCal export only requires copying a link from the BookingSync or Smily calendar and pasting it into the cleaning tool. Allow a few minutes per property. You do not need to share your login credentials.

Is a cleaning task created instantly after a booking?

Not necessarily. According to the Smily manual, an iCal sync can take up to 6 hours. For a last-minute booking, message your cleaner directly to avoid anything being missed.

What happens if a guest cancels or changes their dates?

The BookingSync calendar is updated, then re-read by the cleaning tool. The job is moved or removed and the cleaner is notified. Always check the date shown in the app when the next check-in is close.

Do I need a BookingSync Pro subscription, or does Smily work on its own?

The iCal export is available in the Smily help documentation, so you can connect a property from that plan. BookingSync Pro is aimed more at professionals managing many properties. Check the publisher's official pages for the terms of each plan.

Do my cleaners need to install a complicated app?

No. Each cleaner gets their own individual login on their smartphone, with their schedule, the day's checklist, and the ability to send photos at the end of the job.

Sources

• Sync my calendar with iCal, Smily help manual
• Smily: the platform that simplifies short-term rental management, L'Écho du Mardi

Recommendations

• iCal sync: Airbnb, Booking.com, and your cleaning schedule