Travelers sometimes opt to select vacation rentals against hotels and usually have very high expectations regarding their experience. They wish to enjoy their stay as much as possible so that they can relax with their loved ones.
However, a dirty vacation rental can ruin a great vacation very fast. Keeping the vacation home spotless and ready before guests arrive can maximize positive reviews and guest satisfaction.
Understanding the Basics of Vacation Home Cleaning
Vacation rental cleaning is way more different than regular home cleaning. Most importantly, you need to meet the guests’ expectations, ensuring that your property looks spotless. Therefore, the cleaning process definitely takes longer, requiring greater attention to detail, efficiency and tasks. It also needs to be fast to limit downtime between check-in and check-out.
Regular home cleaning mainly involves simple cleaning tasks such as vacuuming, dusting, wiping and mopping. Vacation rental cleaning, on the other hand, requires more comprehensive cleaning such as disinfecting, deep cleaning and sanitizing. Moreover, bathrooms, kitchens and bedrooms also need to be cleaned thoroughly.
There will be additional tasks to complete as well, such as restocking toiletries, changing bed linens, replacing towels and assessing the vacation home for any potential damages. This is why having enough time between guests is a good idea to ensure enough time to tidy up your vacation rental.
Setting Cleaning Standards for Your Vacation Rental
Vacation rental cleaning requires good structure and organization to ensure the rental is ready for the incoming guests and leaves the best impression.
Here is what you can do to set clear cleaning standards.
Creating a Cleaning Checklist
Start off by creating a cleaning checklist for areas that require special attention, including bathrooms, kitchens, living areas and outdoor spaces.
Here is an example of a checklist.
- Sanitize and clean all surfaces, including countertops, tables and cabinets
- Sanitize and clean kitchen appliances such as the coffee machine, toaster, microwave and oven
- Remove any food left in the fridge to avoid any bad smells
- Remove trash and sanitize the trash can
- Mop and sweep the floors
Choosing the Right Cleaning Supplies
In today’s time, when being eco-friendly is the talk of the town, it is essential to bring sustainable practices to the cleaning processes as well.
When it comes to the well-being of your guests, the selection of cleaning products is of utmost importance. You must avoid using conventional cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals, as these can cause skin irritations as well as respiratory problems. Non-toxic and environmentally friendly cleaning products offer a safer alternative for the safety of your guests and the environment.
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Professional vs. DIY Cleaning for Your Vacation Home
There are different options available when it comes to cleaning your vacation home. The decision to choose a professional cleaning service for your home or to DIY depends on various factors such as available time, resources and budget.
When to Hire Professional Cleaning Services
Hiring professional cleaning services is usually a better option when you have more than two vacation rentals and are not living locally. Moreover, during the peak season, the property might require cleaning several times during a month, which can be quite stressful.
In such scenarios, it is best to outsource the cleaning duties to professional cleaning services such as Molly Maid and Merry Maids. This may not be the most cost-effective option, but it does ensure an impeccable cleaning process.
Tips for DIY Cleaning
However, if you are a property owner who prefers to handle all the cleaning themselves, here are some practical tips to help you ensure that high standards are met.
- Have a checklist ready before embarking on the cleaning journey
- Have all your cleaning supplies handy
- Begin from the least dirty and easy-to-handle areas of the property and move on to the ones that require more attention and detail
Specialized Cleaning Areas in Vacation Homes
The extent to which your vacation home may require cleaning can vary depending on which areas need more attention as compared to the others.
Dealing with High-Traffic Areas
The high-traffic areas in your home, such as the living rooms and entryways, may require more thorough cleaning as they are used frequently. These areas often need deep and frequent cleaning. Kitchens and bathrooms also require special attention as they are usually the most used areas in a rental home.
Addressing Unique Challenges
There are a few spots that are often overlooked while cleaning rental homes. These may seem trivial but can cause great nuisance to your guests if left unattended. Such areas include handles and knobs, AC filters, coffee makers, fridges, dishwashers and towel racks. Besides, other amenities such as hot tubs, outdoor grills and pools also require intense cleaning, especially after they have been used a couple of times.
Enhancing Guest Experience through Cleanliness
It is no secret that keeping a vacation rental spotless is a daunting task. However, the important of maintaining hygiene throughout your guests’ stay is essential.
The Role of Cleanliness in Guest Reviews
Keeping your rental property spic and span will leave your guests satisfied, motivating them to leave positive reviews and to keep coming back to your property. After all, who doesn’t want to destress through another vacation at a spotless vacation home?
Leaving a Lasting Impression
A little bit of compassion and attention to small details can leave a lasting impression on your guests. For instance, adding welcome baskets or personalized notes can help them feel at home. All of this, when complemented by impeccable cleanliness standards, is bound to leave a great impression.
Maintaining Cleaning Standards During Peak Seasons
Maintaining cleaning standards during those peak seasons is extremely essential. However, high booking periods bring along a lot of stress, especially when it comes to cleaning.
There are different things that can help you maintain cleaning standards during rush hours. First, you need an effective housekeeping strategy that assists you in the optimization of housekeeping tasks. This may include how much staff you require to perform important tasks such as deep cleaning.
This will often not be possible to achieve without an in-house cleaning team. Commercial cleaners are trained to deep clean the most important areas of the rental house, helping you attain the required levels of customer satisfaction and ensuring that your guests will keep returning.
Conclusion
Even though your vacation rental property is not a hotel, your guests require the same standards of cleanliness. As a rental property owner, your goal should be to keep it pristine and succeeding in doing so will reward you with amazing reviews on third-party sites and platforms like Airbnb.
Also, it is important to remember that most of this may not be achievable without the help of professional cleaners. It can save you a lot of time, allowing you to focus on other significant aspects of the vacation business.
It is time to evaluate your cleaning practices and learn the strategies for a spotless vacation rental home. The tips mentioned in this guide are a good place to start.