The short-term rental business is fun, social and fast-paced. Yet it can be very challenging; it requires constant cleaning, maintenance, updates and a whole lot more. The phrase, “You gotta keep up with the Joneses” is a serious daily reality!
And as I say time and time again, in this business, “you’re only as good as your last clean.” Which means that if your home or space is not sparkling clean and disinfected (especially during COVID-19), you’re out of business before you know it! Mark my words.
Cleaning is challenging for everyone. Especially in a small town. I’ve been through countless housekeepers in my years and pride myself on being a professional cleaner myself at this point. Luckily for me, I love cleaning! It’s a challenge, it’s great exercise and you get to see the final product immediately. It leaves you with a genuine feeling of accomplishment!
The devil is certainly in the details. Here’s my advice on getting a great deep clean with every turn over.
How to get it sparkling clean!
- During COVID-19: open all the doors and windows and turn on the fan. Get the ventilation going and be sure to wear your KN95 mask and gloves.
- For laundry, remove all of the soiled linens the moment you go inside, and get the wash started.
- Tackle the baths and kitchens first. I prefer natural products that kill germs. Vinegar and water or hydrogen peroxide are my favorites, but use whatever works for you. Check out Healthline for other ideas. Details are key, as is making sure there is NO HAIR left anywhere! This is a must, and paying attention to that detail will help you and your business flourish.
- Dusting: I use a duster with a long handle to get the walls, fans, corners and every bit of space that’s hard to reach. Be sure to go over every surface, especially base board heaters.
- Bed time: people love a clean, comfortable bed. We have king and queen beds at GO-Cottage. The beds are one of the main reasons guests book! When making the beds, I use a flat sheet, top sheet, two giant pillows, four medium pillows, a plush blanket and a duvet cover. There is also a bed skirt for every bed on the property. Skirts helps with dust and keeping the bed clean.
- Next, it’s time to set up your welcoming gifts. I like to leave wine and a card, but you can leave whatever you like. Guests love this personal touch.
- Once everything is clean, organized and reset, it’s time to vacuum and mop. I personally love the Dyson Motorhead vacuum. It’s light, cordless and requires little maintenance. It just works terrifically!!
- The final step is disinfecting the space entirely. That means cleaning any area that gets touched: door knobs, kitchen and bath sinks, tub fixtures and handles, TV remotes, electrical switches, etc. Anything that someone can touch must be disinfected. Kills those germs!!
I’ll say this again: the devil is in the details and there’s an art to cleaning. It may sound over the top, but it’s true! Mark my words, you’re only as good as your last clean.
If you can find a great housekeeper that has the same values as you do, then your business will grow and flourish. I’m grateful that I was able to find wonderful housekeepers for GO-Cottage.
Thank you for reading and happy cleaning!
