Coronavirus

Tips on keeping your holiday rental clean

Keeping a clean and safe property for your guests is fundamental and now more than ever essential to protect your guests from COVID-19. As well as looking after your guests you mustn’t forget your cleaners.                      It’s likely that your cleaner(s) will be the first ones to enter your property after the last guest’s depart, so it’s essential to protect them with the right equipment and procedures so they stay healthy.

Here are some recommendations for your cleaning crew:

• Cleaners should not work at all if they have symptoms of COVID-19.
• Recommend cleaners should wear masks as it’s possible that they are contagious but not experiencing symptoms.
• Recommend they wear safety glasses, shoe covers, gloves and avoid touching any uncleaned surfaces then touching their face.
• They should wash their hands immediately on arrival (following the correct procedure for handwashing) and immediately after gloves are removed. If that’s not possible, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Make sure your cleaners know how to safely remove any cleaning gear, dispose of it, or sanitise accordingly after use.

While every holiday rental is cleaned thoroughly between guests, many of the “high-touch” areas (such as light switches and handles) may get overlooked. The coronavirus requires taking additional steps to sanitise your property to ensure that a previous guest does not infect a future guest

Coronavirus cleaning tips

• Don’t just sanitise – clean first then sanitise. It’s better to first clean the area with warm soapy water and then apply disinfectant (let it stand for a few minutes before wiping) to kill viruses, bacteria, and germs.
• Allow fresh air to circulate the property during the entire cleaning process.
• Use disposable cloths or paper towels when possible or machine-wash reusable cloths at the highest heat setting appropriate after use.
• Disinfect kitchen brushes and sponges with detergent and warm water. You could also put sponges or cloths in the microwave on high for a minute or two.
• When items cannot be cleaned using detergents e.g. upholstered furniture, steam clean or use a fogging machine.
• Laundry – machine washed at 60°C all linens, blankets, throws and towels (even unused ones as guests may have touched them). Run the washing machine on empty once a week, either at a high temperature or with a chemical disinfectant to prevent the growth of germs.
• The use of a Fogging Machine is also recommended, it is becoming increasingly popular as a means of sanitising surfaces.

All surfaces that guests have come into contact with must be cleaned and disinfected, including:

Tell guests about your enhanced cleaning routine

Now more than ever, guests care about cleanliness, they will want to know what measures you are taking to help keep them safe and your property clean.

You want your guests to feel confident that when they stay in your holiday let it has been cleaned thoroughly. To reassure them, send them a message before they arrive and mention in your listing description your enhanced cleaning routine and the additional precautions you have taken to protect their health.

Guests will want to take steps to reduce their risk of infection by social distancing. You can reduce person-to-person contact by offering self-check-in and checkout by using a key safe.

Ensure your holiday rental is well-stocked with plenty of cleaning and sanitising products for guests while they are staying at your holiday home.

Include:

• Antibacterial hand sanitiser in high traffic areas – leave one by the front door so guests can sanitise their hands as they enter and leave your property
• Disposable gloves and disinfecting wipes
• Disinfectants and cleaning supplies
• Hand soap
• Paper towels
• Tissues
• Extra towels and sheets

Display ‘wash your hands’ signs and add some advice at the front of your guest information book so guests are reminded to keep hygiene front of mind.