Since bacteria and viruses spread from person to person and from person to surface, we need to be careful about the items and rooms we touch daily and how often we clean them.
Of course, your guests are expecting a clean place, plus they tend to be more critical of other places, so you want to make sure your place is clean.
These are the areas of your vacation rental that have more risk when it comes to being exposed to viruses or bacteria.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are the most important since your guests stay there the most, compared to other rooms in your rental, so they expect a clean bedroom, and some of the rentals only have bedrooms which are even more important to keep it clean.
The most basic action is to change sheets after every customer, clean floors, and air the room so it feels fresh.
Remember to clean the wardrobe, cabinets, and any countertop as well, and make sure everything is in its place.
Bathroom
It’s no surprise this room holds bacteria, besides the moisture from a hot shower helps germs grow so you have to make sure tiles and walls are clean, since it may be easy to forget.
You should pay attention to the tub, towels, floor around the toilet drains, faucets, and where you store a toothbrush, that’s a tiny detail that goes a long way, and taking out the trash as well as cleaning the trash can is important.
Disinfecting this room is a priority, we all want a clean bathroom experience.
Kitchen
According to the NSF, since food is stored or prepared in the kitchen, it has the most bacteria and fecal contamination than other places at home. Shocking, yes.
According to studies, more than 75% of dish sponges had Salmonella and E.coli.
Be sure to clean frequently and correctly your cutting boards (remember to have at least 2 cutting boards, one for meat and the other for vegetables), a coffee maker, the kitchen sink and countertops, and the refrigerator, especially where you have uncooked and unwashed food.
Here are some tips:
- Disinfectant wipes can be used on surfaces and faucets.
- Make sure you change your sponges frequently, especially when new guests arrive.
- Remember to have at least two dish towels for every check-in.
Remember to check the fridge, there may be food left inside, clean it up and restock if you have some surprises for your guests.
Common area
This is another place to take care of since guests usually hang out there after they’ve been outside, this as well needs some rigorous cleaning.
Knobs, handles, and switches
We have touched on the subject already but it deserves to be repeated since these items are handled many times in a day.
The NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) found these spots rank higher with bacteria:
- Bathroom light switches
- Stove knobs
- Microwave handles
- Refrigerator handles
Using a disinfecting wipe is good enough to clean these surfaces, just make sure you use a new wipe for each item instead of reusing it.
