COVID CLEANING CHECKLIST for VACATION RENTALS

A Complete Cleaning Checklist Template for your Vacation Rental House

A cleaning checklist helps because it takes the guesswork out of the cleaning. Work in order of the list and you don’t have to figure out what needs to be cleaned and when it needs to be cleaned.

The impact of a clean house

What kind of impact does the cleanliness of your vacation houses really make on your rental business?

Huge. It’s the #1 complaint. You must elevate your cleanliness standards to the pickest of guests. You must assume you are cleaning for the clean-freak guest. That means hiring quality and timely cleaners.

Supplies you may need:

The cleanliness of your rental home is one of the most common concerns of your guests.

But before you get too overwhelmed, take a look at the list of tools and products you’ll always want to have on hand.

1.      A quality vacuum for carpets.

2.      A microfiber mop with both wet and dry pads for hardwood floors.

3.      Glass cleaner.

4.      All-purpose cleaner for the kitchen and even floors.

5.      Disinfectant for toilets, bathtubs, and other germ-prone areas. At least 70% Alcohol

6.      Plenty of microfiber cloths.

7.      A few scrub pads for extra stubborn grime.

8.      A pumice stone.

9.      A toilet brush.

10.  Wood polish to add the finishing touch.

11.  Think about your own rental house: are there any specific cleaning tools you need?

Cleaning surfaces to prevent infection

Current evidence suggests that COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus) may survive on surfaces for hours or days – research is still ongoing. Studies have found that similar coronaviruses like SARS and MERS can persist on hand surfaces like metal, glass or plastic for days. But they can be killed within one minute if cleaned and disinfected. You should first clean hard surfaces with warm, soapy water and then disinfect them.

Which disinfectant products to use
For disinfection, diluted household bleach solutions (hydrogen peroxide or sodium hypochlorite), alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and certain anti-viral household disinfectants should be effective. You don’t need to spend extra money on specialized disinfectant products, though. Regular detergent and diluted bleach are fine for combating COVID-19. If you are buying disinfectant, check the product information to make sure it says it combats viruses including influenza and human coronaviruses.

Do antibacterial products work against COVID-19?

Many products marketed as antibacterial won’t work against a virus like COVID-19. They need to contain at least 70% alcohol to have any impact on viruses, as opposed to bacteria like E.coli or salmonella. As above, if you’re buying specific disinfectant products like spray or wipes, check first if they say they work against viruses as well as bacteria. A lot of these products are in high demand right now and might be out of stock, so it’s not worth stressing yourself out trying to hunt them down, as soapy water and bleach or alcohol-based cleaners will also work.

General cleaning and common areas

There’s a big difference between a rental that feels cozy and lived-in, and one that’s just messy and unclean.

And trust me, guests can tell the difference!

There are some spots around the home that owners can easily miss and forget to clean.

Household items such as doorknobs, light switches, and cupboard handles can get grubby quickly, so make sure to give these a once-over every time guests check out.

There are several spots around a home that can be easily missed and leave your home feeling less welcoming than you had hoped. Be sure to double-check the following:

1. Light switches
2. Doorknobs
3. Cupboard handles
4. Refrigerator handle
5. Oven handle
6. Excess dirt under or around rugs
7. Cobwebs on light fixtures
8. Cobwebs in corners
9. Space between couch cushions
10. Food in cupboards
11. Take a look at your own rental house: are there any hidden corners or details you should add to this list?

Cleaning the Living Room

It is important to make sure that your guests are comfortable with the cleanliness of the living room, because it is where they will want to relax and hangout.

They don’t want to use a sticky TV remotes or sit on the remains of the last guest’s sandwich.

1. Disinfect all remotes
2. Vacuum/wipe down all sofas and be sure to vacuum beneath the cushions as well
3. Disinfect light switches
4. Dust/disinfect coffee tables
5. Clean the TV screen
6. Keep bookshelves or magazine racks tidy
7. Double-check if throw pillow covers need to be washed
8. Wash all used throw blankets
9. Vacuum under furniture
10. Remove area rugs when cleaning the floor
11. Take a look at your own living room: are there any hidden corners or details you should add to this list?

Cleaning the Kitchen

One of the biggest reasons travelers are choosing vacation rentals over hotels nowadays is the added benefit of having a fully furnished kitchen.

That’s why it’s a real shame if they open the oven to find it thick with grime and looking like it hasn’t been cleaned in months!

When it comes to the kitchen, be sure to clean the inside of each amenity – as well as wipe down and disinfect the outside. That means appliances, drawers, cupboards and worktops as a minimum.

Make sure any long-life food is still in date, all spices, condiments and oils are looking good and always have a fresh supply of tea towels, sponges and other cleaning products on hand.

1. Finish putting all clean dishes away
2. Double-check that no dried food is on the “clean” dishes
3. Wipe down microwave inside and out
4. Wipe down oven and stove removing and cleaning dirty drip pans if needed
5. Clean off any fingerprints or smudges on cabinets
6. Replace the dirty garbage bag with a clean one if it has not already been done
7. Clean out crumbs in drawers
8. Empty refrigerator and wipe shelves
9. Clean out drain filter in sink
10. Wipe down the backsplash behind the counter and sink
11. Take a look at your own kitchen: are there any hidden corners or details you should add to this list?

Cleaning the Dining Room

As your guests gather their friends and family around the table, make sure that their focus is on enjoying the well-prepared dinner they’ve slaved over all afternoon and not on the crusty food stuck between the leaves of the table.  Eating on a table that is not only unappealing but unhealthy.

1. Clean out food and grime from between the table leaves
2. Check under the table that nothing has been stuck to the bottom
3. Wipe down dining room chairs
4. Clean deep in the crevasses and curves of each chair to remove any food or other dirt
5. Wash table cloths
6. Wash any cloth napkins
7. Move the table and chairs aside while you clean the floor
8. Clean and disinfect any child booster seats or highchairs
9. Dust off overhead lights and remove cobwebs
10. Clean off any centerpieces well
11. Take a look at your own dining room: are there any hidden corners or details you should add to this list?

Cleaning the Bathrooms

If your rental provides towels for your guests, it’s essential they’re in great condition. The same applies to other bathroom basics such as shower curtains and bath mats.

We all know that mold can build up quite easily in bathrooms due to the damp conditions. Inspect all tiles or water-prone areas for any problems often, and re-seal them with silicone if necessary.

1. Clean the entire toilet, including the bottom half
2. Clean behind the toilet
3. Make the faucet shine with window cleaner or stainless steel cleaner
4. Clean the mirror
5. Take the extra time to scrub soap grime from the tub
6. Clean around the jets of a Jacuzzi tub
7. Clean any hair out of the drain and off the walls
8. Wash all towels and bathmats
9. Dust off any decorations
10. Replace all complimentary toiletry items
11. Take a look at your own bathroom: are there any hidden corners or details you should add to this list?

Cleaning the Bedrooms

Where your guests rest their heads at the end of a long day on vacation is, quite possibly, the most important room of all.

Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial for a relaxing getaway, and a clean bed (including mattress, pillows and cushions) is vital.

Investing in quality mattresses and linens is a must if you want them to last. You should have a minimum of two sets of bedding for each bed and check for faults (such as snags or stains) regularly.

1. Replace the dirty linens of slept-in beds with fresh ones
2. Straighten out and replace bed skirt when needed
3. Check between mattress and headboard for lost items or garbage
4. Dust the nightstand
5. Dust light fixtures including small nightlights
6. Disinfect bedposts
7. Disinfect light switches or remotes
8. Empty out all dressers and closets
9. Check under the bed for any left-behind items
10. When vacuuming the floor, get around the edges or around furniture well with the nozzle
11. Take a look at your own bedrooms: are there any hidden corners or details you should add to this list?

Cleaning the Laundry/Utility Room

The laundry/utility room is where things become clean.

Therefore it only makes sense that the room itself is clean and organized.

The last thing a guest wants when doing their own laundry is to worry that their clothing will come out of the laundry room dirtier than when it went in.

1. Clean out the washing machine detergent tray
2. Clean up any soap or softener spills that are left on the washing machine
3. Clean out the dryer lint
4. Disinfect the knobs, buttons, and doors of the machines
5. Clean out the sink and anything in its drain
6. Restock complimentary laundry detergent, softener, or dryer sheets
7. Pull out the machines and sweep/dust behind them
8. Keep supplies well labeled and organized
9. Dust around, underneath, and behind supplies
10. Check laundry baskets or drying racks are clean and ready to use
11. Take a look at your own laundry/utility room: are there any hidden corners or details you should add to this list?

Cleaning Windows and Doors

There is little meaning to that amazing view you advertised about your rental house if your guests can’t see it through the dirty, streaky windows.

And as far as your doors go, the front door of your house is going to be the guest’s first impression of the home.   Shouldn’t it be a good one?

1. If needed, hire a professional to clean the exterior windows to ensure there are no streaks
2. Clean glass interior of windows
3. Clean the window frames
4. Open the window and clean dirt and bugs out of the track
5. When screens are removed for exterior cleaning, use the opportunity to clean off the screens as well
6. Dust off the tops of curtain rods
7. Vacuum or wash curtains when needed
8. Disinfect all door handles
9. Dust door frames, especially the tops
10. Clean the kick plates of exterior doors
11. Take a look at your own windows and doors: are there any hidden corners or details you should add to this list?

Cleaning the House Exterior

The exterior of your property is the first thing guests are going to see, so you want to give off an amazing impression and set the standard for the rest of the house.

Take care to remove any fallen leaves or branches from outdoor areas, regularly trim bushes and mow the lawn, and keep any exterior furniture in a good, clean condition.

1. Pull weeds and remove debris from the garden
2. Wipe dust and bird droppings from lawn furniture
3. Wash down chair cushions
4. Wipe off railings
5. Clean glass railings with window cleaner
6. Remove leaves and other debris from the pool
7. Disinfect safety railings or ladders leading into the pool
8. Clean burnt-on food and drippings from barbecue
9. Sweep out patios
10. Disinfect any outdoor eating areas/tables
11. Take a look at your own house exterior and garden: are there any hidden corners or details you should add to this list?

After Your Guests Depart

When your guests are on their way out, it is not uncommon that they leave in somewhat of a rush.

The busy morning has them focused on getting packed without forgetting anything and getting ready for the day.

This means that for the owner, there may be more filth left behind.

Socks get left under the bed. A dirty dish gets left in the living room. Muddy footprints get tracked through the house as they check one last time that they didn’t forget anything.

This is why it’s especially important to double-check these little details if there is limited time before the next guest arrives.

1.      Check under the beds

2.      Open dresser drawers

3.      Look for spills and smudges on kitchen appliances

4.      Check refrigerator and freezer for leftovers

5.      Clean hair out of the shower and tub

6.      Look for handprints and smears on glass doors

7.      Clean out toothpaste or other dried-on products from bathroom sinks

8.      Shake out “Welcome” mats

9.      Pull garbage in kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms

10.  Finish washing dishes guests may have missed

11.Take a look at your own vacation house after guests leave: is there anything you should add to this list?

 Compliments of 

TESLA REALTY GRP   

 Larry Sarlo  609-868-1171   Your Local Cape May County Realtor