With the current state of the world amidst a global pandemic, it’s more important than ever to be extra thorough with cleaning between stays at a rental. Dr. Oz drew attention to some easily missed places during one of his shows, which got us thinking about a few that were common in turnover cleaning.
1. Light Switches
These are often touched and frequently used but can easily be overlooked in cleaning. We recommend thoroughly wetting with a disinfecting wipe. Remember for full disinfection to take place, the surface must stay visibly wet for approximately 4 minutes. It’s important to be thorough during these processes to ensure that your vacation rental cleaning service is working to its highest potential.
2. Security/Lock Keypads
Many properties use a keypad for easy guest entry. This is often on the exterior of the house but can be missed when only focusing on the inside. These should be cleaned similarly to light switches by ensuring they stay visibly wet with cleaner for several minutes. While this is usually the first point-of-contact for guests, it is often overlooked during the cleaning process.
3. Towel Racks
Obviously towels and linens are cleaned between guests but don’t forget about the towel racks! Not only do these come into contact with guest towels but they are almost always covered and never get much of a chance to breathe. These should be washed thoroughly to ensure they don’t pass any unwanted germs or odors from a dirty towel to a new clean one.
4. TV Remotes
If there is a TV, smart device, or even a fan, chances are it’s accompanied by a remote. Make sure these are cleaned well to limit the chances of spreading germs in your vacation rental. We’d even suggest taking the batteries out so you can depress the buttons and clean the space between buttons without messing with the TV while cleaning.
5. Dresser Handles/Knobs
Another highly-touched surface that is often neglected are handles and knobs for dressers and cabinets. Make sure these are cleaned well and while you’re at it, wipe down the insides of the drawers too! This should take minimal effort but will improve your guests’ stay tremendously.
Remember to let surfaces dry fully after they’ve been wet to get the full benefit. Clorox’s official site suggests this is best practice when using their disinfectant as well as any other disinfectant cleaner.
Add these areas to your vacation rental cleaning checklist next time you are preparing to clean a short-term rental property, or even your own home. Until next time, stay safe and healthy!
