Summer is coming up fast and with it comes vacation rental guests galore. While more business is definitely always welcome, summer can be a stressful time for vacation rental owners. This is especially true if they head into the season unprepared. Therefore, prepping ahead of time and creating a solid plan for the months to come are non-negotiable tasks.
Below, we have compiled 6 tasks to look over before things get busy. Be sure to check these off your to-do list in the next few weeks and you’ll be more than ready when summer arrives.
Vacation Rental Spring Cleaning Tips
#1: See your place from a new point of view.
#2: Update your online presence.
#5: Make an ironclad turnover plan.
#1: See your place from a new point of view.
Guests don’t want to arrive to find worn and inoperable items at your vacation rental. Clearly, things like broken faucets and faulty refrigerators must be fixed immediately and hopefully, haven’t been left for fixing during spring cleaning.
However, there are other, smaller things that may go wrong or become worn out and sometimes, it’s hard to see what might appear too worn to a guest. Therefore, it is crucial that property owners take a good look at their rentals from the point of view of someone who has never seen the place before. Some people are able to do this on their own while others choose to bring in a trusted friend to help them find flaws.
Once the issues have been pinpointed, be sure to fix them as soon as possible. A flaw may seem tiny to you but to your customers, the same thing could be a big deal. For this reason, you will want to ensure absolutely everything is in tip-top condition before people begin to arrive.
#2: Update your online presence.
Whether you run a website of your own or advertise on a larger rental site, updating your listing (along with any accompanying photos) can work wonders for building your guest base. This means updating your prices for peak season; making sure all amenities are listed; and adding new, summer-friendly pictures, such as images of the gorgeous swimming pool or the amazing beach view.
Additionally, now is the time to keep your social media pages as active as possible. Post ideas for fun things to do in the area near your rental, include images of your property and the surrounding attractions, and be sure to answer comments and questions promptly. Asking friends and family to share posts can also help spread the word about your property, potentially bringing in more guests during the vacation season.
#3: Add some summer flair.
Winter is a time for evergreen wreaths, dark-yet-warm colors, and cuddly blankets and pillows. However, now that winter has passed, it’s time to put away the warm and cozy items and add something bright and fun.
This might mean switching out wall hangings, putting brightly colored flowers in a vase on the table, changing the bedspread to something more lightweight, or even adding an iced coffee brewer to the list of amenities. Additionally, if a pool is available to guests, it could mean purchasing new poolside furniture or swapping out the dishes for something colorful and pool deck-friendly.
#4: Change out linens.
Obviously, it is important to restock clean linens throughout the property between guest stays. However, it is also crucial to replace all linens and towels with new ones on a regular basis. After all, who wants to sleep on threadbare sheets or dry off with a worn towel?
Unfortunately, this is a task that often goes forgotten for much too long, leaving valuable guests with less-than-ideal sheets, blankets, and bath towels. This can lead to bad reviews and unhappy customers.
In order to ensure you keep visitors happy and well taken care of, use your annual spring cleaning time as a reminder to buy new sheets and towels for your rental space. This doesn’t need to be a huge expense and will add that new, clean feel all renters look for.
#5: Make an ironclad turnover plan.
More guests means faster turnover times, which means more work for you. This is a great thing, but failure to have a solid plan in place for quick turnaround days can leave you in a lurch.
Additionally, you will want to have a backup plan for those times when you’re not working with ideal circumstances. Some good options include hiring a cleaning service, bringing on a couple of part-time staff members, or always leaving yourself 2 or more days to get things ready for the next guest.
#6: Clean like crazy.
Remember when we mentioned that guests tend to see flaws you might miss? This is true of cleanliness as well. It’s easy to get the “obvious” spots, but what about the things that need to be attended to just occasionally? As no vacationer wants to stay in a dirty rental, cleaning should be at the top of your list of priorities.
Therefore, if you have difficulty seeing dirty areas, you will want to bring someone in to pinpoint the parts of the house in need of cleaning. If you are short on time, consider bringing in a professional cleaning company. They will be able to easily identify the parts of your home that need the most attention and clean them efficiently and effectively.
While developing your cleaning plan, keep in mind that the time before busy season is the best time to do your deepest cleaning. Things like shampooing carpets, power-washing sidewalks, and cleaning window exteriors can be done during this period without disturbing renters. Doing these tasks now will ensure your place is spick-and-span for summer and will make cleaning between guests a much easier undertaking.
Spring Cleaning for Vacation Rental Checklist
Start with General Cleaning
- Gather supplies.
- Open windows to let stale air out & fresh air in.
- Declutter quickly, tossing items into boxes: DISCARD, RECYCLE, DONATE, and PUT AWAY.
- Task stack by beginning two or three jobs at once: laundry, dishes, & oven cleaning.
- Dust and damp wipe everything from the top down: ceilings and fixtures, walls, corners, baseboards, & furniture.
- Attend to windows (indoors & outdoors), frames, blinds, drapes, & curtains, making sure sashes, latches, & locks work smoothly.
- Wash doors & doorframes (indoors & outdoors), making sure locks close securely.
- Empty trash & disinfect containers.
- Sweep & mop floors, wash/shake or replace rugs, & vacuum & shampoo carpets.
- Disinfect all frequently touched surfaces such as knobs, light switches, handles, keyboards, remotes, and anyplace fingers spread germs.
Curb Appeal: First Impressions Matter
- Finish entryways to prevent tracking dirt inside.
- Clear gutters & downspouts.
- Wipe away spider webs & dust from exterior walls, light fixtures, & crannies.
- Trim plants & apply fresh mulch.
- Edge lawn & garden beds.
- Hose down patio furniture, door mats, & sidewalks.
- Clean outdoor amenities such as grills & sports areas.
Kitchen
- Clean inside oven.
- Clean & sanitize all surfaces of large appliances, cabinets, & cupboards.
- Clean inside of cabinets & cupboards, discarding expired foods.
- Sanitize inside of fridge & freezer, discarding expired foods.
- Clean other appliances inside & out.
- Disinfect countertops.
- Sanitize faucets, sinks, under sinks, & drains.
- Provide fresh towels, microfiber cloths, & potholders.
- Sweep & mop floor & baseboards including behind large appliances.
Bathroom
- Scrub & disinfect shower/tub, shower curtain, walls, tiles, & bath mat.
- Disinfect sink & drains, ensuring they’re clog-free. Clean under sink.
- Polish mirror & wipe inside medicine cabinet.
- Scrub & sanitize entire toilet. Ensure seat is secure & flush handle works.
- Apply fresh sealer to grout lines.
- Sanitize floor.
- Provide fresh towels, washcloths, & bathroom rugs.
Bedroom
- Wipe ceiling fans, light fixtures, & decorative items. Freshen houseplants.
- Launder ALL bedding, including mattress cover & pillows.
- Wipe down exterior & underside of box spring, checking for bed bugs.
- Dust & polish furniture, then tidy drawers.
- Clean floor with special attention under & behind furniture.
Living Room
- Wipe ceiling fans, light fixtures, & decorative items. Freshen houseplants.
- Polish all surfaces of furniture, including shelves & legs.
- Vacuum crevices of upholstered furniture & spot-clean fabric with stain remover.
- Fluff pillows & arrange clean throws.
- Wipe down surfaces of electronics.
- Clean floor with special attention under & behind furniture.
Utility, Storage, & Safety
- Don’t forget laundry rooms, closets, & parking areas. Everything counts.
- Replace smoke & carbon monoxide detector batteries.
- Check supplies in emergency disaster bag & first aid kit.
- Ensure fire extinguishers are up-to-date.
More Airbnb Deep Cleaning Tips
- Post updates on social media: If you add anything new, take photos—people will love seeing your pictures!
- Do a final walk-through with a friend: Get feedback on details you missed & update your Airbnb deep clean checklist.
- Have a backup plan: Be prepared for the unexpected. Finish tasks early, keep extra supplies available, have a fill-in helper to cover if needed, & include a reliable professional cleaning service on your team.
Spring cleaning for vacation rental is crucial for success during the busy season. By using the tips above, you can ensure you are well prepared to take on all the extra work the season brings while still keeping your guests as comfortable as possible.
How We Can Help
Would you like help cleaning your property to prepare for summer? Do you need assistance during those fast turnover days? We’re here to help!
MaidThis will save you time and energy so you can get your life back. Our blogs give you helpful advice like this Airbnb deep clean checklist and tips so you can learn from the pros. If it’s too much, we’re here for you. We provide professional cleaning services that include and Airbnb deep and turnover cleaning, and residential services like one-time visits, regularly scheduled visits and hourly jobs for your special projects.
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Learn more about MaidThis! vacation rental cleaning today.
