Although cleaning is always one of the highest priorities for vacation rental owners and property managers, it’s more important than ever to reassess procedures and processes to make sure properties are protected and 100% virus-free.
DISCLAIMER: These tips are simply recommendations and should not be regarded as official guidelines. We recommend to listen to local announcements and visit the World Health Organization’s website to stay updated on the necessary precautions you should take to protect your business.
But how do we make sure our properties are protected? Follow these 4 important tips!
1. Clean Your Rental Thoroughly
It’s extremely important to clean your rental thoroughly between each guest turnover. One of the most effective ways to avoid spreading the virus is to consistently have an ultra-clean environment.
We’ve also created a precaution checklist for your guests that you can place in your rental property:
Keep your hands and gloves clean
Before you start cleaning, make sure you get a hold of disposable gloves, which should be discarded after each cleaning. If you’d rather use reusable gloves, the CDC recommends that those gloves should be dedicated to cleaning and disinfection of surfaces for COVID-19 and should not be used for other purposes. Hands should be cleaned immediately after gloves are removed.
Buy the right products
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has prepared a list of disinfectants that have qualified for use against the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. This list contains nearly 200 additional products, including 40 new products that went through the agency’s expedited review process.
Clean visually dirty surfaces
If any of the surfaces around your property are visually dirty, be sure to clean them with detergent or soap and water before moving on to the next step: disinfection.
Disinfect everything
Killing the virus germs with disinfection after cleaning is the most effective way to lower the risk of infection. This means, disinfecting the entire house, including anything your guests may have touched, such as the TV remote, doorknobs, window handles, taps, stair railings, light switches, kitchen appliances, etc.
You can use diluted household bleach solutions, alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol and most common EPA-registered household disinfectants, and be sure to scrub all surfaces, including any tables, chairs and kitchen counters.
Sanitize your bedrooms
Protect your bedding with mattress protectors and pillow protectors, and always wash these and any bed linens and towels on high temperature.
Don’t rely on Ozone generators
According to Durk Johnson (Executive Director of the Vacation Rental Housekeeping Professionals Association), Ozone machines aren’t recommended because by the time they reach the machine reaches the concentration levels to kill the virus, it would be too late for you.
By keeping your vacation rental clean to the highest standards, you’ll be able to please your guests, ensuring a great all-around experience, and also protect your guests and property from the coronavirus.
Lodgify’s cleaning checklist will help you carry out this big deep clean. You can download the guide here in PDF.
2. Protect your cleaning staff
Make sure that you provide them with the appropriate products to sanitize and disinfect your property. As mentioned above, they should be using disposable gloves and shoe covers.
We also recommend disinfecting vacuum cleaners between appointments, training them with how they wash and sanitize their hands and follow all of the safety and prevention measures.
3. Inform Your Guests
Let your guests know that you are aware of the virus and the actions you are taking personally to avoid your rental being contaminated. Provide them some safety tips on how to protect themselves.
According to the World Health Organization, here are key prevention measures:
- Washing your hands with soap and water regularly, and using hand sanitizer
- Covering your nose and mouth when sneezing with a tissue
- Avoiding contact with people who are unwell
- Not touching face, nose, and mouth when hands are not clean
- Minimizing physical contacts such as handshakes and hugs
- Opening windows to allow air circulation
- Disinfect frequently used items such as cellphones and laptops
5. Provide Your Guests with Hand Sanitizer
Consider buying a big bulk of hand sanitizers and placing them in your rental so your guests can protect themselves. Put the hand sanitizer in each of the rooms, including in the kitchen, living room, and bedrooms.
A practical measure would also be to situate it right by the front door in the entrance hallway. This way, your guests will sanitize their hands as soon as they enter and leave the property.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for the coronavirus disease.
Given all the risks, it’s important to stay updated and review your local authorities’ health advisories, in addition to global guidance from the WHO. We strongly recommend taking the necessary precautions to protect yourself when hosting.
Here is a list of resources for your convenience—please check with your relevant local authority if it’s not featured below. Please also regularly check the advisories relevant to you for updates.
| World Health Organization (WHO) | Coronavirus information |
| United States | Travel advisories |
| United Kingdom | Travel advisories |
| Australia | Travel advisories |
| Canada | Travel advisories |
| New Zealand | Travel advisories |
| China | National Health Commission |
| France | Travel advisories |
| Germany | Travel advisories |
| Italy | Travel advisories |
| Japan | Travel advisories |
| Singapore | Travel advisories |
| South Korea | Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention |
| Thailand | Travel advisories |
You can also check out our blog post with live updates of the outbreak and how it’s impacting the short-term rental industry.
What to Take Away
The World Health Organization (WHO), local governments and other relevant entities are actively working on resolving this outbreak. The most important thing is to stay informed, take the necessary precautions and continue running your business as you were before.
Protect your rental, business, and guests with these tips. Don’t let coronavirus disrupt your vacation business!
