topic Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals in Community Chat

Cleaning Vacation Rentals

Twins Mom — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 16:00:13 GMT

When we go to a vacation rental home I get concerned with cleanliness, and I wonder what others do. Since renters are usually asked to out dishes away, etc I winder how many rinse and then just put away. I wash all silverware in dishwasher along with dishes we will use and keep them somewhat separate from others, also wiping shelves. I wet wiped vinyl flooring since crawling baby along.

Anything you do to make more comfortable?

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

meallen616 — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 16:12:46 GMT

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Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

bmorechick — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 16:14:37 GMT

@Twins Mom So I got down here to our beach condo last night after work. Funny you mention this. This is a small building with only 8 units. Owners only but two owners rent. It's pretty quiet because they are respectful of who they rent to. Both employ a cleaning service in between renters. There have been times where hubs and I are sitting out on porch. Cleaning crew comes with their stuff. They go into the unit and are done and back out in 10 minutes. Now, these are small places...650 sq ft. But seriously...it takes me 10 minutes just to clean a sink. Not sure how much deep cleaning is taking place. I deep clean to a fault. Yes, I admit it's an OCD thing. So I would probably either clean a unit myself or ask hotel to double clean. But that's my thing...

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

qualitygal — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 16:24:20 GMT

TAke paper towels, cleaner and cleaner wipes. I know what I want for us to be comfortable and safe. I do still check sheets, corners, etc.Never use their bedspreads either. Folded down and not used. Take our own soaps, I mean, we practically take the house with us. Creature habits.

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

Trix — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 16:24:24 GMT

I assume I have a higher standard of cleanliness than the previous renters and the owner. I clean everything, and if it's one that I am driving to, I bring my own sheets and towels. If I'm flying which limits the number of bags I bring, I stop at a local store and pick up disinfectant cleaners. After checking out the place, if there is no washer and dryer in the unit for me to launder the owner's sheets and towels before I use them, I head over to a nearby retailer to pick up some inexpensive sheets and towels to use during my stay.

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

Group 5 minus 1 — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 16:54:20 GMT

When I was a kid Mom and her sisters would rent a cottage at a nearby lake. I hated it. Always worried about the cleaniness.

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

mimomof4 — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 17:32:58 GMT

The rental company I use has a cleaning company that comes in and cleans weekly on Check out day. There is no cleaning during the week while we are there. I have seen the cleaning crews spending the day cleaning units so I don't feel there is anything extra I need to do upon arriving other than filling up the kitchen with food.

I have never thought that people wouldn't wash the dishes. So many renters end up using paper plates or eating out for the week. Our Rental instructions ask that we run the dishwasher before leaving to clean any remaining dishes. The rental comes stocked with all cleaning supplies so we can do daily clean up as we go and vaccuum the sand out.

I don't spend extra time making beds before leaving - we take all of the sheets off as we know they will be removed and replaced before the next renter.

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

skatting44 — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 17:47:58 GMT

besides communicable diseases , you have to worry if renters before were using drugs laced with fentanyl . As far as housekeeping Any where , am sure the standards have become lax - clean as many surfaces as you can

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

Twins Mom — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 18:41:42 GMT

One issue that impacts clean!iness is the lack of individuals to clean since many areas have common checkout days. This time our unit seemed ore clean than a year ago.

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

Neetgal2 — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 18:42:56 GMT

I have rented only once. The owners cleaned between rentals. The place seemed clean.

The crews I see, here at the shore, for the most part are in and out, quickly. The unit could not be that clean. Very few do a thorough job. Some people deep clean before summer rentals and others have someone come in between rentals and check for the condition of the unit, as the rental agreement states, must be left clean! So if it looks ok, that is what the next renters get.

My good friend rented the same place for years for 6 weeks each summer. She knew the owners and the place was immaculate. This friend arrived with her cleaning girl, her own dishes and kitchenware. Also, all linens and throw rugs. She scheduled, Stanley Steamer the next day. The day she as leaving, the cleaning girl also cleaned and helped pack up.

I do know of one person who rents and he cleans between better that I would!

So I guess it varies.

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

LindaSal — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 18:46:42 GMT

This is why I really don't like renting places on vacations. Yuck.......we rented a condo in Florida this past April and it was NOT clean by any means. Thankfully it did provide a washer and dryer and I was able to wash towels before using them and I did go to the store and buy my own sponge for washing dishes, I refused to use the dishwasher as it stunk to high heaven when I opened the door. I also used lysol spray for the toilets sinks and showers. But frankly though this is a necessary step I don't go on vacation to clean!

Supposedly they have a cleaning company too but they take advantage as the owners are not there and I guess they don't think the renters will report back?!

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

Sunshine Kate — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 19:05:13 GMT

@qualitygal wrote:
TAke paper towels, cleaner and cleaner wipes. I know what I want for us to be comfortable and safe. I do still check sheets, corners, etc.Never use their bedspreads either. Folded down and not used. Take our own soaps, I mean, we practically take the house with us. Creature habits.

I do all the same, but I'm getting tired of it. We've decided to not travel as much.

Don't get me started on airline travel.

We're going to save lots of $$$.

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

catmama — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 19:24:20 GMT

I've rented vacation homes many times with friends and family and we've never run into an issue where the homes are not clean. We check out the kitchen, bath and bedrooms before we bring our suitcases in.

One thing I have noticed, at previous rentals, and it came up again when we recently rented a place in Massachusetts, on the coast , is that several light fixtures had bulbs out. We had to replace bulbs in the kitchen and dining area ceiling lights. Luckily the home's storage area had bulbs. None of the night lights worked either. I imagine it's because the cleaning people don't turn the lights on and none of the previous renters mentioned it to the owners. Did notify the owner and he was very appreciative.

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

bmorechick — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 19:35:58 GMT

I forgot to mention a quick story. About 15 years ago, we went to Folly Beach SC and rented one of the 4 bedroom houses a block from the beach. At that time, we had two teenagers, a young adult, and an adolescent. The house looked great online and nice when we pulled up. First thing we noticed when we walked in was a nasty musty smell...the couch looked like they picked it up from the county dump. It and the two chairs were filthy. Before we unpacked, we went back to rental agency to get something different. Well it was July, so nothing available. The rental agent came back to house with us and agreed. Within 2 hours, new furniture (well, better) was delivered. Cleaning crew spent two hours in there. We thought all was ok until I went to shower and one of those giant roaches (that they lovingly call palmetto bugs) was hanging out in there. I almost passed out. To shorten the story, we saw three of those things inside that we had to flatten with a rock they were so big. I didn't sleep most of the week. Kitchen was dirty and I refused to tackle it. We ate out all week. Never went back. With my cleaning OCD, my dendrites were on edge alllll week ha!

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

RollTide2008 — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 19:51:05 GMT

Gracious, some of you should never leave your own houses.

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

Lakelife62 — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 19:57:47 GMT

We Airbnb,HomeAway or Vacasa all the time. I've never walked into a filthy or even dirty rental. I don't think I've paid less than a $250 cleaning fee (even for just a 3 day stay) and I would be on the phone IMMEDIATELY with the rental company if the house wasn't immaculate.

Some professionally managed rentals will actually text you on arrival to get your impression of the cleanliness of the unit.

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

bmorechick — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 20:22:40 GMT

@RollTide2008 and that's why we have a place at the beach...we do not rent, I'm 100 steps from the sand and within 30 miles of 3 other beach towns. We already had the condo when we took the trip, but my sons friend wanted us all to come visit. Cured us for life 😫

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

Spacrazy — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 21:05:23 GMT

I bring and use lots of Lysol spray and Clorox and clean and disinfect as much as I can.

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

Pezzie — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 21:49:32 GMT

I use Clorox wipes and wipe down everything - light switches, door handles, faucets, fridge doers etc. As to the dishes and silver ware, I wash everything before using, I take my own dish cloths and sponge for wiping down the sink etc. We also travel with our Nespresso as I read some horror stories of what some people use the in room or vacation rental coffee makers for! Bonus, I know I will have a great cup of coffee every morning!

Re: Cleaning Vacation Rentals

Greeneyedlady21 — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 22:29:35 GMT

I wouldn't travel if I had to do all that work and be so worried about germs (or Fentanyl oy it even comes up on this thread maybe take a break from that channel) the whole time, takes all the enjoyment out of it.