The Comprehensive Guide to Deep Cleaning a Short Term Rental Property

The most important aspect of short-term rental operations is the cleaning. Between every guest, the home must be completely turned over with fresh linens, new supplies, and completely cleaned of any sign of previous guests. Although this process is straight-forward, it is not necessarily easy. There are many small details to remember, and unless you have an outstanding cleaning partner, little things that are missed can quickly add up. This is why we always recommend regular deep cleans of your units, and why we perform them monthly on all of the properties we service, for no extra charge.

This is not a standard turnover clean, and is much more thorough. This blog post will be about those extra steps to take if you are struggling to maintain a 5 star cleanliness rating, or if you notice your cleaning team starting to lack attention to detail.

Create a checklist

Everyone works a little differently, but if you are anything like me, creating a quick outline or check list of the task you need to complete can be very helpful to staying on task, and ensuring nothing gets missed. At Honeysuckle, we have multiple checklists we use, but we are always changing them to streamline the processes we have, and to add things we may not have thought about. A good checklist will be detailed, not vague, yet concise enough to not be confusing.

Gather the necessary equipment and supplies

Once you have a checklist ready to go, the next step is to ensure you have everything you will need to complete the job.

In short term rentals, this may depend on a few variables such as:

Has your property already had a turnover clean done?

If no, what supplies will you need to leave behind for guests?

Are there any routine maintenance items, such as air filters, that you know need to be replaced?

What chemicals and cleaning products to I have, what is at the property, and what do I need to get?

The worst thing is getting started, being in a groove, and realizing you don't have an item that is required to complete the next task. Having to leave to go to the store can kill your momentum, so we highly recommend making a list and ensuring everything you need is accounted for.

Everyone seems to have different preferences when it comes to cleaning products and chemicals to use, but we have found great success using a variety of products, not only in our deep cleans, but in our turnover cleans as well. Some things, though, especially in deep cleans, are necessities. make sure you have some bleach for bathrooms, a good floor cleaner, a wall cleaner, a wood surface cleaner, a glass chemical like windex, a furniture or fabric cleaner, and some sort of countertop chemical. For equipment, you will need cleanings rags, a mop, a scrub brush, a vacuum, and potentially some hand tools for some light maintenance work.

Here is a quick list of some product that we have found to be extremely useful:

ZEP foaming wall cleaner - great at removing most stains from painted walls, without fading the paint

ZEP low Ph floor cleaner - this is a great, no rinse floor cleaner that won't streak, we also mix in a bit of pine-sol for some added scent, but you can use whatever scent you want, including some essential oils if that is your thing.

ZEP Aerosol Stainless steel Cleaner - we like this because a little goes a long way, and tends to leave less streaks than a general spray bottle or wipes do.

Resolve High Traffic Stain Remover - we love using this on mattresses and furniture to remove stains, it does a great job and smells wonderful.

A long duster - you will need an extendable duster for reaching ceiling fans, corners of ceilings, high windows, etc.

I could go on and on with equipment and chemicals to make your life easier, but at the end of the day I would go with what you are comfortable and familiar with. Just be very careful not to use a chemical on any surface that it is not designed for, as it can lead to damage.

"Top Down"

A general rule of thumb we follow when cleaning is to always work from the top down. As you clean, things will fall, and having to go back over area twice because you did the floors before the counters, or you swept the stairs after vacuuming the bottom floor, is just frustrating and a waste of time. We start at the top floor, furthest from the front door, and work our way down-and-out. after all of the cleaning is done, we will then go back and do the floors in the same manner.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms are one of the easier rooms to perform a deep clean in, but the are also extremely important to get right. After stripping the sheets, but before making the bed with fresh linens, we will make sure to replace the mattress cover and spray any stains that the mattress may have. We have had guest who will remove the mattress cover and ask for a refund after seeing a stain underneath it, so it is important to address the areas. It is also worthwhile to change the pillow protectors, and get swap out any that have potentially reached their end.

After taking care of the mattress and pillows, we need to take a good look at some specific areas that may have been glossed over by your turnover cleaners. These areas include under beds, inside of drawers, nightstand, and cabinets, and in the closets. Take the time to sweep out from under beds and to dust off ceiling fans and blinds. Check each drawer and cabinet, and vacuum out any crumbs or dust. In the closets, use ZEP foaming wall cleaner to clean built in shelves and take the time to organize your hangars. These are all items that should be taken care of each turn, but tend to get missed if you don't have a great team with exceptional quality control.

Another step we recommend is to open up the blinds and clean the windows or any glass doors in the bedroom. This goes a long way in making the room feel light, and clean, and can greatly affect the guest experience. If the room in on the first floor, we absolutely recommend taking the time to clean the exterior of the windows as well.

The last step should be to clean all of the walls with the ZEP Foaming Wall Cleaner, or a Magic Eraser. Doors, door frames, around light switches and outlets, behind beds, window sills, and areas where suitcases tend to be placed all are subject to hand prints, makeup stains, dirty marks, and scuffs. Use your preferred chemical to clean off these areas to give the room a fresh look, and to make your life easier when doing turnovers.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are arguably the most important room to keep spotless for guests. Anything that is missed in a bathroom, is surely to lead to a refund request form your guests. This is where you should take you time to ensure everything is spotless, and in working order.

Other than a normal cleaning of your bathrooms, and depending on how thoroughly your current cleaning provider is, here are some areas you may want to check on and address:

Behind toilets

check the back of the toilet for hairs and grime, spray it down with ZEP bathroom cleaner or whichever chemical you prefer, and wipe up the mess with a cloth. Pay attention to the base of the toilet and be sure to have it looking brand new.

Toilet seats

now is a good time to check toilet seats for damage or discoloration. If needed, we recommend replacing the seat, as some discoloration can be mistaken as not clean. Additionally, check the bolts on the seat and ensure they are tight, we often see these become loose, which can result in them breaking and needing to be replaced.

Under sinks and in Cabinets

While you are at it, let's be sure to open all cabinets and drawers and look inside. Remove any trash, organize things like hair dryers and supplies, vacuum out hair and crumbs, and give it a good wipe down.

Shower and Tub

Now is a good time to check the condition of your shower and tub caulk and/or grout. If the need attention, there are numerous chemicals that can be used in addition to a good scrub brush to help bring them back to life. Every now and then, though, there may be need to remove the caulking and have it redone.

Bathroom Fans and Vents

Take a second to check on the vents and fans in the bathrooms. This is an often overlooked areas that see a high amount of dust, and moisture, which can lead to build-up that affects the equipements ability to operate.

Living Areas

The majority of your guests time spent at the home will likely be spent in the living rooms and gathering areas. During a deep clean we recommend to pay special attention to the furniture and under the furniture. Remove couch cushions and vacuum, move couches and vacuum, treat stains on couches, chairs, and rugs. If possible, we like to remove cushion covers and throw them in the wash, it really helps bring the space back to life and give guests a fresh feeling.

Additionally, clean the windows and walls in the same way we did in the bedrooms, and get out that duster and reach up into the corners of the ceiling, paying special attention to vents, fans, and blinds.

Kitchen

The kitchen is the room in the home that will likely require the most work. I always recommend taking the time to take inventory of glasses, plates, bowls, and silverware, to ensure that your guests have enough of each item. Cleaning wise, be sure to clean the inside of the oven thoroughly, to vacuum out cabinets, to wipe down cabinet faces, and to empty out the toaster crumbs. Additionally, we always like to take the drawers and shelves completely out of the fridge and thoroughly clean them while we are at it, getting all the nooks and crannies and have it looking brand new. Be sure to check the oven hood, and the filters therein, cleaning them with a degreaser. Pots and pans should also be checked and thoroughly cleaned, by hand, if the require.

Floors

The floors of the home are the one areas that guests will always be in contact with, often with their bare feet. This makes ensuring they are in pristine condition extremely important. Take the time to not just vacuum every square foot of flooring, but to also mop thoroughly with fresh mop pads for each room, while lifting up rugs and furniture and getting underneath them. A steam mop can be a great tool for this portion of your deep cleaning process, as it enables you to get an incredible clean and shine without damaging any delicate surfaces.

Exterior

We always recommend cleaning up exterior areas of the home that see frequent use from guests. The front door, or main entrance, of the property will always be the guests first impression of the cleanliness of the home, and ensuring that it exceeds expectations. If possible, spray some bleach on the exterior and rinse it down with a hose. On any patios, decks, or rooftop areas, take some time to look at seat cushions and furniture and address any replacements that need to be made. Blow or hose off the areas and be sure that everything is in working order.

Maintenance

While you are going through the home, it is a good idea to make a list of any maintenance items that may need to be addressed. Loose screws on door handles, furniture, and bunk beds can be tightened. Air filters, light bulbs, and batteries can be replaced. Drywall damage and paint touch ups can be addressed, and exterior cleaning and pest control may need to be done. If these are things you are not comfortable with, we have a monthly maintenance program that may be perfect for you to ensure your guests are always experiencing your home in perfect condition.

Overall, even the best cleaning teams can benefit from a monthly deep cleaning. Small things tend to get missed, and they can add up quickly if you do not have the systems in place to address the issues. Additionally, small maintenance items can affect the guests experience, and make the home feel not taken care of, which most people tend to attribute to cleanliness. We absolutely recommend taking the time monthly to really go through your short term rental property and ensure it is 100% ready for guests. If you are in Nashville, and are looking for a reliable partner to help take this burden off of your plate, we would love to talk with you!