Tips to Make Your Short Term Rental Cleanings Quicker and Easier

January 31, 2023 by Mulberry Maids

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Short term rentals are great assets to have, but can require some challenging logistics for smooth transitions between guests. As a provider of top end maid services in Fort Collins CO we are experts in all aspects of cleaning, including short term vacation rental flips.  

Stay tuned to hear about what different tips and tricks can do to help make your short term rental cleanings easier and quicker, regardless of if you are doing it, or you have hired it out to the pros. With these tips, you’ll be able to decrease the headaches that are associated with owing, operating and cleaning a short term vacation rental. 

What can I do to make short term rental cleanings easier and less stressful?

While you can not control how messy your guests will actually be in your home, there are many things you can do to encourage them to be a bit tidier and cleaner, as well as making each flip more efficient for you or your cleaners. 

Have a basic cleaning kit available for guest use

Not only will having a basic cleaning kit available help guests keep the home tidier when a spill occurs while cooking on the stovetop or being able to sweep up excess tracked in dirt, it will make the job of cleaning up after guests that much more efficient. 

Below is a simple cleaning kit list that can be left out for guests to use: 

• Broom
• Vacuum cleaner
• Pre-filled spray bottle with extra microfiber rags
  • Fill the spray bottle with a diluted mild all purpose solution
  • Clearly label the spray bottle
  • Store extra sets in each bathroom
• Extra sponges and dishwashing tools

Additionally, make sure that it is clear to the guests that any leftover dirty dishes will incur extra cleaning fees, as this can be a very time consuming process after a guest or group checks out. Make sure that there are ample dishwashing tools available for the guest to easily use, so there is no reason to not have the dishes done. 

Simple and clutter free home staging

While every vacation home is laid out and decorated differently, keeping it staged in a very simple and clutter free manner will help to make sure that the cleaning flips are efficient, and the home stays as clean as possible. 

Additionally, a clean and clutter free space will be the most relaxing for guests of your home, leading to a more positive stay.

Have a cleaning checklist

Checklists are an amazing and simple way to make sure that things run smoothly and nothing is missed. Cleaning is no exception, and a simple cleaning checklist will go a long way, whether it is for personal use, or a hired cleaner. A great checklist will make the transition from cleaner to cleaner that much easier, to save you the time of explaining what is expected in each cleaning turnover. 

While you don’t want to put any additional cleaning chores on guests who are already paying an additional cleaning fee, you can leave a simple checklist for them as well. This may include dishwashing, striping sheets off of each used bed, and putting towels in a pile. 

Don’t use duvet covers

While duvet covers may look really nice, they are a pain to deal with when it comes time to clean them. Depending on how often your home is booked, that may be multiple times per month. Not only will the duvet cover have added wear and tear from frequent washing, it will drastically increase the time to make a bed, which will either cost you extra money when paying a cleaning service, or extra time out of your day. 

Steer clear of bunk beds

Bunk beds are a great use of space in a kids guest room, but like a duvet cover, can significantly increase the time that it takes to make a bed. It can be challenging and awkward to change sheets while standing on a ladder close to the ceiling, so if possible, having two twin beds side by side will be a better route when it comes time to do the cleaning turnover. 

Color coded sheets and towels

If you have a large short term rental home, it can be very helpful to have color coded sheets and towels. This can be as simple as putting a color on the tag that correlates to a room, or having different colored sheets altogether for each room. 

This will make the task of laundry and making beds much quicker, as you won’t have to figure out which sheets go to what bed, and which match each other. If there are separate bathrooms with each bedroom, you can match the towels to the sheets, so all sets are always in the same place. 

Stock extra sheets and towels

In addition to color coded sheets and towels, you can also stock multiple sets in the home. This can help to cut down on laundry, or can allow you or your cleaner to do laundry in bulk less often. Oftentimes, guests are pretty tidy, and there isn’t too much to clean in between groups. Laundry can take up quite a bit of time, which will make your cleaning bill higher, or take up more of your busy day if you are managing the turnover yourself. 

Provide dark colored towels or make up removal wipes

While guests are not trying to leave a home dirty, makeup can do a number on white and light colored towels. Consider leaving makeup remover wipes or specific dark colored washcloths for this use (along with instructions), to help extend the life of your good towels and washcloths.

The best maid services in Fort Collins CO to cover all your needs!

Whether you are looking for extra help with your Airbnb or VRBO cleaning flips, or just need some extra help from time to time, Mulberry Maids is your go to cleaning company in Fort Collins. From one time deep cleanings to regular weekly service, we can cater your cleaning to whatever your needs may be!

So take some stress out of your life, so you can spend a fun evening at the Bas Bleu Theatre, instead of working on an endless cleaning checklist. Book your cleaning online in under a minute with our easy to use web booking form, or give us a call or text at (970) 460-4298 with any questions you may have.

Thanks for reading, and we look forward to working with you soon!