The sun is setting later and later, the weather is getting warmer by the day and somehow it’s already March. With summer around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about getting your vacation property ready for you and your guests! For landlords this means sprucing up your rental and working on any repairs that you might have been putting off the last few months.
When opening up your vacation home to outside guests, the last thing you want is for them to complain about the cleanliness. Fortunately, this is an easy problem to avoid. We’ve gathered a few helpful tips to make your vacation property feel like your guests’ home away from home.
1. Clean your screens and windows
Believe it or not, your windows and screens might be the dirtiest part of your home. To break this process down, we suggest removing the screen from the window and washing it with a garden hose. Then, using soapy water to scrub any excess dirt and debris. Once you have completed the screen cleaning, finish this task off by cleaning your windows with soapy water and hand-drying it with a towel. We recommend using a microfiber cloth to avoid streaking.
2. Wipe down ceiling fan blades, light fixtures, and dust the vents
When was the last time you wiped down your ceiling fan blades? If it’s been more than 3 months, it’s time to grab a ladder, trash bag, and a towel to wipe down these hard to reach surfaces. In order to avoid any of the excess dust and dirt falling onto the floor, take the trash bag, cover the blade, and give it a wipe. Next, grab your favorite all purpose cleaner and spray down the surfaces in order to remove any leftover dirt and grime.
3. Inspect your doormat
When thinking about cleaning your rental property, it’s important to put yourself in the shoes of your guests. How will they feel when first walking through the front door of their ‘home away from home’? Your doormat might be small but this is sometimes the first thing your guests will see when making an entrance. If you have not switched out your doormat in the last 6 months, it’s time to do so. If your doormat is somewhat new you can shake them out, give them a good vacuum, and freshen them up by spreading some baking soda across the surface.
4. Everything but the kitchen sink (well… clean that one too)
When people rent a vacation home, a lot of time is spent in the kitchen cooking with family, crafting desserts, or even playing games. This is why it’s important to make sure the kitchen is as clean as can be. Start by making sure the microwave is free from stains and build up. Make sure to spray the interior with a multipurpose cleaner, turn on the microwave for 30-60 seconds, and then wipe everything down. Next you can focus on the kitchen sink. It is completely normal for the kitchen sink to get pretty dirty. For a quick and easy way to disinfect, run the faucet with hot water for a minute, pour some baking soda down the drain followed with vinegar, and then run hot water again to clean the drain from any smells and debris. Finally, make sure to wipe down the inside of your fridge.
We hope our spring cleaning guide has given you some good ideas for getting started on your own cleaning journey! For more helpful tips to make your vacation property the best it can be, follow us on Instagram and Facebook or sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop for our monthly blogs.