The Essential Vacation Rental Cleaning Checklist

Maintaining a cleaning schedule is a critical part of running a vacation rental, as it ensures your guests have a comfortable stay and drives good reviews. Having a vacation rental cleaning checklist can help you keep on top of routine cleaning and ensure your spot stays neat. 
It also helps outsourced cleaners do a thorough cleaning of your home, which is particularly handy if you are managing the vacation rental remotely or through a property management company. 

Vacation rental cleaning checklist

To ensure you tick off everything to be cleaned in your vacation rental, the easiest thing to do is to create a checklist according to each room in the property. Below is what a cleaning checklist may look like for your vacation rental. You can adapt this to fit the features of your property. 

The Home In General

General home checks ensure that the vacation rental is safe for the next group of guests entering the property. Therefore, there are certain checks you need to conduct throughout the home in general. 

• Ensure smoke and monoxide detectors have not been triggered in some way. If they have, you need to make sure there are no gas leaks or potential fire hazards.
• Look for any signs of damage to the property’s permanent fixtures, such as windows, appliances, carpets, etc. If you do find damage, you can deduct this from the previous guests’ security deposit to cover the costs of repair.
• Ensure that the previous guests did not leave anything behind. This happens regularly, especially in the rush of packing and leaving by the check-out time. If there are items left behind, ensure you contact the previous guests to arrange for their items to be returned.
• Make sure all the vents are clear and dust any A/C units in the vicinity.
• Your guests need to feel safe while staying in your vacation rental, you therefore need to make sure all the locks on the doors are working and any other secure entry/exit points are fully functional.
• If your vacation rental operates a temperature-controlling system, ensure that you set it to an ambient or agreed-upon temperature before your next guest’s arrival.
• Use a disinfectant detergent to clean any surfaces in the home. This will make them usable for food preparation and remove any dirt left behind.
• Check the trash cans and ensure garbage is disposed of properly.
• Ensure there are no stains in the bedding, upholstery, curtains, or blinds.
• If you notice there is a pest infestation, like ants, mice, or cockroaches, make sure this is dealt with.
• Ensure all the floors are thoroughly cleaned once guests have left the premises.

Kitchen 

The kitchen is a space where special attention needs to be paid, as it is where the guests will prepare food for themselves. Follow this list to ensure proper cleaning: 

• Dispose of the garbage and replace the trash bags.
• Load, operate, and unload the dishwasher; wipe down any soiled dishes and clean the dishwasher rim.
• Sanitize and clean surfaces such as countertops, cabinets, tables, and chairs.
• Thoroughly clean the stove's surface, oven interior, and exterior, as well as the refrigerator and freezer.
• Scrub and sanitize sinks and backsplashes.
• Ensure cleanliness of small appliances like can openers, coffee makers, microwaves, and blenders.
• Sweep, vacuum, and mop the floors.
• Replenish supplies including a new paper towel roll, dish soap refill, two dishwashing packs, and a fresh sponge.
• Disinfect flatware, dishes, glasses, and cups.

Living Rooms

The living rooms should be a place where guests can relax after a day of activities. They will also spend a lot of time here while enjoying some downtime. Ensure the living spaces are up to scratch by doing the following: 

• Ensure that all decorations and electronic devices are thoroughly dusted.
• Clean the light switches, chairs, sofas, coffee tables, and other pieces of furniture by wiping them down.
• Wipe the interiors of the windows and sliding glass doors, and also clean the windowsills.
• Thoroughly check under cushions and couches for any debris or other items.
• Sweep, vacuum, and mop the floors and carpets to ensure they are clean.
• Organize magazines and any other miscellaneous items that may be present.
• Make sure that a printed copy of the welcome guide is easily visible and in good condition.

Bedrooms

For a peaceful night’s sleep, your guests need to spend the night in a clean bedroom. Here’s how to ensure your guests get the best out of their bedrooms during their stay: 

• Dispose of any waste and sanitize garbage bins.
• Eliminate dust from all surfaces, such as furniture, drawers, shelves, and decorative objects.
• Remove bedding, and launder mattress pads, pillow protectors, and blankets.
• Take out the mattresses, then thoroughly vacuum and wipe the bed frames.
• Inspect beneath the bed for any forgotten belongings.
• Clean and sanitize stereos, televisions, and remote controls.
• Vacuum and mop the floors, including hard-to-reach areas under the bed and other furniture.
• Ensure closets are equipped with an appropriate quantity of hangers, freshly cleaned blankets, and pillows.
• Arrange decorative items, artwork, and knick-knacks in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

Bathrooms 

It’s essential that all bathrooms are kept clean at all times. Make sure the following is done to create a clean space; 

• Ensure that the toilets are properly sanitized by thoroughly cleaning the inside, outside, around, and behind areas. Additionally, wash and sanitize the toilet brush.
• Take the time to clean and deodorize the trash can.
• Make sure to clean and sanitize all surfaces, including backsplashes, countertops, sinks, bathtubs, and faucets.
• Use a microfiber cloth and glass cleaner to clean and polish mirrors and windows.
• Dust and clean drawers, cabinets, and shelves.
• Sweep and mop the floor, paying attention to cleaning all baseboards, doors, ledges, switches, and vents.
• Arrange bathroom items, such as the hairdryer, soap dispenser, toothbrush holder, and more, in a neat and organized manner.
• Remember to wash and change towels, ensuring that there are at least two bath towels, two washcloths, and two hand towels available.
• Lastly, place one roll of toilet paper in the holder and leave two additional rolls under the sink.

Outdoor Areas 

If your vacation rental has an outdoor area or garden, you must make sure this space is livable too: 

• Ensure that pathways, patio, and deck areas are swept.
• Thoroughly clean outdoor furniture.
• Inspect and clean the barbeque grill.
• Check and clean outdoor light fixtures.
• Scrub outdoor bins or trash cans.
• Trim bushes and plants.
• Sweep or pressure wash driveways and walkways.
• Check outdoor play equipment.
• Inspect and organize outdoor storage areas.
• Make sure outdoor recreational areas are clean and well-maintained.
• Ensure the pool is free from dirt and clean for use.

Garages and Carports 

If your vacation rental has a garage or carport available for guest use, you also need to make sure this area is clean. 

• Remove personal belongings left by previous occupants.
• Sweep or vacuum the floors to eliminate dirt and debris.
• Sanitize surfaces, shelves, and workbenches.
• Arrange tools and supplies in an orderly manner.
• Address any spills or stains on the floor.
• Dust and polish light fixtures for optimal brightness.
• Replace any light bulbs that have burned out.
• Apply lubricant to garage door mechanisms if necessary.
• Clean any outdoor furniture kept in the garage.

How to manage your vacation rental cleaning more effectively

You can ensure you maintain a good cleaning schedule by doing the following: 

• Implement a System for Tracking Cleanliness: Use a system, such as a cleaning log or checklist tracker, to monitor and track the completion of cleaning tasks after each guest's stay. This helps ensure accountability and provides a clear record of when each area was last cleaned, facilitating efficient turnover between guests.
• Schedule Regular Deep Cleanings: In addition to regular turnover cleanings between guests, schedule periodic deep cleanings to address areas that may require more attention over time, such as carpets, upholstery, and hard-to-reach spots. Establishing a routine for deep cleanings helps maintain the overall cleanliness and condition of the vacation rental.
• Provide Training and Support for Cleaning Staff: Offer thorough training and ongoing support to cleaning staff to ensure they understand the cleaning standards and expectations for the vacation rental. Provide clear instructions, demonstration of cleaning techniques, and regular feedback to maintain consistency and quality in the cleaning process. Additionally, consider implementing rewards or incentives for exceptional performance to motivate cleaning staff and uphold high standards of cleanliness.

Conclusion

By following these simple guidelines and checklist items, you’ll ensure that your vacation rental remains spick and span for any other guests coming to stay at the property. This will ensure that you maintain a good reputation and it will encourage more guests to book with you in the future.