What gets cleaned in between tenants at your STR?

Question

For those of you who are running (or have a PM and know what they do) an STR, what exactly do you clean between tenants - especially when you have the single day check out/check in turnovers? Do you clean all of the bedding including comforters and bedspreads, or sheets only? What about general clean up in the unit?

We have an STR and while we're pros at LTRs we are neophytes at the STR setup. I have a PM but I want to be doing my own due diligence at the same time so I understand what's normal in the industry and what standards I should expect. It seems to me that it would be difficult to clean everything in a 6 hour window, if you have one set of guests checking out at 10 AM and the next group checking in at 4 PM. Our PM has their own cleaners so I want to know what's reasonable to expect cleaned and what isn't.

One other thing: if the previous guests don't put the trash out and trash day is missed, what happens then? Do the new guests just have to deal with a full trash can until next trash day?

Thanks!

Andrew Street · Answer

@JD Martin Correct, so your cleaner will replace all linens, including bathroom and kitchen towels. They will sweep, vacuum all areas, swiffer all areas, remove garbage, wash dishes and put everything back in it's original placement. It's best practice to have 3 sets of all linens per bed. So that when the cleaner shows up, they have clean sheets and can take the dirty linens back to their office to be cleaned. The third set is in case the linens are ruined. Please note that you will want an at least annual deep clean of the property as the typical clean does not include dusting of the fans, window washing, etc.

If the guest does not take out the trash or they miss it, have a plan in place for your cleaner to take the trash out. If they are there on trash day, they can just take it out, but if it's a different day we typically pay our cleaner $25 to just put the trash out.

Having a checklist for your cleaner is huge, especially asking for photos of the finished product as evidence. You can also have a locked off space for your cleaner to access so that they can replace soaps, shampoos, extra linens, etc.

Michael Baum · Answer

We clean everything. The cleaners take the trash with them and toss in the community dumpsters on their way back to town.

We use quilts on the beds and we have a ton of them. Rotate them out regularly and wash. We use the Charisma, now Berkshire, quilts from Costco. Very inexpensive, clean easily, look great on the beds and long lasting. We are using the same ones we bought 5 years ago.

I just add one of each to the pile when they are on sale. I think we have 6 sets for each bed.

I tried duvet covers at first but they are a PITA and hard to get them to look nice. Nevermind that the inserts are more expensive for a single one than 5 of the quilts we use. Much easier to just swap and wash.

Bob Willis · Answer

What @Andrew Street said. All linens replaced, all surfaces sanitized. Make sure the refrigerator is spotless. Lastly, bathrooms, bathrooms, must be spotless. We treat it like it would be us coming in after someone has left. Fortunately I have a GREAT cleaner. This is the biggest key to low-stress STR ownership. They will be your eyes and ears in the property. Good luck.

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

Yes, I think every 6 months is good, depending on the particular house and location. We do the windows, get rid of dust and cobwebs, do touch-up, cut down/trim any bushes, etc.

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

What we do everytime:

All surfaces dusted. All wood floors wiped with dust mop & Endust, all carpet/rugs vacuumed. Wipe down all counters with 409 or similar disinfectant. Clean kitchen and baths really well (of course). Check fridge, clean out and clean as needed. Restock TP and PT as needed.

Change out all bed sheets, pillow cases, towels, washcloths, Etc. (Not Comforters and Pillow shams)

Outside gets hit with a blower most every time, more in the fall when the leaves are comin' down. Grass gets mowed and weed-whacked as needed, but we're in AZ so usually pretty dry, but at least 1-2x monthly.

I get the trash myself and bring it back to the ranch where we have a big dumpster.

Hope this helps, JD!

John Underwood · Answer

Our cleaner do dust everyone, clean the fridge, take the trash to the dump, sweep walkways, disinfect light switches,  door knobs and remotes.

We get rave reviews for being the cleanest STR people have stayed in.

John Underwood · Answer

I am an hour away from our Lake House, 3 hours away from Pigeon Forge cabin.

Michael Baum · Answer

Hey @JD Martin, we are not that local. We are 360 miles away so about 7.5 hours. We have a large Maytag washer and dryer. They can do a single King or 2 queens at a time.

I do go over fairly regularly to check on things. Make sure nothing goes missing, fix any broken items and to wash extra stuff that my cleaner can't get to in time on a back to back flip.

I do feel comfortable leaving the house all by itself, but I find that I have zero issues if I nip any problems in the bud right away.

Andrew Street · Answer

@John Underwood that's wonderful that you have a great cleaner. Definitely a positive thing that affects your reviews. A deep clean goes much further than just those pieces and even the pieces I mentioned. Definitely not an all inclusive list of a deep clean, but as you noted, a clean place is exactly what guests want.

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

Correct. Only when dirty or every few months, whichever comes first.

What gets cleaned in between tenants at your STR?

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