Cleaning
In association with:
Rural Cleans Yorkshire (RCY) provides a one-stop-shop for all your changeover needs. The team manages as much of the hosting experience as necessary, including cleaning, laundry, key management, and liaising with guests.
RCY is the first line of defence for rental property owners across Yorkshire. Their experienced teams of hospitality professionals take pride in cleaning and maintaining prestigious homes. The full management service means RCY will be the first port of call for your guests should any problems arise. Additionally, RCY’s team of maintenance staff can be on call for larger jobs. And, if your guests are staying for a special occasion, RCY can introduce them to the very best local suppliers.
RCY manages dozens of holiday rental properties and has the experience and skills to tackle any job that comes their way by priding themselves in professionalism, efficiency, and exceptional results.
In addition to holiday rental cleaning, RCY specialises in hot tub cleaning and maintenance, private home cleaning and housekeeping, end of tenancy cleaning, office cleaning, commercial cleaning, infection control, biohazard, and fogging.
Clear here to find out more about Rural Cleans Yorkshire.
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How to ensure your rental is sparkling clean for every guest
By Stephanie Flint, Founder, Rural Cleans Yorkshire
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Cleaning a holiday rental is not like cleaning somebody’s home. Everything must be pristine – and that means every item and amenity must be checked, double checked, and triple checked during every turnover.
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The bathrooms must be sparkling, your kettle limescale-free, and there should be no hairs or cobwebs in the bathroom (or anywhere else). Beds need to be stripped and cleaned underneath. The bed frames and drawers need to be checked for leftover items. The cutlery and crockery must be like new, while the dishwasher filter needs to be cleaned before every arrival.
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Here are some key tips to make sure you always score top marks in the cleaning category for those all-important guest reviews:
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Employ cleaners with knowledge of holiday rentals
It is essential your cleaners have knowledge of running holiday rentals. In our experience, the best cleaning teams are built from the hospitality industry.
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Due diligence is important. Consider their background and what qualifies them for cleaning your property. Gather references and consider a disclosure and barring service (DBS) check. Also, do your own online research about any applicants by using Google and social media platforms.
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Every cleaner must understand your business and changeover procedures. Business acumen is important. It’s not just the cleaning – it’s checking the property straight after someone has left. For example, is a tap running or the oven on? Have any maintenance issues been flagged immediately? Is there a glass or tea towel missing, or a carpet burn due to hair straighteners?
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Cleaning products
Your rental should provide basic cleaning products, including antibacterial spray, washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, and bleach.
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Guest instructions
Make sure you include clear instructions, including where the bins are located and where to leave used towels. I would recommend asking your guests to empty the bins – as dealing with toilet bins, in particular, can be a real bugbear for your cleaning team.
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Units
A domestic cleaner is unlikely to spend much time scrubbing the dishwasher filter, wiping the inside of the fridge, or cleaning the oven – but a holiday rental cleaner must prioritise these units. It is vital your cleaner understands the guest experience rather than the home experience.
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Towels and bedding
Make sure you provide plenty of hotel quality towels and bedding. I would strongly encourage hosts to use a linen hire company. At Rural Cleans Yorkshire, it is a prerequisite that our clients utilise our linen service as we believe this is a core component of running a successful holiday rental.
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Install a dishwasher and washer-drier
Top notch kitchen appliances will aid your guests and your cleaning team. If you can, make sure to install a dishwasher and washer-drier. Washer-driers are a great asset for housekeepers as they can utilise the quick wash cycle while they clean. Make sure to include plenty of dishwasher and washer drier tablets at your rental.
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Pets
If your rental accepts pets, make sure you take a deposit for any potential damage. Be aware, also, that rentals accepting pets are likely to incur a surcharge from any cleaner. Dog hair can be particularly difficult to deal with – unless you have wooden flooring. Consider adding throws to furniture to protect them from pets, and ensure you advise guests about any areas or items of furniture that pets need to avoid.
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Hot tubs, saunas, and barbecues
Major amenities like hot tubs, saunas, barbecues, gyms, and log fires can really help your rental to stand out – but they will need to be thoroughly cleaned during every turnover. These are specialist items, and your guests will expect them to be pristine. Ensure your cleaners fully understand the amenities and exactly how to clean them.
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Cobwebs
Cobwebs are easy to miss! Make sure your cleaning team look out for them.
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Quality control
Your cleaners need to be given a clear scope of work and they have to be accountable. At Rural Cleans Yorkshire, we use dedicated software which tells us when a cleaner arrives at a property, provides a cleaning checklist, and invites the cleaner to submit photographic and video evidence. The cleaner will not be able to close the application until everything has been completed and documented. The information provided is used to rate guests, plus it gets converted into a time sheet for payroll purposes. It also helps in generating client invoices and filling any audit trail. Rental owners also have access to this resource, which ensures attention to detail and no room for error.
Five-star attention to detail
Top quality cleaning must be a non-negotiable for short-term rentals. You must have a five-star hotel mindset, strong attention to detail, and no room for error. When your cleaner leaves, it should be like nobody has been to the property before.
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Further reading: