Coronavirus: Tips for deep cleaning your holiday home

Whether you are considering letting your South Devon holiday home for the first time, or are a property owner with years of experience in letting, the current coronavirus pandemic is a new challenge facing everyone in the self-catering industry. We are living in unprecedented times, and whilst the future of tourism in South Devon looks promising, getting holiday home cleanliness correct will play an important part in the continuing battle against Covid-19. That’s why we’ve put together some top tips for deep cleaning your holiday home, to help you plan your cleaning procedures in this post-coronavirus world, keeping both you and your guests as safe as possible.

Here are our top tips for deep cleaning your holiday home:

• Tips to ensure your property is clean to a Covid-19 safe standard
• What special cleaning and hygiene measures should I implement?
• Your holiday let coronavirus cleaning checklist
• Keeping our South Devon holiday home cleaners safe!
• Holiday let cleaning products made in South Devon

Tips to ensure your property is clean to a Covid-19 safe standard

The government has issued a useful guide called COVID-19: cleaning in non-healthcare settings outside the home which gives clear advice on maintaining good levels of hygiene and cleanliness, limiting the transmission of Covid-19.

With holiday homes in mind, we have put together some considerations and tips which may help you to keep your property clean and ready for guests:

• Reduce clutter and remove ‘difficult to clean’ items. It is about striking a balance to ensure your property still feels homely and welcoming to guests, whilst also clearing any unnecessary items which may harbour germs – like books or ornaments. It might be prudent to remove non-essential items for the time being.
• If your property has an information folder, ensure the information is contained within wipe clean pockets, or that the sheets are laminated. Alternatively, emailing all information required is a great non-contact option.
• Encourage guests to engage in regular surface wiping by providing additional cleaning products within your holiday home.
• When cleaning your property pay attention to all surfaces, but especially ones that are touched frequently. Remember it isn’t just door handles and hand rails. Light switches, remote controls and chairs all need to be cleaned regularly. For a more detailed list, read Your Holiday Let Coronavirus Cleaning Checklist later in this article.
• Think about the soft furnishings in your property like throws and cushions. If you are unable to wash them between guests, considering having two sets and alternating them, allowing you more time to launder them. You might consider laundering your mattress, pillow and cushion protectors more frequently too.
• Choose your cleaning products carefully – most household disinfectants and cleaning products containing diluted household bleach, or with at least 70% alcohol, are thought to be effective against Covid-19. Look for products showing EN14675 or EN14476 and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.

What special cleaning and hygiene measures should I implement?

Whilst there are no strict rules on actions you must take, there are some simple measures you can implement, that could make a big difference to both your guests and yourself.

Purchasing additional cleaning products to store for guests’ use will offer visitors peace of mind, and will encourage those staying in your property to be proactive with cleanliness during their holiday.

You could also offer hand sanitiser near the door of your property, reminding people to clean their hands when they come in and out. Including a supply of soap in all bathrooms is recommended.

It is also advisable to leave extra bin bags in the property, with easy to clean instructions for guests to strip their beds, and to place any dirty sheets and towels in the bags before sealing them. Remember never shake dirty laundry or towels as this will disperse germs through the air.

There are also local companies that provide a sanitisation ‘fogging’ service. Fogging cleaning is increasingly popular, and includes the use of a machine which expels a fine mist of chemical solution to sanitise surfaces. This anti-viral fogging of a property takes around 15-20 minutes per room, and leaves the accommodation thoroughly clean and safe for human contact. Businesses like Fine Shine can help, if this is something you might be interested in.

Your holiday let coronavirus cleaning checklist

To help owners and property cleaners, we have created a list of frequently touched and often overlooked areas that need cleaning after each set of guests. These are just suggestions for your guidance, and the list is not exhaustive – please keep in mind every property is different.

Areas to clean with warm soapy water and then disinfect include:

• Door handles
• Taps
• Window handles and sills
• Keys and key safes
• Bins and bin lids
• Tables
• Chairs
• Hand rails and bannisters
• Kettle, oven door, hob switches and other kitchen appliances like coffee machines and toasters
• Blinds
• Television remotes
• Garden gates and latches
• Any games consoles or play equipment
• Fridges and freezers
• Toilet handles and toilet brushes
• Hairdryer, high chair and iron

Remember to give yourself or your cleaner enough time to clean thoroughly. At Coast & Country Cottages our check in time is now 5pm at most properties unless otherwise arranged, allowing cleaners a longer period to clean adequately on a changeover day.

For more information, the NHS has published an insightful guide on reducing the spread of germs , which outlines cleaning procedures for each area of the house. The kitchen and bathroom areas are particularly important, not just for eliminating the coronavirus, but for all germs.

Keeping our South Devon holiday home cleaners safe!

Of course, it is of paramount importance to not only keep guests safe, but also cleaners. PPE including disposable gloves, disposable apron and disposable mask, should be worn during cleaning, and should be changed regularly – as a minimum between properties, but more regularly where possible. Keep up-to-date with the latest government advice concerning PPE and the virus by visiting gov.uk/coronavirus

In addition to wearing PPE, consider opening windows and doors during cleaning to allow ventilation and air circulation.

Holiday let cleaning products made in South Devon

Many owners in South Devon are looking for environmentally friendly solutions to their cleaning and laundry needs. We are lucky in the region to have some fantastic cleaning teams and businesses, and also cleaning products which are developed locally. Salcombe Distilling Company, best known for their exceptional gin and rum, have diversified and now make their own hand sanitiser Safe Harbour. Whilst for soaps and other scented cleaning products, Kingsbridge based Fragrant Finds have products for all your needs.

If you would prefer to arrange for your laundry to be cleaned professionally, rather than laundering sheets and towels yourself at the present time, why not arrange for the Coast & Country Cottages laundry team, Travel Lite, to do it for you. Based in Salcombe, but delivering all over the South Hams, Travel Lite can wash private linen or provide clean linen for hire, delivered in time for each changeover.

For cleaners looking to purchase reusable, washable face masks as an environmentally friendly way of wearing PPE, many local shops sell options including Flowers of Kingsbridge. Just be aware, face masks should be washed on a 60 degree cycle to kill any germs.

For more information and tips on deep cleaning your holiday home, or for a full checklist of places to clean, why not contact our housekeeping team. They are happy to offer advice, give you recommendations of cleaning companies, as well as an idea of holiday let cleaning prices you can expect to pay in South Devon.

To find out more about the holiday letting services we offer, visit our Let Your Cottage page to order a copy of our free Owners Guide.

Request your FREE Owners Guide

If you’re looking to start a holiday letting business, the following owner guides may be useful to you:

• Holiday let business rates and council tax guide 2021
• Covid-19: UK Government financial support for holiday let owners
• Holiday let insurance guide

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