Many people think that being a landlord or a property manager is one of the world’s best jobs. The people who think so never had to deal with the various problems that come with the position. To ensure that your short-term rental runs smoothly, equip your Airbnb cleaning crew with the right tools and knowledge.
For one, there is the issue of cleaning your home or apartment between tenants. Preparing the properties for new occupants after past tenants leave is rather tricky even for the veterans. No matter how skilled you are, you might find a few tricks here that will make your life a bit easier.
Here are some Airbnb cleaning tips to help the transition between tenants go as smoothly as possible:
Bathroom
Use toilet bowl cleaner and a long-handled toilet brush to clean rim holes and the trap inside the bowl. Attach a continuous cleaner to maintain the freshness, but remove it when using the cleaning fluid. Don’t mix the products.
If there are some hard-water deposits in your toilet bowl, pour one cup white vinegar into the bowl and allow it to sit for several hours or overnight before scrubbing. A fizzy tablet for cleaning dentures can do the trick, too. For the outside, use a non-abrasive, all-purpose cleaner or disinfectant cleaner. Remember to rinse and dry hinge areas and bumpers thoroughly.
Spray shower-door soap scum and hard water stains and wipe it clean. Unscrew the showerhead and submerge in white vinegar overnight, and the clogs will disappear. If you can’t unscrew it, fill a small plastic bag with vinegar and attach it to the showerhead with duct tape. Leave it overnight for the best results.
Kitchen
The kitchen is an important room for your Airbnb cleaning routine. When cleaning inside the fridge, you should use baking soda and water to avoid scratching the surface. Baking soda is also instrumental in fighting any unpleasant smells.
To get rid of the stovetop grease stains, wet them with vinegar and cover with baking soda. After the foaming reaction happens, wipe with a damp sponge and buff with a dry, clean cloth.
Sharpen the garbage disposal blades by throwing some ice cubes in it. For best results, grind a dozen of them once a month. If you add some lemon or orange peels to it, the garbage disposal will smell nice, too.
If you don’t have any oven cleaner handy, simply put a pot with water inside. Heat on 450º for 20 minutes and steam will loosen the dirt and grease. Once the oven cools down, wipe off the condensation, and the grease will come with it.
To get rid of nasty smells in your dishwasher and have it smell nice, run it through an empty wash cycle using a sugar-free powdered lemonade mix instead of detergent. The citric acid in the combination will fix your problem.
Living Room and Bedroom Tips and Tricks
To clean a ceiling fan, spray glass cleaner liquid inside a pillowcase. Put the pillowcase over one arm of the fan, and then pull it off while applying gentle pressure. The pillowcase will wipe the top of the blade clean and catch any falling grime.
To get rid of fingerprints on walls or wallpaper, have your Airbnb cleaners rub the area with a slice of white bread and cover it with some starch to keep the fingerprints from appearing again.
To get rid of stains on the wood floor, leave mayonnaise on the stain for an hour, then wipe it off. It sounds counterintuitive, but it works.
Some Serious Cleaning and Maintenance Tips
Some properties are more forgiving for maintenance and cleaning, but no matter if you are renting out a log cabin or an apartment in the city center, this step is unavoidable. Here are the steps you should take to make the place look as presentable as possible:
Replace the floor carpets
Sure, you can waste your time trying to clean the old carpets, but replacement is a better idea. The act gives your property a new look. Also, it helps you to get rid of carpet beetles. Furthermore, it eliminates any stains and smells; thus, replacing them with freshness. Hence, your property gains a new image and attractiveness.
Repaint and fix the walls
The time between tenancies is the best time to patch, repair, and paint the walls. You should make an effort to do so at least once a year, sooner if possible. Keep in mind that paint is one of the most cost-effective ways of increasing curb appeal, so paint the property’s exterior whenever you can, too.
Pay attention to the exterior
A well-maintained landscape can attract large numbers of customers to your property. When a tenant moves out, consider landscape maintenance. Trim the unwanted and overgrown hedges. Additionally, reshape your flowery plants and gardens. This way, your property regains its charm and cleanliness.
Replace Outdated Appliances and Old Furniture
Standard Airbnb cleaning will only get you so far. If you want to increase the odds of obtaining new tenants as soon as possible, you’ll occasionally have to invest in some modern home tech.
Items such as stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers, and other appliances need to be replaced once they become grimy and challenging to keep clean. The same rule should apply to the furniture – once it becomes too challenging to keep it clean and it starts to look worn, replace it.
Keeping outdated furnishings and appliances makes it hard to fill vacant units and justify the rental pricing. Have the money ready to replace these items promptly. That way, you can keep your rental property looking its best at all times.
Kevin has gone through an extensive home renovation with his son, which he has both thoroughly enjoyed, and dreaded every morning. He is now the proud owner of half his dream house (the other half has been waiting for spring). You can read more of Kevin’s work on PlainHelp.
