How can I ensure my space is neat and clean for the guest?
A spotless space around the pool and the sparkling and cleaned water in the pool keeps guests happy and earns great reviews. Guests care about cleanliness—a lot. According to Resortifi data, a lack of cleanliness is one of the top reasons guests leave a negative review. On the other hand, a spotless space can lead to positive reviews, earning you a “Sparkling Clean” compliment for your listing. Who wouldn’t want that?
How cleaning for guests is different
You might not mind a dust bunny here and there, but guests will mind—and they will let you know about it in their review. Cleaning for guests requires much more attention to detail than you might use when cleaning for your own family. Another key difference? You are cleaning up after the previous guest while also preparing for the next one. Remember to free up space, from the pool and backyard. You do not want the new guest to find used things out there.
Focus on the pain points
Certain items—towels, floors, and the bathroom—are particularly sensitive for guests. And it’s not hard to see why. No one wants to feel like his or her shower is unhygienic. These areas need to be thoroughly cleaned between each guest, with a so-clean-you-could-eat-off-it level of care. Other tasks, like cleaning the shower curtain, can be done less frequently. Consider investing in periodic deep cleans of your pools to cut down on work between bookings and save time in the long run.
Avoid a hairy situation
Nothing turns a guest off like finding someone else’s hair in the pool. The deep cleaning ensures that the pool remains hair free after every usage
Kiss clutter goodbye
Decorative objects can add character to a space, but they add something else, too: dust! The more stuff you have strewn around, the greater surface area you need to clean. In addition, it just feels messy. Hosts should keep their personal items to a minimum. “While it may make the space seem a bit bare, it also means guests have plenty of space for their own items, and it's easier to maintain a clean image. Make your poolside obstacles free.
Get help when you need it
If you know, you are not going to be able to do all the cleaning yourself, hire a professional—and provide them with detailed direction. You might also want to identify a backup cleaner in case your go-to falls through. And remember, you can include a cleaning fee to offset the expense of keeping your pool and space in tip-top shape. Another way to manage the workload? Leave enough time between bookings to do a thorough cleaning before the next guest arrives. It is a good idea to update your reservation settings to block time between reservations.
With a little extra effort—and a few clever tricks—you’ll be well on your way to have a “Sparkling Clean” pool and neat poolside.