I’ve been cleaning professionally since 2019, and these days I clean large holiday homes and Airbnbs.
Here are my top tips: the things I wish I’d known when I started, and have learnt along the way.
1. Don’t buy white towels
I thought white towels were the norm, because every other holiday let had them, right? They look crisp, comfy and inviting. But I soon discovered the downside.
Fake tan and makeup stained them quickly. Even after washing, the stains were incredibly hard to remove, and the towels had to be replaced because they no longer looked presentable to guests.
I was advised to buy grey towels instead, and it was a game changer. I haven’t had one stain yet, and they seem to wash better too.
They were the same make and quality, Royal Egyptian Cotton, 700 GSM. In my experience grey is just more forgiving.
2. Leave makeup wipes by the sink
Another simple trick is to leave makeup wipes by the sink. If guests have something made for removing makeup, they’re less likely to reach for your lovely towels.
3. Have a secret stash
Some guests will use every consumable and towel available.
Keep a locked cupboard with a few toilet rolls, towels, tea towels and dishwasher tablets. If a guest contacts you because they genuinely need more, you can tell them where it is and give them access.
Just don’t advertise it. If guests know about the cupboard, they’re very likely to use it, and then you’re restocking two places instead of one.
4. Buy outdoor furniture that can live outdoors
If you’re buying furniture for a holiday let garden, make sure it’s made to stay outside in British weather.
Something can look perfect in the photos, but if the cushions are regularly left out in the rain and damp, mould quickly becomes a problem.
And don’t assume guests will bring the cushions in when it rains. Choose outdoor cushions and fabrics that can cope, and have a clear place to store them between uses.
Need a hand with your holiday let?
We do changeovers and same-day turnovers, and hire out linen packs (bedding and towels), washed in a commercial laundry and ironed. We cover South Warwickshire, including Leamington Spa, Stratford-upon-Avon, Southam, Kineton, Warwick and Henley-in-Arden, and the north Cotswolds, including Shipston-on-Stour and Moreton-in-Marsh. Outside these areas? Get in touch, as we can travel further for larger jobs.
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