A reliable cleaning crew at your vacation rental property is essential to your success as a host. Your cleaning crew guarantees your property remains in top condition, and their efforts contribute to positive guest experiences and reviews – ultimately driving higher occupancy rates and revenue.
So, how do you find a thorough cleaning crew that you can trust? We recently spoke with Denver cleaning queen Whitney White, who owns and operates a thriving vacation rental cleaning business with a lengthy waitlist of future clients. Whitney’s cleaning company evolved by chance when she was doing some move-in/move-out cleaning jobs for a friend. She had a knack for all the details short-term rental hosts are looking for in a cleaner. Word of mouth spread quickly about her skills, and she hasn’t looked back since!
When we asked Whitney what sets her business apart from other options in the industry, she said, “I pride myself and my team on being extremely dependable, over-communicating and maintaining/presenting our homes in a way that stands out to guests – as well as our hosts.”
It’s obvious why her services are in such high demand! While we all can’t exactly get on her local client list, we can utilize her knowledge to set hosts nationwide up for success.
How to find a trustworthy cleaner and what to look for in your search
Though Whitney isn't a host, her insights on what hosts should look for in a cleaner are invaluable. She believes word-of-mouth recommendations are the best way to find reliable cleaners for your properties. Try asking other investors in the industry about who they use and about their experiences to weed through all the available options.
Top qualifications for a short-term rental cleaner
Whitney believes short-term rental cleaners should possess these three qualities:
- Flexibility: There is no set schedule with vacation rentals, so your cleaners must be flexible and adaptable to the lack of a routine schedule.
- Dependability: If your cleaners don’t show up on time (or at all), their actions could have a domino effect on your upcoming bookings. It is vital that you have confidence and trust in your cleaners.
- Communication: If issues arise, knowing your cleaners will keep you in the loop will make your job as a host easier. Make sure your expectations are crystal clear to ensure communication is strong.
Questions to ask prospective cleaners
Once you have a short list of potential cleaning partners, there are some important questions to ask in the vetting process. Check out this list that Whitney has put together for hosts to ensure they’re gathering important info in their search:
- What is your availability like?
- How do you communicate between your team and hosts?
- Do you have any experience in short-term rentals?
- How many members make up your team? (this is important because with larger cleaning companies, you often do not get the same people coming into the house)
- Do you provide a thorough cleaning checklist that is specific to the home or do we need to provide one?
How to partner with your cleaners for success
Once you find the best cleaning service for your vacation rental business, it's your job as a host to set them up for success! Whitney shared her top tips for hosts to make their cleaners’ jobs easier and more efficient.
Have plenty of turnover supplies
“Sheets get stained and damaged at almost every turnover. I highly recommend keeping a good stain wash at every property as well as bleach, so your cleaners are able to save any sheets they can, as well as keeping plenty of extra sheet sets on hand if they are in a bind with stained sheets.”
Have laundry capabilities on site
Laundry and bed making take up the bulk of the cleaning time. If you have laundry on site, your cleaners can spend more time on little details instead of sending laundry out.
Clearly share expectations
Is there a certain way you want your towels folded, beds made, or dishes stacked? Any particular expectations need to be shared with your cleaners so they can turn over your STR the exact way you want it done!
Cleaning details not to overlook at STRs
One of the many reasons Whitney’s team is in high demand is their attention to detail: “I promote to both my team and our hosts that we maintain these homes integrity with detailed cleaning each time we’re there. For example, we always clean baseboards, fans, vents, blinds, windows, window tracks, etc. By giving attention to these items each time, it provides all future guests with the same experience. It also saves my team time from having to do a full deep clean on the home.”
Check every nook and cranny
Vacation rental hosts should have their cleaners check spaces where there could be surprises. Whitney and her team always check every cabinet, drawer, closet, and shelf in their client’s homes: “Guests leave behind all kinds of things in the home and it is our job to make sure they get discovered by us at each turnover vs. the next guests finding them!”
Rapid-fire questions
We wrapped our chat with Whitney with some rapid-fire questions about preferred products and general cleaning that can help hosts upgrade their systems!
Q: Do you recommend a specific color sheet?
A: Although myself and my team despise white sheets because of the upkeep, I do recommend having white sheets in your short-term rental for the cleanliness factor for your guests. They prefer to see clean, white sheets!
Q: What’s your favorite vacuum?
A: Dyson all the way! I highly recommend a Dyson to anyone and everyone. I have the Dyson v11 and use it in all of my short-term rental cleanings. It is able to get around small areas and can add different head attachments for any cleaning that may be needed.
Q: Is there a specific washer and dryer that you’ve seen outperform others?
A: We have LG wash towers in many of our properties and I highly recommend them to any and all short-term rental hosts! They offer quick settings, can hold a good amount of laundry at one time, and dry quickly.
Q: What basic cleaning products should hosts have at their properties for guests in a pinch?
A: I always recommend keeping a stain spray on hand, as well as a carpet cleaner for rugs and carpets as they often get stained!
Want more info from Whitney? Check out her Instagram where she routinely shares helpful cleaning insights for those in the vacation rental industry.
Hosts that aren’t currently utilizing Minoan, what are you waiting for? Your FREE Minoan membership grants you access to discounts on top brands and products for your property – including cleaning and laundry supplies, appliances, and more. Sign up today!
