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Cleaning Staff Checklist
by Robin Fowler

Once you’ve found the right cleaning service or individual cleaning person to take care of your vacation rental property, you will need to lay down a few guidelines regarding what things you want cleaned and maintained, and how often. The easiest way to do that is by composing a checklist for the person or people responsible for keeping your rental property shipshape.

On your checklist, be as specific as you feel that you need to be. This avoids conflicts down the road between you and the housekeeper. Make sure that you stress the importance of thoroughly cleaning the property between rentals!

The expectations you have for the cleanliness of your vacation rental property are up to you. But, a good basic checklist to start with might include the following:

Laundry

• Wash the bed linens, kitchen towels and cloths, and bath towels (it’s a good idea
  to have the renters put these things in the laundry area before they check out)
• Dry and fold the laundry, and put away appropriately

Kitchen

• Empty refrigerator of any perishable or opened foods left behind by previous
  tenants, wipe down the shelves, and wipe down the outside of the appliance
• Clean the stovetop, and wipe down the oven if there are any spills
• Wipe out microwave oven, toaster oven, toaster
• Run and unload the dishwasher, if necessary
• Scrub sinks
• Wipe down counters and cabinets
• Replenish supplies: add fresh dish soap to dispenser, replenish paper towels, and
  restock towels, dishrags, and sponges; restock supplies like sugar, napkins,
  condiments, foils and wraps, etc.
• Take out the trash, if necessary, and place a clean garbage bag in can

Bathrooms

• Clean toilets, tubs, showers, and sinks
• Wipe down countertops and cabinets
• Clean mirrors
• Throw out any items left by previous tenants, including any used bars of soap
• Dust off fixtures and countertop accessories (tissue box, soap dispenser, etc.)
• Replace toilet paper with new roll, plus stock cabinet with at least two new rolls
  per bathroom
• Put out fresh towels
• Put out fresh soaps, toiletries (you could have the housekeeper make up a small
  baskets of toiletry items, such as shampoos, lotions, and soaps that you have
  purchased in bulk)

Other areas of the house

• Dust tabletops, fixtures, windowsills, etc.
• Vacuum carpets, mop or clean tile, vinyl, or wood flooring accordingly
• Make beds with clean linens (you might have a specific way you’d like the beds
  made up; this is where you would discuss that)
• Clean mirrors, television screens, windows, and glass doors
• Check drawers and closets for anything previous tenants might have left behind
  (you can instruct the housekeeper to let you know, so that you can arrange
  returning personal belongings to the right people)
• Spot remove stains on rugs, sofas, or chairs
• Check light bulbs, a/c filters, etc.
• Straighten books, toys, and games
• Water houseplants, and any plants around the outside of the property, if needed
• Wipe down patio furniture

This basic checklist is a good place to start with your cleaning service. Your standards will likely be pretty high, and you will want to add any other tasks that you want done between rentals. Make sure you discuss them thoroughly with your service or housekeeper. Communicating your expectations is vital in establishing a good and dependable relationship with your cleaning crew or housekeeper!