Vacation Rental Housekeeping Professionals and Vacation Rental Management Association Introduce New Cleaning Guidelines
The new guidelines are part of the VRMA & VRHP SafeHome campaign, which empowers members to adopt and execute safe travel standards that conform to—and, in many cases, exceed—those that are mandated nationally, statewide or locally. The SafeHome initiative encourages all vacation rental management professionals to openly communicate with guests and employees about the precautions they are taking to help keep them safe and healthy.
The guidelines include recommendations for augmenting existing cleaning programs to account for COVID-19, including:
Disinfection and sanitization techniques
Proper use of personal protective equipment
Recommended products, cleaning agents and equipment
Updated cleaning and inspection processes for soft surfaces, upholstery and linens
Trash removal and maintenance processes
Communicating expanded cleaning processes to guests
“Cleaning a vacation rental is no small task, even when we are not faced with a global pandemic,” said, executive director of VRHP. “Housekeepers are responsible for completely resetting properties and creating a like-new experience for arriving guests. These new guidelines are intended to enhance the safety of properties, and provide more peace-of-mind for property owners and guests.”
Because guest and employee safety is paramount, VRMA and VRHP will continue their efforts to educate and inform members and the professional vacation rental management community overall of evolving guidelines and recommendations so that they are always able to provide a safe and enjoyable environment to guests, staff and the general public.
“Vacation rental professionals have historically set the standard for cleaning within the travel industry, and these guidelines memorialize an enhanced level of care in a COVID-19-impacted industry.” said, president of VRMA. “The COVID-19 pandemic makes proper and thorough cleaning methods, specific training, appropriate supplies and a systematic process even more vital to our industry. We can count on our professional community to rise to this occasion and restore confidence within our local governments and guest populations that staying in a professionally managed vacation rental is the safest way to enjoy travel.”
Cleaning Policies & Procedures
We know that there is heightened uncertainty around travel with the coronavirus (COVID-19), so we want to proactively share the steps we’ve taken to ensure your health and safety. Our Housekeeping Team has received proper training and instruction based on CDC cleaning guidelines.
Utilize CDC approved sanitizing and disinfecting products approved for killing the Covid-19 virus will be followed
Housekeeping teams will use fresh, laundered cleaning rags for each property to avoid the spread of germs from one home to another
Sheets and towels, where provided, are cleaned in industrial grade washer(s)/dryer(s) using appropriate chemicals and dried at proper temperatures. Bed coverings are sanitized using a sanitizing spray that is distributing on the bed coverings.
Housekeeping and Maintenance staff will adhere to social distancing guidelines while working in homes and will wear appropriate face masks and gloves
Particular attention shall be paid to the disinfecting of high touch or hot spot items in between rental turns using CDC approved disinfecting products. Such areas include, but not limited to:
Appliance Buttons/Handles
Cabinet Knobs/Handles
Lamp Switches and Wall Switches
Door Knobs/Handles
Remote Controls
Electronics Controls
Phone Receivers
We strongly suggest that you also bring your own preferred cleaning supplies with you in order to keep your rental home sanitized and disinfected during your stay.
Cleaning recommendations, including 24 hours between rentals
Corrections & clarifications: A previous version of this story indicated some of Airbnb’s new cleaning guidelines were required. They are required only for Airbnb hosts who participate in an optional program.
The home-sharing service, under pressure from the coronavirus crisis, said Monday that it is establishing a new recommended “cleaning protocol” with the goal of reassuring both rental property hosts and their guests.
Airbnb said in a statement that the optional protocol will offer guidance on the best and safest practices for cleansing a residence’s various rooms. It will include a manual more than 40 pages long establishing the standards, as well as specifying particular chemicals and other products to do the job.
The protocol, for those hosts who choose to opt in, will also require a minimum 24 hours between rentals to reduce the chance a guest might encounter any residual viruses. Potential guests will be able to see whether hosts have opted in.
A top company official said Airbnb knows from surveys that cleanliness is a high priority with guests. “It was clear they wanted to know what you were doing to make sure the place itself would be clean,”
Airbnb Releases New Cleaning Protocol Program in Wake of Coronavirus
As Airbnb wants their guests to feel comfortable and at ease when travel ramps up again following the coronavirus pandemic, the home-sharing company has released a new set of standards when it comes to cleaning and sanitizing.
includes a certification program for hosts and specifically follows CDC sanitation standards in the wake of COVID-19, according to an announcement on Monday. Users will be able to filter searches for hosts who have earned the certification under the new protocol, aptly named The Cleaning Protocol.
With guidance of how to specifically clean each room, the protocol also complies with many CDC recommendations including a rule requiring a 24-hour vacancy period between guest reservations.
“Homes have become a place of shelter, and the future of travel will also rely on a new comfort zone, with the privacy and benefits of a home away from home, without crowds or high turnovers,” “We are working with leading experts in health and hygiene so that our community’s trademark hospitality can incorporate official guidance and fulfill new personal preferences, with hosts and guests uniting to offer, manage and enjoy cleaner accommodations.”
Hosts who do not opt into the Cleaning Protocol are able to participate in a “Booking Buffer” program that requires a 72-hour vacancy period after each stay when homes will be empty, except for cleaning.
[COVID-19 FAQ] What Should I Tell Short-Term Rental Operators?
While there may be less demand for short-term rentals during the COVID-19 pandemic, many hosts are still renting STRs to guests. This may be illegal in places where government leaders have suspended STR ordinances amid the crisis or residents have been ordered to remain home. In other places, government leaders are discouraging nonessential business.
For communities without traditional lodging options like hotels or where hotels have closed, STRs may be able to offer necessary lodging for sick and stranded travelers when others cannot. In places requiring sick travelers stay where they are, STR guests may be extending their stay past their scheduled booking.
Whether that means STRs in your community need to suspend operations or not, you will need to communicate with hosts about key COVID-19 messages. Good news! We have your communications to hosts covered. Read on to find letter templates and tips for communicating to hosts during this public health crisis.
How Do I Communicate With Hosts About STR Closures?
Should your community suspend the ability for hosts to rent out their STRs, you will need to communicate with hosts quickly and effectively. Our experts at Host Compliance, now a part of Granicus, recommend the following language.
If you have received this message in error, and you do not have a short-term rental, then please accept our apologies. If you do have a short-term rental, please read the message below.