Mention the words cleaner or Holiday Home Cleaning company to a holiday home owner and most will have a lot to say on the subject … with varying degrees of frustration!
So, what seems to be the problem with cleanliness? The issue is generally that everyone’s idea of clean is different. The problem is, a holiday let should far surpass any normal domestic standard of cleanliness – you should really seek to ensure there are no traces of previous inhabitants.
However, that’s all well and good if you manage the let yourself and are the sort of person who is happy crouching down behind the radiators with a toothbrush, brushing away a speck of dust. But for a large number of holiday home owners, relying on Holiday Home Cleaning companies to do the job properly is a real hand-in-mouth worry.
Holiday Home Cleaning Companies
While there are some very conscientious cleaning companies out there, a lot of others promise the earth but then cleaning standards gradually get sloppy as staff members are changed, timescales get tight and everything becomes a bit more impersonal. This is particularly true of small cleaning companies who then gradually grow in size and become a bit overwhelmed by the task.
So, how to deal with it? Firstly, have an honest chat with your cleaning company and write them a list of everything you expect to be done in your house. This doesn’t have to be unfriendly – you can write it in such a way that it doesn’t offend! You might want to list down ‘dust all cobwebs, clean all skirting boards, hoover under the bed and behind cabinets’ and list the chores for each and every room.
It’s better to be absolutely clear on the level of cleaning you need for your property – and if you have to pay a little more for it, it’s certainly worth it. A few extra pounds on the cleaning definitely outweighs getting a bad review online about the standard of cleanliness.
Local Cleaner
An alternative to a cleaning company is of course to find an individual to do the cleaning for you. Generally, they have more responsibility towards the house because they know the buck stops with them – there’s no one else to blame if the guest moans! However, the downside can be if they do get a bit sloppy it can be uncomfortable mentioning it to them as you may have built up a personal relationship with them.
If they are ever ill or unable to do a particular day it can also be a worry, so make sure you have a local cleaning firm who can come in to do an odd clean should you need them to. Having plenty of bedding so that a cleaning company can just come in and clean and swap bedding over (without having to return it) is definitely an advantage.
Finally, make sure you visit your holiday home on a regular basis. No one cares as much about your property as you do, so regularly checking it over and living in it for a few days is essential. That way you can easily see anything that needs doing or check over items that may be missing and hopefully, you will have the recipe for a healthy holiday let for years to come!
