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Writer's pictureSpenser Courville Taylor

Should Short Term Rentals be Professionally Disinfected After Every Stay?

Updated: May 21, 2020

Imagine, you are a potential Airbnb or VRBO guest and are choosing between two very similar properties to book in one of our many beautiful Tampa Bay Area neighborhoods. One says, "professionally disinfected by a local disinfecting service", and the other does not. Which one would you rather stay in? In this day an age, we imagine that it will become common practice for caring property owners to provide sanitization of the living environment for their guests to stay in. At first, property owners and management companies may be hesitant to take advantage of these services because of the extra cost; however, when you take in all considerations, it is one of the best investments you can make. Virtually all rental properties charge a cleaning fee, and a slight increase in that is all it takes to have the whole residence professionally disinfected by a certified, professional disinfecting service. Aside from the extra value you will be able to provide your customers, this is an amazing marketing opportunity for your property as well.

Best way to disinfect: With the short term rental property business, it is necessary to do a deep home disinfection in between every guest's stay. Even if your guests are not visibly sick or showing symptoms, they could be shedding infection. How else can you be sure that all surfaces within your property are disinfected? The two most important aspects of deep home disinfecting are the chemicals and method used. Professional companies must use chemicals that are approved by the EPA to kill Covid-19 and other pathogens. There are also many different types of chemicals for different types of surfaces, and it is imperative that any company you hire uses the correct chemical for each surface. For many hard surface applications such as walls, doors, tables, bathrooms, kitchens, appliances, hard floors and basically anything that isn’t soft or plush, chemical anti viral fogging is the best method of application. A fogger, for this purpose, is a professional tool that breaks the chemical up into tiny particles which evenly coat all feasible areas of the surface. It is the most precise way to ensure the sanitization of all possible areas are done properly to the point that every surface that you encounter while on the property is disinfected. Depending on the exact surface and chemical, some surfaces may have to be wiped down with a wet cloth after. The other main type of surface, soft or plush areas should be done with specific products intended for those surfaces that are EPA approved to kill Covid. Another important part of the method is how the company goes about disinfecting the area. It is imperative that there is no cross contamination between the outside and the area to be disinfected. All of these methods and precautions take special training and any company that you hire should be International Janitorial Cleaning and Service Administration certified.

Why hire a professional disinfecting company: Cleaning services are great and are set up to do a certain job, clean. This is very different from deep home disinfecting. Cleaning refers to the act of removing dirt, debris, dust, etc. from surfaces. Disinfecting kills viruses and bacteria, and never has there been such a need to keep your property disinfected. Many cleaning companies use products that disinfect but do not have the expertise or equipment to disinfect all areas of the property properly. This is not a challenge that your traditional professional home cleaning service encounters, so disinfecting companies are there to pick up the slack and keep everyone healthy. Aside from the equipment, another important area of expertise that professional disinfecting services possess, that traditional cleaning services usually don’t, is that of the expertise. Many of the chemicals used to kill Covid-19 and other pathogens can be both dangerous to people as well as the surface that they are sprayed on. Some chemicals have bleaching properties for instance, and can’t be used on colorful or soft surfaces. This knowledge is critical for anyone using such chemicals to possess and is most easily gained from the IJCSA certifications. Last but certainly not least is how inexpensive these services are compared to to the safety and marketing value that you receive. This is quite possibly the best marketing opportunity that has come from the pandemic. Imagine how much your listing will stand out when you include “Professionally Disinfected” next to the name of your property.

If you are a property owner or management company and are looking for a disinfecting service, please contact us today! We are certified, licensed, insured and here to help you get back to business and keep your guests safe and healthy! Please contact us for pricing.

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