At Arrivls, we want you to know that we are doing our part to help keep our guests, employees and cleaning staff safe from the spread of infection. A sparkling clean property has always been a top priority, but we have added extra measures to our cleaning standards to help combat the spread of COVID-19.
From Vacation Rental to Safe Housing Rental
When the COVID-19 crisis began, we understood that the vacation rental industry was going to see some immediate impact. In those first few weeks we saw mostly cancellations, but there were a few booking requests that came through as well.
People still needed temporary housing, but for different reasons. For example, a couple was already in the area on vacation and could no longer return home as planned. A woman, who is an essential worker, resides with an elderly family member and didn’t want to risk exposing her loved one each day she returned home from work. A family who lives in a crowded apartment building with shared laundry facilities wanted a safe place to quarantine with their young children for a month.
Regardless of their reason for booking, we knew that we needed to take a hard look at our current cleaning practices in order to continue operating safely. We needed to make sure that we were doing everything in our power to keep ourselves, our guests, and our cleaning personnel safe. After much research, we created an updated policy of cleaning standards that we will continue to use.
First, We Talked To Our Cleaners.
With the help of our cleaners, we collectively agreed to implement new measures to protect them during turnover cleanings. Some examples are wearing disposable gloves, avoiding touching their face, and being sure to ventilate the property well during cleanings. We have found these practices to be beneficial in our own homes as well!
Safe Cleaning Practices
- Before they clean, cleaners should wash their hands, and put on impermeable, disposable gloves.
- Cleaners should avoid touching their face during the clean.
- Gloves should be thrown away after each clean.
- Cleaners should wash their hands immediately after gloves are removed.
- Cleaners should be sure to air and ventilate the property during and after cleaning.
We have also implemented a 24 hour block between reservations whenever possible. In cases of same-day turnovers, we have temporarily suspended the option for a late check-out or early check-in in order to allow our cleaners as much time as possible to thoroughly clean and disinfect the space.
The Importance of Disinfecting
Our existing home cleaning standards were already focused on disinfecting, but we are taking extra care with high-touch surfaces such as light switches, doorknobs, cabinet handles, remote controls, hair dryers, etc. We also made sure that the disinfecting products that we use were included on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) list of disinfectants for use against COVID-19. We were happy to learn that our cleaners were already on the same path to adopting expanded disinfecting practices, so implementation was a simple process.
Cleaning vs Disinfecting
- Cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. It does not kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.
- Disinfecting refers to using chemicals, for example, EPA-registered disinfectants, to kill germs on surfaces. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.
Social Distancing Efforts
Guests are able to utilize self check in at all of Arrivls properties to limit in-person contact between host and guest. We have also tried to schedule property maintenance (ie: landscaping or pool cleaning) during turnover hours whenever possible.
In addition to our own efforts, we ask that guests practice these key preventative measures as recommended by the World Health Organization:
- Washing your hands with soap and water regularly (for at least 20 seconds), and using hand sanitizer
- Covering your nose and mouth when sneezing with a tissue
- Avoiding contact with people who are unwell
- Not touching face, nose, and mouth when hands are not clean
- Minimizing physical contact (such as handshakes)
- Opening windows to allow air circulation
- Disinfect frequently used items such as cellphones and laptops
Additional Questions?
We understand that there is still a lot of confusion and worry around the COVID-19 crisis. We will continue to actively monitor the guidelines set forth by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and other local and national government authorities on disease control. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us here.
