5 Cleaning Tips to Stop the Spread of Viruses in Vacation Rentals

When it comes to running a vacation rental, hygiene management is what guests are most sensitive about. In a space where a constant rotation of unfamiliar guests come and go, taking precautions against invisible viruses—not just visible dirt—directly impacts the trust owners build with their guests.

Let’s start with the conclusion of this article.

Virus prevention in vacation rentals shouldn’t be thought of as simple “cleaning”—it should be viewed as a “reset that includes disinfection.” By properly carrying out “thorough disinfection of high-touch surfaces” and “high-temperature treatment of linens” in particular, you can minimize infection risk and provide guests with a safe stay.

Inadequate precautions can lead to guests falling ill or leaving reviews criticizing your property as “unhygienic,” dealing potentially fatal damage to your operation. In this article, we’ve selected five carefully chosen cleaning tips that professionals use to prevent the spread of viruses.

1. Thoroughly Disinfect “High-Touch Surfaces”

When cleaning, it’s easy to focus your attention on large surface areas like floors and shelves, but the most crucial element of virus prevention is disinfecting the spots that people touch repeatedly with their hands—what’s known as high-touch surfaces.

Wipe the following locations in a single direction using a disinfectant with antiviral properties (such as alcohol or hypochlorous acid water):

• Door handles, light switches, and window handles
• TV and air conditioner remote controls, tablet devices
• Faucets, levers, and showerheads in bathrooms
• Toilet flush levers, seats, and paper holders

Wiping back and forth can actually spread viruses further, so the professional technique is to always wipe in one direction using a fresh section of cloth each time.

2. The Golden Rule for Linens: “High Heat” and “Complete Drying”

Sheets, pillowcases, and towels—items that come into direct contact with guests’ skin—are among the places where viruses are most likely to linger. The reality is that simply washing them with water in a standard washing machine isn’t enough to completely eliminate viruses.

For effective virus prevention, linens should be exposed to boiling water above 80°C (176°F) for 10 minutes, or dried at high temperatures using a large commercial gas dryer.

When doing laundry on-site, household dryers often can’t reach sufficiently high temperatures. This is why using a linen supply (rental) service processed by a specialized cleaning facility is the safest and most reliable option for virus prevention.

3. Make “Ventilation” Part of Your Cleaning Routine

Ventilation is the most effective measure against viruses that may be airborne.

The moment cleaning staff enter the property, they should open all windows fully—and keep them open until cleaning is finished. Opening windows on diagonally opposite sides creates a path for air to flow through, completely refreshing the air inside the unit.

Viruses can also collect in air conditioner filters, so regular filter cleaning combined with disinfectant spray is another essential step in preventing spread.

4. Strictly Prohibit “Reusing” Cleaning Tools

One surprising pitfall is “cross-contamination” caused by the cleaning tools themselves.

Using the same rag to wipe a table after using it on the toilet is essentially spreading viruses yourself.

As a countermeasure, we recommend using color-coded microfiber cloths for different cleaning areas, or using disposable disinfecting wipes instead.

• Blue for the living room, red for the bathroom, yellow for the kitchen—establishing clear rules like this and ensuring tools are disinfected or replaced after every single cleaning session prevents the spread of infection within the property.

5. Make Cleanliness “Visible” to Guests and Encourage Self-Care

No matter how thoroughly you clean, it won’t translate into good reviews if guests can’t see the evidence of it. Additionally, guests’ own behavior during their stay plays a crucial role in preventing the spread of viruses.

Placing a “sanitized” sticker on the door or displaying a cleaning checklist inside the unit gives guests peace of mind.

Additionally, set up hand sanitizer at the entrance and provide disinfecting wipes as an amenity. Creating an environment where guests can disinfect on their own sends a powerful message that the owner takes hygiene management seriously.

Conclusion: Hygiene Management Is the Foundation of Hospitality for Guests

Cleaning a vacation rental can no longer be about simply “making things look tidy.”

Assuming viruses are present and incorporating a science-based disinfection process protects guests’ health—and by extension, protects your account as an owner.

1. Thorough disinfection of high-touch surfaces
2. High-temperature treatment of linens
3. Thorough air exchange and ventilation
4. Preventing cross-contamination via cleaning tools
5. Making hygiene management visible

Incorporate these five points into your cleaning manual, and always maintain the highest possible safety standards.

For Professional-Grade Hygiene Management and Cleaning, Leave It to Stay Buddy

“I’m not sure if our current cleaning methods are sufficient for virus prevention.”

“I want to sterilize linens at high temperatures, but on-site laundry has its limits.”

“I want to elevate our hygiene standards to become a property guests choose.”

If any of these concerns sound familiar, please talk to us.

Stay Buddy Inc. is a professional vacation rental management and cleaning company specializing in properties within Osaka City.

We’re not just a “cleaning service”—we’re specialists who perform a complete “reset” of your space, offering:

• A focused disinfection workflow for high-touch surfaces, informed by practices used even in medical settings
• Clean, high-temperature sterilized, and pressed linens provided through our partner cleaning facility
• Thorough hygiene training for staff and use of disposable supplies to prevent cross-contamination

We follow these practices rigorously to create an environment where guests can truly relax with peace of mind.

We also welcome inquiries about adding a disinfection process to your existing cleaning plan. We promise the highest quality cleaning to protect your peace of mind as an owner and secure great reviews for your property. Please feel free to reach out to us anytime.