Breckenridge, Colorado, is a dream destination with its stunning mountain views and endless outdoor activities. It’s no surprise that vacation rentals here are in high demand. But with that demand comes the responsibility of keeping your property in tip-top shape. A clean and well-maintained rental is the key to getting those five-star reviews and having guests come back year after year.
With years of Breckenridge experience, Ski Country Resorts has perfected the art of keeping rentals spotless. In this blog, we’ll share 10 cleaning tips to help you earn glowing reviews and boost your rental rates.
Let’s dive in!
1. Understand That Cleaning a Vacation Rental Is Different from Cleaning Your Own Home
Owning a vacation rental in Breckenridge comes with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to cleaning. Your rental isn’t like your home, where you can tackle a spill or mess whenever it happens. With guests coming and going, you need a cleaning routine that’s both efficient and thorough.
In Breckenridge, where outdoor adventures are a huge draw, guests often bring in snow, mud, and dirt. Plus, your rental might have unique features like outdoor hot tubs, mudrooms for ski gear, and large gathering spaces. Cleaning these areas thoroughly between guests is crucial for keeping your property looking great and ensuring that guests have a stellar experience.
2. Know the Difference Between Routine Cleaning and Deep Cleaning
Keeping your rental sparkling clean doesn’t mean you need to do a deep clean after every guest. To save time and money, it’s important to know the difference between routine cleaning and deep cleaning.
Routine Cleaning
Routine cleaning happens after each guest leaves and focuses on the most-used areas of your property. This includes dusting, vacuuming, mopping floors, changing linens, and sanitizing kitchens and bathrooms. In Breckenridge, with all the outdoor activities, it’s key to pay special attention to entryways and mudrooms where guests might track in dirt or snow.
Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning is more intense and usually happens once or twice a year. This involves moving furniture to clean underneath, washing windows, dusting blinds, and treating wood surfaces. For Breckenridge properties, it’s smart to schedule deep cleans during the off-seasons—spring and fall — when guest traffic is lighter. That way, your place is in top shape for the busy summer and winter seasons.
3. Leave It to the Pros
While it might seem tempting to handle the cleaning yourself, especially if you only have one or two properties, hiring professionals can really make a difference. Cleaning a vacation rental isn’t as simple as it seems, especially in a place like Breckenridge, where snow and mud can be real challenges.
Professional cleaners bring expertise and efficiency that’s hard to beat. They’re trained to handle everything from routine cleanings to more specialized tasks like maintaining outdoor hot tubs and dealing with winter-related messes. By leaving the cleaning to the pros, you can focus on other aspects of managing your rental, like guest communication and marketing, while knowing your property is in the best hands.
4. Show Your Cleaning Team Some Love
In Breckenridge, where the hospitality industry is booming, your cleaning team is your secret weapon. They’re the ones making sure your property is spotless and ready for each new guest. Recognizing their hard work can go a long way in keeping them motivated and ensuring high standards are maintained.
Consider offering incentives, like bonuses for consistent five-star reviews or extra pay during peak seasons. You might also want to be flexible with their schedules during holidays — giving them time off during Christmas or Thanksgiving can build loyalty and keep morale high.
5. Use Feedback to Improve Your Cleaning Routine
Feedback is gold in the vacation rental game. Keep communication open with your cleaning team and encourage them to share their observations about the property. Regularly reviewing guest feedback on cleanliness can also help you identify areas that need more attention, like the condition of the kitchen or bathroom amenities.
In Breckenridge, where guests often come for outdoor activities, feedback might point out the need for extra attention to areas like mudrooms or outdoor decks. Implementing these suggestions shows guests you care about their experience and helps keep your cleaning team engaged and valued.
6. Get Guests to Help Keep Things Tidy
You can encourage guests to help keep your rental clean, making the job easier for your cleaning team. Simple things like providing cleaning supplies and clearly outlining checkout procedures can make a big difference.
In Breckenridge, where guests are likely to bring in snow, dirt, and ski gear, providing boot trays at entrances and asking guests to remove their shoes can prevent a lot of mess. You can also leave reminders about clearing out the fridge and taking out the trash before they leave. These little nudges can go a long way in keeping your rental in good shape.
7. Create Detailed Cleaning Checklists
One of the best ways to make sure your Breckenridge vacation rental is cleaned to your standards is by giving your cleaning team detailed checklists. These should cover everything from the basics, like changing linens and vacuuming, to specific tasks like checking for stray ski gear or making sure outdoor hot tubs are properly cleaned.
Tailored Checklists
Think about creating different checklists for different times of the year. For example, a winter checklist might include steps for dealing with snow buildup or making sure the heating system is working properly. Adding photos or diagrams can also help clarify what you’re looking for, especially for more complex tasks.
Don’t Forget the Little Things
It’s also a good idea to have a checklist for small tasks that can easily be overlooked, like wiping down the inside of the fridge and microwave, dusting ceiling fans, and checking under beds for lost items. Detailed guidelines like these help ensure consistency and make it less likely that anything will get missed.
8. Buy Cleaning Supplies in Bulk
With the high turnover in a busy vacation rental, it makes sense to buy cleaning supplies in bulk. In Breckenridge, where winter and summer seasons are especially busy, having plenty of cleaning supplies on hand is crucial.
Buying in bulk not only saves you money, but it also ensures you’re never caught short when you need something at the last minute. Plus, some suppliers offer discounts for bulk purchases, which can help your bottom line. Make sure you’re always well-stocked so your cleaning team has everything they need to keep your property looking its best.
9. Stay Ahead with Preventive Maintenance
Keeping your Breckenridge vacation rental in great shape isn’t just about cleaning—it’s also about maintenance. By being proactive, you can catch small issues before they become big, expensive problems.
Regular Inspections
Preventive maintenance means doing regular inspections and repairs to address potential issues before they escalate. In Breckenridge, where winters can be tough, make sure your heating systems are in good shape before the first snowfall. Regular checks for wear and tear, like cracks in the foundation or roof leaks, can save you from bigger headaches later on.
Longevity and Safety
Staying on top of maintenance not only makes your property safer and more comfortable for guests, but it also helps your property last longer. Plus, it keeps you in line with local regulations, like fire safety codes, which is super important in a mountain town like Breckenridge.
10. Embrace Technology for Smoother Management
Managing a vacation rental in Breckenridge involves juggling a lot of tasks, from booking management to cleaning schedules. Thankfully, technology can help you streamline these processes and keep everything running smoothly.
Task Management Tools
There are plenty of tools out there to help you keep track of cleaning schedules, maintenance needs, and guest feedback. Smart home devices can also alert you to potential issues before they become big problems. For example, smart thermostats can help you control heating costs, and remote security systems can give you peace of mind when the property is empty.
Efficiency and Guest Experience
By integrating technology into your property management strategy, you can make everything more efficient and enhance the guest experience. Keeping your rental well-maintained and ready for each new guest is easier when you have the right tools at your disposal.
Leave the Hassle of Your Breckenridge Rental to the Experts
Managing the cleaning and maintenance of your Breckenridge vacation rental can be overwhelming, right? Let’s face it — it really is!
But don’t worry, you don’t have to do it all by yourselves. And no, we’re not just talking about the latest tech gadgets.
At Ski Country Resorts, we’ve been handling cleaning and maintenance for properties in Breckenridge for years, and we’ve got the systems in place to keep your rental looking flawless every single day.
Our property inspectors ensure everything is spotless and provide valuable feedback to our cleaning teams to keep standards high.
That’s how we consistently earn top reviews and keep our properties in pristine condition.
