JVN: CLEANING & CARETAKER’S GUIDES
For Owners to read & Cleaning Crews to Understand & Accept & Agree to:
We like to call our Cleaning Crews “CARETAKERS” because they do a bit more than just clean. We try to “Take Care of” each property as if it was our own. Because these Vacation Homes are owned primarily by people who live far away, like California, Kansas,Texas, etc, their owners are often unable to give these homes the attention they require. Thus, our teams are left in Roles of Responsibility to help “Care For” these homes as if they were our own. Together we work in such ways as to insure guests and reassure owners that all is safe, well and clean.
This means we take extra steps and go a bit beyond what many may be used to doing for an average cleaning. Because many of these homes are rural, remote and relaxing retreats, this might involve extra care for many different reasons. Sometimes we are faced with unusual situations – and then we need to use our best judgement to decide what to do – or text or call others for some helpful Guidance. These rural Part-Time homes in Nature have many issues that other Full Time Homes do not. For one thing, they are often left empty for weeks at a time – and so dust or cobwebs, dead flies or insects, all sorts of things might be found on the floors or windowsills or in corners of a counter top or above a doorway. We need to look around and be alert and awake to what kind of care is needed at each home – each and every time we go there.
Here are some sample problems you might encounter as a Cleaning Crew Caretaker working with Joyous Vacations Networks:
OUT IN RURAL AREAS OUR VACATION HOMES SOMETIMES NEED EXTRA CARE BECAUSE;
* People move Furniture around to suit themselves and forget to put it back where it belongs
* Animals may have made a mess – outside or inside – from Termites or carpenter ants to squirrels and even bears raiding garbage.
* Water may be an issue – Frozen Pipes, A well or cistern run dry, or a problem with a pump or motor being left on and burned out
* Trash and Re-Cycling will need to be removed from Time to Time – as many locations do not offer pick up services or there is no one around to put that trash or re-cycling out when the proper day arrives
* Septic systems can be sensitive: Unlike city sewers, Septics can clog or over-fill. And Feminine personal products can clog toilets
* Solar homes require extra attention – we MUST make sure all LIGHTS & ELECTRICAL plugs are OFF and not draining power.
* And often Solar Homes need their Solar Batteries checked to be sure water is in the cells and the batteries aren’t burning out
THESE ARE SOME ITEMS & THINGS YOU’D BE WISE TO BRING WITH YOU WHEN YOU CLEAN:
* A small portable Vacuum Cleaner in case the one left at each house has a broken belt or is not working * or needs emptied
* Extra Trash Bags – in case they’ve run out or left more trash than you can easily carry away in the bags provided. Some small
White bags for kitchen trash are often needed, and larger Black bags are good to line your trunk or floor to keep trash leaks away
* Extra Cleaning supplies in case they’ve run out of Cleaning & spot remover or soap and scrubbers or Pine Sol and ammonia
* Extra Toilet Paper – so we can leave at least 2 rolls at each cabin – Most “Consumables” are to be supplied by guests however
* A Jug or Gallon or two of water in case of needs like priming a pump or if pipes frozen or dishes left in sink to do – Always a good
Idea to have some water in your car anyway in case of a break down or an emergency
* Maybe even some extra AA or AAA batteries for clocks or flashlights or remote controls
LINENS & TOWELS & LAUNDRY SERVICES & CAREFUL LABELING ETC:
Usually we have extra Linens & Towels on had or in drawers, closets or storage nearby – but it would be smart to keep a set of QUEEN sheets & 3 Towels in your Car Kits to be on the safe side – in case of extreme weather or faulty communications etc
* We have Friends & “Frequent Flyer” Guests whom we‘ve learned to trust over time & allow them to bring their own linens & towels
* We Frown on and avoid the PILES OF LAUNDRY – all wrinkled and stuffed into Pillow cases – Best to Air Dry Towels on first arrival
REMEMBER MOM? She always said: ” A DAMP Towel is NOT A DIRTY Towel!” So proceed with care to save water, elec, time etc
* MOST cabins DO NOT HAVE LAUNDRY FACILITIES – so we have to carefully figure what needs are & when – and rotate the linen
supplies at each home so that there are clean sets available and extras for back up too
* And yet we MUST BE CAREFUL & not put out too many linens – or we will DROWN in the Laundry – Some People will use EVERY
Towel available if they can find a stash – so again – Being Aware & PREVENTATIVE on all scores is our goal
DON’T FORGET THE OUTDOORS – IT”S OUR MAIN MARKETING MASTERPIECE:
Another often overlooked issue that Caretakers & Cleaning Crews have trouble with is looking around OUTSIDE for Litter & such.
When people pull up and find trash blowing around or plastic bags stuck in trees, or beer caps & soda cans in the driveway or even just a dirty doorstep, our whole FIRST IMPRESSION effort goes out the window & they ENTER the home with a Chip on the shoulder and a CRITICAL EYE to the rest of the cleaning – We‘ve found that this impacts satisfaction, return guests & even creates bigger messes as folks figure – well the last folks didn’t pick up candy wrappers from THEIR kids, so I guess we don’t have to EITHER!!
Besides LITTER – other things to be aware of & DISPOSE OF PROPERLY ARE Things like:
Cigarette butt cans overflowing on decks – as there is NO SMOKING INSIDE at ANY CABIN – so butts are tossed on decks & outside
Charcoal Messes from BBQ’s & burned Logs tossed outside from FIREPLACES & WOOD STOVES – these are Very DANGEROUS
and, like Litter, we DO NOT want to leave them there along with leaving the WRONG IMPRESSION of our Standards of Cleanliness.
Cans & Bottles & Clothes & Towels left outside on Decks or Near a Hot Tub or just Lost & Found or Forgotten Items from Toys to ??
REMEMBER TO USE YOUR BEST JUDGEMENT IN CLEANING ALWAYS:
We understand, having worked and learned with numerous cleaning people and doing a lot of work ourselves, that everyone has
a different focus & level of what is “CLEAN” to them – But we have an overall list to share with OWNERS, GUESTS & STAFF that has the basic guidelines that you all know – things that we all need to REMEMBER: like
* Always starting from the top and working your way down from cobwebs & dusting to final Floor sweeping & Vacuuming
* Making sure when you LEAVE that the Entryway & Outside “FIRST IMPRESSIONS” are always Positive, Clean & Inviting
* Judgement in WHERE & WHEN you have to “CUT CORNERS” sometimes – we all know that back to back cleans are different
than deep cleans & when we are stressed due to Time, Weather, Personal Appts & Problems – well, use your Best Judgement.
* But never leave the home dirty or incomplete thinking you can come back tomorrow – it could get RENTED Tonight! : )
* So we are Flexible sometimes with doing those things that may get overlooked at times – ( wiping fingerprints off etc ) but
* SOME THINGS are a MUST ALWAYS: = Kitchens & Crumbs & counters & refrig & Bathrooms & Toilets & showers & Sinks etc
WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR READING, RESPECTING & REMEMBERING THESE GUIDELINES:
* PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE A HOME UNCLEAN IF YOU CAN HELP IT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM
* IF YOU MUST, PLEASE LEAVE AN APOLOGETIC NOTE FOR NEXT PERSON OR GUEST EXPLAINING WHY SITUATION
* We have Friends & “Frequent Flyer” Guests whom we‘ve learned to trust over time & allow them to do own cleaning & linens
In those cases we just need quick REVIEW & INSPECTION of the premises – it’s also a good time to do deeper neglected cleans
ALSO CHECK FOR NOTEBOOKS IN EACH CABIN THAT CAN EXPLAIN KEY ITEMS & INFO FOR GUESTS LIKE:
How to use the TV or WI-FI or Stereo or Electronics or
How to use the Fireplace, Woodstove or Gas or Electric Heaters or Grills and BBQ’s
Where to find Special & Unique things –
The Notebook or nearby it is also where we‘d like to Display the NAME & PHONE & PHOTO of each cleaning crew for better Tips $
THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THIS:
THESE ARE, ESSENTIALLY “ORPHAN CABINS” NEEDING EXTRA CARE -no one is there taking care of them on a Daily Basis.
It’s impossible to treat these homes the same way as helping an Active or Retired person who lives there & has a cleaner once or twice a month come over to clean.
WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR READING, RESPECTING & REMEMBERING THESE GUIDELINES
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! IF WE ALL READ, REVIEW & FOLLOW OUR POLICY GUIDELINES, ALL GOES SMOOTHER
AND EVERYONE ENJOYS LIFE MORE WITH LESS HASSLE, MORE FUN & APPRECIATION ALL AROUND! THANK YOU!