The physical management of a rental chalet requires regular upkeep, maintenance and cleaning. And although cleaning is a high priority on changeover day, there are only so many tasks that can be completed within the tight time frame.
That’s why it’s key to carve out time throughout the quieter, off-peak seasons for those all-important jobs you can’t get to throughout the season.
In this post, you’ll find out…
- How to spring clean a chalet
- The importance of thorough housekeeping
- The commonly missed areas
- Top tips on decluttering
- Garden maintenance advice
- Stocklist essentials
Read on to find out more…
Why it’s important to spring clean your chalet
Cleanliness is non-negotiable when running a property rental business of any kind.
Fundamentally, guests should feel safe and comfortable in your property before anything else. And especially since Covid, hygiene and sanitisation are all the more paramount, with guests far more conscious of public health than ever before.
Regular cleaning and upkeep of your rental chalet is essential. Your weekly changeover will involve tasks such as changing beds, dusting surfaces, polishing glass and cleaning appliances. These jobs ensure a standard level of cleanliness and target the most commonly used areas.
The likelihood is, if guests recognise that a basic job hasn’t been completed, they’ll be on the lookout for more problems, which could lead to negative feedback and a poor overall experience.
A bi-annual, thorough deep clean focuses on the more remote ‘nooks and crannies’ within your rental property (we’ll share what those are later in the post).
Although these spots may go largely unnoticed by your guests, it’s important to clean and maintain every inch of the accommodation to ensure a positive experience.
When to spring clean a chalet
To effectively spring clean a chalet, you must give yourself enough time.
Do not attempt to spring clean on a changeover day when guests are scheduled to arrive in a few hours. You’ll run the risk of the property not being ready for their arrival, which looks unprofessional and gets you off on the wrong foot.
Although spring cleaning is a widely used term, the best time to do it, quite literally, is in spring. You’ll also need to conduct a thorough clean in autumn too, to prepare for winter guests. Both are equally as important.
How to spring clean a chalet
1. Plan in advance
Spring cleaning requires prior planning. Plan a time when there are no guests staying at the property, and if needs be, block your calendar for a few days in spring and autumn and dedicate them to housekeeping, maintenance and completing odd jobs.
If you rely on an external cleaning team, make sure they have the extra time available to help.
Finally, order additional cleaning supplies in advance – don’t worry, we’ll provide a stocklist later in this post.
2. De-clutter, organise and check inventory
You can’t efficiently deep clean a messy chalet. And although you shouldn’t store personal items in your rental property, it’s natural for some items to collect over the course of the season.
Take this time to organise store rooms, remove items that won’t be needed, and check all your inventory.
Replace chipped crockery and upgrade items and appliances which are showing signs of wear. It’s always a good idea to have a spare stock of glassware, crockery, cutlery, light bulbs, tealights, etc – so if you have used up your backup items, make sure to replenish them before the upcoming season.
Accidents happen and light damage has to be expected as a result of heavy footfall through the season. Double-check that everything is in working order, looks presentable and is still safe for use.
3. Organise laundering
In addition to checking and laundering bed linen and towels, you’ll likely need to clean cushion covers, throws, curtains, sofa covers, tablecloths and other soft furnishings.
Contact your local laundrette or ‘blanchisserie’ to make a change to your regular order and budget for additional costs.
4. Follow a logical system
- Top to bottom: You wouldn’t clean a floor before cleaning a dirty work surface, as dirt could fall back onto the floor.
- Left to right: Work in one direction so you aren’t making existing clean areas dirty again.
- Inside out: Clean from the furthest point in the room/area, outwards. For example, don’t clean a shower screen, and then clean the inside of the shower, as you will dirty what you have already cleaned.
Commonly missed areas
As well as your standard cleaning regime, make sure to tick off the following tasks too…
Kitchen/dining
- Clean and defrost the fridge/freezer including the rubber seals
- Clean all corners of the oven including the seals, hinges and, if possible, take the door apart and clean the glass
- Remove and soak the filter from the extractor fan
- Descale the kettle
- Pay close attention to cobwebs in hard-to-reach areas and safely use a ladder if you have high ceilings
- Thoroughly clean table and chair legs
- Using a sponge, wipe into the corners of all the floors where a mop may not reach
- Clean your washing machine using bleach and its cleaning cycle, empty water trays and remove all lint from the dryer
Bedrooms and communal areas
- Dust/wipe down skirting boards, railings, plug sockets, light switches, picture frames, and all decorative objects
- Pull any spare bedding and hangers out of wardrobes, wipe all the surfaces and replace any odd hangers
- Thoroughly clean in and around fireplaces including glass doors using heavy-duty cleaner
- Clean any marks from the walls or repaint if necessary
- Clean or replace air conditioning filters and radiators
- Sanitise kids’ toys and games
- Sanitise mattresses using a disinfectant fabric spray
Bathrooms
- Remove any dust and dirt from air vents and soak detachable parts in soapy water
- Wipe all the piping including behind toilets or under sinks
- Drop chlorine tablets or dishwasher tablets in the toilets and leave them to soak – it helps remove stubborn, built-up stains
- Remove limescale buildup on shower heads
- Soak sink and shower plugs in bleach to ensure all grime is removed and polish with specialist stainless steel product
Exterior/garden
- Re-plant and organise any gardening/maintenance
- Check for cigarette butts and dog mess that can appear especially once the snow has melted
- Check for wasps nests
- Deep clean the barbecue
- Clean garden bins, and doormats and all furniture
Spa facilities
- Organise maintenance and safety checks of hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms and pools
- Thoroughly clean these areas (you may need a professional for this) with specialist products and stock up on chemical supplies (store them in a locked cupboard)
Cleaning product stock list
You’ll already have a basic stock of cleaning supplies, but to carry out some spring cleaning tasks you’ll need extra items or specialist products, so it may be a good idea to double up on what you usually get. Make sure to order them in advance of your spring cleaning date.
You’ll know best what you need for the materials in your chalet, but here are some pointers:
- Heavy-duty reusable gloves – one set for indoors and one for cleaning the fire and BBQ
- Toothbrushes and toothpicks for reaching narrow corners
- Specialist products for wood, metals, spa facilities, fireplaces and heavy-duty cleaning (Briochin and Décap Four are two powerful products which can be purchased in France)
- Polishing cloths
- Scouring pads and scrubbing brushes
- Hoover bags and mop heads
- Dishwasher salt and rinse aid
- Fabric spray/disinfectant
- Personal protective equipment such as face masks, goggles, aprons and gloves (this helps protect your skin, eyes and clothes from some of the strong chemicals required)
- You may need to rent a carpet cleaning machine or organise professionals to do this for you
Make sure you open windows whilst spring cleaning to air out the property and always read cleaning product labels carefully. Always wear protective clothing and be aware that some products should never be mixed.
Summary Checklist
There is a lot of information to take in and plenty of tasks to remember! But don’t worry, as long as you are organised and plan your spring cleaning in advance, it will all go smoothly! To sum up:
- Plan the cleaning in advance and contact maintenance and cleaning teams prior
- De-clutter
- Organise laundering for soft furnishings and linens
- Follow a logical system so you don’t duplicate jobs
- Identify and order plenty of cleaning products in advance
Extra tips
- Find a good playlist or podcast to help the time pass
- Wear old clothes you don’t mind ruining
- Make a schedule and a list to check off as you go – it keeps you on track and gives a sense of satisfaction!
We hope you’ve found this guide to spring cleaning your chalet helpful! For other helpful guest and property management tips, head over to our archives to discover more.
If you own a high-end rental chalet in the Alps, then why not head over to our website to find out about our business solution? With our help, you can own a successful holiday rental business and enhance the resale value of your property while hardly lifting a finger.
