Cleanliness standards matter more than ever whether you're a cleaning your own rental or hiring a professional company to handle each turnover. As a result of COVID-19, many short term rental platforms have enforced standards to make sure guests and hosts are safe during each and every stay.

Check out Airbnb's new safety protocol focusing on an enhanced 5-step cleaning process, for example. All Airbnb hosts will be required to accept the cleaning protocol by November 20, 2020 to continue hosting on the platform. Hosts who don't agree to the safety policy will be suspended or potentially removed from Airbnb. What does that mean for everyone? It's time for change and cleanliness will be the most important focus. Here are 5 cleaning tips to make it work:

#1: Make a game plan and comprehensive cleaning strategy

Gone are the days to just winging the cleanings. Having a comprehensive checklist is the best tool a cleaner can have to stay consistent and make sure all the bells and whistles are clean. Don't forget the small details that are often overlooked but are extremely important (because guests are looking!) - especially cleaning door handles, wall smudges and stains, wiping down windows and electronic surfaces, and vacuuming underneath rugs. With COVID-19, it's best to keep the complimentary food items standard such as salt and pepper along with condiments that have squirt out openings.

#2: Advertise your cleaning standards on your listing!

Guests will feel more comfortable booking when they know their host cares about their safety. It is known that guests are more likely to book a property that outlines their updated cleaning practices in comparison to a listing that does not. Explaining improvements such as changing to all white linens, providing standard in-home cleaning supplies for guest use, and even providing complimentary disposable masks could be the deal-maker for most guests!

#3: Consider no early check-in's or flexibility

There are always guests who ask for potential early check-in or late check-out. Prior to the pandemic, this may have been a non-issue for most hosts, but it is important to keep standard check-in and check-out times to ensure adequate time for sanitizing, disinfecting and cleaning the entire property prior to a next guest arrival.

#4: The larger the property, the longer the cleaning buffer period

Consider extending the buffer period between guests so there is no need to rush a cleaning. Recommendations for cleaning times between guests: 4 hours for a 1-2 bedroom home, 6 hours for a 4 bedroom home. For hosts who have the flexibility and want to take the extra precaution, set a buffer period of 24-72 hours after each booking. You can do so by following these steps:

Step 1: Login to your Airbnb account and switch to hosting. Step 2: Click on Listing in the top navigation bar.

Step 3: Click on the listing you want to add booking buffer.

Step 4: Click on Availability tab.

Step 5: Click on Edit next to Reservation Preferences.

Step 6: Under Preparation time dropdown, select your preference.

Step 7: Click Save.

#5: Be Proactive

Take initiative now to stay on top of cleanliness. Read through Airbnb's safety requirements from hosts. Accept the changes and communicate expectations to housekeepers as necessary. Schedule a deep cleaning to start off right and coordinate routine deep cleanings every 3-5 months. Hire a property management company if the additional processes are too much to handle. We're all in this together!

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