As you’ll know by now, the news is full of worrying stories about the spread of the new Coronavirus. Airbnb and other holiday rental Facebook groups are overflowing with questions regarding bookings, cancellations and cleaning.
In this Cleaning Your Airbnb – A Coronavirus Special article, we provide some basic answers along with videos and links to the latest information regarding Covid19 and your Airbnb rental business.
The COVID-19 is a relatively new virus that had not previously been detected before the outbreak that was started in Wuhan, China in December 2019. It is part of a large family of viruses found in both animals and humans. SARS in 2003 and MERS in 2012 are also caused by Coronaviruses.
How Does COVID-19 Spread?
The virus initially emerged from an animal source which they are still trying to identify. COVID-19 is easily spread from person-to-person who are within close contact of about 6 feet.
The virus is spread when an infected person sneezes and coughs. The droplets could land in the noses or mouths of other people and they, in turn inhale the virus into their lungs.
People are deemed to be most contagious when they are at the peak of their illness.
Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, even if you don’t have this virus. It’s just the right thing to do.
Coronavirus COVID-19 Reported Cases
There are currently more than 116,000 cases confirmed, and more than 4,000 reported deaths. Most of the recorded fatalities were in China where the virus started, but now there are also reported deaths in France, Iran, the Republic of Korea, Italy, the Philippines, and Japan. There are reported cases from Singapore to the United States, and a lot of other countries, as well.
Coronavirus COVID-19 infections can cause mild symptoms like sore throat, cough, runny nose, and fever. If left untreated it could lead to breathing difficulties or pneumonia. In other cases, it could be fatal.
People with pre-existing medical conditions such as immunity diseases, diabetes and heart problems, and older folks, seem to be more vulnerable to being infected with the virus.
Protecting Yourselves
Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them well with soap and water. This kills any viruses that could be on your hands.
Here’s a short video to show the best way to do this
https://youtu.be/d914EnpU4Fo
Social Distancing
Maintain at least 4 feet of distance between yourself and anyone who is sneezing or coughing.
If you are too close and someone is sneezing or coughing, they might spray small droplets which could potentially contain the virus.
Avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth:
Remember, your hands can pick up the virus, and once contaminated they can transfer the virus to your nose, eyes, or mouth. Then the virus can enter your lungs and make you sick.
Not touching your face is easier said than done but try to make a conscious effort not to do this if you have come into contact with others or objects that may be infected.
The best advice that I came across was to clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub straight after visiting the supermarket. Supermarket baskets and trollies have been handled by a lot of people, so bear this in mind after shopping.
Practice Good Respiratory Hygiene
Dear hosts, if you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or a tissue. Immediately throw the used tissue in a covered trash can.
Feeling sick and having trouble breathing? Stay home and seek medical attention.
Airbnb and Coronavirus COVID-19
Given the health risks posed by this COVID-19 virus, all hosts and guests should review their local authorities’ travel guidance and health advisories in relation to this outbreak. Take the necessary precautions to protect yourself when hosting or traveling.
As a property owner or host you might be able to cancel a reservation if the guests are traveling from an affected area. Likewise, a guest can cancel a reservation as well.
This information, called as Interim Guidelines for Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection of Premises With Transient Exposure to Confirmed Cases(s) of the COVID-19 is from the latest document from the National Environmental Agency of Singapore. Why Singapore, you ask? Because Singapore has the best cleaning document since one of their hotels was infected.
Cleaning for a space where there was a confirmed CO-VID19 case present for a short span of time.Hopefully, you won’t have anyone in your property with COVID-19, but just in case, here are ways to sanitize your place.
Right now, they have discovered that the CO-VID19 virus can survive on surfaces of different materials for up to 3 days. Hence, it is of utmost importance to keep your property clean.
We found this useful video about how to best go about cleaning your property (although the lady in the video is in bare feet, which doesn’t make any sense whatsoever)
Cleaning your Airbnb/Property
Prepare all the necessary cleaning supplies before you even enter the home.
•Disposable gloves
•Disinfectant solution
•Mop
•Trash bags
•Pail
•Disposable rags or wipes
•Change of clothes
Getting Ready
•Before you begin touching anything, put on a pair of gloves.
•Do not touch your face, including your mouth, eyes, and nose.
•Keep the windows wide open for better ventilation.
Cleaning Products
Don’t combine different cleaning agents. Bleach can be used as a disinfectant (1 part bleach in 49 parts water). If bleach isn’t available, then alcohol can be used to sanitize surfaces.
There is a list of common cleaning products that are effective, such as Clorox Disinfectant Wipes, Clean-Up All Purpose Cleaner with Bleach, Mr. Muscle Magic Cleaner, Clorox,and much more.
Products Recommendations from National Environment Agency:
All surfaces should be wiped down and sanitized since you have no idea what was touched and potentially contaminated. Think about everything. Use a different set of cleaning agents and tools for the bathroom. Seek medical attention if you feel ill.
Cleaning Your Airbnb – A Coronavirus Special
Cleaning Your Property for the COVID-19
Mop the floor with the disinfectant or bleach solution from corner to corner. This is your first floor clean up.
Soak wipes or rags with the bleach or disinfectant solution and wipe down everything, from walls, light switches, blinds, door handles, windows. This is a deep and thorough cleaning,my dear hosts.
Clean the bathroom with a separate brush and cloth.
You will also need to wash all fabrics, cushion covers, curtains, etc.
Now it’s time for the second floor clean up.
Throw away all used rags, wipes, and waste into double trash bags. Remove the gloves and wash your hands well with soap and water.
Throw away the gloves as well into the double-lined trash bags.
Shower up, wash your hair, and change your clothes, immediately after the cleanup.
Air out the house.
Dear hosts, we don’t know what is going to be the end result of the COVID-19. Information and preparation instead of worrying and panicking is imperative. Anxiety and fear due to misinformation could lead to discrimination towards people who were in quarantine.
Here at Doinn we provide professional cleaning and linen services in over 80 cities in Europe. If you would like to know more about how we can help your Airbnb/holiday rental business please feel free to get in touch.
Where From Here?
What are you doing to protect yourselves and your businesses?
Do you have any tips that you could share with us and our readers?
