Luxury Villa with Private Pool

General advice

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has created a need to take additional cleaning and disinfection measures to help prevent its spread and help ensure the safety of holidaymakers and guests.

Casa Sunflower have taken the following actions:

• Use accurate, reputable sources of information including the WHO, and local authorities
• Make sure to follow local regulations, where applicable
• Have a proactive plan to manage and minimise the risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and similar events, such as a prevention of spread of infection plan
• Implement an enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of the property between stays
• Communicate to holidaymakers on measures implemented, both pre-stay and during stay, via listing content and property information booklet

Support for guests
 

• Supporting good hand hygiene for guests and anyone involved with the property by providing hand sanitiser, antibacterial soap products at property entry points and key areas, and also encouraging hand washing regularly with water and soap for at least 20 seconds
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• Implemented social distancing policies during check-in and check-out, and during any interactions with guests, staff and the local community. When possible, encourage minimising these interactions
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• We Recommend removing shoes when entering the property and leaving them at the entrance (if possible, outside)
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• gGuests on how they can contribute in prevention, and actions to take if they identify symptoms (refer to WHO, or local government resources)
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• Provided cleaning and disinfecting products for guests to use, along with instructions; antibacterial hand wash and additional personal hygiene products are also nice to have on hand for guests

If 
Cleaning and disinfection —

A. Equipment

Cleaning tools and personal protective equipment (PPE):

Cleaning equipment should be cleaned and disinfected before and after use to minimise the risk of contamination
Cleaning products, personal protective equipment (PPE) and tools should be in good condition and supplied appropriately for the size and usage of the property
Personal protective equipment (PPE) typically includes disposable single-use gloves, masks and shoe covers, as well as reusable eye protection
Any single-use equipment should be disposed of safely after use
Cleaning equipment typically includes brushes, sponges, microfiber rags and mops with replaceable heads
All equipment should be fit for purpose, and approved or recommended by the local authorities
B. Cleaners and training

The considerations below apply to professional cleaners, or anyone cleaning or maintaining the property:

Should be trained on how to use and care for and properly dispose of personal protective equipment (PPE)
Should be trained on properly using cleaning, disinfecting and chemical products (e.g. germicides) and on safe waste disposal
Should always use fit-for-purpose PPE during the cleaning process
Single-use PPE should be safely disposed of to minimise risk of contamination
Should avoid touching their face during the cleaning process, as well as any unnecessary contact with surfaces, including personal belongings
Should implement enhanced hand hygiene (washing both hands and forearms for at least twenty seconds) before and after removing gloves
Cleaning and disinfection process —

A. General principles

Cleaning and disinfecting are two different steps in the overall process, and both are required to lower the risk of contamination.
Cleaning removes germs, dirt and impurities from surfaces or objects, by using soap (or detergent) and water to physically remove germs from surfaces. This process does not necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.
Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects. Disinfecting works by using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces or objects. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.
Sanitising lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects. This process works by either cleaning or disinfecting surfaces or objects to lower the risk of spreading infection.
Prevent cross contamination by using specific equipment by area (room, bathroom, kitchen)
Plan the process to start with lowest risk areas (bedroom, living room) to highest risk areas (kitchen, bathroom)
Define a cleaning checklist to help ensure completion and keep records (these can be useful in case of guest complaints)
Ventilate the property during and after the process
If guests clean the property themselves, be ready to assess the results and the overall cleanliness of the property and implement a cleaning step if necessary, and a disinfection step in any case, as described below
B. Cleaning process

Clean with water and suitable detergent (WHO)
Use a detergent or soap and water, and leave to act for enough time, usually 3 to 5 minutes (WHO)
Rinse, dry and wipe to remove all products
Clean and disinfect all cleaning equipment
C. Disinfection process

Disinfect using the appropriate chemical per area. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective for disinfection. A list of products that are EPA-approved for use against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is available here. Additional resources are also available on the WHO.
Follow manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products utilised (concentration, application method and contact time, etc.). Additionally, diluted household bleach solutions (at least 1000ppm sodium hypochlorite) can be used if appropriate for the surface.
Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application, ensuring a contact time of at least 1 minute, and allowing proper ventilation during and after application. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.
D. Prioritise high-touch surfaces such as

Door handles
Controls and switches (e.g. light switches, cooking controls, television controls, fan pull chains)
Bathroom taps, toilet flush handles, toilet seats
Utensils, cutlery and crockery
Furniture such as chairs, tables and parts of the bed frames
Children facilities such as bunk beds, toys or play equipment (if not removed from property)
Linen, including those that appear unused
Refuse, recycling bins and any waste disposal containers
Cleaning equipment
Guest information, brochures, menus
E. Review linen management

Minimise handling of used linen to minimise risk of contamination, particularly shaking it
Wash linen at highest temperature, and dry completely before storing
Clean linen should be stored and handled separately from used linen (and changed between stays)
Any other solid/bulk waste should be handled separately, and first
Timeframes: peace of mind for holidaymakers —

To help holidaymakers’ peace of mind, partners might want to consider avoiding back-to-back stays. This will help minimise the likelihood of contamination by allowing enough time for cleaning and disinfection. Based on the recent information available, here are some time considerations for partners to help minimise the likelihood of infection:

Once guests have checked out, waiting at least 3 hours before entering the property for cleaning
Letting the property remain empty for a total of 24 hours after previous stay check-out, including cleaning above
Note: while time between stays could help minimise likelihood of contamination, it does not replace enhanced cleaning processes
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Additional guidelines – for property managers and multi-unit rentals
For properties, partners, property managers and multi-unit rentals where this is relevant and can be implemented, it is also recommended to consider:
Seeking third-party certification from an accredited hygiene organisation
Implementing ways to check-in and check-out implementing social distance:
Self-check-in and check-out, not at an office
Contactless check-in and check-out (smart lock, keyless, app)
Implementing standard check-in and check-out times, and avoid early arrivals or late departures to minimise the possibility of disrupting the enhanced cleaning process using a professional cleaning company
Communicating on minimising non-essential interactions at property:
Maintenance teams unless urgent
Any other non-guests
Making PPE available to guests, especially masks, when going out of the property
Encouraging guests to self-monitor for symptoms, follow advice from local authorities and seek medical assistance where possible/available
Encourage application of these guidelines to shared/public areas
For partners offering food/baskets, consider minimising or removing this service, or consider serving individually wrapped items
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Listing content
Partners should display cleaning policies and procedures via:
Structured amenities
Property description
Property information booklet
Any other means reasonably available — such as door hangers, signs or checklists on display
HomeAway/Expedia Group will monitor this content and reserves the right to remove any information that it deems to be inaccurate based on holidaymaker feedback and other sources of information, including but not limited to direct interaction with the partner.

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Disclaimer
These guidelines are based on publicly available information from the World Health Organization (WHO), and in consultation with Expedia Group partner expert Cristal International Standards, part of the Intertek Group, and the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA).

None of these organisations endorse these guidelines or EG/HomeAway. Neither Expedia Group nor HomeAway make any representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability of these guidelines. Any reliance a partner places on these guidelines is at their own risk. These guidelines are subject to change based on new information arising. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the World Health Organization (WHO), and your local health authority.
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Additional Resources
US Vacation Rental Management Association cleaning guidelines
World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Cristal International Standards