Hygiene in a holiday home: it has always been the top priority for owners and guests. But in COVID-19 times, hygiene in vacation accommodation is even more important so that infections don’t spread any further.
The virus can survive for several hours or even days on some surfaces. This allows COVID-19 infection if people touch a contaminated surface and then touch their mouth, nose, or eyes. That is why it is important to thoroughly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces; This is especially true among holiday guest stays.
You or your cleaning staff can use the following general Sanitation recommendations, even if there is not yet a standardized protocol for cleaning objects and surfaces in your vacation apartment. It is also recommended that you follow local epidemic control guidelines and recommendations.
Recommendations for the hygiene and cleanliness of your apartment.
Ventilate before cleaning. Open all the windows of your vacation home at least 20 minutes before cleaning and let in fresh air. If possible, leave the windows open throughout the cleaning process.
Wash your hands. Wash your hands before and after cleaning with soap and water for about 20-30 seconds. If this is not possible, you can also use a hand sanitizer. However, this should be listed by VAH (Association for Applied Hygiene e.V.) and have an alcohol content of at least 60%.
Wear waterproof disposable gloves. After cleaning, remove gloves so there is no contamination from your hands. After removing gloves, they should be discarded. Also, hands should be washed thoroughly immediately afterward.
Make sure you have a supply of: disposable gloves, paper towels, disinfectant wipes, and other disposable cleaning agents.
Recommendations for cleaning with reusable products.
Change cleaning cloths frequently and wash at least 60 degrees.
Hang the cleaning cloths with air. Bacteria multiply particularly well in a humid environment. That is why you should let the cleaning cloths, mops and other cleaning utensils dry quickly.
Use different wipes. Use different cleaning cloths for the kitchen, bathroom and other areas so that the pathogen does not spread on the surfaces.
Clean first, then disinfect
Disinfection uses chemicals like bleach or alcohol to kill germs. However, disinfection is not a substitute for cleaning. Therefore, dirt, impurities and germs must be removed first with soap or detergent and water. Only then does disinfection make sense. When disinfecting, be sure to pay attention to the recommended exposure time, which is necessary to kill or inactivate at least 99.9% of viruses, fungi or bacteria.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Objects and surfaces that holiday guests often touch include: door knobs, light switches, appliances and kitchen dishes, fixtures, shower curtains, laundry baskets, remote controls, tables, chairs, railings, handles wardrobes, hangers, bedside tables …
Wash hands and bath towels, bedding and underwear, mattress covers, etc. at a minimum of 60 degrees. If possible, use a strong detergent that contains bleach. No additional sanitary rinse is necessary. Once a week, the machine should run with a hot wash at least 60 ° C so that biofilm with microorganisms does not form in the washing machine.
Clean cutlery, dishes and kitchen utensils in the dishwasher at least 60 ° C or with lukewarm water and plenty of detergent. Also regularly clean dish brushes in the dishwasher and replace after each guest’s stay on vacation. For hygiene reasons, you should not use kitchen sponges, as they are a playground for all kinds of germs.
Disinfect cleaning devices such as washers, dryers, or dishwashers. Also disinfect the vacuum cleaner and empty it after each cleaning.
Tips for Holiday Guests
To ensure that your guests feel in good hands during your stay, you can equip your apartment with the following amenities:
Antibacterial hand soap or hand wash lotion
Sanitizer
Antibacterial detergents
Extra rolls of toilet paper and tissues
The recommendations in this article are not binding and are not intended to be complete. The content was created to the best of our knowledge. However, we do not assume any responsibility for errors, omissions, inconsistencies or inaccuracies for this hygiene plan (hygiene measures, hygiene concept, hygiene rules).