To help suppress the spread of COVID-19, Airbnb has implemented new cleaning policies that are designed to enhance guest safety. These new standards include a five-step enhanced cleaning process and a room-by-room checklist.
To enroll in the program, hosts must review the guidelines and complete a quiz. They also have to agree to an attestation. When they do, a special highlight and “committed to clean” sign will appear on their listing page.
Preparation
Preparation is a process that involves getting ready for something, such as attending a medical school exam or going to boot camp. It also includes studying with a goal in mind, such as preparing for a presentation or writing a report.
Airbnb Enhanced Cleaning is a new set of cleaning standards that Hosts will be prompted to commit to when they log into their account. They will be provided with articles, videos, and checklists to help them understand the process and ensure they comply with the guidelines.
These new cleaning standards are designed to reassure travelers that their host is following COVID-19 safety practices. They include a five-step enhanced cleaning process and social distancing measures when mandated by local laws or guidelines.
The Enhanced Cleaning Protocol is part of a larger suite of policies that Airbnb launched in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The policies were developed in collaboration with leading experts in hospitality and medical hygiene, including former US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, and earned the Safe Travel stamp from the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC).
Hosts that commit to these Enhanced Cleaning standards will receive a special badge on their profile that indicates they have taken stringent extra safety and sanitization measures. They will also be required to maintain a 24-hour waiting period after a guest leaves before they enter the listing to clean. If they do not want to commit to the rigorous Enhanced Cleaning protocols, they may opt into a less strict tier called Booking Buffer, which requires a longer time buffer between stays.
Cleaning
As the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has swept the globe, Airbnb has responded by requiring all hosts to follow its enhanced cleaning guidelines. These guidelines were developed in conjunction with health experts and include a five-step cleaning procedure, social distancing guidelines for hosts and guests, and a 24-hour vacancy period between stays.
Hosts can enroll their homes in the Enhanced Clean program through their Airbnb accounts, which will require them to review the guidelines, complete a quiz, and agree to an attestation. Once they do, their listings will populate with a tag that says “Enhanced Clean.”
According to Airbnb’s internal data, listings enrolled in the Enhanced Cleaning Protocol are among the most popular on the site and experience three times more bookings on average than other listings. The company said it will remove listings that do not adhere to the new standards and may ban them from its platform, should they choose to opt-out of the initiative.
For listings that do not meet the Enhanced Clean criteria, Airbnb offers a new feature called “Booking Buffer,” which automatically blocks reservations for 72 hours between guests. However, this does not include the same cleaning standards as the Enhanced Clean program and requires longer time buffers between guests.
Moreover, the American Hotel & Lodging Association found that cleanliness is the most important factor for travelers looking for a hotel. If a vacation rental does not meet these expectations, it is more likely that a guest will be less satisfied and leave a bad review.
The Enhanced Clean initiative also makes it easier for owners to keep their properties in tip-top shape during the changeover process. It provides a checklist that enables hosts to check off everything from their list. It also gives owners a chance to spot any maintenance issues and fix them before they become a problem for their guests.
Sanitizing
Hosts who participate in Airbnb’s new enhanced cleaning protocols will earn a special badge that travelers can see when looking at listings on the platform. To get the badge, hosts must pass a quiz that tests their knowledge of the program’s guidelines.
The sanitizing phase of Airbnb Enhanced Cleaning requires hosts to spray surfaces with disinfectant chemicals, especially high-touch areas like light switches and doorknobs. Ideally, the chemicals should be left on these surfaces for at least 24 hours before wiping them down. This helps prevent the spread of bacteria, and allows them to dry properly.
Before the sanitizing phase, it’s important to thoroughly clean the space, including floors and walls. It’s also a good idea to scrub down surfaces with soap and water. This can help eliminate any dirt or debris that may have accumulated during a guest’s stay, and keep the home clean for future guests.
After the sanitizing step is complete, it’s time to reset the space. This includes making beds and replacing consumables, such as toilet paper and tissues, in their usual spots. It’s also a good idea for hosts to make sure their home is in tip-top shape before offering it for rent again.
While most Airbnb listings are enrolled in the new enhanced cleaning protocol, some hosts are opting to keep their existing procedures. The company said it would let travelers know which hosts are participating in the program by placing a special badge on their listing pages, but it does not yet offer a filtering feature to narrow down listings by specific clean standards.
In an effort to reassure travelers and local governments that its platform is safe, Airbnb has updated its cleaning policies with guidance from experts in hospitality and hygiene. These new policies require hosts to follow a five-step cleaning process, maintain social distancing measures, and wear masks. The company has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy to develop these guidelines.
Checking
Checking accounts are among the oldest – and most convenient – methods of depositing cash into a bank account. Using checks is also safe and secure, as opposed to cash, which can be easily stolen or counterfeited.
A check is a written order by the maker to pay a specified sum of money to the receiver on a specific date, usually within a set time frame. The recipient’s bank will process the check, and the funds will be withdrawn from the payer’s account and credited to the payee’s.
The other aweseome thing about checks is that they are easy to use and provide an excellent window of opportunity to conduct business. Aside from the obvious benefits of being able to write and receive checks, a checking account may offer additional features such as automatic deposits and withdrawals, online banking, and mobile check writing, among other perks.
In terms of cleaning, the best and most cost-effective method is probably the simplest: using a professional cleaner to do the dirty work. As for the cheapest option, many homeowners can find a quality service in their local area through a simple search on Google or Yelp.
The company has a few cleaning related programs for hosts to choose from, including its new enhanced cleaning standard and the ’72-hour buffer between guests’ that it previously offered. Hosts can choose to enroll in each or to opt for a hybrid program that combines the Enhanced Clean with Booking Buffer. If a host has opted for the Enhanced Clean, there will be a special callout on their listing page for them to attest to its five-step cleaning process.
Resetting
Airbnb has a five-step cleaning protocol, developed with health and hospitality experts, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Hosts are encouraged to read the guide, complete a quiz, and agree to an attestation of their commitment.
Then, their listings will populate with a special “Enhanced Clean” tag that indicates they have met these new standards. This badge won’t be visible to guests but it will let other hosts know that your home is squeaky clean and safe.
In addition to these new cleaning requirements, hosts also must adhere to mask and social distancing guidelines as they interact with guests and cleaners. These new policies, announced Thursday, come as short-term rentals have rebounded in popularity following the coronavirus pandemic.
After a host has completed all the steps of their cleaning, they must reset the property for the next guest. This includes ensuring all cleaning supplies are properly discarded and that the cleaning crew has changed into their own personal protective equipment (PPE).
For this phase, hosts should take the time to review each room-by-room checklist in their handbook. This way, they can be sure all high-touch surfaces have been sanitized.
This step is critical, as it prevents cross-contamination from happening between rooms and cleaning equipment. This can result in germs or bacteria transferring to the new host’s home and then to their guests.
The Enhanced Clean program was introduced in June, and it’s currently available to nearly 1.5 million Airbnb listings worldwide. This means that almost all Airbnb hosts are now required to commit to the program. These stricter cleaning standards are backed by leading health and hospitality experts. Those who choose to participate will get a badge on their listing and a special highlight that shows up on their page, and their listings are likely to have three times as many bookings on average as those not in the program.