How to know if your Florida furnished rental has been properly cleaned for COVID protection

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - Sept. 24, 2020 - PRLog -- Hollywood, FL – Before signing up for that great rental online deal, look for the signs that it's been properly cleaned to protect you and your family from the coronavirus.

"You should look at how soon the previous guest left before you check-in," said The Palms at Younge Circle co-owner Marco Cepeda. "If they just checked out the same day you're checking in, you might want to ask for a different room, or go somewhere else."

Expect to spend a little more to ensure everything is clean. There should be a one to three-day gap between rentals so rooms are cleaned and ventilated.

If a previous guest had respiratory issues, it could be a disaster for the next guest if the room wasn't ventilated. When COVID hit, they had to change their business model to extended short-term furnished with a minimum 30-day stay.

When guests leave, they ensure rooms are ventilated for three days.

"We also sanitize all touchable areas. Our cleaning crew wear gloves while an inspector ensures nothing is missed. We also run an ozone generator for 180 minutes to kill 99 percent of airborne bacteria and it's effective against viruses."

Not everyone is doing this. Their goal is to exceed CDC recommendations. Some AirBNB owners are asking guests to clean dishes. Other signs might be fish smells in closets.

"These little things give you an idea of how thorough they're cleaning. You should ask upfront about cleaning practices and a check list of procedures. If they're not responsive, that's a red flag."

A dead giveaway at cleanliness are online reviews.

Since opening two year ago, they've regularly changed mattress and box spring encasements and pillow protectors. Some five-star hotels aren't doing this.

They are booked solid until December and have regular clients.

Now, they're offering a COVID office amenities package, which includes a printer and everything you need for office work while you're in town for business or vacation.

To attract customers, they're focusing on dressing up the outdoor amenities of their 10-unit complex. Two are studios and a detached house. They just had a mural painted on one of the buildings.

"Before COVID, it was all about saving a few bucks. Now the trust factor really matters. We had another guest that stayed with us for a week when the pandemic hit. When they left for Miami, they came back complaining the other place wasn't as clean."

Rentals at the Palms at Younge Circle website (https://palmsyoungcircle.com/) start at $62 a night includes a guidebook (https://hostful.ly/gqwzxfz). and are a five-minute drive to the beach.