Traveling away from home these days requires more than just thinking about where to go and what to do. At the forefront of every traveler’s mind is, “Can I keep myself and my family out of situations where we might come in contact with the coronavirus?” It’s something I think about every day.
Most important to us here at Padre Island Rentals is the safety of our staff and guests. For that reason, we feel it’s important for us to tell you (our guests) what our guidelines are for cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting our Welcome Center and each of our family-friendly vacation home rentals.
It’s Not Just About Cleaning
It is obvious that my idea of “clean” is quite different from that of my children. When I ask them to “clean the kitchen, please,” I often wonder where I went wrong.
Thankfully our great staff of housekeepers at Padre Island Rentals have a much better understanding of “clean” than my children. I want to take my staff home everyday! They know how to put things where they belong, make beds, clear the counters, organize every cabinet and closet, straighten the wall hangings and window dressings, make sure the towels are ready to use, clean the windows, and put the remote where you can find it.
But is tidying enough? That would be a resounding “No.”
Not just Tidy, but also Clean, Sanitized, and Disinfected
The CDC defines cleaning as “the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. It does not kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.” The process of sanitizing is to reduce the number of germs to a safe level. Again, according to the CDC, to disinfect is to kill nearly 100% of germs on surfaces and objects. It is important to understand the difference in those terms.
Professional Housekeeping
For many years Padre Island Rentals has been a member of the world-wide Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA.org). A critical part of that organization is the Vacation Rental Housekeeping Professionals (VRHP). We attend various conferences annually to keep up with important updates and advances in vacation rental management, which includes up-to-date information about cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting rental properties.
Our linens and towels are washed in commercial-grade laundry systems using EPA approved chemicals to combat the coronavirus, as well as all other potential infections. We do not use in-home machines. Getting wash-water hot enough and using commercial grade chemicals are key to not only cleaning but also sanitizing and disinfecting laundry.
Our housekeepers are an extremely important part of our organization. We rely on them to clean, sanitize and disinfect efficiently during not only these times of coronavirus, but always. The process begins with a tidying process, where the unit is cleaned and organized. Next, they sanitize to the point of disinfection all surfaces in the property. Finally, they clean the floors, beginning from the furthest point working towards the door, then exiting the unit, leaving the vacation home untouched after it’s completed.
Before a guest arrives, we send an inspector to double-check our work and add another layer of disinfectant on the more commonly touched surfaces. During particularly busy times, we may not get inspectors in all properties before a guest arrives, but we are striving to reach 100% inspection rate.
The Highest Standard, But Not Guaranteed
While we are taking every action we can to provide a safe and disinfected environment, we obviously cannot guarantee a person will not come in contact with the coronavirus while they are on South Padre Island. Individuals need to take their own safety measures, follow guidelines of masks, social distancing, and regular handwashing. In many of our vacation homes, you will find regular household cleaning supplies. While we have taken strong steps to clean, sanitize, and disinfect, we encourage you to have your own hand sanitizers and wipes at the ready.
Social Distancing on Vacation
By staying in a vacation home as opposed to a hotel, you are better able to practice social distancing. You avoid busy areas like hotel lobbies, hallways, and restaurants. We are also offering direct check-in for many of our units, helping you avoid non-essential contact with others. Local businesses are also doing their part to help their patrons practice social distancing. Those that have opted to re-open are required to follow up-to-date guidelines like spacing and sanitation. Even the Beach Waterpark at Isla Blanca is opening. We all want to get back to some sense of normalcy. We are doing our best to help you feel comfortable and safe on South Padre Island.