Cleaning guidelines for preventing the spread of coronavirus

We strongly recommend every community member to follow the relevant travel advice and local guidelines.  If you continue to host it is essential that you make sure your cleaning procedure and available facilities are in order.

Cleaning is more important than ever

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) it is possible to contract COVID-19 by coming into contact with contaminated surfaces, such as fences, barbecues or a light switch. For this reason cleaning and disinfecting all possible surfaces is essential, especially in between reservations.

Cleaning guidelines

Here are some guidelines to follow when cleaning your space between guests.

Does your campspace come with fixed accommodation, such as a caravan, yurt or treehouse? Make sure your accommodation is well ventilated before and during the cleaning. 

Wash your hands before and after every cleaning work. Use water and soap for no less than 20 seconds. Antibacterial hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol could be used if the soap is not available.

Clean first, Disinfect after. Use soap or other cleaning products to remove dirt and germs. Once surfaces are clean spray with a disinfectant and let it soak in for a couple of minutes. We recommend using disposable wipes or paper towels to avoid using the same cloth for different guests.

Using the correct disinfectant. Most common disinfectants will do, the Environmental Protection Agency maintains a list of active ingredients. Cleaning products with diluted bleach or more than 70% alcohol should also get the job done. We included an extensive list of surfaces that required extra cleaning attention at the bottom of this page.

If you have a tent don’t forget about cleaning the surfaces, any other soft, porous surfaces. Carefully remove visible dirt, then clean with the appropriate cleaners indicated for use on these surfaces. If possible, machine-wash items 

Wear disposable gloves while you clean. Gloves should be thrown out after each cleaning. And make sure to wash your hands immediately after gloves are removed.

Avoid reusing microfiber cloths and sponges when cleaning your space for a new guest. If you prefer to clean with reusable products, make sure to machine-wash them at the highest heat setting that’s appropriate for the material.

If you provide linen at your campspace, wash all linens at the highest heat setting recommended by the manufacturer.  And wear gloves when handling dirty laundry.

Empty the vacuum cleaner after every cleaning. Also wipe down the vacuum cleaner with disinfectant, along with other appliances.

Take a moment to check the expiration dates of your cleaning products. And never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleaning solution that can release toxic gases that are dangerous to inhale.

Helping guests protect themselves

Guests will want to take extra steps to reduce their risk of infection. To help guests maintain a higher standard of cleanliness and hygiene, make sure your space is well-stocked with hygiene essentials such as:

- antibacterial hand sanitizer
- hand soap
- paper towels
- toilet Paper
- tissues
- disposable gloves and wipes

You can encourage guests to clean up by providing disinfectants and other cleaning supplies.

Share your enhanced cleaning routine with your guests

Guests will feel safer if you share all the measures you are taking with their health and safety in mind. Why not add them to your listing description. We recommend avoiding terms as corona free and corona proof.”

Checklist of items to clean and disinfect

Bathroom:
Important: some countries have mandated closing all shared facilities, such as public toilets. We recommend all our hosts follow all relevant local rules and guidelines. 

- sinks
- toilets
- faucets
- showers and tubs

 General:
- doorknobs
- light switches and power sockets
- (picnic)tables
- window sills and window handles
- keys
- garbage and recycling bins

Kitchen and outdoor kitchen:
- sinks
- cabinet handles 
- oven, barbecue, pans, and stoves
- condiments and kitchenware

 Other:
- bikes
- games
- books

Go back to the Campspace COVID-19 Resource centre.