Excessive cleaning protocols

[Morgan418]

I was just wondering if anyone is planning to leave Airbnb because of the excessive cleaning protocols?

My guest house is spotless and I worked as a housekeeper at a hospital for 10 years. We weren’t required to do this for an active tuberculosis patient room. I’m not interested in starting a debate about Covid I just wonder is anybody else considering leaving because of this?

[Marit-Anne0]

@Morgan418 how can guests verify if you are following the protocol or not ? In my opinion, they cannot, so you just sign up and continue with your excellent hosting. Maybe provide some antiseptic wipes and some hand sanitizer. If airbnb is a platform that works for you and provide you with adequate income, I would not advise you to leave until you feel it is needed. That said, it might not harm to list on more than one platform.

[Francesco1366]

@Morgan418 please let us know which hospital, maybe it's better to stay away. There are videos and I recommend you to watch them. It seems to me that these clarify and simplify. They are all useful recommendations to avoid contagion, it's better for everyone to follow them. In any case I'm sorry for your dissatisfaction, good luck!

[Marit-Anne0]

@Francesco1366 the paranoid can wear gloves when entering 😏. If an apartment building, there are also the common areas, door handles, elevators etc. There is no guarantee those have been sanitized often enough.

In my opinion, the safest accomodation there is nowadays is a self contained airbnb with self check-in. 

What has surprised me during my trip through France, Germany and Denmark is the fact that hosts insist to meet and greet even though there is self check-in available.

[Francesco1366]

🤣 @Marit-Anne0 

I am very happy for your comment because I can underline some important aspects.

@Morgan418 , tuberculosis remains in a room for a few hours and is not spread by sharing dishes, drinks, food or clothes or touching surfaces. Very different from Covid, or at least from what we think about. So it's not a good example. However, the cleaning protocols, at least in Italy, provide for example a wide ventilation of the room, exactly as Airbnb (=Who) requests for Covid.

Furthermore, using gloves is not a solution because through them you could spread the virus at the same way: generally the virus in our hands does not transmit the disease if not using these as a vector to reach another part of the body.

It is not paranoia but science 😉

p.s.

the safest accommodation is your own home 🤣. Certainly there are the condominium parts, but if the private ones are cleaned better it is a great advantage since you will live and stay there for much longer. In person check-in done according to the rules I think is as safe as self check-in. In a certain sense, more because recommendations can be given in person to guests with more conviction, also regarding Covid.

[Marit-Anne0]

@Francesco1366  just got my negative Covid test after 6 weeks in France in two different holiday homes and a week on the road from France to Norway, staying in 3 different airbnbs + a ferry crossing. Washing hands, safe distancing and face masks seem to work. The most risky we have done would probably be filling petrol.

[Francesco1366]

@Marit-Anne0 I am very happy for you. You are a good example that we must keep traveling. But we need more responsibility than before.

I'm sorry to insist, it seems to me that the most dangerous thing for you would have been living in a house that did not respect very strict cleaning rules, at least similar to Airbnb rules. I don't want to bore you further with so many possible examples as they are endless.

Of course dangerous things not always bring bad consequences, but they remain dangerous.

[Joanna372]

Hello, 

It's the 11th hour and I have not committed to the advanced cleaning protocol. I have had a five star cleaning record for over 3 years! I feel it's wrong for Airbnb to exert control over us like this. Not to mention that statistics show that COVID-19 is actually not all that deadly.  I would let my listing go, but not sure how repeat guests would contact me. What is everyone doing? 

[Jennifer2686]

Hi Morgan!  To answer your question; I have thought about it.  Now that masks are not required, it helps.  We live way out in the country and yet I have this thought lurking in the  back of my mind, that the Airbnb Police may be spying from behind the trees and watching me LOL!  But if I leave, I would get the bookings?  So what to do?  The income this has generated has been great.  For now, I guess I am going to suck it up and bust my butt and make sure I go above and beyond.  

I take enormous pride in the sanitation and cleanliness we provide.  700 square feet takes me four hours (sometimes more) to clean.  I clean our floors on my hands and knees!  Honestly, I feel I go way overboard on this.  But I want it clean.  Do I agree with all of the procedures?  Heck no!  I also resent Air telling me what to do and how to do it.  But on the other hand, I have heard, from our guests and others who have stayed with Air, that our cottage is heads and shoulders above other properties.  So it begs the question; what are the "others" doing?  Maybe Air has to set these standards for those who are not as through with their cleaning?  

I have to laugh though at some of the things.  Sanitize the inside of the dishwasher?  Ah, hello, the dish washing detergent has bleach in it!  Vacuum my outdoor cushions?  It is 100 degrees out there!  Nothing can live!!  UV kills bacteria and viruses.

One thing that I found helpful is requiring a two night minimum stay.  When we had guests stay for only one night and had someone checking in the same day, that almost killed me.  Now we are getting out of season and will likely only have guests on weekends.  That makes me do the happy dance!  

In a nutshell, not interested in rants or raves.  I understand the seriousness of Covid.  Our whole family had it Nov 2020, way before the vaccine was available.  We opened shop and then had to close about a week later.  Closed down for a month.  Waited.  Healed.  It was awful.  Wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.  After we tested negative we finally re-opened.  So, yeah, sanitation is paramount.  But I still don't like the guidelines.  

Best wishes to all you out there!

Stay safe and try to remain sane!

Jenn