The closed-up recheck
- Close everything.Shut all windows and doors, set the thermostat to a normal guest setting, and leave the unit closed for at least an hour if your schedule allows.
- Step outside and come back in.Your nose adjusts quickly. Spend a few minutes outdoors, then walk in through the front door like a guest.
- Follow the guest's path.Entry, living area, kitchen, main bedroom, main bathroom. Those are where first impressions and reviews come from.
- Smell the beds and pillows.Guests put their faces on them. Bedding holds smoke and fragrance more than almost anything else.
- Note the result.Write none, faint or strong for each room, with the time. Keep it with the turnover record.
Why a doorway sniff is not enough
Open windows and fresh cleaning products hide odors for a while. Heat and closed rooms bring them back: residue on walls and in fabrics releases more smell as temperatures rise, and an HVAC system pulls air from every room and spreads it. A guest arriving at night in winter, with the heat running and windows shut, experiences the unit very differently from a cleaner at noon with the deck door open.
That is why the recheck recreates guest conditions. If the unit passes with the windows closed and the heat or air running, it is ready.
Spots guests notice first
- The entry the moment the door opens.
- Pillows, duvet and the top of the mattress.
- Towels and bath mats.
- The couch cushions and throw blankets.
- The kitchen trash and the fridge when opened.
- Closets where guests hang clothes.
Common questions
What if there is no time for an hour closed up?
Even fifteen minutes closed, with the heat or air on, tells you much more than a check with the windows open.
Who should do the recheck?
Ideally someone who has not been inside cleaning for hours, since their nose has adjusted. A host stopping by, or the cleaner after stepping outside for a few minutes, works well.
Should the recheck be photographed?
Smells cannot be photographed, but a quick note with the time and result, saved with the turnover record, documents that the unit was checked before the guest arrived.
General information for LoHi, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.