Let’s set the stage: you enter your property after a guest has just checked out and find stained items. What to do? A thought comes to mind, “How will I make a profit if I keep having to replace stained items?” Remember, revenue is the goal in owning a Short-Term Rental (STR). While this situation is unfortunate, a little knowledge will help you remove common stains and save from having to buy new items.
Juice or Red Wine Stains Adult beverages are fun until they aren’t! Unfortunately, red wine is famous for leaving tricky stains on carpet, fabric, and upholstery. If you see a very dark red stain, it’s probably from red wine.
Pet Stains You might notice pet stains in your STR as discolored or slightly damp spots on carpets, rugs, linens, or upholstery. These stains often have a distinctive odor and can vary in color from yellow to brown, depending on the surface and age of the stain. Commonly, they appear in corners, under furniture, or in secluded areas where pets tend to secret away to use the bathroom.
Coffee and Tea Stains Coffee and tea can leave unsightly marks around your rental. Light greenish-brown stains are probably from tea and dried brown marks from coffee. You might see these on coffee tables, countertops, and furniture upholstery.
Blood Stains Except in cases of serious accidents and injuries, blood stains in your rental are bound to happen. Your previous guests might not have known how to remove the blood stains or feel embarrassed to tell you they left a stain.
Cosmetic Stains on Furniture and Pillows Cosmetics can leave ugly stains on furniture and pillows if they’re not removed properly. Fortunately, there are several methods to quickly remove makeup stains in your rental.
Check the Tags: Finding the Right Stain Removers Make sure you check the tags before starting the stain-removal process. Furniture, pillows, and other items in your STR will have manufacturer’s instructions on how to properly clean the items. Some furniture can only handle water or steam, while other pieces can handle soap and stain removers. Don’t skip this step… the instructions are there for a reason. You don’t want to ruin the furniture in your rental properties. This costs time AND money. Remember: revenue, revenue, revenue!
Effective Stain Removal From Rugs and Textiles: Tips and Tricks Most stains come out with a little time and effort using the right cleaners and removal methods. Here are some of the best stain removal methods for the most common stains guests leave in STRs.
Red Wine and Juice Stain Removal For a red wine stain, apply salt and soda water to the area. You should see the red stain turning pink and lightening a bit. Let this mixture soak for a minute or two before blotting the stain away. Rinse the area with cold water and let it air dry thoroughly. Repeat if necessary. If the stain came from non-alcoholic fruit juice, use a mixture of cold water, distilled white vinegar, and a drop of dish soap instead. Allow the mixture to soak for about 15 minutes before rinsing the area through blotting motions. Repeat if the stain persists.
Pet Stains To remove pet stains, start by blotting the affected area with a clean, white, dry cloth to absorb as much moisture as possible. Then, apply a mixture of water and vinegar or a specialized pet stain remover to the stain, gently scrubbing it into the fabric with a soft brush (a toothbrush works). Finally, rinse the area with clean water and blot dry, or use a wet vacuum if available, to remove any remaining cleaning solution and moisture. Repeat until the stain is gone. Products that contain enzyme cleaners, typically found online, are also useful for pet stains.
Lighten Tea and Coffee Stains Create a paste with either distilled white vinegar and sparkling water or lemon juice and salt. Either mixture can be applied to the tea or coffee stain and left to sit for at least 15 minutes. Then, rinse the area with cold water and see if the stain has lightened. You may need to repeat this process a few times to get rid of the stain. Avoid rubbing the stain into the fabric.
Blood Pre-Treatment and Removal To remove blood from upholstery or cloth, begin by dabbing a damp paper towel or cloth over the stain. Make sure you only use cold water to wet the towel. Once you’ve blotted as much of the stain away as you can, mix up the pre-treatment. Combine cold water with hydrogen peroxide and soak the stained area with the solution. Let this sit for about 30 minutes to lighten the stain. Next, wash away the mixture and proceed to wash the fabric either in the washing machine or by hand. Continue to use cold water and avoid heat, as heat will set in the stain. If the stain persists, repeat this process.
Cosmetic Stains Blot the stained area with a wet paper towel. Try to soak up as much of the makeup residue as possible, but avoid rubbing or grinding the stain further into the item. For cosmetics like foundation and concealer, use hydrogen peroxide in a blotting motion. You can also gently scrub at the stain using an extra toothbrush, as this may help break up any powder in the cosmetics. For a lipstick stain, use a couple of drops of anti-grease dish detergent and water. The lipstick will come out as long as the dish soap is designed to fight oil-based messes like grease.
Remedies for Carpet and Rug Stains To deal with stains on carpets and rugs, which are often caused by food and drink spills, pet accidents, or dirt tracked in from outside, start by gently dabbing the area with a dry cloth to absorb excess liquid. Then, apply a cleaning mixture appropriate for the carpet material, such as a homemade mixture of water and gentle laundry detergent or a commercial carpet cleaner, using a soft-bristled brush to lightly work into the stain in a circular motion. After treating the stain, thoroughly rinse the area with water and pat it dry with a clean towel, ensuring no cleaning residue remains.
Different materials require different cleaning methods. Wool, for example, is more delicate and can be damaged by harsh chemicals, which makes it a textile to AVOID in STR Design. Synthetic fibers like nylon are more resilient and are a better choice for textiles in your STR.
Remember: never let a stain sit! The faster you clean it, the more likely you are to save the item and not have to replace it. Say it with me…revenue, revenue, revenue!
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