Holiday Let Owners: How to Keep Appliances Guest-Ready All Summer

For holiday let and Airbnb owners, summer is the busiest time of year. Back-to-back bookings mean quick changeovers, and the state of your kitchen appliances can make or break a guest review.

Why Appliance Cleanliness Matters for Reviews

Guests notice the kitchen. It's where they prepare meals, make morning tea, and gather together. A greasy oven, a smelly fridge, or a dirty microwave is one of the most common complaints in negative reviews — and it only takes one bad review to put off future bookings.

On the flip side, a sparkling clean kitchen is one of the most frequently mentioned positives in five-star reviews.

The Changeover Checklist

On changeover day, between guests leaving and new ones arriving, make sure you:

Oven

• Check for spills and wipe immediately
• Look at the door glass — cloudy glass signals a problem
• If there's visible carbon build-up, it needs a professional clean

Fridge and Freezer

• Empty completely and check for expired items
• Wipe all shelves and drawers with food-safe sanitiser
• Clean the door seals where bacteria collect
• Check for any odours

Microwave

• Wipe the interior and clean the turntable
• Check for lingering food smells

Extractor Hood

• Remove and clean the filters if they're greasy
• Wipe down the canopy

Washing Machine

• Check the door seal for mould
• Leave the door open between guests to prevent odours

The Professional Advantage

When you're managing back-to-back bookings, you don't always have time for a deep clean between every guest. That's where a professional service comes in.

Fordwell works with holiday let owners across Kent, Surrey, East Sussex, Essex, and West Sussex. We offer:

• Scheduled cleaning between bookings
• Full kitchen deep cleans for periodic refreshes
• Compliance documentation for your records
• Volume discounts for multiple properties

Building a Cleaning Schedule That Works

The most successful holiday let owners build appliance cleaning into their regular changeover routine rather than waiting for problems. A simple approach:

• Every changeover: Quick wipe-down of all surfaces and check for visible issues
• Monthly: Professional deep clean of the oven and key appliances
• Quarterly: Full kitchen deep clean including extractor, fridge, and all appliances

This keeps everything guest-ready and prevents the build-up that leads to bad reviews and expensive replacements.

Get Help With Your Changeovers

If you manage a holiday let and want reliable, professional appliance cleaning built into your changeover schedule, get in touch with Fordwell. We'll work around your booking calendar and keep every property guest-ready.