Posts Tagged ‘Green cleaning’

Is Your Vacation Rental Home Kid-Friendly?

July 23rd, 2019 | By Moxie Girl Team

Since traditional schools are on a three-month break, summer months are often the first choice in seasons for family vacations. Vacation rental homes are very popular for those traveling with children. Let’s face it, taking the whole family on the road can be expensive, especially when it comes to mealtimes. Staying in a vacation rental – with a KITCHEN – not only keeps the family unit together while providing everyone privacy but preparing family meals costs a fraction of the expense of dining out 2 or 3 times a day!

 

Moxie Girl is always enthusiastic about making your guests experience is great. On top of being certain your vacation rental home is well-maintained and sparkling clean upon their arrival, there are dozens of “little ways” to add to your guests comfort and make them feel cared for! Today, we’re focusing on kid-friendly items, but check out our blog “That’s a Nice Touch!” for adding general awesomeness all around your vacation rental home!

 

There’s Always Room Under a Bed

 

Unless you specifically market your vacation rental home to families with children, you may not want to have any ‘kid stuff’ visible on a regular basis and parents are generally going to pack up and bring whatever they deem necessary to care for the kids. But the good news is there are lots of small items that you can have on hand in your vacation rental home that can make a positive impression on the whole family. 

 

And the GREAT news is that all these things can be corralled under a bed when not in use! Just be sure to let your guests know where to find this trove of treasures for their little ones. If you’re feeling really creative, you could even turn the experience into a treasure hunt game!

 

What’s in the Box?

 

A plastic ‘sweater storage’ box (these are usually large-ish and rectangular, about 6” deep) with a lid makes for a perfect fit under most beds and can hold a lot of kid-friendly fun! Most, if not all of these things are readily available at your favorite dollar store:

 

Coloring/Activity/Puzzle Books

Drawing Paper Pads

Crayons/Pencils

Board Games/Playing Cards

Small Inflatable Pool Toys (new in package, please!)

Soap Bubbles/Bubble-Blowing Tools

A Night-lite, if your vacation rental doesn’t already have them in the bedrooms

 

And let’s not forget about personal amenities. Yes, we did say parents are likely to bring whatever products they require for the kids but show us a 5-year-old who wouldn’t love an unexpected bubble bath using that little bottle of bubble bath liquid and rubber ducky they found in the box? There’s a kid-version of most things – tissues, lotions, shampoo, and soaps – that will make the little ones feel treated just as special as the adults!

 

These, Too, Shall Fit Under a Bed

 

Two small pieces of very helpful (and often left at home) equipment when it comes to dealing with kids are a booster seat and a step stool – and they’ll fit under the bed with your ‘kid box’, too! Parents are resourceful – do you WANT toddlers propped up on your fancy throw pillows

while eating tomato soup? Didn’t think so…but it could definitely happen “in a pinch.”)

 

A step stool for the kiddies can help in the bathroom for sure. It’s HARD not to make a mess brushing your teeth if you’re shorter than the sink! Young ones may also find a step stool to be a fun way to climb into the adult-sized bed they may be sleeping in while at your vacation rental.

 

Pool Time!

 

If your vacation rental home has a pool, Moxie Girl has posted a number of blogs that could be helpful to you. Be sure to check out our Moxie Blog, “5 Sizzling Summer Tips for Vacation Rental Homes with Pools”!

 

 

We mentioned perhaps providing some small, inflatable pool toys in the ‘kid box’. Providing these items, new in-the-packaging, is best. Not only is someone going to have to put them to their lips to blow them up, but there are also pre-printed consumer warnings already on the packaging…such as ‘This is not a life-saving device!”…in case there was ANY question about whether or not it’s safe to leave a 4 year old in the pool alone with this beach ball mom is about to inflate.

 

Don’t forget about the “No Glass Near the Pool” rule you SHOULD have posted at your vacation rental! The dollar store is again your friend here. There are dozens of choices for colorful, pool-safe drinkware for everyone – and some, especially for kids!

 

Don’t Forget!

 

Be sure your guests know where to find the kid-goods! The ‘kid-box’ effort is pointless if no one knows where it is.  A card left with the box could contain a special welcome note to the kids as well as any simple ‘rules’ you may have regarding the contents of the box. You know, “please return all puzzle pieces, crayons, games pieces, etc. to the box for our next mini guests to enjoy!”

 

It should go without saying that this little box of treasures – and any kid-equipment – should be inspected, replenished and sanitized between guests, just as you would with any adult guest amenities. (Okay, maybe EXTRA sanitation on the kid stuff. Just sayin’.)

 

Moxie Girl is Your Phoenix-Area Vacation Rental Specialist!

 

Whether you own a vacation rental home or are looking to be a Vacation Rental Assistant, Moxie Girl may be the answer for you. We specialize in the care of over 100 vacation rental homes, Valley-wide!

 

For vacation rental homeowners, Moxie Girl takes the worry out of between-guest turns, giving them more time to spend in other areas of their lives! Our vast experience with vacation rentals and our reliable service can give you the peace of mind you crave while ensuring your guests are enjoying the best experience possible in your vacation rental. (Great experiences = great reviews = more bookings = more profit for you!) Contact us for a FREE CONSULTATION! 

 

 

Our Moxies (boys AND girls) stay in shape making our client’s vacation rentals fresh, clean and guest-ready while enjoying a flexible schedule and a supportive team environment! If Moxie life sounds like a fit for you, please CLICK HERE and tell us about yourself! We are always looking to welcome our newest team member!

 

 

Is Your Vacation Rental Home Eco-Friendly?

June 26th, 2019 | By Moxie Girl Team

You may already know that Moxie Girl, your vacation rental specialist, is committed to being as earth-friendly as possible in all our endeavors. The Moxie cleaning method uses non-chemical products and low water usage techniques (we live in the desert, after all!) But, as a vacation rental homeowner, have you thought about ways to make your vacation rental property eco-friendly? We have…

 

Water Conservation

 

Again, we’re in the desert where every drop counts! Making sure any automatic drip/sprinkler systems on your vacation rental property are set to properly maximize the benefits while minimizing water waste!

 

Setting system timers to water during cooler periods of the day (overnight to sunrise) will ensure that the water meant for your landscaping won’t end up immediately evaporating. You may also find that despite our intense summer heat, you may actually need to water less if we’ve received any rain along with our summer storms. Avoid over-watering! Not only is it wasteful and expensive, but over-watering can also cause root-rot of your trees and plants!

Cooling Systems

 

Regular professional maintenance of your vacation rental homes cooling system is a must for efficient operation – and an experienced heating and cooling technician can spot potential issues before they become emergencies!  

 

Today’s technology makes it easier than ever to control your units settings – the thermostat in your vacation rental home can be monitored and controlled by you, wherever you happen to be. It’s as simple as installing an app on your phone!

Encourage Recycling

 

Summer usually means more beverages – and many of those beverages are packaged in bottles and cans, so encourage your vacation rental home guests to recycle by providing a recycling bin near the regular trash bin inside the home. Posting directions to the larger outside bin may gently nudge your guests to empty the inside bin as they fill it. (This can be helpful for the regular trash, as well. Don’t forget to stock trash bags for guest use!)

 

Refillable Amenities

 

With the increase in competition for bookings, providing amenities for your vacation rental home guests isn’t just a “nice touch” anymore – the practice has become customary. Some vacation rental homeowners stock individual-use items – mini-sized shampoo, conditioner, and bars of soap. Moxie Girl suggests using the full-size, refillable versions of these products for several reasons.

Using refillable hand-soap, haircare, body wash, and products are not only less expensive to the vacation rental homeowner, but it also reduces waste in packaging and that definitely makes an impact on our environment. (Don’t forget to keep those refillable product containers clean between guests, though, and see our Moxie blog, “That’s a Nice Touch!” for other ways to make your vacation rental home even more special for your guests!)

Moxie Girls favorite all-purpose cleaner!

 

Need Some Moxie in Your Life?

 

Moxie Girl is the Valley’s vacation rental care specialist! CLICK HERE to find out how we can be YOUR vacation rental specialist, too! Moxie Girl services dozens of vacation rental properties of all sizes, throughout the greater Phoenix area!

Moxie Girl is always looking for our newest team member – CLICK HERE to tell us about yourself!