Vacation Rental Cleaning - Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance

More & more travelers choose short term rental homes, instead of hotels for their vacations. But this doesn't mean they expect their rentals to be any less clean than a hotel would be. Guests are willing to pay more to have the comfort of a whole rental home versus just a room at a hotel, but they expect it to be just as clean. The most common negative reviews of vacation rentals come from the guest’s disapproval of how clean it is. Consider, as a host, the value of professional cleaning services because what you might consider clean in your own house won’t cut it with most guests.

Meeting guest's expectations when it comes to vacation rental cleanliness requires a different type of cleaning than you'd do in your own home, or even what a professional cleaner would do in a normal home. If you're doing it on your own as the host, it can, very quickly, become a full-time job just cleaning between guests. If you already work a full-time job and want time to enjoy your life, your best bet is to hire a professional cleaner. It can seem like an impossible task, to trust someone else to come in & take care of your property, to trust that they'll get it all done and it'll be up to your guests' standards. But think of it this way, if you were having car trouble, you'd take it to a mechanic, if you needed your roof fixed, you'd call a contractor, why not hire a professional cleaner when you need a rental property cleaned? 
So here's how you go about finding the right cleaner for your Property: First, You'll want to find a cleaner who has experience with short term rentals. You can usually find someone reliable through word of mouth. If you ask around your rental community, or even in facebook groups for renters in your area, you should come up with a few options. Be sure to check reviews, or ask for references from any potential cleaner you might hire. You want to know they know what they're doing when it comes to turning over a short term rental. When your guests see the rental they should see that the garbage pails are empty, the dishwasher is empty and dishes put away. All the sand and dirt from the previous guests has been swept and vacuumed out of all the nooks & crannies. All the linens and towels should be freshly cleaned. The refrigerator should be empty and clean. All the surfaces should have been wiped down and sanitized. As well as everything else that you'd normally expect to be cleaned. Your guest's first impression should be that they are impressed by how clean the rental is. An experienced vacation rental cleaner should also check that all electronics are working, windows are locked, remotes can be easily found, and the keys are in the agreed-upon spot before the guests show up to check-in. If anything seems to be broken or missing they'll notify you immediately.
Once you've found a cleaner or a few cleaners to choose from you'll want to make sure they are licensed and insured, just in case something happens, you'll be covered. Accidents happen, & having someone who is licensed and insured means that if something is broken or damaged or even if someone on the cleaners team gets hurt, you won't be liable. Damages or injuries shouldn't be a regular occurrence, but it's good to know you have the protection just in case something should happen.  

If you're looking for a cleaner on Long Island, in Suffolk County, or on Fire Island, Island Life Cleaning and Maintenance has years of experience with short term rentals and a 5-star rating from renters and regular clients as well. You can see our reviews here and some before & after photos here. If you need a cleaner within the areas we serve, we'd love to give you a free estimate and hope to work with you to keep your rental turning over smoothly for years to come! You can call/text (631)334-9946 or send us an e-mail

People who have used Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance say... - Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance

In this post, you'll find Testimonials written by real clients of Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance. Hopefully, you're reading this because we're on your list of potential companies to use, ideally, we're at the top of that list. But if you aren't sure which cleaning company to go with, let some of our past and present clients help you make a decision.

The first letter comes from Rev. Dwight Lee Wolter.

     "Cindy Redlo of Target Property Services has been engaged, on a contractual
basis, by the Congregational Church of Patchogue for various projects. We are
on the National Registry of Historic Places and must treat our 126 year old
building with tenderness and care. However, we also have a soup kitchen,
nursery, classrooms, gymnasium and other areas that really take a beating from
high usage.
     Ms. Redlo has performed her tasks with dedication, punctuality, trustworthiness
and a high degree of thoroughness. We will continue, without reservation, to
utilize her services. We offer our recommendation that you may consider doing the same."


The next letter comes from :
Charles S. Whiting Jr. CEO & Founder Flight Deck Graphic Solutions, LLC

"Our home at the beach is one of the most sought after rental homes within the states and nationally. Vacation rentals require a more in-depth and knowledgeable service than most cleaning companies are able to provide. In our search for a more qualified cleaning company, we utilized the services of Cindy Redlo from Target Property Services. working with Cindy has been a pleasure and we know that our property needs are being met beyond the normal scope of work. Her knowledge, passion, dedication, and commitment to the presentation of our property has made her company a valuable resource to the vacation rental industry.
Cindy is more of a partner and asset in your management process and alleviates many problems that would be hard to overcome with the basic logistics of island life and the expectations of rental clients. Having a competent customer-oriented person representing your property really makes problems disappear and become good experiences. I highly recommend Cindy she is a hard worker, diligent and a good find. You will be lucky to have her on your team."


Our last letter comes from Al Abrams:

"Cindy Redlo has started to clean my spacious studio on a regular basis. The result of her efforts has prompted me to write this letter in Cindy's support. Cindy is friendly, charming, warm, friendly, conversant, professional and very knowledgeable when it comes to cleaning techniques, cleaning materials, and their best application. My studio is a good size not including the bathroom. Cindy, in a very organized manner, started doing her “magic” and in a relatively short period of time, the entire area was, literally, spotless. Cindy got under, behind and over every surface in the studio. It actually felt clean.
Shortly after Cindy left, the wife of the couple I rent from stopped by to say hello. I invited her in to take a look at the work Cindy had done. She was sufficiently impressed by what she observed that I was asked to have Cindy give her a call to see about doing her house. One can't have a better reference than that!!"

About us - Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance

Before hiring a cleaning company it's always good to know as much about them as you can find out. You can use facebook and google reviews, their website, or opinions from friends and family. At Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance we've decided to give you as much information about us as we can, right here, in one place. We understand it can be hard to trust someone new coming into your space so we're hoping to put your mind at ease. 

  First things first, Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance is a division of Target Property Services and is a licensed & insured cleaning company established in 2016. Being licensed and insured means if anything is broken or one of our team members gets hurt in your home you are not liable. (Any cleaning company you choose to hire and allow into your home should always be licensed and insured.) Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance provides reliable, trustworthy, professional Home, Office, Marine, and Vacation Rental cleaning services for Suffolk County, NY including Fire Island; from Davis Park to Ocean Beach. We are experienced with all the services we provide for your vacation rentals, homes, apartments, offices, and boat interiors. We know that a vacation rental requires an entirely different type of clean than a regular home does and we know that an office must not only look clean when we're finished but also professional. 


   The majority of people can clean, but wouldn't you rather let someone who knows how, when, and what to use, on which surface, clean for you? Someone who is highly knowledgable about various cleaning products and how to use them. We are always very careful with every surface in your home, making sure not to use anything we wouldn't use in our own home. We are a small company at Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance so each of our team members is personally trained by the owner, herself. Ensuring you'll always get consistent, professional, beautiful, results with us. You'll have the same team cleaning for you weekly or bi-weekly so they'll get to know how you like certain things done and what areas may require a little extra attention. Building a relationship with you will help to ease your worries as well as make sure you are comfortable giving us feedback whenever you might need to. Your happiness with our services is extremely important to us.

   We pride ourselves on providing 5-star services! Our client's satisfaction is very important to us. No one wants to be considered just "okay" at what they do, we strive to be the best. We can provide letters of reference, upon request or you can click here to see our testimonials page or here to see our before & after pictures which speak for themselves. When we come into your space we'll handle everything, you won't have to worry about buying extra cleaning supplies or equipment because we will always provide all our own supplies and equipment and we only use the highest quality products, to give your home or office a professional-level clean. All we ask is that you tidy up before we come. Making sure your personal items are cleaned up and out of the way makes our job much smoother, so we can get right to working our magic and making your space shine.

    We offer a wide variety of cleaning services to fit your schedule, your home, office, rental, or boat, and to maintain the superior clean we pride ourselves on. Some of our services include power washing, deep cleaning, before and after special occasion cleaning, move in & move out cleaning, Marine interior cleaning, weekly or bi-weekly maintenance cleaning and more! You can check our list of services here. If you're unsure about any of our services, you can call, or e-mail us & we'll be happy to clarify fo you!


If there is anything else you'd like to know about us that we haven't gone over, leave it in the comments and we'll be happy to respond!

Frequently Asked Questions - Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance

Q: Do I have to be home or in the office when Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance comes to clean?

A: It is entirely up to you whether or not you're there when we come to clean. Whatever makes you more comfortable. The majority of our clients do choose to leave a key or door code for us because we usually clean during business hours when they're at work. Our girls are all thoroughly screened as well as personally trained before entering your home or office.

Q: What should I do before Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance comes to clean my home?

A: Before our team comes we just ask that you pick up any toys, clothes, or other personal items. We don't know where your things go in your home, and we wouldn't want to misplace anything on you. "Tidying up" before we arrive means we can get right to working our magic, to provide the superior clean we pride ourselves on.

Q: Do I need to provide any supplies or equipment?

A: Not a thing! We provide all our own supplies and any equipment we may need. You don't need to worry about a thing!

Q: How often can Island Life & Maintenance come clean for me?

A: We can work with your schedule. After the initial Deep Clean we can come weekly or bi-weekly. It all depends on your needs and your schedule. 

Q: Is Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance a pet-friendly cleaning service?

A: As long as your pets are okay with us, we are okay with them. At Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance we're committed to making your life easier, and accommodating your furry friends is part of doing just that. 

Q: What happens if I need to reschedule?

A: Call us as soon as possible and we will be happy to reschedule for another day that will work with your schedule.

Q: Is Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance licensed and insured?

A: Yes, we are. Any company you may be considering should always be licensed and insured.

Q: With so many cleaning companies out there, why should I choose Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance?

A: Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance is the best choice because we are passionate about cleaning. We know the best products to use on every surface and when we work our magic you will always be happy with the results. We're professional, knowledgeable, trustworthy, and our main goal is making sure our clients are ecstatic with the final results. We have experience cleaning offices, homes, boats and vacation rentals so we know what is required for all types of cleaning.

Q: What forms of payment does Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance accept?

A: We accept: Apple pay, Zelle, Cash & Personal Checks.

If you have any other questions, post them in the comments & I'll be happy to answer them!

15 Ways to Use Borax - Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance

In case you haven't heard about it yet, Borax is one of the most versatile cleaning products around. It's actually a naturally occurring powdery white mineral. It's safe, free from hazardous chemicals, and according to TOXNET’s Hazardous Substance Database (HSDB), borax is also non-carcinogenic. 20 Mule Team Borax has been marketing it as an all-purpose cleaner since 1881, and the longer it's around, the more uses we seem to find for it. Read on to see some of the unique & useful things you can do with this amazing stuff!

1. Unclog the drain:
First, pour 1/2 a cup of borax into the clogged drain, then add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice on top. let it sit for about 2 minutes then pour 1 quart of boiling water down the drain. Let it sit for another 15 minutes then simply rinse with regular tap water. 

2. Get rid of mold:
Mold can be hazardous to your health and difficult to remove. Luckily, Borax is here to save the day! Mix 1/2 a cup of borax, 1/2 a cup of vinegar, and 1 cup of warm water in a spray bottle. spray it on the mold areas, let it dry completely & you should have no trouble wiping away what's left.


3. Remove Rust:
Mix 1 cup of Borax, with 1 cup of warm water, and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. This will make a thick paste, put it directly on the rust and let sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse and clean with a sponge and your rust should be gone!


4. Get rid of pests:
Borax effectively gets rid of cockroaches, ants, bugs, cave crickets mice and a few other household pests. All you need to do is mix equal parts of borax and sugar then sprinkle the mixture in the corners, under the sink, behind furniture or anywhere else you're having trouble with pests.
*The sugar acts as a bait to attract the pests. When the pests are drawn to the sugar, borax kills them. Careful not to use it in areas when children or pets can get to.

Bonus tip: To get rid of bed bugs, sprinkle a generous amount of borax on the mattress & let it sit about 15 minutes before vacuuming the borax & dead bed bugs off.

5. Clean a smelly humidifier:
To keep your humidifier free of any smells, dissolve 5-6 tablespoon of borax in 3-4 quarts of water and add it to the tank. Run the humidifier for 10-15 minutes and then empty the tank and rinse with clean water.

**BONUS** Want to make your home smell amazing? Check out this post to do just that! 6 Ways to Make Your Home Smell Like a Winter Wonderland





6. To clean combs/brushes
Fill a cup with water, add 2 tablespoons of Borax, and a few drops of dish soap. Put the brushes and combs in and mix them around a bit. Let sit for 30-45 minutes then rinse.




7. Carpet stains
Mix 4 tablespoons of Borax with 1 cup of warm water. Dip a sponge or rag into the mixture and dab the carpet stain. Let it dry completely then vacuum.

8. Deodorize shoes
Mix one liter of warm water and 2 tablespoons of borax in a spray bottle. spray all over shoes, including inside, let sit for 15-20 minutes then wipe any excess borax clean with water. 




9. Remove adhesive residue
Use 2 parts borax to one part water to remove stubborn sticker and other adhesive residues.

10. Deodorize your mattress
Lightly wet your mattress then use a damp rag to rub Borax all over it, allow it to dry & your mattress will be nice & refreshed!





11. Freshen your garbage pail
For average garbage pail odors, sprinkle 4-5 tablespoons of Borax in your pail and add water. Let it soak about 15-20 minutes then rinse. For stronger, more stubborn odors you can use up to a cup of Borax.



12. Laundry Boost
Add 4-5 tablespoons to your laundry after putting in your regular detergent for brighter cleaner clothes!

13. To pre-treat stains
For stubborn stains fill a container with warm water and add 7-8 tablespoons of Borax. Let the stained clothes soak for at least 30-40 minutes then wash regularly.





14. Dry & preserve flowers
Mix 1 part Borax with 2 parts cornmeal in an airtight container. cover your flower with the mixture, making sure you get in between the petals. seal the container and leave for 10-14 days.




15. Homemade dish soap
Mix 1/2 a cup of Borax, 1/2 a cup of finely grated soap, and 10 cups of boiling water. Cool completely before using.

That's all I have, for now, I hope you found this list useful. If you have any other things you use Borax for in your home, leave them in the comments!

Why You Should Definitely Hire a House Cleaning Service - Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance

When making the decision whether or not to hire a house cleaning service, it's easy to get hung up on justifying the expense, but at Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance we've come up with some solid reasons you should go ahead and make that call. If you're on the fence about whether or not to hire a cleaning service for your home, let me help you make up your mind.

A clean home. We all have busy lives and it can be hard to find the time to clean, but that doesn't mean we don't want a clean home. You don't have to do it all, you'd hire a mechanic if your car needed work, why not hire a cleaner when your house needs work? Everyone wants a clean living space, most of the time we just don't have time to keep it as clean as we'd like. Hiring a cleaning service takes one more thing off your long list of things to do while giving you all kinds of benefits.

A clean home leads to good mental health. Think about the last time you really spent time deep cleaning your home & how you felt afterward... I bet you felt more at peace, happier as long as it stayed clean. A clean home has also been shown to increase productivity, social confidence, and creativity as well as reducing fighting between family members. 

A clean home is good for physical health. If you're an asthma or allergy sufferer, you already know, dust & pet dander make both conditions worse. Why not let a professional come in and make sure your home is free of allergens and dust regularly? A clean home is also a less stressful environment and your immune system functions better when you're not stressed out all the time.

Prevent pest infestation. A messy house is more susceptible to pest infestation because there are more places for them to hide and multiply. On the other hand, a clean home means fewer pests and you almost always notice them before it becomes an "infestation" situation. It's much easier to kill a few ants than to have to call an exterminator to wipe out a whole infestation.

You'll save money. You won't be spending nearly as much on cleaning supplies because you'll be cleaning less and the company you hire will bring all their own supplies. Not to mention your time, How much is it worth to you? Think of what you get paid an hour multiplied by how many hours you actually spend cleaning the house yourself. Never thought of it that way, huh?

Professional level clean. When you're cleaning your house yourself it's a chore. It's just one more thing on the to-do list, so you tend to rush through it so you can just get it out of the way. You may skip things, accidentally or on purpose just because you don't like doing them. Professionals won't rush through, so they won't miss or skip over anything. The result? A professional-level clean.

More time to do what you enjoy. Hiring a cleaning company means all those hours you'd normally spend cleaning, all that free time you could have, is yours again. You'll have time to pursue your hobbies and spend time with loved ones. Maybe you'd like to go to the gym, or yoga, to the park, or maybe you'd curl up in your nice clean living room with a good book. The possibilities are endless!

They know what to use. Professionals will know what to use on what surface and more importantly, what not to use. They'll have their own specialty supplies to ensure every surface in your home is cleaned and disinfected. You won't have to worry about whether or not something will damage your home because they have the knowledge and experience to make the right choices. 

Are you ready to get all the benefits of a clean house without having to actually do the cleaning? If you're ready to call a professional cleaner Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance does free estimates and we would love to hear from you!

6 Ways to Make Your Home Smell Like a Winter Wonderland - Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance

An important part of a clean home is how it smells. Especially around the holidays when you will, most likely, have company over. Island Life Cleaning & Maintenance can handle the cleaning part, but it'll be up to you to get your home smelling like a winter wonderland. Lucky for you, we've gathered some amazing stovetop simmering recipes for you to try, all in one place. It's really easy to do, just combine the ingredients in a saucepan on the stove with some water and let it simmer as long as you'd like. Just make sure to keep an eye on the water because as it evaporates you may need to add more.
Whether you're a Grinch or Buddy the elf, these recipes will have you & your home feeling holly & jolly in no time!

Here's 3 from The Dodge Voice, The Lime, Mint, & Fresh Pine one is one of my personal favorites! 3 Stovetop Holiday Potpourri Recipes

This recipe from The Happier Homemaker uses orange, pine & cloves which results in a fresh, clean, Christmas-y scent you'll love!

This Christmas Potpourri recipe from About a Mom really bundles some of the best scents of the season together with a heavenly result!

Last, but not least, what would a winter wonderland be without Gingerbread cookies?