Cleaning Guidelines and Guest Responsibilities

Cleaning guidelines in Hawaii are governed by a combination of state Department of Health regulations, county short-term rental codes, and Our Brand standards. Because we operate as a hybrid between hotels and the timeshares, our cleaning protocols are highly structured to handle rapid guest turnovers. We frequently have arrivals the same day a guest departs.

Here is a breakdown of the standard cleaning guidelines, local compliance factors, and typical fee structures for Our Vacation Rental Properties and a Timeshare.

1. Standard Cleaning Frameworks

We generally utilize a multi-tiered cleaning schedule based on the length of a guest’s stay:
• Check-Out / Turn Clean: A comprehensive, deep clean performed between departing and arriving guests. This includes changing all linens, sanitizing all high-touch surfaces, cleaning the kitchen (including appliances), and scrubbing bathrooms.
• Mid-Stay Service For stays lasting 14 nights or longer, a lighter cleaning is typically scheduled around day 7 to 9. This usually covers replenishing towels, emptying trash, making beds with fresh linens, and light cleaning off the bathroom, a wipe down of all glass tables and restocking consumables (TP, Paper Towels, Facial tissue and Soaps). A Mid-Stay Service Fee is Automatically Added to an Extended Stay.

2. Local Hawaii Compliance & Environmental Standards

Cleaning operations in Hawaii must adhere to specific local environmental and health guidelines:
• Eco-Friendly / “Green” Cleaners: To protect Hawaii’s fragile ecosystem and coral reefs, many resorts mandate the use of biodegradable, non-toxic, and Green Seal-certified cleaning products.
• Pest Control Protocols: Hawaii’s tropical climate makes pest management a critical component of cleaning guidelines. Turn cleans strictly require checking for tropical pests (like ants and roaches), ensuring all food crumbs are eliminated from appliances, and verifying that lanais are free of standing water.
• Lanai Maintenance: High winds and salt air require specialized cleaning of outdoor balcony (lanai) furniture and glass railings to prevent salt crusting and weathering.

3. Kitchen and Laundry Specifics

Unlike standard hotel rooms, Hawaii timeshares and Our Vacation Rentals that feature full kitchens and in-unit laundry facilities, do require specific protocols:
• Dish Sanitization: All dishes, utensils, and cookware must be run through a high-temperature dishwasher cycle between guests, even if they appear unused.
• Appliance Deep-Cleans: Refrigerator coils, microwave interiors, ovens, and coffee makers must be scrubbed and checked during every turn clean.
• Lint and Vent Care: In-unit dryer lint traps must be cleaned after every cycle to prevent fire hazards, a critical focus for resort safety compliance.

4. Cleaning Fees and Housekeeping Policies

• Mandatory vs. Optional Fees: Owners typically have a set number of cleanings included in their annual maintenance fees. However, if you book an exchange (via RCI or Interval International), a truncated stay or a stay at our properties, a mandatory transient or cleaning fee may be charged at checkout.
• Hawaii Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT): Be aware that any separate fees charged for optional or mandatory housekeeping services are be subject to Hawaii’s TAT and General Excise Tax (GET).

Responsibilities as a Guest of Our Properties and a Timeshare Guest

You can breathe a sigh of relief: Ours and most timeshare checkout responsibilities are significantly lighter than most vacation rentals. Because you are staying at a professionally managed property, you are paying for hospitality services, meaning you are not expected to do any deep cleaning, stripping of beds, or heavy lifting.
However, completing a few basic courtesy tasks will prevent any surprise post-stay cleaning fees and ensure a smooth departure.

Core Guest Checkout Responsibilities

• Load and Start the Dishwasher: Do not leave piles of dirty dishes in the sink. If your unit has a dishwasher, place all used kitchenware inside, add a detergent pod, and turn it on before leaving. You do not need to wait for it to finish or unload it.
• Consolidate Trash: Take all loose trash and place it into the designated kitchen and bathroom bins. If you have an excessive amount of garbage from a week of cooking, it is highly appreciated if you tie up the bags and place them near the entry door or drop them in the resort’s trash chute or bin.
• Empty the Refrigerator: Clear out all perishable items. in Our Properties you may leave behind unopened, sealed food or condiments. We can donate them for you, but most corporate timeshare policies require housekeepers to throw everything away for safety. If it has been opened, we cannot donate these items and need to be discarded.
• Leave Towels in a Pile or Laundry Hamper: Gather used bath towels and place them the laundry hamper. At a timeshare they as they e placed in a pile on the bathroom floor, or in the bathtub. Do not worry about stripping the bed sheets—the housekeeping crew prefers to handle the linens themselves.
• Check the Lanai and Safe: Double-check the balcony (lanai) for any swimwear, beach toys, or slippers left out to dry. Ensure you completely clear out and leave the digital room safe unlocked.

Hidden Pitfalls to Avoid in Hawaii

    • Wet Beach Gear Damage: Avoid packing or leaving soaking wet towels or life jackets on upholstered resort furniture or carpets. Hawaii’s high humidity can trigger mold and mildew incredibly fast, which can result in a property damage charge.
    • The “Sand Tax”: While resorts expect some sand tracking, leaving a literal sandbox on the floor or inside the shower can prompt an excessive cleaning fee. Use the outdoor foot-wash stations at the resort pool or beach access points before heading up to pack.
    • Air Conditioning Protocol: To avoid wasting energy, make sure all lanai sliding glass doors are fully closed and locked. Most Hawaii timeshare systems will automatically shut off the A/C if a door is left cracked, which can rapidly turn the room into a sauna before the cleaners arrive.

Timing & Keys

  • Standard Checkout Time: Checkout is strictly 10:00 AM at our Properties and 11:00 AM HST across almost all major Hawaii timeshare resorts (including Marriott, Hilton Grand Vacations, and Westin). Late checkouts are rarely granted because the large size of the villas requires the full window to clean before our 3:00 PM and the timeshare’s 4:00 PM check-ins.

  • Drop the Keys: Most resorts allow you to check out via the resort app or your in-room TV. Once completed, you can simply drop your plastic key cards or wearable wristband keys into the express checkout boxes located in the lobby or by the elevators. [1]