Vacation rental cleaning is its own world, with faster turnover times, higher guest expectations, and tighter margins than almost any other housekeeping environment. In this industry, the right tools and cleaning products aren’t optional; they’re the backbone of consistency, safety, and operational success.

As the owner at ETI Solutions, I’ve walked thousands of floors with cleaners and operations managers around the country. I’ve seen properties where everything shines… and others where your socks turn black in 20 seconds (“blackfoot”). I’ve watched teams struggle with recurring stains, greasy floors, the wrong dilution ratios, and chemical build-up that silently destroys guest experience.

The good news? The right chemistry + the right workflow = fewer headaches, faster turns, and happier guests.

Here are the top 10 cleaning products every vacation rental cleaner should carry, plus how Breezeway workflows can help your team use them consistently and safely.

1. Multi-Surface Cleaner (Neutral pH)

Cleaners move fast. They need a safe, reliable “grab-and-go” product that won’t damage surfaces or leave residue that causes stickiness and long-term build-up.

Drop-N-Go Glass & Hard Surface Cleaner

A neutral pH hard surface cleaner is safe on most surfaces, like counters, walls, tables, doors, appliances, cabinets, and high-touch areas.

How to use it:

• Spray, wipe, then buff dry with a microfiber cloth.
• Use Breezeway-guided checklists so every cleaner hits every high-touch point consistently across your portfolio.

2. Bathroom Cleaner

Showers and bathrooms vary between every property, from fiberglass and tile to glass and acrylic. A product made for bathroom soils prevents wasted time and avoids “scrub fatigue.”

Drop-N-Go Bathroom Cleaner

Breaks down soap scum, body oils, hard water, and biofilms while providing safer chemistry.

How to use it:

• Let the product dwell 1–2 minutes before scrubbing.

3. Degreaser & Stainless Cleaner

Guests judge cleanliness by kitchens first. It’s important to ensure that high impact visuals like refrigerator doors, appliances, counters, and entryways are always stainless.

Drop-N-Go Multi-Purpose & Degreaser Cleaner

Removes smudges, fingerprints, water spots, and streaks.

How to use it:

• Use a dry microfiber cloth to buff. Avoid using a wet cloth as it will lead to streaks every time.

4. Floor Cleaner

Grime buildup on the floor is one of the top 3 pain points in vacation rentals. Cleaning this with the wrong products (especially dish soap or pine oil cleaners) lead to:

• Sticky floors
• Film build-up
• Blackfoot complaints
• Guest refunds
• Negative reviews

Drop-N-Go Tile, Grout & Bathroom Cleaner, Drop-N-Go Mopping System

A low-residue, rinse-free floor solution that cuts grease, product residue, and sticky films. Mopping System is precise chemistry, dilution and delivery method.

Pro tips:

• Use the correct dilution. More chemicals does not always mean more clean.
• Breezeway supply-restock tasks can remind teams when to refill their mop system correctly.

5. Hard Water & Mineral Descaler

Short-term rentals often sit vacant between guests leaving more time for water to dry, minerals to harden, and surfaces to stain faster than in a primary home.

Drop-N-Go Tile, Grout & Bathroom Cleaner, Polishing Cleanser

Removes hard water stains, rust, mineral deposits, and toilet rings.

Pro tips:

• Never use descalers on natural stone.
• Use Breezeway property notes to flag which units have granite, marble, or quartz.

6. Odor Neutralizer / Enzymatic Deodorizer

A clean home that smells bad still feels dirty.

Odor Sorb, Kem-Zyme

Kem-Zyme breaks down odor-causing bacteria instead of masking them. It targets odors from pets, food, spills, soft goods, and organic materials.

Pro tips:

• Spray onto the source, not into the air. Odors hide in fabrics, carpets, and trash bins.

7. Laundry Pre-Treatment / Stain Remover

Laundry stains are one of the rental industry’s biggest pain points. Once dried, most stains are set permanently.

Kem-Zyme Pre-Soak Method

Breaks down protein and organic stains like blood, sweat, food, makeup, and urine.

How to use it:

Use an overnight soak tank:

• 10–15 gallons of water in a trash can
• 2 gallons of Kem-Zyme
• Soak overnight
• Wash normally the next day

This restores linens and reduces replacement costs.

8. Microfiber Cleaning System

Paper towels waste money and leave lint. Old rags push soil instead of removing it.

ETI Microfiber Kit / Drop-N-Go Mop Pads

Microfiber removes more soil with fewer chemicals and reduces cross-contamination.

Pro tip:

• Assign colored microfiber cloths to specific tasks and assign them in Breezeway workflows (blue = glass, green = kitchen, yellow = bathroom).

9. Refillable, Closed-Loop Chemical System

Using the wrong dilution in cleaning products is one of the industry's costliest cleaning mistakes:

• Too strong = build-up, sticky floors, damaged surfaces
• Too weak = ineffective cleaning
• Open containers = spills, safety risks, wasted product

Drop-N-Go Cartridges + Dispenser

A locked, measured, refillable cartridge system that prevents overuse and protects cleaners from chemical exposure.

Pro tip:

• Breezeway can track supply usage so managers know when cleaners need refills and which teams are running through chemicals faster than normal.

10. Safety & PPE Kit

Safety isn’t optional. Mixing chemicals without training leads to:

• Respiratory issues
• Damaged surfaces
• Dangerous reactions
• Liability risks for property managers

ETI PPE Essentials + Dilution Control Tools

Gloves, labels, goggles, SDS sheets, dilution guides — all the things cleaners rarely talk about but absolutely need.

Pro tip:

• Use Breezeway checklists to ensure PPE is present in every cleaning kit and properly labeled.

Elevate your cleaning solutions

When vacation rental cleaners carry the right products and use them correctly, the entire operation benefits, resulting in:

• Faster cleans
• Consistent results across every property
• Longer-lasting floors, appliances, and linens
• Lower product waste
• Safer teams
• Fewer guest complaints
• Higher review scores

The combination of smart chemistry + strong workflow + cleaner education is what elevates a home from “clean enough” to truly exceptional.

About ETI Solutions

ETI Solutions is a cleaning chemical manufacturer and operational consulting company serving vacation rental and hospitality teams across the U.S. We created Drop-N-Go, the industry’s first sustainable refillable cleaning program designed specifically for short-term rental operations. Our focus goes beyond chemistry — we train teams, build processes, eliminate waste, and help companies deliver cleaner, safer, and more consistent guest experiences.

Sean Kemper, founder of ETI Solutions, is a leading educator in the vacation rental industry, serving on the VRHP/VRMA leadership teams and co-chairing the 2025 Foundations Conference in Destin, FL. Through consulting, training, and safer chemistry, ETI Solutions helps teams clean smarter, not harder.