How cleaning and check-out work when you rent a holiday home in Sälen This varies from one letter to another – but the pattern is the same: either you clean the property yourself using a checklist, or you book a final clean and leave the property roughly cleaned. Check-out is usually in the morning. Here we’ll explain what’s required, so that your departure day goes just as smoothly as the rest of your stay.
Late check-out – is that possible?
Standard check-out is by 10.00 at the latest and check-in is from 16.00. Late check-out until 12.00 is available as an optional extra and can be booked via the guest portal, at a price per cottage – this is subject to there being no change of guests in the cottage on the same day, so during the Christmas, New Year, winter half-term and Easter weeks it is rarely possible, whilst it is usually available outside peak season. Early check-in works in the same way, subject to availability. Please enquire at the time of booking, not on the day of departure. Everything you need to know about booking fees, final payment and cancellation: How to book a holiday cottage in Sälen.
Short answer: this is usually the case
The standard arrangement for Sälen is that end-of-tenancy cleaning is offered as an optional extra: you can choose whether to clean the whole house yourself according to the landlord’s checklist or pay for professional cleaning and leave the house in a ”roughly tidied” state – washing up done, rubbish taken out, furniture in place. Check-out time is usually in the morning, so that the house can be tidied up in time for the next guest on the same day. Exact rules, times and prices are always stated in the booking confirmation and the terms and conditions – please read them before your departure day, not on the day itself. At Sälengodset, the same principle applies as for everything else we do: no surprises. What’s included, what’s optional and what’s expected of you is clearly stated at the time of booking, and if you have any questions, just ask – we’d rather answer twice than let any uncertainty bother you on your final morning.
Final clean – is it included or does it need to be booked separately?
In the premium segment, professional end-of-stay cleaning is the norm rather than the exception – large houses with a spa, sauna and numerous bedrooms require a level of cleaning that few guests want to end their holiday with. At Sälengodset, end-of-stay cleaning is included in all nine houses – you leave the house roughly cleaned, and we’ll take care of the rest. What you get is a house cleaned by professional staff after your departure – and the freedom to spend your last evening enjoying a dinner rather than tackling the cleaning bucket. Please note that final cleaning does not mean you can leave everything as you find it: you are still expected to tidy up, wash up and take out the rubbish (more on this below). Our full range of additional options you’ll find them all in one place.
What you are expected to do before departure
Even if you have booked a final clean, the property should be left in what is usually referred to as a ‘roughly cleaned’ condition. In practice, this means: wash up or run the dishwasher until it’s finished, empty the fridge and freezer of your food, take the rubbish to the designated area and sort it for recycling according to the property’s instructions, put any furniture that has been moved back in place, and leave the outdoor areas – barbecue, patio, hot tub if there is one – in the condition you found them. If you’ve had pets or held a party, take extra care. If you’re cleaning the property yourself rather than booking a final clean, the full checklist applies: vacuuming and mopping the floors, cleaning the bathroom, kitchen, hob and oven, making the beds and tidying communal areas. Expect this to take several hours in a large house and plan your departure day accordingly. A good rule of thumb, whatever your plan: leave the house as you’d like to find it yourself – that’s also the best way to ensure you’ll be welcome back.
Check-out time – and the option of a late check-out
The check-out time is stated in the booking confirmation and is usually in the morning – the cleaning team often has the cottage booked straight after, with new guests arriving that same afternoon. Please respect the time: a delayed departure disrupts the whole schedule and affects the next group. That said, mornings in the mountains are precious, and sometimes you’ll want to squeeze in one last run on the slopes or trail before heading home. Ask us in advance – if there are gaps in the calendar, particularly outside peak season, we can sometimes arrange a later check-out or at least luggage storage so that you can enjoy one last morning on the slopes or trails without any hassle. Our policy on this is set out in the section on late check-outs. The basic rule is: you can ask about anything; don’t just assume – letting us know in advance makes your day of departure much more relaxed.
Underwear and towels – hire them or bring your own?
Bed linen and towels are not always included when you hire a holiday cottage in Sweden – traditionally, guests bring their own, but in the premium segment, linen is more often included in the stay. Check what applies to your specific booking: discovering on arrival that there are no sheets is an unnecessary holiday memory, especially for a large group where there are many beds to make. With us, bed linen for all beds and one shower towel and one small towel per guest are included in all properties – there’s no need to pack bed linen unnecessarily. Towels for the sauna and any hot tub are worth giving extra thought: allow for more towels per person than you would for a normal weekend away. We go through what else is included in a holiday home – from a fully equipped kitchen to consumables – in the article on what is usually included when you hire a holiday cottage.
If anything has broken during your stay
Accidents happen even in the best-organised households – a glass on the floor, a scratch on the table, a broken thermostat. The basic rule is simple and straightforward: let us know straight away. The sooner we know, the greater the chance that it will be repaired before it disrupts either your stay or that of the next guest, and minor damage that is reported openly is almost always dealt with smoothly. Keeping quiet and hoping no one notices, on the other hand, turns a minor issue into a matter of trust – and it will be discovered during the final clean-up anyway. The rules regarding liability, any excess and how compensation is handled are set out in booking terms and conditionsone, and we have written in more detail on the subject in the article on if anything breaks in the cottage. In short: honesty, direct communication and common sense – that way, the relationship will remain as good as the stay itself.
Summary – cleaning when you hire a holiday cottage in Sälen
Key information about cleaning and check-out in Sälen:
- With us, end-of-stay cleaning is included; with other let-out agencies, it is often an optional extra that needs to be booked at the time of booking.
- A basic clean is required even if a cleaning service has been booked: washing up, rubbish disposal, an emptied fridge and furniture left in place.
- If you’re cleaning yourselves: follow the checklist and set aside plenty of time – large houses take several hours.
- Please respect the check-out time – and ask in advance about a late check-out if you’d like to enjoy one last morning there.
- Check the rules regarding bed linen and towels before setting off from home.
- Is anything broken? Let us know straight away – open communication makes it easier for everyone to sort things out.
With all the details sorted in advance, your day of departure will be just like the rest of your stay: straightforward, predictable and without any surprises. That’s how we want a week in the mountains to end.