Written by Landlord & Traveler Kelly Bailey
Whether you are a landlord or traveler, everyone likes a warm, welcoming home to share with others, especially during the holidays. In this blog edition and debut, I will focus on two areas that make or break a guest’s stay, the bathroom and bedroom. As you prepare your home, you will most likely come across some pesky stains or blemishes that just don’t seem to disappear no matter what product you try. Therefore, as a property host on Furnished Finder/ Keycheck with a handful of properties, I would like to share a few bathroom and bedroom products that I just can’t live without. I hope they will be of help to you as well! Please don’t hesitate to share additional products or feedback in the comment section below. Let’s all be confident hosts and travelers together!
MR. CLEAN MAGIC ERASER: Kids are so much fun and add personality to a room, but sometimes they add a little extra such as marker on a wall, a little bump of backpack, etc. It’s impressive how quickly the Magic Eraser takes off marks with ease. I especially love to use this product on doors. My best example is one of our Georgetown, Texas, homes developed a layer of mildew on a white front door. The Magic Eraser restored the door to its former glory in a matter of minutes. Easy product use: wet, squeeze, wipe. You can pick this product up at most stores, but if you like unwrapping presents year around then here is an Amazon link as well: Amazon.com: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Original, Cleaning Pads with Durafoam, 9 Count
RMR-86: I have developed a saying for original tub/shower combos with the white tile as I currently manage six of these. My saying is… “caulk is poppycock”. After reviewing the definition to make sure it was a PG saying for this blog, it actually fits quite nicely. The definition is nonsense, garbage, silliness, rubbish; and that is how I feel about shower caulk. It seems no matter how hard you try to keep your tub/shower clean, grayish black mildew always shows its nasty little face. RMR-86 has restored my faith in white caulk. While it may not get every little spot, it sure cleans up a large portion of the grayish mildew, oftentimes in a matter of seconds. On any remaining spots, I do let the product sit for an hour or so just in case it can remove a little extra. This product also works well on walls that have developed mildew and much more. At our Belton property, the washing machine water line was backing up into the well room but we did not know it. RMR-86 took care of this room well. Now I will tell you, for whatever reason the manufacturing team has chosen a spray bottle that isn’t really suitable for this product so I typically buy an industrial spray bottle from Home Depot as a backup since the sprayer often clogs. I also store it in a plastic bin for transport so I don’t accidentally bleach my home or vehicle. Here is a link to the product on Amazon: RMR-86 Instant Mold and Mildew Stain Remover Spray
BEDDING: There are a couple products that have saved my bacon and wallet time and time again that I have provided links to below. Let’s start with the most prominent purchase, the mattress. Sleep is so important but also really hard to find the right balance, especially for couples coming together with different desires and needs. Brand new mattresses are very expensive and may not fit both individuals' preferences. The facts are that it’s really hard to dispose of a mattress, especially ones with no stains and in great condition. With this knowledge I have been able to capitalize on really high quality mattresses second hand from lovely Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor members in my area. This goes for bed frames as well. Dave and I have stocked most of our homes with Temperpedic, Seally Posterpedic and we even scored a Sleep Number bed all for under $100 each. In many cases, I still put my favorite mattress topper on as well: Linenspa 3 Inch Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper. This can be a very quick and easy solution for those who still have a sturdy mattress that just needs a little extra comfort.
Now that the mattress is out of the way, let’s jump to what lies on top. We all know that some guests are cold natured and some are hot natured. It never hurts to have a few extra supplies lying around when guests want to get cozy. While the soft fuzzy blankets are so luxurious, they also collect hair which is a major turn off to guests. I have found microfiber to be both inexpensive, cozy and easy to clean. Now, you may want to take a seat for this one… but some of my favorite cost efficient items are at the most unforeseen places. I often stock extra $5 pillows from Dollar General, $6 high quality shower liners from Tuesday Morning and $7 luxurious towels from Walmart. Here are the links to each Amazon product noted above for those that like front door delivery.
MICROFIBER SHEET SET WITH FOUR PILLOW CASES IN MANY COLORS
MICROFIBER COMFORTER SET IN MANY COLORS
STAIN PROTECTION: While hosting is a joy, it can also make one anxious. I have found that protecting my mattress and being able to quickly address fabric stains puts my mind at ease when guests arrive. You must decide what level of protection you would like. Sometimes I buy the waterproof mattress protectors that just slide over the top as they are easier to put on, but these are not bedbug proof. I have also used the waterproof, bedbug proof protectors which you can buy for both mattress and box spring, but these are of course a little more work to put on and take off. Just decide your preference and go from there. You can buy these products in most home decor stores but here are the links for front door delivery.
Oxi Clean Max Force Gel Stick, 4 pack
Over Top Mattress Protector
Full Encasement Mattress Protector
Box Spring Encasement
TOILET SUPPLIES: Last but DEFINITELY not least as nothing can be more embarrassing than the need to address bathroom accidents. “Um, sorry, but where can I find a plunger?” or “Yikes, it seems Fido may have gotten into the trash and maybe some feminine hygiene products.” Sadly I speak from experience on both accounts and have found a way to avoid repeat scenarios. Here are the products I have purchased and appreciate in most of our homes.
Plunger Set For Each Bathroom
Outsmart Your Fido Friends With Press Top Trashcans in Many Colors
NEXT MONTH’S EDITION OF THIS BLOG:
Prep Your Kitchen with Peace of Mind
