Your second home on the Costa Blanca possibly gets used for a few weeks a year. The other forty-something weeks, somebody else is looking after it. That somebody needs to be good at their job — and ideally, they need to know what to do when something unexpected comes up.

That sounds obvious. But here is the thing: “professional cleaning” is one of those phrases that gets used without anyone agreeing on what it means. Experienced? Often. Reliable? Usually. Working to a defined standard with documented procedures, approved products, and a written code of conduct? That is a different question entirely — and the answer, across most of the industry, is no.

We wanted to do it properly. So we looked at what “properly” actually looks like.

The standard the cleaning industry actually uses

ISSA — the International Sanitary Supply Association — has been setting professional cleaning standards since 1923. They represent over 11,000 companies worldwide, and their guidelines cover everything from service scope and product safety to staff conduct and reporting. They are the people who have spent a century thinking seriously about what good cleaning looks like.

Costa Carefree’s cleaning operations are built in alignment with those guidelines. That is not a marketing line — it is a structural decision that shapes how we work with subcontractors, what products we allow, and how every visit is documented. Here is what it means in practice.

Defined scopes — no guessing, no gaps

Every cleaning bundle has a documented scope of work: Departure Clean, Deep Clean, Window & Outdoor, Weekly Housekeeping. The cleaner arrives knowing exactly what is included. You receive a report knowing exactly what was done.

This matters more than it sounds. A defined scope means no grey areas, no interpretation, and no “I thought you meant…” It also means that when you compare two visits six months apart, you are comparing the same thing.

Product standards — the right product, the right surface

All products used in Costa Carefree properties must carry the EU Ecolabel or be REACH-compliant for residential use. Disinfectants must be appropriate for food-contact surfaces and sanitary areas. And critically: the right product for every material — no abrasives on glass, no harsh chemicals on marble.

Every subcontractor maintains a product list. If a question ever comes up about what was used and where, the answer exists.

A code of conduct — in writing

This is the part that tends to surprise people, but it is arguably the most important. Drawn from the ISSA Residential Code of Ethics, our conduct standard covers:

Punctuality. Arrive on time. If something comes up, Costa Carefree is notified immediately — not after the fact.

Professional appearance. Clean clothing, visible identification. This is a client’s private home, not a casual arrangement.

Privacy. No discussion of property details, access information, or client details outside the working relationship. Ever.

No personal use of the property. Pool, hot tub, fridge, TV — none of it. The home belongs to the client.

Damage reporting. Any damage or irregularity found is reported immediately with photos. Not mentioned in passing, not left for someone else to notice — documented and flagged.

Key and access security. Credentials are handled securely and never shared with third parties. Full stop.

These are not suggestions. They are conditions, agreed to in writing by every subcontractor before they work in a Costa Carefree property.

Standards are most valuable precisely when nobody is watching.

The Costa Carefree App — one place for everything

Every visit is documented in the Costa Carefree App. A photo log of what was done, checklist items completed, and any observations flagged — all visible to you, usually the same day. You are not waiting for an email. You are not finding out about something when you arrive in August. It is there, in the app, with photos.

But the app is not just for reports. It is where you order services, track upcoming visits, request something extra, and communicate with us. Everything to do with your home — one place, always up to date, always in your pocket. Whether you are in Reykjavik or a twenty-minute drive away.

Why this all matters

Here is the honest version: standards are most valuable precisely when nobody is watching. A great cleaner has a great day and does a great job. A cleaner working to a defined standard does the same job on a great day, a difficult day, the week before Christmas, and the visit no one was paying particular attention to.

That consistency is what trust is actually built from. Not the first visit — anyone can have a good first visit. It is the fifteenth visit. The one where something unexpected turns up and there is already a procedure for handling it.

You hand over the keys to one of the most valuable things you own. The standard it is held to while you are away should reflect that.