Glitter might seem harmless at first glance, but any host who has found it strewn about their vacation rental property can attest to how long it takes to clean up.
If you scroll through Airbnb listings in popular bachelorette party destinations like Nashville, Tennessee, you’ll typically find a house rule against both glitter and confetti. But these hosts are not the only ones at risk. A guest might bring glitter for other occasions as well or simply as part of a fun craft project.
In an Instagram video on Feb. 2, Sarah Karakaian and Annette Grant of the Thanks for Visiting podcast advised all hosts to have a house rule against the use of glitter.
“If you haven’t been victimized by confetti or glitter yet, take it from us, create a house rule that tells guests that not only can they not have confetti or glitter, but they also can’t put tape on your walls or woodwork or cabinets within your home,” Sarah said.
Commenters on Thanks for Visiting responded with personal anecdotes about why prohibiting glitter at your vacation rental home is a wise idea.
“Oh my gosh – I am so traumatized by glitter and confetti,” one host wrote. “I had a guest that did a baby reveal – oh lord! Not only was it everywhere in my house, patios, and grass, but all the confetti blew into our neighbors’ yard.”
Cleaning up the glitter from her house, patios, and yard took about seven hours. She had to use a sticky lint roller to remove glitter in areas where she couldn’t use a vacuum.
“I double charged them for all the extra cleaning,” she said. “They have still never paid. Live and learn, I guess. I now have a no-glitter and no-confetti rule.”
Another host said it took several months and a flooring replacement to clean up all the glitter at her home.
Environmental hazards of glitter
The time and money that go into removing glitter are not the only reasons to have a guest rule against it.
Glitter is also an environmental hazard. It’s a microplastic that can be released into the environment and can pollute the water we drink, the food we eat, and the air that we breathe, according to an article in Discover Magazine. Microplastics interfere with the health and reproductive rates of marine life, among other things, and account for about 11% of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans, according to the Pew.
Even so-called biodegradable glitter made from cellulose or mica can harm aquatic ecosystems, according to a 2020 study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.
Glitter is just one of many sources of microplastics, so a house rule banning glitter isn’t enough. Responsible hosts need to reduce other kinds of plastics used in their vacation rental, including single-use plastics like tiny shampoo bottles and when possible, items with plastic packaging. All of these will lead to having a more sustainable vacation rental.
How to make a house rule on glitter in your vacation rental
While opting for a house rule that says absolutely no confetti or glitter might be sufficient, it could be helpful to tell your guest why you don’t want glitter and confetti used in the house. For example, To avoid expensive cleaning charges and to be kind to the environment, we ask that you do not use confetti or glitter in our home.
How to clean up glitter if it’s already too late
If you have already had a guest who used glitter in your vacation rental, here are some clever ideas for how to clean it up.
Paper towel – If you have a large pile of glitter, use a paper towel rather than a broom to collect as much of the glitter as possible.
Vacuum – A vacuum is your first line of defense against scattered glitter. Vacuum up as much of the sparkly stuff as you can. Then, try these other methods.
Sticky lint roller, masking tape, or static-charged balloon – Use a sticky lint roller, masking tape, or a static-charged balloon to lift up glitter that the vacuum doesn’t.
Play-Doh or Putty – For delicate objects or hard-to-reach crevices, you can use Play-Doh or Putty to remove glitter.
Hairspray – On washable fabrics only, spray hairspray on the fabric and let it dry completely. Then, wash the fabric in your washing machine separate from other linens and clothes so that the glitter doesn’t transfer to those items. After the load is done, you might have glitter in your washing machine and dryer.
How to clean glitter from the washer and dryer – First, wipe the drum and seal with a damp microfiber cloth. Afterward, use a wet paper towel to wipe out any remaining glitter. Then, use Play-Doh or Putty to remove any stubborn glitter from the crevices of the machines. Finally, run an empty wash cycle to make sure you don’t transfer the glitter to your next load of laundry.
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