Housekeeping
Safety
Please always close and lock doors and window when leaving, even for a short time.
Turn on the alarm system if you’re away the whole day or night. When you leave please inform your host and we will turn it on remotely. You can cover the cameras when you’re in, but the covers must be off when you’re out. Don’t hang anything heavy on them – any damage is your responsibility.
Please don’t let strangers in trough the community gate and block the gates open.
Do not burn candles inside – they are a major fire hazard.
Please don’t instal any wire lights anywhere – they choke plants, are a hazard and create waste.
Hygiene
Please remember to take you rubbish out often so the smells don’t attract bugs. Keep bin lids closed.
Always use a mattress and pillow protectors WITH sheets, pillow cases and duvet cases, and report any stains on mattress, pillows and sofa. The protector for the bed is fitted and waterproof and the one for the sofabed has elastic straps. Longer stay guests are expected to leave the protector layers and sofa cover clean. Fabric stain removal spray provided. If you need to wash the grey sofa cover, there is a large machine laundrette in the Chaparral Shopping Centre, lower ground floor by cafe.
Please leave beach towels washed and clean in the apartment, they’re not part of the laundry service. On the drying rack is ok, and you can leave your own beach towels there to be re-used if you can’t pack them.
Local utilities can’t deal with wet wipes down the toilet, even if they say flushable, so please bin them.
Always shower before entering the pool.
Flora and Fauna
The community and neighbours keep a couple of friendly cats, if you are lucky and treat them well, some may visit the terrace and say hi. If you don’t want them around and don’t feed them they won’t bother you. Please don’t let any cats inside the apartment.
Feel free to water outdoor plants on the terrace.
Tropical paradise climate – and bugs:
Cockroaches are native to the island and nest only outside, but if you don’t keep the apartment clean and tidy they will visit looking for food. Keep the terrace door closed at night. There is poison and traps around, but they only deter them. Don’t try to kill a cockroach (for good reasons, Google it), just brush it back outside. Report any infestations ie persistent visitors. The lizards and geckos you might find on the volcanic rocks outside eat cockroaches, so leave them to it. Please also report ants that eat wooden frames or furniture – The islands have termites and carpenter ants which need to be dealt with quickly. Tiny kitchen sugar ants may also visit if you leave anything on the surfaces, clean daily with Sanytol spray to deter them. Carpenter ants love eating nuts etc, so store open containers in the fridge and use the clips. Most spiders are a good to have since they kill mosquitoes. You can also deter mosquitoes by burning a citronella candle (outside in the planter only) and using plug-in diffusers for them, available in the supermarkets.
Rubbish Bins and Recycling
- Yellow Bin: Plastic packaging, metal cans, cartons (like for milk and juice)
- Blue Bin: Paper and cardboard
- Green Bin: Glass bottles and jars
- Brown Bin: Organic waste. (may not yet be available so follow the guides on the containers or use the grey bins)
- Grey Bin: other household waste
Map of bin locations:
Other recycling:
Las Galletas mobile recycling unit and what use it for:
The mobile unit is a specialised multi-compartment container designed for small household waste that should not go into standard street bins:
- Hazardous Items: Batteries, lightbulbs, fluorescent tubes, ink cartridges, and printer toners.
- Domestic Waste: Used cooking oil (stored in closed plastic bottles) and old clothing/shoes (in tied plastic bags).
- Electronics: Laptops, irons, gaming consoles, and small home appliances.
At the time of writing it is there every Wednesday 15:00 – 19:00, but please check for Las Galletas (The Cookies in English) schedule in case of any changes.
The Lions Club charity shop in Costa Del Silencio also takes usable and clean shoes and clothes and possibly other things like beach equipment and toys. Please avoid putting these items in household waste.