Short answer: set a par level for every consumable, keep a locked supply cupboard at the property, and have your cleaner check and refill against those levels on every turnover. Running out of toilet paper is one of the fastest ways to lose a star and it is entirely preventable.
What a par level is
A par level is the minimum quantity that should be present at the end of every turnover. Not the amount you put out, the amount that must be there when the cleaner leaves.
The distinction matters. If you tell a cleaner to leave four toilet rolls, they leave four. If you tell them the par level is four, they count what is there and top it up to four. The second version survives a guest who used three.
Suggested par levels
Adjust to your occupancy and average stay length. These are sensible starting points for a two bedroom desert rental.
Bathrooms
- Toilet paper: 2 rolls on the holder area per bathroom, plus 4 spare visible
- Hand soap: full dispenser plus 1 spare refill
- Body wash, shampoo and conditioner: over half full
- Tissues: 1 open box plus 1 spare
- Bath towels: 1 per guest at max occupancy, plus 2
- Hand towels: 2 per bathroom
- Bath mat: 1 per bathroom
Kitchen
- Dish soap: over half full
- Dishwasher tablets: 6
- Trash liners: 6 per bin
- Paper towels: 1 open roll plus 2 spare
- Coffee: 8 servings, in whatever format your machine takes
- Filters: 8, if applicable
- Sponge or dish cloth: fresh every turnover, not topped up
- Salt, pepper, oil: over half full
- Foil, cling film, storage bags: over half a roll
Laundry and general
- Laundry detergent: over half full
- Light bulbs: 2 spare of each type used
- Batteries: 4 AA and 4 AAA for remotes
- First aid kit: sealed and in date
- Fire extinguisher: in date, checked seasonally
Desert specific
- Sunscreen: 1 bottle, appreciated far more than it costs
- Bug spray: 1 bottle
- Extra blankets: 1 per bed, because desert nights are cold and guests underestimate this constantly
- Dark flannels for makeup and hot tub use
How to make it work in practice
Keep stock on site, in a locked cupboard. This is cheaper and simpler than having a cleaner purchase and bill through. Buy in bulk, restock the cupboard on your own schedule, and the turnover just refills from it.
Lock it, or mark it clearly. An unlocked supply cupboard becomes a guest supply cupboard and your counts will drift.
Put the par list inside the cupboard door. Printed, laminated. The cleaner should not have to remember it or look it up on a phone.
Ask for a low-stock report, not a restock request. You want to hear that the cupboard is running low on toilet paper before it is empty, not on the day it runs out.
Over-stock the cheap things
Toilet paper, trash liners and paper towels cost very little and cause disproportionate damage when they run out. Be generous. A guest who finds plenty of everything registers the property as well managed, and that impression carries into the review in ways that are hard to buy any other way.
Conversely, do not over-provide part-used consumables. A half-empty shampoo bottle from a previous guest reads worse than a small new one.
Seasonal adjustments
Increase blankets and heating-related items in the cooler months, which is peak season for Joshua Tree because that is when the National Park is comfortable. Increase sunscreen, bug spray and hot tub towels through the warmer months. Review par levels twice a year rather than setting them once and forgetting.
See our turnover service, which includes a consumables check on every clean, or the full turnover checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What is a par level in a vacation rental?
The minimum quantity of a consumable that must be present when the cleaner leaves, rather than the amount they put out. The difference matters: if you say leave four toilet rolls, they leave four regardless of what was there. If you say the par level is four, they count and top up to four, which survives a guest who used three.
Should I keep cleaning and guest supplies at the property?
Yes, in a locked or clearly marked cupboard. It is cheaper and simpler than having a cleaner purchase and bill through, because you can buy in bulk on your own schedule and the turnover just refills from stock. Lock it, or guests will help themselves and your counts will drift.
How much toilet paper should I leave for guests?
Be generous, because it costs very little and running out causes disproportionate damage to a review. Two rolls in use per bathroom plus four spare visible is a sensible starting point for a two bedroom property. Guests who find plenty of everything register the property as well managed.
What should I stock in a desert vacation rental that is not obvious?
Extra blankets, one per bed, because desert nights are genuinely cold and guests consistently underestimate this. Also sunscreen, bug spray, and a basket of dark flannels for makeup removal and hot tub use, which prevents guests using white bath towels for both.
Should I leave part-used shampoo bottles for the next guest?
No. A half-empty bottle left by a previous guest reads worse than a small new one, because it signals the property was not properly reset. Either provide fresh individual items or use refillable dispensers topped up to full, which is also less wasteful.