Cottage Cleaning for Opening & Closing Season
Cottage cleaning from Harbor Shores Cleaning Company gets Northern Michigan cottages, cabins and seasonal homes ready before you arrive and cleaned after you leave for the season. Our trained, background-checked team has cleaned seasonal homes around Little Traverse Bay since 2013, and every cottage starts with a free estimate.
- 4.9★238 Google reviews
- 9Towns served
- 2013Cleaning since
Cottage Cleaning Before You Arrive and After You Leave
Seasonal homes in Northern Michigan sit closed for months. Dust settles, cobwebs build up in high corners, and hard water leaves calcium and iron buildup on fixtures. We handle both ends of the season so your cottage is ready when you are.
- Opening
Cottage Opening Clean
A top-to-bottom clean before you arrive: kitchens, bathrooms, cobwebs, fans, vents, baseboards, windowsills and floors, so the first night feels like home, not a work weekend.
Plan your opening - Closing
Cottage Closing Clean
A clean after you leave for the season, so the cottage is not closed up with crumbs, trash and dirty linens, and is fresh when you return.
Plan your closing - In season
Rental Turnovers
Renting your cottage during the season? Our vacation rental cleaning handles turnovers between guests so every arrival is guest-ready.
Explore rental cleaning
What a Cottage Cleaning Includes
Cottage openings follow our residential deep cleaning checklist, done by a team of 2 to 3 that includes an Anchor Team member with specialized training.
- KitchenCupboard and drawer exteriors hand washed, countertops and backsplash cleaned, sinks and faucets scrubbed, appliance exteriors and microwave interior wiped.
- BathroomsShowers, tile and tubs treated for buildup, toilets scrubbed and disinfected, vanities, mirrors, vents, light fixtures and baseboards cleaned.
- Living areas and bedroomsCobwebs, light fixtures, ceiling fans and vents dusted, windowsills and blinds cleaned, furniture tops dusted, baseboards washed and floors vacuumed and mopped.
Add-Ons That Make Cottage Season Easier
These add-ons take extra time, so we schedule them in advance. Prices vary by cottage and are included in your free estimate.
- Laundry, linens and bed makingFresh sheets and made beds so the cottage is ready for the first night.
- Interior window glass and screensFull interior window glass and screen cleaning, priced per window and per screen.
- Deck, porch and patio furnitureSweeping the deck or porch and cleaning patio furniture before the season starts.
- Dishwashing, wall washing and groutDishes washed, walls washed and grout floors scrubbed with heavy-duty tools.
Tips for Opening and Closing Your Cottage
Closed cottages can trap moisture over the winter, which is how musty smells and mildew start. The EPA’s mold guidance recommends keeping indoor humidity low and fixing leaks quickly. For a full room-by-room list of what to do on closing day, read our cottage closing checklist.
Book your opening or closing clean early, especially for Memorial Day and the end of summer. Let us know your arrival or departure dates and anything we should avoid, such as fragile items or areas you would rather we not handle.
Cottage Cleaning Across Nine Northern Michigan Towns
From lake cottages on Walloon Lake to seasonal homes near the Tunnel of Trees in Harbor Springs, we clean cottages in every town we serve.
- Petoskey cottage cleaningSee our Petoskey cleaning services.
- Harbor Springs cottage cleaningSee our Harbor Springs cleaning services.
- Bay Harbor cottage cleaningSee our Bay Harbor cleaning services.
- Alanson cottage cleaningSee our Alanson cleaning services.
- Charlevoix cottage cleaningSee our Charlevoix cleaning services.
- Boyne City cottage cleaningSee our Boyne City cleaning services.
- Walloon Lake cottage cleaningSee our Walloon Lake cleaning services.
- Gaylord cottage cleaningSee our Gaylord cleaning services.
- Indian River cottage cleaningSee our Indian River cleaning services.
What Cottage Owners Say
“We have been a client of Harbor Shores for three summers and have been very pleased.” — Ginger S., Google review. Read more on our reviews page.
Cottage Cleaning FAQs
Do you offer cottage cleaning in Northern Michigan?
Yes. Harbor Shores Cleaning Company cleans cottages, cabins and seasonal homes before owners arrive for the season and after they leave. We serve Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Bay Harbor, Alanson, Charlevoix, Boyne City, Walloon Lake, Gaylord and Indian River.
What is included in a cottage opening clean?
A cottage opening is cleaned like our top-to-bottom deep cleaning: kitchen, bathrooms, cobwebs, light fixtures, ceiling fans, vents, baseboards, windowsills, blinds and floors. Add-ons such as laundry, linen change and bed making, interior window glass, deck or porch sweeping and patio furniture cleaning can be scheduled in advance.
Can you clean my cottage after I close it for the season?
Yes. We clean seasonal homes after owners leave for the season, so the cottage is clean and ready when you come back. Tell us when you plan to leave and we will build the clean into your plan.
How much does cottage cleaning cost?
Every cottage is different, so we price each one with a free estimate. Size, how long the home has been closed and any add-ons you choose all affect the price. Call (231) 242-8842 or request your estimate online.
What if there are insects or pests when you arrive?
Seasonal homes can have insects after sitting closed. If our team finds ants, termites, roaches, fleas or a similar problem, we will not clean or vacuum that area, and we will leave you a note or call you about it.
Do you also clean vacation rentals between guests?
Yes. If you rent your cottage to guests during the season, our vacation rental cleaning handles turnovers between stays.
Ready for an Easy Cottage Season?
Tell us about your cottage and your dates, and we will put together a free estimate. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.