How to guide equipment use (and why it protects your property)

Imagine a guest arrives at your property and, not knowing how to select the right TV input, spends hours unable to watch what they love. Or another overloads the washing machine and damages the drum. Or someone leaves the iron on a delicate fabric because they didn't know how to set the temperature correctly.

These scenarios are more common than they seem — and most are avoidable with a well-documented item in your property's digital guide.

Why it's worth documenting every appliance

Clear equipment guidance brings three direct benefits:

• Less damage — Misuse is the leading cause of appliance breakdowns in holiday lets.
• Fewer messages — "How do I turn on the AC?", "The TV isn't working" — questions that vanish when the guide answers first. Many are always the same: see the 5 questions you should stop answering on WhatsApp.
• More guest confidence — When everything is explained, guests feel welcomed and secure, even on their first visit — one of the factors behind 5-star reviews.

How to add equipment instructions to your guide

In the Guialo editor, you'll find a section dedicated to Equipment. There, each item can have an identifying icon, a title, text instructions, and — most importantly — photos and videos showing exactly what the guest needs to do.

The text + image combination is especially powerful: the guest sees exactly which button to press, which input to select, or which cycle to choose — no room for doubt.

Appliances and how to explain them

Below, we detail some of the most common appliances in holiday lets and what's worth documenting for each.

The TV is the appliance that generates the most questions — especially when there are multiple signal sources (cable, HDMI, streaming). Document:

• How to select the right input — Use a photo of the remote with the input button (Source/Input) highlighted, and another photo of the TV menu showing which option to select for each source (HDMI 1 for cable, HDMI 2 for the Chromecast, Fire TV Stick, TV Box, etc.).
• Logging out of streaming accounts — Guests frequently forget this, and it can create privacy issues for both sides. Clearly explain how to sign out of each app before check-out. A short 30-second video or a sequence of images showing the steps is ideal here.

The washing machine is one of the appliances that suffers most from misuse in holiday lets. Three pointers make a big difference:

• Use a gentler cycle — Intensive or high-temperature cycles damage fabrics and increase machine wear. Tell your guest the recommended cycle by the exact name on the panel — for example, "Delicate" or "Quick Rinse" — and add a photo of the selector in the right position.
• Respect the machine's capacity — Overloading strains the motor and drum; underloading wastes water and energy. Guide guests to use between half and three-quarters of the capacity for an efficient, careful wash.
• Unplug before removing clothes — For electrical safety, recommend always unplugging the appliance after the cycle ends, before opening the door and removing the laundry.

• Recommended temperature — Suggest a comfortable range, like 22°C to 24°C (72°F to 75°F), and explain how to set it on the remote.
• Energy saving — Ask guests to turn off the AC when leaving the apartment and not to leave windows open while it's running.

• How to use it — Step by step with photos: where the grounds or capsule go, which button to press, how much water to add. Different models work very differently.
• What's available — Say whether there are capsules, ground coffee, or filters, and where they're stored.
• Cleaning after use — Explain how to dispose of used grounds or capsules to keep the machine in good shape for the next guest.

• Temperature by fabric type — An overheated iron on the wrong fabric causes irreversible damage. Show the selector positions for cotton, synthetics, and wool.
• Ironing board — Say where it's stored and how to set it up, if it's not obvious.
• Turn it off after use — A simple reminder in the guide prevents accidents.

• What to do if the connection drops — If your internet provider is unreliable, explain how to restart the router: where it is, which button, how many seconds to wait. That solves most problems without anyone having to call you.

The most valuable tip: use photos and short videos

For any appliance, a photo is worth more than a paragraph of instructions. A 20-second video is worth more than any photo. In the digital guide, you can add images and videos directly to each item — use that whenever the steps are visual.

Guests who need help with appliances usually didn't read the text instructions. But they rarely ignore a photo that shows exactly what to do. That visual principle applies to the whole guide — see how to create a house manual guests actually read.

Where to start

You don't have to document everything at once. Start with the appliances that generate the most questions or are most prone to damage — the TV and washing machine are usually great starting points. Add the rest as guests ask questions.

Over time, you'll have a guide that anticipates every need — and a much better preserved property.

Frequently asked questions

Which appliances should I document first?

Start with the ones that generate the most questions or are most prone to damage: the TV and washing machine usually lead. Then add the air conditioning, coffee maker, iron, and the rest as guests ask.

Text or video: what works best for equipment instructions?

Images and video work far better. A photo with the right button highlighted, or a 20-second video, solves what three paragraphs of text can't — because a guest in a hurry doesn't read, but they do look.

How do equipment instructions reduce property damage?

Misuse is the leading cause of appliance breakdowns in holiday lets. Guidance on washer load, iron temperature, or AC mode prevents breakage and wear, protecting your investment.

Do I need to rewrite instructions for international guests?

No. In a digital guide, you document in your language and the content is translated automatically, so the same instructions serve every guest.