How Often Should A Hotel Room Be Cleaned

Hotel housekeeping 101: Tips and tricks for clean hotel rooms

Forget uncomfortable beds, poor service, or itchy bathrobes: hotel guests are nigh likely to exist put off past poor housekeeping. Whether you lot run a cosy B&B or a v-star hotel, guests never expect to be greeted past dirt, hair, or dust in their room, and complaints or negative reviews are understandable if this does happen. And, given that the majority of customers volition read online reviews earlier booking a hotel these days, that tin pose a real threat to your business organisation.

Clearly, an effective housekeeping strategy needs to be a peak priority for any hotelier. In this guide, we'll show yous how to properly make clean your rooms and bathrooms, equally well as share some tips for impressing your guests. This guide will cover:

What are the duties of housekeeping in a hotel
Creating a housekeeping strategy
How to make clean a hotel room: a footstep by step guide
How to clean a hotel bathroom: a step past step guide
Cleaning products, equipment, and supplies

What are the duties of housekeeping in a hotel?

Good housekeeping is an invisible service, in that guests just really take notice of it when your team fails to deliver the expected standard of cleanliness. A hotel room could play host to hundreds of dissimilar guests each twelvemonth, but no guest wants their room to experience used, which is why it's the function of your housekeeping staff to ensure that there is no evidence of any previous occupants, and that every room is completely clean from top to bottom.

On a daily basis, the housekeeping team is responsible for cleaning guest rooms and 'turning down' beds, too equally replacing any muddy towels and replenishing whatsoever other amenities. On days when a chamber needs to prepared for a new invitee'southward arrival, an intensive clean and consummate change of bedding will exist required.

In addition to guest bedroom cleaning, some of your housekeepers should also be responsible for cleaning other forepart of house areas in the hotel, although more often than not there will be different teams and shift patterns for this.

Housekeeping teams are ordinarily managed by a floor director or supervisor, with a different manager overseeing each floor. They will usually exist responsible for organising shifts, checking and inspecting the work of the housekeeping attendants, re-ordering supplies, and reporting whatsoever faults or bug with guest rooms to the relevant person. Laundry porters and linen room administration likewise help to make sure that there'due south always a supply of fresh bed sheets and clean towels on paw. All of this is overseen by the overall housekeeping director, who works alongside the rest of the hotel direction team to ensure all operations run smoothly.

Creating a housekeeping strategy

If you want your guest bedrooms to be as clean equally possible, you lot'll demand to have an effective housekeeping strategy in place. That means working out how many staff yous demand to apply per shift and creating a checklist for them to follow in each area to ensure cleaning standards are met.

It's important to know how many staff members you need on duty when the hotel is at different occupancy levels. It takes roughly 45 minutes for a housekeeping attendant to completely clean a room, although it may take less fourth dimension if only a basic plow-downwardly service is needed. Assuming that a staff member works for eight hours (and assuasive for a 30-minute break), they'll be able to make clean around 10 bedrooms per shift, depending on the size of the rooms.

By dividing the full number of occupied rooms by 10, you should be able to work out how many staff members you demand at a given time. Of course, this isn't representative of the total number of cleaning employees you'll demand, as staff tin can't work every single twenty-four hours without a intermission, and you'll also demand cover for holidays or ill leave.

How to clean a hotel room: step by stride

If your staff know exactly which steps to have from the moment they enter a room, information technology will help to end anything from being forgotten or overlooked. That'south why information technology can exist helpful to provide your staff with a cleaning checklist they can follow.

Nosotros've put together 2 step-by-step guides for cleaning a hotel sleeping room and bathroom, which you can employ to create your own customised checklists. Remember, if you lot have different room types, you'll demand to brand dissimilar checklists for each 1: the honeymoon suite is likely to have different cleaning requirements to your basic economy room, for instance.

To become a sparkling, five-star clean that will ensure your guests are happy with the standard of their room, your housekeepers should carry out the following steps in each bedroom earlier welcoming a new guest:

Air out the room: Before starting, open the windows and any balcony doors. This will assist to bring fresh air into the room, and stops the smell of any cleaning chemicals from lingering. The housekeeping attendant should also leave the main door open while cleaning — this will assist with ventilation.
Strip the bed: Remove bed linen and place it in the laundry bin in the housekeeping cart. If the room is occupied by the aforementioned guest for more than than i night, they don't necessarily need a change of sheets, in which case the housekeeper should just neatly remake the bed and become the room set up for their return — this is called a 'turndown' service. Some hotels exit a card that the invitee can place on the bed or doorknob to asking a full linen change.
Remove rubbish: Empty the bins and remove any rubbish from the room. Place new liners in the bins.
Remove used cups: Switch any used cups, mugs, or crockery for make clean items, and replenish the hot drinks service (if whatsoever) with fresh supplies. Whatsoever items taken from the mini-bar should be noted and replaced according to the policy of your hotel.
Dusting: Grit all surfaces, starting from the top and working your way down towards the floor. Don't forget to dust any hard-to-reach or easy to miss areas, like light fittings, head boards, under the bed, or the superlative of wardrobes and cupboards. An extendable scope duster can be a very handy tool if your hotel has high ceilings!
Vacuum furniture and upholstery: Any pieces of upholstered furniture should be vacuumed using a specialist castor zipper. This will proceed them gratis of dirt, grit, and allergens, too every bit help to maximise their longevity. Curtains tin can also exist vacuumed using an attachment to remove grit.
Clean surfaces: Clean and sanitise all surfaces. If any guest possessions are in the way, carefully move them to one side while you work, and then neatly supplant them afterwards. Don't forget to besides wipe down the insides of cupboards or wardrobes.
Change the bed: Inspect the mattress for any damage or wear, and report any bug to the shift director. If no problems are found, place fresh sheets and pillowcases on the bed before making it upwardly neatly in the style of your hotel. Replace decorative cushions or throws.
Sanitise and grit electricals: Wipe and sanitise any electrical equipment like guest phones or televisions. Television set screens tin can get very dusty, and so wipe these with a dry cloth.
Make clean the floor: By doing this last, you ensure that you aren't creating more work for yourself by making it messy again during other cleaning processes. Hard floors should be swept and mopped, while carpets should exist vacuumed, starting from an inner corner and working out towards the door.
Close windows and perform 1 concluding cheque: Shut the windows and whatever balcony doors. If any chemical smells remain, an air freshener can be used. If the thermostat has been adjusted, return this to your hotel's default temperature. Do one final sweep of the room to ensure zippo has been missed before the room is left.

Deep cleaning

To continue your rooms as clean as possible, yous'll sometimes need to become above and beyond your usual cleaning checklist, and fifty-fifty employ some specialist deep cleaning equipment. Yous should aim to do the following tasks at least once every three months:

Deep make clean carpets using a steam rug cleaner.
Deep make clean upholstered article of furniture and curtains using a steam cleaner and specialist zipper.
Go hard floors and tiles looking as practiced equally new using a floor polisher.
Vacuum the mattress and launder any covers or protectors. If it'southward the sort of mattress that needs rotating, this should exist done every six months, or according to the label.
Launder your pillow protectors every month. Y'all should also wash your pillows every half-dozen months. Pillows should exist replaced at least one time every ii years or as before long as they become out of shape to ensure they're completely comfortable.

Call up that you lot volition need to schedule in actress time for these tasks. It'southward all-time to try and plan them for a tranquility catamenia when many of your rooms are not fully booked upward.

How to make clean a hotel bath: pace by step

Bathrooms tend to be much more decumbent to build-ups of dirt, mould, grime, and hair than the bedroom, so your staff need to be methodical and very thorough when cleaning this area. If you desire to impress your guests, at that place shouldn't exist whatsoever evidence that the bathroom has been used recently: information technology should feel completely make clean and new.

For a aseptic, sparkling make clean bathroom, your staff should follow this routine:

Open up any windows: Open windows to allow fresh air in, or switch on ventilation units to assist air out the room and terminate the scent of cleaning products from lingering.
Remove towels and mats: Soiled towels can be placed in the laundry bag. The usual protocol is to request that guests supervene upon the towel on the rails if they wish to use them again, while dirty towels are placed in the bath or shower. If a invitee wants to reuse their towels, put them to one side.
Empty the bin: Remove any rubbish and place a new liner in the bin.
Tidy guest property: Any toiletries or other products belonging to the guests should be neatly moved bated to allow for cleaning. These should be neatly replaced in one case cleaning has finished.
Make clean the shower and/or bath surface area: Glass surfaces, tiling, and chrome shower fittings and taps should be cleaned using a specialist bathroom surface cleaner or glass cleaner to remove h2o marks and soap scum to create a shiny 'make new' advent. Pay special attention to the drain and be very careful to remove any hairs. If in that location is any continuing water in the shower, report this to the floor supervisor, equally it may point a more serious problem with the bleed.
Clean the sink area and taps: Using an antibacterial bathroom cleaner and a cloth, wipe the sink and surrounding countertop. Clean the taps thoroughly to remove any water stains and provide a shiny finish. Wipe the mirror, beingness careful not to exit streaks or smears. Ensure the plughole is completely clear.
Make clean the toilet: The toilet should exist thoroughly cleaned using a toilet disinfectant, and bleach should be applied and then flushed away. Pay shut attending to underneath the rim and effectually the joints of the seat where grime and limescale can build up. Toilet freshening devices can exist fitted to provide long lasting freshness. When finished, lower the seat and shut the lid.
Dust: Dust low-cal fittings and the corners of the ceiling to remove any cobwebs or dust, and clean behind and underneath towel rails and radiators. If whatsoever pipes are visible — behind the toilet or under the sink, for example — ensure that these are dusted.
Wipe the towel rail: This can accumulate a surprising amount of dust and dirt, so don't forget to wipe it clean.
Restock civilities and toilet paper: Refill any used guest toiletries, such as shampoos, shower gels, soaps, or toothpastes. Restock clean drinking glasses and toilet paper.
Hang make clean towels: Finally, restock with clean towels and bath mats, too equally whatever robes and slippers if the onetime ones are soiled. If the guest has opted to re-use their towels, fold them neatly and re-hang on the towel rail.
Clean the floor: The flooring should be swept or vacuumed, and then cleaned using a hard floor cleaner and a mop. As with the bedroom, it's best to do this last, otherwise you may stop up undoing your hard work past making a mess when cleaning other surfaces. Start from an inside corner and piece of work outwards towards the door.

Equipment, supplies, and cleaning products

To exercise their jobs properly, your staff will need the right cleaning and room care supplies, and a way to transport them all from room to room. In this section, nosotros'll accept you lot through everything y'all demand to equip your team with.

Housekeeping trolley

Your team demand access to lots of different cleaning products and equipment over the course of a shift, too as a ways of transporting bedding, towels, and replacement supplies — like toiletries or mini bar refreshments — betwixt rooms. A housekeeping trolley volition allow them to move everything easily, as well as keep things organised.

You may want to consider the post-obit features when choosing your trolley:

Split bags for rubbish and soiled linen.
Multiple tiers and shelves for keeping cleaning products and supplies organised.
Compartments for storing guest toiletries and refreshments. If you lot provide a hot drinks service or mini bar, remember that y'all will accept glass items and ceramics that need to exist stored carefully to forestall breakage.
Smooth, multi-directional wheels with brakes. This will allow your staff to motion the cart easily and park it safely.
A vacuum subclass or holder. Storing this on the cart will save your housekeepers from making two trips when moving from room to room.

Recollect to bear the size of your hotel in mind, every bit you'll demand to consider the logistics of moving the cart. If y'all have a pocket-sized hotel with just a few rooms to service, there'southward no reason to invest in a huge trolley. As well, if your hotel has narrow corridors or limited lift space, your staff aren't going to be able to motion it from room to room, then a smaller unit may be more suitable.

Cleaning supplies and equipment

Your housekeeping trolley should be equipped with the following cleaning supplies:

Vacuum cleaner
Mop and bucket
Floor cleaner
Surface cleansers and sanitiser
Cleaning cloths
Bleach
Paper towels
Dusting cloths
Dusting tool
Furniture shine
Bathroom cleaner
Toilet cleaner
Scrubbing brush
Drain cleaner
Air freshener
Rubber protective gloves
Bin liners
Bath bin liners

If yous would like more than tips for choosing the best cleaning products and equipment for your hotel, take a await at our janitorial supplies ownership guide.

Guest supplies and amenities

Whether it'south a mint on the pillow, a mini shampoo in the bathroom, or a soft towelling robe, guests love complimentary products, then including some freebies will always become down well. Your housekeeping team volition be responsible for replenishing these supplies as needed, and then they will need to accept enough in their trolley to restock each room they clean that solar day. Examples of complimentary guest products could include:

Shampoo
Conditioner
Shower gel
Trunk balm
Hand soap
Toothpaste or dental kit
Robes and slippers

In add-on to these products, your housekeeping trolleys should accept the following essentials:

Towels
Bath mats
Bed sheets and pillowcases
Toilet paper

Refreshments:

It'due south now quite common to offer your guests a mini bar and hotel room beverage service, and then they can help themselves to refreshments. And then, you should also stock your trolleys with:

Mugs — using existent glassware and crockery instead of disposables can add a real luxury feel.
Kettle
Tea and java
Sugar and milk
Spoons or stirrers
Mini bar supplies (like alcoholic drinks and snacks)

How to fix up a housekeeping trolley

The trolley needs to take adequate supplies to service every room on the shift, as running to and from the stockroom repeatedly will use up valuable fourth dimension. But you lot also don't desire your housekeeping trolley to be so overloaded with supplies that information technology becomes difficult or unsafe for your staff to push. That means you lot demand to strike the right balance between having enough supplies for the shift ahead and ensuring that your trolley is prophylactic to push. The best course of action is for your staff to stock upwardly their trolleys twice every shift: one time at the start, and once in the eye of their shift, possibly afterwards their break.

Ideally, you should keep refreshments and guest amenities towards the top of the cart, and sheets, towels, and paper hygiene products neatly folded underneath. Dirty laundry should also be kept in a divide bag, then it's clear what is soiled and what is clean.

It doesn't matter what sort of business yous run — whether it's a tiny contained boutique, or a large chain, there's no reason your rooms tin't be pristine. Then, exist sure to accept our hotel housekeeping tips and tricks on board to ensure impressive results and happy customers every time.

If you're looking for more advice, visit our dedicated hotel advice centre, where y'all'll find loads of insider tips near the manufacture. Nosotros also take some very helpful cleaning and hotel product buying guides that will give you lot all the data you need to select the right products for every aspect of your concern.

Summary

Description

Castor upward on your cleaning procedures with our hotel housekeeping guide. These tips and tricks will ensure your invitee rooms look their all-time. Read more.