Introduction
The hospitality industry is quite competitive, especially in metropolitan and tourist-centric cities – ensuring proper cleanliness is a must-do for a hotel or an Airbnb.
From keeping fresh linen in the rooms to vacuuming and mopping every surface, hotel cleaning is a demanding yet vital task. In this guide, we discuss the ins and outs of housekeeping tips for hotels.
Why Hotels Should Prioritize Cleanliness
Maintaining cleanliness in a hotel is imperative to ensure guest satisfaction. The happier your guests are, the better reviews they'll leave on third-party websites and social media. As a result, you'll have positive social proof, which will eventually drive more bookings.
Proper housekeeping also boosts your reputation in an offline manner. Guests are more likely to recommend your hotel to their friends and family if they're pleased with the cleanliness of the rooms.
Most importantly, clean rooms create a healthy environment for your patrons. The last thing you want is to get sued for negligence in cleaning or be in the news for a bed bug infestation.
The Main Steps of the Hotel Room Cleaning Process
The housekeeping service in a hotel should follow a standard procedure for consistency and thoroughness in cleaning. We explain the steps of hotel room cleaning below:
Properly Ventilate Hotel Rooms
Ventilation is extremely important to create a welcoming space for your visitors. This will ensure aromas from previous guests do not stick around.
For a fresh and clean ambiance, open the windows and doors of the room. It'll allow air to circulate inside, which will eliminate any unpleasant odors and keep the air in your rooms fresh.
Also, instruct the housekeeper to keep the door open during cleaning so that fresh air can come in and the smells of cleaning products can dissipate.
Restock Clean Bed Linens
Nothing screams ''inviting'' like fresh and clean bed linens. The housekeeper should strip the beds' covers, blankets, and sheets. They should then replace them with fresh linens. Make sure the bed is crisply made before the guests' arrival.
If your customers are staying for multiple nights, ask them if they'd like the sheets to be changed daily.
Depending on the size of your hotel, washing bed linens can be a time-consuming process. Instead, you can outsource this task to a professional cleaning service. They'll not only use best practices for linen cleaning but also save you time and effort.
Provide Fresh Towels
Fresh towels are important for hygiene purposes. Stock the following in the bathroom:
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Bath towel
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Hand towel
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Facecloth
You can also include a bathrobe if your hotel offers luxury services. Change the towels daily for a pleasant and comfortable experience for your guests.
When washing the towels, use a disinfectant cleaner. It will help kill germs and bacteria that could spread from one guest to another. You can also offer eco-friendly options, such as linen towels, for environmentally-conscious visitors.
Remove Rubbish
If a guest walks into a hotel room and sees a full waste bin, they will likely ask for another room or seek alternative arrangements. Empty the bins every day to maintain a clean and sanitary environment. Place liners in the bins, too.
Also, use a disinfectant cleaner to prevent odors and bacteria from building up.
Besides the bin and the bedroom, check other common areas for trash. Look inside the closet, bathroom cabinets, bedside tables, shelves, under the bed, and behind the curtains.
Dust All Surfaces
After the trash is taken care of, start by dusting all surfaces, such as decorative elements, racks, furniture, television, shelves, and bathroom fixtures.
Use a damp microfiber cloth to trap dust particles and avoid spreading them around. Afterward, use a multi-purpose cleaner to polish the surfaces for a shiny finish.
Don't forget about the cobwebs and dust on the ceiling.
Disinfect High Touch Surfaces
High-touch surfaces in a hotel room include:
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Electronics (kettle, hair dryer, remote control, light switch)
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Doorknobs and handles
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Bedside tables and headboard
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Mini-fridge / bar and microwave
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Toilet flusher and sink faucet
First, wipe these surfaces to remove dirty stains. Then, treat them with a disinfectant spray or wipes to prevent bacterial spread.
Deep Clean the Bathroom
The bathroom is one of the dirtiest areas in the hotel room. It requires a thorough cleaning that includes the following:
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Scrubbing the sink, shower, and tub
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Disinfecting the toilet, especially the flush handle and seat
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Cleaning the mirrors and glass surfaces
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Replacing any used towels or toiletries
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Mopping the floor with a disinfectant cleaner
Vacuum Floors
Speaking of floors, the next step is to vacuum the floors to remove dust and debris. Your guests will likely walk barefoot on the floor, so it's important to make sure it's clean.
Start from the farthest corner of the room and work your way towards the door. Don't forget to vacuum under the bed, behind furniture, and in corners where dust tends to accumulate.
Supply and Restock Amenities
Finally, make sure the guest room has all the amenities you mention on your Booking.com profile or your website. Be it extra towels, toiletries, coffee and tea supplies, complimentary water bottles, a mini-bar menu, or a room service menu, everything should be in its designated place and fully stocked.
Double-check the room's toiletries supply – shampoo, hand soap, conditioner, body wash, etc.
A fully stocked room will show your guests that you care about their comfort and convenience. Plus, it will prevent any awkward calls to reception for forgotten or missing items.
Expert Tips for a Sparkling Guest Experience
Hotel cleaning is not limited to rooms. You also have to focus on cleaning other public areas, like the gyms, restrooms, dining rooms, entrances, the lobby, the pool, etc.
Here are a few expert tips to make sure your guests have a sparkling experience throughout their stay:
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Clean the front desk surfaces and the lobby floors every day.
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Dust all furniture in the public areas regularly.
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Make sure the restrooms are thoroughly cleaned and stocked with essentials multiple times a day.
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Wipe down gym equipment and surfaces regularly.
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Empty trash bins in common areas daily.
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Ensure that the pool area is always tidy and free of any debris.
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Spray air fresheners in public places to keep them smelling fresh.
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Train your staff to be observant, proactive, and report any maintenance issues or damage seen in public areas.
Outsourced Laundry Services for Hotels
On top of everything else you have to do to maintain a hotel, laundry is another tedious task. Instead of burdening your staff with laundry duties, consider outsourcing this service to a professional laundry service, such as Rinse.
The most attractive aspect of getting Rinse to do your hotel laundry is that you don't have to drop off the laundry or pick it up. Rather, we come to you, 7 days a week.
Plus, Rinse's long-standing expertise in helping businesses with their laundry ensures that your linens and towels are washed, dried, ironed, and folded to perfection. That's just what your guests expect.
Schedule your first pickup to experience the convenience of Rinse laundry service.
