Housekeeping staff and their duties
In a hospitality industry, it is important to keep your guests happy at all times. And this starts from the second they walk into their room.
Housekeeping staff members are the ones that make sure that the first impression of the hotel or resort is positive. Their job is to make sure that all evidence of previous occupants is gone to make the hotel room not feel used for the new guests. To do so, the cleaning staff need to know necessary cleaning procedures that will make it easier to figure out how to efficiently clean.
Hotel housekeeping services are also responsible for daily basis clean ups. This includes making the bed, replacing dirty towels, and other amenities. They need to show the guests your hotel or spa resort cares about their needs and will give quality service from all of the staff.
In addition, good housekeeping is important health codes for hotels and resorts. On top of food safety, hotels need to follow the public health guidance in order to keep the business going. Poor cleaning practices can lead to health code violations that can shut down your business. After Covid 19, it is crucial to have high standards for cleaning in order to make your guests feel safe to be is such a public environment where social distancing can be hard.
Hotel housekeeping cleaning strategy
In order to always give the best cleaning service, you need to sort out cleaning procedures and make housekeeping strategy. This involves figuring out how many staff members you need per shift and a checklist for them to follow when going from room to room.
It depends on how many guest rooms you have in your hotel in order to find out how much staff you need. This aspect of a cleaning strategy is very personalized. But we will provide you with a guide that your staff can follow when cleaning hotel rooms.
Equipment and cleaning products
To do a proper job of cleaning, your staff needs the right cleaning products that are carefully organized in a housekeeping trolley. This will allow the staff to easily move from one room to another, leaving each room properly cleaned.
Housekeeping trolley
A housekeeping trolley will allow easy access to all the necessary cleaning supplies as well as fresh bedding, towels, and replacement toiletries or mini bar refreshments. When choosing a trolley, you should consider some of these things.
- Separate bags for soiled and rubbish linen.
- Multiple shelves and compartment for cleaning products for easy and efficient organization.
- Compartments for keeping guest refreshments and toiletries.
- Smooth and multi directional wheels with breaks are important to parrk the trolley safely and move it easily.
- A vacuum holder will keep your staff from making two trips when going from room to room.
Cleaning supplies
This is what should be in the housekeeping trolley:
- Vacuum
- Mop or steam mop and bucket
- All-purpose cleaner
- Floor cleaner
- Bathroom cleaner
- Toilet cleaner
- Drain cleaner
- Microfiber towels
- Paper towels
- Dusting cloths
- Dusting tool
- Scrubbing brush
- Air freshner
- Rubber gloves
- Bin liners
- Steam cleaner
This selection of supplies can always be personalized. These listed products are just the most common cleaning supplies that are used for deep cleaning.
Guest supplies
On top of having cleaning supplies in the trolley, it is important to have hygiene products and other amenities that your guests might require. These complimentary guest products are:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Toothpaste
- Dental kit
- Showe gel
- Body lotion
- Handsoap
- Robes and slippers
- Towels
- Bed sheets and pillow cases
- Toilet paper
How to clean a hotel room
Preparing a routine beforehand will help speed up the process of cleaning. Having a layout of cleaning procedures will also make sure that nothing is overlooked or forgotten.
You can follow the step by step guide below to achieve highest quality service, or adjust it to your taste.
Step 1: Air out the room
Open the windows and the balcony door. Bringing fresh air into the room will help the smell of cleaning products from lingering in the room.
Step 2: Make the bed
Take off the dirty bed linen and place it in the dirty laundry compartment of the trolley to wash them after. If the same guests are staying in the room for multiple nights, they don't necessarily need a change of sheets. If that's the case, neatly make the beds but making sure all the corners are tucked and the pillows are fluffed.
Many hotels provide the guests with a card that can be hanged on the door nob to request a linen change. If so, then bedding change is absolutely required.
Step 3: Take out trash
Collect any trash you see lying around in the room. It can be stuff like empty soda cans, dirty q-tips, empty shopping bags, etc. Make sure to be careful what you are throwing out as to not discard of any property that belongs to the guest.
Once you have collected the trash, empty the trash bins and replace the old liner bins.
Step 4: Remove use cups
If any of the glasses or mugs have been used, replace the dirty ones with freshly cleaned ones. In addition, any drinks that have been taken from the bar should be replaced in this step. Refill the mini bar according to the hotel policy.
Step 5: Dust
Starting from the top and working your way to the bottom, dust all the surfaces in the hotel room. Don't forget to dust easy to miss areas like light fixtures, head boards, and top of wardrobes.
Step 6: Vacuum
Start by thoroughly vacuuming the floor. Make sure to vacuum under the beds and each corner of the room.
Put a brush attachment on the vacuum an go over any upholstered furniture and curtains. This will keep the furniture free of dust and allergens.
Step 7: Wipe surfaces
Grab an all-purpose cleaner an a microfiber and go over all the high touch surfaces. This can be things like closet handles, desk, drawers, and any other furniture. If any of the customers' possessions are in the way, move them aside and replace them to the same spot afterwords.
Making sure that you have sanitized the surfaces will not only elevate the room's cleanliness, but also act as infection prevention.
Step 8: Clean small accessories and electronics
Wipe and sanitize electronics like the TV and guest phones. Tv screens tend to get very dusty, so make sure to wipe them with a dry microfiber.
You should also wipe other small things like cups, vases, and any other decor that is in the room.
Step 9: Clean the floor
By putting this as one of the last steps, you are making sure you are not giving yourself more work when cleaning other aspects of the room.
You should start by sweeping the floor to pick up any debris and dirt. Then, prepare a bucket of water with a preferred floor cleaner. Grab your mop and start cleaning the floor from the farthest corner to the exit.
If the floor is carpeted, make sure to thoroughly vacuum it.
Step 10: Clean windows
Close the windows and grab a glass cleaner and a clean microfiber. Spay the window and wipe it in side to side and up and down motion.
Step 11: Finishing touches
Go over the room and check the surroundings. If not everything is completely clean, go over those dirty spots.
Spray an air refresher as a finishing touch.
How to clean hotel bathroom
When cleaning the bathroom, the staff needs to be very thorough with the cleaning. This area collects the most dirt and grime, and in order to ensure the guests health safety, it needs to be sanitized thoroughly.
Step 1: Change towels and mats
Collect all the dirty towels and matts and place them in the laundry bag.
Step 2: Take out trash
Get rid of all the trash and replace the trashcan with a new liner.
Step 3: Clean the shower/bath
Grab a preferred bath surface cleaner and a sponge, and go over the whole surface. Wipe off any soap scum and other dirt that may be stuck to the bath surface. In addition, clean out any hair stuck in the drain.
Check this guide how to clean bathroom shower
Step 4: Clean the sink
Use an antibacterial cleaner and a microfiber to wipe the sink and surrounding countertops. Thoroughly clean the taps in order to remove any water stains and to make them shiny again.
Step 5: Clean the mirror
Using a fresh microfiber and a window cleaner, wipe the off any water or toothpaste stains from the mirror. Make sure to not leave any streaks by going in a side to side, and up and down motion.
Check this guide how to clean mirror
Step 6: Clean the toilet
Make sure to wear gloves for this step to not come in contact with any germs.
Start by putting a toilet cleaner inside of the toilet bowl. Use a toilet Bruch to scrub the inside of the toilet bowl. Proceed by using a bathroom cleaner and applying it all over the toilet. Wipe the toilet with a microfiber.
Step 7: Dust and wipe
Dust all the surfaces in the bathroom. Wipe off any dirt that might be on the counters, towel rack, drawers, etc.
Step 8: Restock amenities
Refill used guest toiletries like shampoos, shower gels, and toothpastes.
Step 9: Clean the floors
Vacuum and sweep the floor first. Then clean the entire room with a mop. Start from inside and work your way outwards towards the door.
Conclusion
Clean hotels are 100% more successful in hotel industry than resorts and hotels who do not prioritize cleanliness. A clean front desk, lobby, spa, and hotel rooms are the properties that can improve the reviews of your hotel drastically. With this guide, it is guaranteed that your customers will be highly satisfied when they visit your establishment.
If you liked this article, make sure to check our other pieces on our page.