Are you tired of cleaning your hotel room and not getting the same results as a five-star hotel? Do you want to know the secrets of professional housekeepers? Look no further! In this article, we will share some tips and tricks from five-star hotels that will help you clean your room like a pro.
What is hotel housekeeping?
Hotel housekeeping is about presenting a clean, sanitary, and welcoming environment at your hotel, putting your brand’s best foot forward at all times. Never mind fancy amenities or attractions; you need to ensure your guests feel comfortable first and foremost. Housekeeping in a hotel essentially comes down to being an invisible task. If a guest never raises a complaint about the condition of their room or their service, then you’ve got your housekeeping right. In a way, housekeeping is about making a guest feel like they’re checking into a room that’s being stayed in for the very first time—it's ‘their’ room. This doesn’t just happen; it takes strategy, planning, great execution, and communication.
What cleaning products do five-star hotels use?
Five-star hotels use a variety of products to ensure that their guests have a comfortable and safe stay. Some of the most commonly used cleaning products include Glass Cleaners, Bathroom Cleaners (Comet cleaners), Carpet Care, Furniture Polish, All Purpose Stain Remover (Mr. Clean Magic Eraser), All-Purpose Cleaners, Spic and Span Extra Strength Powder, Murphy Oil Soap, Clorox Urine Remover, and Good & Gather White Distilled Vinegar. These products are used to clean everything from bathrooms to carpets and are known for their effectiveness and efficiency.
How often should physical inventory be taken in housekeeping?
Physical inventory should be taken in housekeeping at least once a month. This helps to ensure that all items are accounted for and that there are no discrepancies. It also helps to prevent overspending and keep costs under control.
12 Must-Have Hotel Cleaning Supplies
Here are 12 must-have hotel cleaning supplies that every hotel should have in their inventory:
- Vacuum cleaner
- Squeegee
- Mop
- Bucket
- Microfiber mop
- Microfiber wet mop pads
- Microfiber dust mop pads
- pH-neutral cleaner
- Shoe covers
- Disposable nitrile cleaning gloves
- Laundry bags
- Housekeeping and Janitor Carts
What is a daily housekeeping checklist?
A daily housekeeping checklist is a list of tasks that need to be completed by housekeeping staff on a daily basis. These tasks typically include cleaning guest rooms of dirt, dust, marks, stains, smells, etc., sanitizing bathrooms; removing rubbish and debris from rooms; removing dirty towels and linen; removing used amenities; replenishing supplies such as rubbish bags, bar fridges, snacks, making beds, replacing linen and towels, tidying common areas such as hallways or entrances, ensuring all extras and add-ons that were included in the booking are ready for the arriving guests.
What is the correct order for cleaning?
Start with the windows!
When you start cleaning your room, open all the windows to refresh the air and let in some natural light. This will give you a burst of energy and make the room feel more inviting. Once you have finished dusting, close the windows to prevent dust from coming back in.
Use the clockwise principle.
At The Berkeley, a five-star hotel in London, they use the clockwise principle for every room. This means that they start from one spot and work their way around the room in a clockwise direction. This ensures that they cover the entire space and don’t miss any spots. You can adopt this principle at home and see the difference it makes.
Clean the walls.
Walls can attract a surprising amount of dust, especially around window areas. Don’t wait for there to be a mark on the wall to clean them. Once a month, go over your walls with a damp cloth to keep them spick and span.
Use microfiber cloths
Microfiber clothes are a must-have for any housekeeper. They are the best tools for cleaning mirrors, glass tables, and windows. You can also use them everywhere else in the room. A hotel trick you can adopt at home is having different color cloth for different areas. For example, red is for the loo, blue is for the bathroom, yellow is for the kitchen, and so on. This keeps things super hygienic.
Don’t throw away old sheets!
Don’t throw away old sheets. Cut them into cleaning cloths and use them. The cotton is perfect for glass cleaning, and it’s more sustainable and saves some pennies.
Use baking powder and water in the kitchen.
Baking powder and water are an effective mix for cleaning the sink, surfaces, inside the fridge, and everywhere else in the kitchen. It’s preferable to using harsh chemicals.
Don’t forget the details.
Things like door hinges, tops of paintings, inside lamp shades, and tops of curtain rails go neglected. Always look up and down the piece and clean accordingly.
Make the bed.
A freshly made bed finishes a good house clean. For hotel-standard bed making, hospital corners keep sheets in place and look incredibly slick.
The different types of cleaning procedures in hotel housekeeping
The choice between manual and mechanical methods in hotel housekeeping often depends on various factors such as efficiency, the type of surface or task, and available resources. The various types of processes are summarized below:
Manual: This involves using human effort and traditional tools like brushes, mops, and cloths for tasks such as dusting, wiping, and spot cleaning. It's typically used for smaller areas, delicate surfaces, or tasks that require detailed attention.
- Sweeping
- Dusting
- Damp-Dusting
- Dust-Mopping/Dry-Mopping/Mop-Sweeping
- Spot-Mopping
Manual: This involves using human effort and traditional tools like brushes, mops, and cloths for tasks such as dusting, wiping, and spot cleaning. It's typically used for smaller areas, delicate surfaces, or tasks that require detailed attention.
- Suction Cleaning
- Spray buffing
- Polishing
- Scrubbing
- Stripping
Use the right hospitality cleaning supplies
Using the right supplies is essential for a thorough cleaning. Here are some of the best supplies that you can use:
- Laundry carts: Laundry carts are essential for housekeeping staff. They help to transport dirty linens and towels to the laundry room. You can find laundry carts at low prices on the Winsham website.
- Hotel cleaning supplies: It includes everything from cleaning chemicals to cleaning tools. You can find a wide range of supplies on Amazon.
- Janitorial supplies: Janitorial supplies include everything from mops to brooms.
- Housekeeping supplies: Housekeeping supplies include everything from cleaning clothes to vacuum cleaners.
- Housekeeping cart: A housekeeping cart is essential for housekeeping staff. It helps to transport cleaning supplies and tools around the hotel.
- Paper products: Paper products include everything from toilet paper to paper towels.
The importance of cleanliness in hotels
Cleanliness is one of the most important factors in the hospitality industry. Guests expect a clean and hygienic environment when they stay at a hotel. A clean hotel room can help to reduce the risk of illness and infection.
The benefits of using high-quality hotel housekeeping supplies
Using high-quality hotel housekeeping supplies can help improve the quality of cleaning. High-quality supplies are more effective and efficient than low-quality supplies.
The role of housekeeping in the hospitality industry
Housekeeping plays a vital role in the hospitality industry. Housekeepers are responsible for ensuring that hotel rooms are clean and comfortable for guests. They are also responsible for maintaining the hotel’s reputation.
The daily tasks of housekeeping
The main responsibility of anyone performing housekeeping duties is to ensure there is no evidence of previous guests, and that every room is completely clean from top to bottom. Daily housekeeping tasks typically include:
- Cleaning guest rooms of dirt, dust, marks, stains, smells, etc.
- Cleaning and sanitizing bathrooms
- Removing rubbish and debris from rooms
- Removing dirty towels and linen
- Removing used amenities
- Replenishing supplies such as rubbish bags, bar fridge, snacks
- Making beds, replacing linen and towels
- Tidying common areas such as hallways or entrances
- Ensuring all extras and add-ons that were included in the booking are ready for the arriving guests
The skills required for housekeeping
The skills required for housekeeping include attention to detail, time management, communication, and teamwork. Housekeepers must be able to work independently and as part of a team, and they must be able to communicate effectively with guests and other staff members. They must also be able to manage their time effectively to ensure that all tasks are completed on time and to a high standard.
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