What You Need to Know About Accommodation Cleaning
Accommodation Cleaning is a key aspect of any hotel or small accommodation business. Guests expect clean, comfortable rooms and you can’t afford to fall short on these expectations if you want to be successful in the hospitality industry. Whether you are looking to improve your own accommodation cleaning process or looking to hire a dedicated housekeeping team, there are some important things to consider.
Housekeeping is a high-stress job and it’s no wonder that some of the most common workplace injuries involve injuries to the back, neck, wrist and hands. To avoid these accidents, it’s vital to provide your staff with the right tools and equipment to make their job as easy and efficient as possible.
The correct trolley or cart will make it much easier for your housekeeping team to transport supplies to each room. The best way to do this is to have a large, sturdy basket or container with separate compartments for different types of items. This will help to keep all of your cleaning and guest supplies organised and sorted. Having a separate compartment for linen can prevent the transfer of dirty sheets and towels to other rooms, whilst having a special section for guest amenities will make it easier for your housekeeping team to locate what they need.
Having the right cleaning equipment for your accommodation business will also help to cut down on cleaning time and ensure your rooms are always ready for guests. A vacuum with attachments for carpeted and hard floors is a must-have as is a quality mop for tiled surfaces. In addition, having a steam cleaner will make it quicker and easier to clean upholstery and carpets, particularly those with tougher stains.
Once your housekeeping team has all of their tools and supplies they are ready to start cleaning the rooms. Before entering the room, it’s important to follow your organisation’s specific procedures for meeting and acknowledging guests. In general, it is a good idea to knock on the door three times and say “Housekeeping”. If there is no answer, or if you are not welcomed, note that the room is occupied and report this to your supervisor.
After the basic room cleaning, it’s essential to clean and disinfect all of the bathroom surfaces and fixtures. This includes toilets, showers, sinks and mirrors, as well as replacing towels and restocking any guest amenities.
It’s also important to remember to wipe any high touch items such as lamps or light switches, remote controls and doors and windows. In addition, all of the surfaces in the room should be dusted or wiped down including tables, bureaus and nightstands. Any tea or coffee facilities should be cleaned and all mugs and glassware switched for new ones. Do not forget to restock any other guest amenities such as laundry bags, menus, refreshments, pens and notebooks and robes. Finally, all beds must be made and any sheets that need to be washed or replaced must be done so.
At Fidelis Facillity Management, we know the cost of an unkept space. Breeding bacteria costs you employee sick leave, dust and hard to reach places costs you memorable first impressions and future transactions.