No matter what time of year it is, people from all over come to the Land Down Under, as tourism has really kicked into high gear in recent years. In 2019 for example, more than 8.7 million people visited Australia, according to data compiled by the Australian Government. Millions of these same individuals booked rooms in area hotels.
That's an awful lot of people who check in and check out, whether their visits are for a weekend, week or lengthier stay. Perhaps no one knows this better than your housekeeping staff, who are tasked with sprucing up suites before, during and after each family or couple is in town. Some guests are tidier than others, but whether they're neatniks or more on the messy side, housekeeping chores have to get done - and done quickly, without compromising on quality.
How do you make hotel housekeeping more seamless for your staff? Consider these tips to supplement or replace their current workflow:
1. Prioritise organisation 
Aside from the sanitation aspect of housekeeping, cleaning up after guests enhances organisation and reduces the chaos associated with clutter and messiness. Your staff's ability to make this possible won't go very far if they aren't organised themselves. That's why it's important for them to have all the equipment, cleansers and tools at the ready as soon as they need it. This is made possible by colour coding certain products, labelling them or suggesting locations for where to place them on portable carts so staff don't have to search for them every time. Time management is crucial in housekeeping.
2. Create checklists 
Your housekeeping crew has likely already established a cleaning routine that works for them, but they're bound to enter a suite of an occupant whose living habits take them out of that routine, such as spending more time getting the bathroom in order, for example. To ensure that they don't neglect the other elements of what makes for good housekeeping, consider drawing up a checklist. This can serve as an effective reminder so nothing gets overlooked and enhances quality control.
3. Sweep or vacuum before mopping 
While mopping may not need to be done daily - ideally every other day - it should always be paired with a broom or a vacuum. The reason for this is it's easy to overlook crumbs, specks of dirt or debris during spot checks. However, those particles become glaringly apparent once the floor gets wet with soap and water. Ensure your staff get into the habit of sweeping before mopping up so they don't have to do it over again.
Additionally, instead of making this their first chore, do it last. Otherwise, they may wind up creating more work for themselves sponging or clearing off surfaces and dirt or crumbs fall to the floor they just vacuumed or mopped.
4. Let the spray stay a while 
Your staff is bound to come upon blemishes, smudges and swirl marks that won't go away on the initial spray. There may be many reasons as to why, but it could be that they're just not allowing the cleanser to work its magic before wiping it up. Aside from the fact that time allows cleaning agents to more effectively sanitise the troublespot, it also helps remove it from the surface. Giving the products 20 to 30 seconds to work makes messes easier to eliminate and reduces effort. They may want to do this by spraying all the surfaces first (e.g. bathtub, vanity, towel racks, etc.) and then wipe them down in the same order that they were sprayed.
5. Make regular use of your duster
Dust is the bane of hotel housekeeping; no matter how often you spray surfaces down with polish, it always comes back, especially during allergy season when pollen finds its way through open windows. Instead of constantly using polishing agents, have them grab that duster and dust away. A good once-over can be all that's necessary to keep surfaces looking sparkling. Also, be sure they attack those areas that are easy to overlook, like lightbulbs, lampshades and curtains. Dust accumulates quickly, making for an unsightly mess guests will almost certainly notice.
6. Open the windows 
If there's one thing everyone loves, it's fresh air. The closed quarters of a hotel can lead to stale air very quickly, especially when temperatures are frigid. Whether it's hot or cold out, staff should open the windows to air out the room. They can determine how wide to open them using their best judgement, but doing so improves ventilation and also eliminates the scents associated with strong cleaning agents. Those smells are usually pleasant, but they can also be bothersome to guests who may be sensitive to certain chemicals or aromas.
Just be sure to close the windows once you're finished.
Effective hotel housekeeping is all about working smarter, not necessarily harder. Rubbermaid has all the resources your staff needs to succeed. Contact us to learn more.
