Hotel housekeepers, who often clean a dozen or more hotel rooms a day, must not only clean quickly and efficiently: To keep guests happy, they also need to do their jobs efficiently. So we thought hotel housekeepers should have access to some of the smartest cleaning products, tools and techniques available. And guess what? We were right! We spoke to professional housekeepers to get their best advice – and they had a lot to share.
Here are 15 must-try tips from the experts who clean every day.
- Open a window or door when cleaning.
Have you ever wondered why housekeepers leave the door open when cleaning a hotel room? According to Perry Knight, director of guest services and housekeeping trainer at several Days Inn & Suites, it’s a technique housekeepers use to air out and deodorize rooms during cleanings. “If you’re cleaning your house, you should always leave an open passageway between the room you’re cleaning and the clean exterior, even if it’s just a flat hallway,” he says. - Always dry wet surfaces.
Whether you’re cleaning your sink or your countertop, never leave surfaces wet. According to Knight, moisture can become a host for mould and scum. Always dry surfaces after wiping to keep them clean! - Take advantage of the magic erasers.
Chelsea Psenicnik, housekeeping manager at Salish Lodge & Spa, swears by magic erasers to remove scuffs from walls and other surfaces. Another unexpected cleaning tool? Pumice stones! Use them to “erase” hard water marks and other buildup on glass dishes, in your sink and even on granite countertops. - Use a degreaser in the shower.
You probably already know that degreaser is a miracle cure for splattered microwaves. But did you know you can use it in the bathroom too? According to Ms. Psenicnik, degreaser is a cleaner’s best friend for removing soap scum in the shower. “You have to wash it again afterwards to remove the degreaser, but it can remove hard-to-remove deposits,” she says. - Tackle grout with a stone cleaner.
If you’re having trouble removing grime from grout, tile or even stainless steel, Psenicnik suggests trying granite and stone cleaner – or even the powdered version from Bar Keepers Friend.
- Separate wet and dry work.
Separating wet and dry work as much as possible not only saves time, but also prevents cross-contamination, says Psenicnik. For example, you can dust, sweep and vacuum first, then wipe and mop surfaces. - Sanitise again at the end.
Another good rule of thumb from Psenicnik: When you’re “done” cleaning, you’re not really done. At the very end, always wipe down (and sanitize) the most affected areas, such as taps and handles, because you may have contaminated them by cleaning everything else. - Read the instructions.
Sandra Neri, hygiene and wellness manager at Hyatt Regency Mexico City, recommends always taking the time to read product labels before cleaning and disinfecting to understand how much cleaner to use and how to use it. “Products often require a certain amount of contact time with the surface to fully sanitise and disinfect the area before wiping it down,” she explains. - Clean before you disinfect.
Disinfection is an important part of keeping your home safe. But there’s one important step you need to take before pulling out the Clorox. “Initial cleaning of the surface removes any particles with a single wipe and better prepares the area for disinfecting,” says Adam Edelman, director of operations at the Hyatt Regency Orange County.
See also: The difference between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting at Apartment Therapy
- DIY a hardwood solution with vinegar.
While bleach is an important tool for repelling germs on household surfaces, it is not suitable for everything, including wood floors. Dibo Muhammad, hospitality manager at Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton, recommends disinfecting hardwood surfaces (or any other surface you don’t want to use bleach on) with a mixture of hot water and vinegar. His preferred solution is one part vinegar to three parts hot water, plus a few drops of fresh-smelling essential oil.
- Use Mop & Glo to shine hardwood.
Want to make your floors nice and shiny? Muhammad loves Mop & Glo, which adds a protective (and shiny!) layer to floors. An important tip: “Make sure children and pets stay away from the surface until it’s completely dry,” she says. - Use a UV lamp to find hidden stains.
If you have pets or children, chances are your upholstery has hidden stains, or stains you thought you had removed but are still making dining room chairs or carpets smell. Muhammad has a super smart solution: Find them with a UV lamp, then remove them! - Clean your baseboards ergonomically.
If you have a bad back, cleaning baseboards can be one of the most annoying tasks. Muhammad suggests solving this problem with Baseboard Buddy, an easy-to-use cleaning tool for reaching baseboards and mouldings. You certainly don’t want to skip over your baseboards because, even if your floors are clean, dirty baseboards will make the whole room look dingier than it is. - Use vinegar and water to clean glass.
Another smart way to use vinegar is in a water mixture to clean windows and mirrors. If you can’t (or don’t want to) use vinegar, Muhammad suggests Sprayway Glass Cleaner for a streak-free finish.
Read more: 31 things you didn’t know you could (easily!) clean with vinegar
- Hire a hotel housekeeper.
If you’re overwhelmed by cleaning, it can be helpful to bring in a professional – Muhammad says it’s important to make sure any housekeeper you hire is licensed, insured and bonded. “It’s great to hire small local companies or even turn to hotel cleaners,” she says. “A lot of us work part-time cleaning houses on the weekends.”
Do these tips from hotel cleaners inspire you? Tell us in the comments
