How to create cleanliness standards

There are different important aspects to consider by managing an hotel. One of the most important is the general cleanliness. Public areas, external areas and rooms must be clean, even if the category is low. Most of the worst rated hotel have got the reputation because a low hygiene level.
Do you know how to create cleanliness standards?

The housekeeping team changes anytime or maybe some of them are working part-time and there is no one responsible. You are receiving a lot of complaints and you are not aware about the operating job in housekeeping. The housekeeping team has no idea where and how to begin the work.

Well, if you feel related to one or more facts, you should create cleanliness standards suitable for your property, for your category and most of all for the employees.
Cleanliness is essential and if you want to be successful, you need to create the appropriate hygiene standards for your hotel.

Organization and check-list

Employees need instructions and create a check list is the first step.
Of course, all properties are different, rooms are different and could be complicated to elaborate a universal check list. Nevertheless, here following you will find few tasks to consider. The example below is for departure rooms:

• Change sheets and make the bed in a professional way
• Dust off all surfaces and prepare all decorations / amenities
• Clean the toilette and prepare all bathroom amenities and decorations
• Check the sink (is it clean? It works?)
• Change trash cans
• Clean behind the furniture (the small ones)
• Clean under the bed
• Check if there are stains on the windows
• Clean the mirrors
• Hoover and mop the floor (this last if you don´t have carpet)
• Make sure there are no hair on all surfaces
• Check all technical stuff
• Check the odors

If rooms have a balcony:

• make sure there are no cigarettes in the ashtray and on the floor
• Tide up
• Clean/wash the balcony floor

Standards and procedures

Create standards means to define cleaning products, equipment and employee`s roles.
The purpose is to work with suitable procedures, designed properly for your property and for your team. Moreover, the purpose is to communicate to all employees the same working methods. Invest your time or invest in someone who has professional knowledge and begin to define the procedures, with the related products/equipment. Afterwards create written files with detailed descriptions.
At the end you will have all guidelines clustered.
With all information, the personnel can now be instructed following standards procedures (also named SOPs).

Equipment and scheduling

The equipment must be at disposal and smartly organized, in order to make them work easier and faster. For example, set up a trailer with all needed stuff.
Furthermore, the best practice idea is to take pictures and in this way, employees can quickly understand how to make the bed, how to decorate a table or how to prepare the amenities in the toilette.
Indeed, plan check lists for departure rooms, stay over rooms and public area. Very important is the deep cleaning too, which must be scheduled periodically. The best time is during the low season or during low occupancy forecast.

Rules and guiselines for guests

If possible, establish rules for guests (for example “don´t cook in the room”) and feel free in your property to apply penalty fees, if necessary. If there is unpleasant smell in the room, if something is ruined or very dirty, you might need an extra day for a special cleaning and it will affect your daily occupancy.
Rules and standard procedures are professional and essential. Hence, it´s worthwhile to invest time in written guidelines and training, with the aim to enhance the working conditions and the general hygiene standards.

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