Just How Important Is Cleanliness in a Hotel?

Posted October 21, 2024

Did you know that almost 80% of hotel guests rate cleanliness as the most important factor when deciding where to stay?

The importance of keeping a hotel clean is paramount for the guests’ experience, as they expect the rooms and other areas to be well-maintained. In order to exceed their expectations, businesses must adhere to strict cleaning standards and impose a thorough cleaning schedule.

Why is cleaning so important in hotels?

Keeping your hotel clean and well-maintained has an array of advantages which benefit both the business and the guests. The cleaner the hotel, the higher the guest satisfaction. Furthermore, this means there will be a higher likelihood of recommendations and positive reviews, resulting in a booming business.

A hotel’s reputation hinges on the upkeep of its facilities. Your property serves as a business card, creating a lasting first impression. High cleanliness standards attract loyal guests and strengthen the brand’s image.

As well as pleasing the guests, hotel cleanliness also benefits the staff. A cleaner hotel means a healthier and more positive environment to work in. Reducing germs and pathogens creates a cleaner, more focused workspace. Perhaps one of the most important reasons for hotel owners to maintain high cleaning standards is to follow health and safety regulations. Being compliant means adopting strict protocols for your cleaning staff to abide by.

Common and effective cleaning protocols

To keep a hotel sparkling clean means having a thorough cleaning routine. Since housekeeping expenses per room significantly impact your hotel’s bottom line, it’s essential to be familiar with standard protocols to ensure compliance with quality standards.

1. Guest rooms

This is perhaps the most critical place to keep clean. It is important that your staff disinfects before cleaning.

Linens and bedding: All bed linens, including pillow covers, bedsheets, and duvets, are laundered at high temperatures and replaced after each guest. Many hotels now use certified hygienic laundry services.
Deep cleaning between stays: Intensive cleaning of each room between guest stays, including carpets, curtains, and upholstery, often using special disinfecting protocols.
Bathroom sanitisation: Special attention to bathroom areas, including cleaning sinks, showers, bathtubs, and toilets with hospital-grade disinfectants.

2. Food and beverage

Of course, no one wants to eat their hotel food from a plate full of grime. If your hotel offers food and drinks, sanitisation must be key.

Certified hygiene standards in kitchens: Kitchens follow rigorous food safety guidelines, often certified by local health authorities or international standards.
Sanitisation of dining areas: Dining tables, chairs, and high-touch surfaces in restaurants and bars are frequently disinfected. Buffets are often replaced with à la carte or individually packaged options.
Employee protective gear: Food-handling staff wear gloves, masks, and other protective gear while preparing and serving meals.

3. Public areas

High-traffic areas such as corridors, walkways, reception, bars, and lobbies require meticulous cleaning and heightened attention to ensure optimal hygiene.

Increased frequency of cleaning: Public areas like lounges, corridors, and lifts are disinfected multiple times throughout the day.
Hand sanitiser stations: Hand sanitising stations are placed in strategic locations, such as by lift entrances, lobby areas, and restrooms, for guest and staff use.
Gym equipment disinfection: All equipment is cleaned after each use, and shared spaces are disinfected regularly. Some gyms now provide sanitising wipes for guests to clean equipment before and after use.

4. Laundry services

Laundry services are an important area where stringent hygiene measures must be enforced to prevent cross-contamination.

High-temperature laundering: All laundry services, whether for guest linens or staff uniforms, use high-temperature washes to ensure proper sanitation.
Sealed and sanitised laundry: Clean towels, robes, and bedding are often delivered in sealed, sanitised bags to prevent contamination during transportation.

Shortcuts to avoid

Surprisingly, many hotels prioritise looking clean rather than being clean. This may be due to low budgets, untrained staff, or simply a lack of knowledge about how clean the hotel actually is. Here is a list of things to avoid that some hotels still adopt:

Reusing sheets

Some hotels cut corners by reusing sheets rather than replacing them once they’ve been used. After all, germs from previous guests may still be present, posing potential hygiene risks.

Neglecting pillow cases

Hotel beds are often adorned with an abundance of pillows, which can tempt housekeepers to overlook changing pillowcases that appear clean. Again, this will leave bacteria and germs from previous guests if not changed.

Unwashed cutlery and glassware

To save money on water usage, hotels may skimp out on washing cutlery and glasses. It is quite simple to make a glass look clean; just needs a rinse and a dry. If housekeepers have limited time to clean each room, they may skip properly washing the glasses.

Smaller elements may be missed

When housekeepers are getting the room ready for the next guests, there may be a chance that they will miss out on cleaning the smaller elements in a hotel room, such as light switches or sockets. As many people interact with switches, the chance of previous germs being left will be considerably high.

How to keep your hotel cleaner

In addition to following stringent cleaning protocols, paying attention to smaller details can significantly enhance the cleanliness of your hotel. Investing in comprehensive training programs for staff ensures they are well-equipped with the skills necessary to maintain a spotless environment. Furthermore, a straightforward yet effective strategy is to regularly review guest feedback and online reviews to identify recurring concerns related to cleanliness. By addressing these specific areas of interest, you can continually improve your hotel’s hygiene standards and guest satisfaction.

Spotless hotel cleaning services

Are you considering investing in more reliable and thorough cleaning services for your hotel? At Donau, we bring over 50 years of experience in providing high-end hotels with exceptional cleaning and luxury services. Our dedicated team ensures that your property not only looks immaculate but also meets the highest standards of hygiene and cleanliness.