24 Hotel Housekeeping Tips for 2025

With travel rebounding, hotels expect busier seasons — and more risk of germ spread. High-touch surfaces such as luggage cart handrails, elevator buttons, and front desks are commonly contaminated. Within an hour of contamination, viruses can transfer from hotel surfaces to guests’ fingertips in over 60% of instances, which then spreads to door handles, light switches, remotes, and other surfaces. Proper cleaning and disinfecting can break this transmission chain.

How Can Hotels Improve Housekeeping Efficiency?

Housekeeping is vital to guest comfort and hotel reputation. Key strategies to improve efficiency include:

• Optimize staffing levels: Analyze occupancy and guest patterns to staff appropriately.
• Implement technology: Use digital tools (e.g., HelloShift) to streamline communication, reduce paperwork, and coordinate operations.
• Standardize cleaning procedures: Clear, consistent procedures ensure quality and productivity.

Eco-Friendly Housekeeping Practices

Adopting sustainable practices reduces environmental impact and appeals to eco-conscious guests:

• Reduce water use: Monitor usage with smart meters, train staff, fix leaks promptly, and install flow restrictors/aerators.
• Replace paper towels: Use reusable microfibre cloths — they clean better than cotton, are bleach-safe, and withstand many washes.
• Remove single-use plastics: Replace disposable bottles, cups, and straws with reusable or glass alternatives to reduce waste and improve guest experience.

Safety Protocols for Housekeeping

Protecting guests and staff requires clear safety measures:

• Regular audits and inspections: Ensure protocols are effective and followed.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE): Provide masks, gloves, eye protection, and training on proper use.
• Communication and reporting: Maintain channels for staff to report hazards, incidents, or safety concerns.

24 Tips to Improve Hotel Housekeeping

1. Organize cleaning supplies in a single caddy
   Keep all necessary tools and products in a portable caddy so housekeepers can move efficiently from room to room.
2. Prioritize cleaning tasks based on supplies
   Schedule and plan tasks according to available supplies to maximize productivity and reduce wasted trips.
3. Turn on lights and electronic devices to check for issues
   Power up lamps, TVs, and outlets to identify faults, burned-out bulbs, or other maintenance needs before guests arrive.
4. Start from the top and work your way down
   Clean higher surfaces first so dust and debris don’t fall onto already cleaned lower areas.
5. Use a vacuum cleaner instead of a broom
   Vacuums remove more dirt and allergens and are more effective on carpets and crevices than brooms.
6. Use a checklist to ensure you don’t miss any areas
   Standardized checklists maintain consistency and help staff remember often-overlooked spots.
7. Vacuum high-traffic areas twice
   Repeated vacuuming in busy zones ensures deeper cleaning and better presentation.
8. Let cleaning products sit on surfaces for recommended dwell time
   Allow disinfectants and cleaners to work for the suggested time (e.g., a few minutes) to maximize effectiveness.
9. Flip and air out mattresses regularly
   Rotate or flip mattresses and periodically air them to prevent uneven wear and reduce buildup of allergens.
10. Clean light bulbs and lampshades to prevent allergies
    Dusty fixtures reduce light quality and contribute to poor air quality — clean them regularly.
11. Smooth wrinkles on linens with a little water
    A light mist can remove wrinkles and present a neat bed without full ironing.
12. Tuck excess material inside pillowcases for a better fit
    Ensures pillows look full and match property photos and guest expectations.
13. Avoid harsh chemicals when clearing drains
    Use enzymatic or natural drain cleaners instead of corrosive chemical drain cleaners to protect plumbing and the environment.
14. Use diluted vinegar on mirrors and tiles
    Mix equal parts white vinegar and water for a streak-free, eco-friendly surface cleaner.
15. Use a wax crayon to fix scratches in wood furniture
    Fill minor scratches with a wax repair crayon that matches the wood tone for a low-cost touch-up.
16. Consider concentrated cleaning products
    Concentrates reduce packaging waste and cost, and can be diluted to the correct strength per task.
17. Use safe bleach alternatives
    Consider hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil, or baking soda for many cleaning tasks where harsh bleach is unnecessary.
18. Use dish soap to remove tough stains
    Mild dish soap is effective on grease and many stains; it’s versatile for spot-cleaning fabrics and surfaces.
19. Use concentrated tub/shower cleaners for soap scum
    Stronger formulations (used per manufacturer instructions) can remove body oils and scum more efficiently than mild cleaners.
20. Clean the bathroom last to avoid spreading germs
    Bathrooms harbor many microbes; cleaning them last reduces cross-contamination to other areas.
21. Use rubbing alcohol to remove bathroom smudges
    Isopropyl alcohol removes fingerprints and smudges and dries quickly without streaking.
22. Vacuum the bathroom floor before wet cleaning
    Removing loose debris first prevents particles from getting trapped in mop water or scratching floors.
23. Utilize the 20-10 rule to boost efficiency
    Work for 20 minutes, then take a 10-minute break. This cadence can reduce fatigue and maintain focus.
24. Utilize housekeeping software to organize tasks
    Use tools to create and assign tasks, set priorities, track progress in real time, and improve team coordination.

Improve Housekeeping With HelloShift

Digital tools can help hotels run housekeeping at full capacity. HelloShift is a cloud-based hotel operations platform that offers:

• Guest messaging and contactless check-in
• Staff collaboration and task assignment
• Housekeeping management and real-time progress tracking
• Integration with PMS systems and digital guest services like mobile keys and branded guidebooks

Conclusion

Implementing standardized procedures, eco-friendly practices, safety protocols, and the right technology will help hotels maintain high cleanliness standards, increase guest satisfaction, and run more efficient housekeeping operations in 2025 and beyond.

Give guests the mobile-first experience they expect. Text the hotel, mobile check-in, digital registration cards, mobile keys, and branded digital guidebooks—all while your AI Assistant handles incoming calls when staff is helping other guests.

See why properties using HelloShift report 30% fewer guest complaints and 2x faster issue resolution. Book a personalized demo or start your free trial.