Most people do not know that hotel cleaning jobs are demanding. Long hours and a lot of physical effort may be required for the job. Paying close attention to details and being able to operate under pressure are necessary for timely room cleaning. However, this type of work isn’t always valued. Even well-meaning visitors and those outside the profession may misinterpret what would be beneficial for the hotel room cleaners, and some guests are downright impolite to housekeepers.
How Long Does It Take To Do Your Job in Hotel Cleaning Jobs?
Every day, hospitality employees deal with two obstacles. First and first, each guest’s room must be cleaned to the exacting standards necessary, and this must be done in a very short amount of time. In an eight-hour shift, the typical hotel cleaning employee must inspect and/or clean 12 to 20 rooms. Because of the time needed to replenish the cart, travel between floors, and breaks during the hotel housekeeper’s shift, this only gives a maximum of 20 to 30 minutes for the room.
By giving housekeeping employees the greatest equipment and cleaning supplies available, a hotel housekeeping department can contribute to increased productivity. When housekeepers have the right tools, they may make better use of their time and avoid taking shortcuts to move on to the next room. This implies that housekeeping services can be of higher quality as well.
What Do Hotel Cleaners Do?
The main responsibility of the hotel room cleaning crew is usually to complete the cleaning, disinfection, and room turnover process in the allotted time. Cleaning should ideally be done in a particular order.
Cart stockingÂ
It is essential to have a cart big enough to carry the cleaning materials and linens required for a day (or at least a hotel floor or wing). A traditional housekeeping cart is easy to move about and offers lots of room for organizing all the supplies a housekeeper needs.
BedmakingÂ
The bed may be fully stripped and made fresh each day with fresh sheets and pillowcases, or it may be remade daily with new linens every two to three days or as requested by the guest, depending on hotel standards and preferences. Like any other soiled item, used linens can be easily taken out and put out of sight in a large, opaque container, like a linen bag lined with vinyl. If applicable, the pillows should be fluffed before the bed is finished and turned down, and the bed should be made flawlessly and in compliance with hotel policies.
Cleaning of the bathroomÂ
A hotel’s restroom must be spotless. There must be no signs of stray hair, soap scum, or dirt. A filthy restroom can cause significant harm to the hotel’s reputation. As with the linens, check the towels, hand towels, bath mats, face rags, and bath sheets, and take out any used things. Cleaning the mirror, sink, and counter should come first, followed by the shower and tub, and finally the toilet. It is not permitted to use toilet cleaning supplies to clean other hotel room furnishings. For particularly filthy places, disposable microfiber cloths might be the best option. Lastly, the floor can be mopped from the farthest corner and backed out through the door, and the towels and used washroom items can be replenished. As you finish the rest of the room, turn on the exhaust fan.
Simple room cleaningÂ
If necessary, open the windows and doors to let fresh air into the space. It is important to gather and set out any room service products for the room service employees to pick up. Empty the trash cans and check the lights to make sure there are no broken bulbs. Every surface, including desks, nightstands, televisions, curtains, door and window sills, and tables, should be cleaned or dusted. Glass and mirrors need to be polished. Clean any kitchenette space, check the minifridge, and make a note of what needs to be restocked. The right kind of cleanser should be used to thoroughly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces. These consist of doorknobs, remote controllers, and lamps or light switches. You can use disinfectant wipes for this.
Lastly, before the room is labeled finished, the carpet may be vacuumed, any hardwood, vinyl, or laminate floors may be cleaned with a microfiber moist mop, and the space may be deodorized.
How Much Do Hotel Cleaners Get Paid in the UK?
Hotel cleaners’ pay varies due to certain factors. In the UK, they earn above the minimum wage on average. According to Glassdoor, data has been provided below to show how much hotel cleaners earn based on their job title and years of experience.
| Job title
Location |
Total
Base | Additional |
Years of Experience | Date or time posted |
| Housekeeper
United Kingdom |
£11 /hr
£11 | £0 |
4-6 Years | 21 Apr 2025 |
| Housekeeper
United Kingdom |
£11 /hr
£11 | £0 |
1-3 Years | 16 Apr 2025 |
| Housekeeper
United Kingdom |
£26K /yr
£26K | £0 |
1-3 Years | 15 Apr 2025 |
| Housekeeping
United Kingdom |
£12 /hr
£12 | £0 |
7-9 Years | 15 Apr 2025 |
| Housekeeping
United Kingdom |
£11 /hr
£11 | £0 |
1-3 Years | 14 Apr 2025 |
| Housekeeper
United Kingdom |
£12 /hr
£12 | £0 |
1-3 Years | 11 Apr 2025 |
| Houseparent
United Kingdom |
£24K /yr
£24K | £0 |
10-14 Years | 11 Apr 2025 |
What Qualifications Do You Need For Hotel Cleaning Jobs?
You can get into hotel cleaning jobs through an apprenticeship or a college course. Although special requirements may not be needed for most hotel cleaning jobs, having them can be an advantage.
Apprenticeship
Some hotel cleaning jobs can hire you through your apprenticeship experience. Although this might not be mandatory, an apprenticeship teaches you experience. This way, you can understand the rules and know the job.
A hotel organization is accepting applications for a Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship in Hospitality Team Member. If you are currently an employee in the business, you may also seek to complete a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Hospitality Supervision. If you wish to work as a housekeeping manager, you can do a Hospitality Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship. Certain GCSEs, typically in arithmetic and English, or their equivalent, are important for an intermediate apprenticeship. For the advanced apprenticeship, five GCSEs in English and maths at grades 9–4 (A*–C) or above are important qualifications. For a higher or degree apprenticeship, four or five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent
College course
With some college courses, you have a deeper understanding of the hospitality sector. Achieving this is simply possible through a direct application to the school. To acquire some of the abilities you need for this position, you could enroll in a college course. Among the courses are an overview of the hospitality sector: housekeeping, hospitality supervision, hospitality leadership, and hospitality and catering principles. These courses usually have different requirements that may differ among schools.
Direct Hotel Cleaning Jobs Application
If you have prior experience working in customer service or other hospitality-related professions, you can apply directly. In addition to having an interest in your traits, employers will anticipate that you will be dependable, honest, and diligent.
 How Long Do You Work in Hotel Cleaning Jobs?
>As a hotel housekeeper, you usually work eight to ten-hour shifts throughout the day, when guests are either checking out of their rooms or leaving for activities. The typical workday for hotel housekeeping staff is from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. You clean ten to fifteen rooms in a shift, depending on the hotel’s size and your level of efficiency as a housekeeper. You must have great time management abilities and endurance to carry out your hotel housekeeping responsibilities.
Do Hotel Cleaning Jobs Allow Tips?
In addition to your hourly pay as a hotel housekeeper, you may also receive gratuities from visitors. You are less likely to collect tips if you work at an inexpensive hotel or motel, and if you do, they will be minimal. However, you should anticipate receiving tips from visitors if you work as a hotel housekeeper in upscale resorts or hotels, particularly if you maintain their rooms clean during their visit. While some wait and offer a sizable tip on the day of check-out, other hotel customers occasionally leave tiny daily tips for the housekeepers.
How To Be Good at Hotel Cleaning Jobs
You will have to be someone who enjoys cleaning and be physically fit to work a full shift as a hotel housekeeper. Cleaning the hotel’s common areas, such as the lobbies, restaurants, fitness centers, and business centers, as well as the rooms, is part of your work. To fulfill your daily quota of rooms to clean or to finish your designated sector of the hotel, you must be able to work well both independently and collaboratively with other employees. You must also be able to clean completely and efficiently.
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Additional Information for Hotel Cleaning Jobs
>Also, dusting and cleaning hotel rooms and the common areas of the hotel where you work are the duties of a hotel housekeeper. Restocking supplies, delivering goods to visitors’ rooms, and relocating your cart filled with cleaning supplies and equipment from hotel room to hotel room are among your duties. The size of the hotel where you work as a housekeeper determines whether you clean a certain area of the establishment throughout each shift or only a few rooms in a single shift. Depending on whether visitors are checking out or staying for another night, you may have to clean a different number of rooms each day.
>Even though many employers prefer to hire employees with a high school diploma or GED, you do not need a formal degree to work as a hotel housekeeper. To progress in the hotel sector, especially if you wish to get to the manager positions, you must hold an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in hospitality or hospitality management. Through the International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA), you can obtain additional certifications. For example, candidates with a high school diploma or associate degree can obtain the Certified Executive Housekeeper credential, while those with a bachelor’s degree can obtain the Registered Executive Housekeeper credential.
