Being a hotel housekeeper certainly presents its challenges. The job entails long hours and physically demanding tasks. The ability to clean rooms efficiently requires immense attention to detail and the capacity to handle pressure. Unfortunately, this labor-intensive work is often undervalued. Hotel housekeepers frequently face rude guests, while even well-intentioned individuals and those outside the industry may not fully understand how to be helpful to those who clean their hotel rooms.
To dispel any misconceptions and shed light on the reality, HuffPost spoke directly to hotel housekeepers about their biggest grievances and the practices they now avoid after gaining experience in the industry. Some responses have been edited for clarity and length.
1. I refrain from leaving the ‘do not disturb’ sign up for the entire duration of my stay.
“After becoming a housekeeper myself, I have made a conscious decision to never leave the ‘do not disturb’ sign up throughout my stay. Some guests may mistakenly believe that by not having their room cleaned, it makes our job easier. However, when a room goes without cleaning for two or three days, it becomes significantly dirty.
I am then forced to rush through the cleaning process, which is physically straining and increases the risk of injury. Cleaning and refreshing the room on a daily basis is a more manageable approach. Furthermore, if too many guests opt out of housekeeping service, the hotel may instruct me not to come to work, resulting in lost wages, despite the fact that the cleaning cost is already included in the room rate.” ― Maria Mata, W Hotel San Francisco
2. I refrain from repeatedly asking housekeeping to return later.
“One should avoid wasting the housekeepers’ time. Sometimes they visit the rooms and ask the guests if they require service, only to receive a response along the lines of ‘Come back later.’
To ensure efficiency and guest satisfaction, I recommend notifying the front desk about the preferred time for housekeeping to attend to the room. Guests can specify a particular time or provide a timeframe for the cleaning. This allows housekeepers to utilize their time effectively while keeping the guests pleased.” ― Cinthia Camilo Vargas, Director of Corporate Services, Stay SoFlo, Florida
3. I won’t go without utilizing daily housekeeping services during my stay.
“After working as a housekeeper, I have firsthand experience of the importance of not skipping daily housekeeping. Some guests may believe that refraining from having their room cleaned benefits housekeepers, but this is far from true.
When a room remains untouched for multiple days, it becomes significantly dirtier and much harder to clean. I have witnessed rooms filled with massive piles of garbage, dirty diapers, and decaying food that I must clean to prepare the room for the next guest. Moreover, this trend results in fewer housekeepers being scheduled for work, impacting the livelihood of my colleagues. Fortunately, through the collective efforts of our union, we have fought and successfully reinstated automatic daily housekeeping for all housekeepers.” ― Antoinette Clerisier, The Diplomat Beach Resort, Hollywood, Florida
4. I refrain from requesting more towels than necessary.
Try to limit towel usage to your actual needs and reuse them whenever possible.
“One of the main reasons I wouldn’t request additional towels unnecessarily is because it generates waste and adds unnecessary burden to the tasks of the housekeeping staff.
Other guests could benefit from those towels. Sometimes, individuals request extra towels simply because they notice them. It is crucial for us to come together and only use what we genuinely require. If we do not need it, we should not request it.” ― Ronnette Lark, Harrah’s Resort & Casino Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey
5. I won’t forget to tip.
“After working as a housekeeper, I have learned the importance of tipping generously. I hadn’t realized just how much tips matter to us. They not only convey appreciation for our work but also provide financial support for a variety of needs. I strongly recommend leaving a tip of $5 or $10 each day during your stay, as different housekeepers might attend to your room each day. It’s not advisable to wait until you check out to leave a tip.
Through my experience in this field, I have witnessed instances where the housekeeper responsible for the checkout was not the same one who serviced the room during the stay. This is why I emphasize the need to tip ‘each day.’
Overall, working in hospitality has taught me to always leave a tip of at least $10 wherever I go. I personally look forward to using my tips for emergency savings or treating my daughter to something special.
I understand that my colleagues may rely on this money for transportation or a quick meal after a long day of work. Therefore, when you stay at a hotel or dine at a restaurant, please consider these factors and remember to leave a tip!” ― Cameron Thomas, Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown
And so on…
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