How to bulletproof your hotel’s daily linen turnaround?

The key to a successful hotel business is the quality of customer service provided to guests. One factor which plays perhaps the most important role in shaping a guest’s experience is readiness of their room/suite and all the amenities they have paid for to be available as soon as required. Linen operation in a hotel is more than just a housekeeping task, it is a system which needs to be nailed so that guests can enjoy optimum comfort, value for their money and become long term patrons. Here are how the big players in the hotel industry make their laundry turnaround reliable:

Setting up PAR (per available room) levels

Most laundry problems begin with weak forecasting i.e. how much linen you actually need to have the system flowing smoothly. Set PAR (per available room) levels and keep three times the amount of linen you need for full occupancy. As a rule of thumb:

• One set on the beds in the room/suite.
• One set in the laundry.
• One set in the storage.

Invest in good quality linens

High quality cotton bedsheets and pillowcases in hotels provide guests with enhanced comfort and a better nights sleep thanks to superior softness, temperature regulation and breathability. These good quality and higher thread count sheets not only wash well but are also more durable and can withstand frequent laundering. They look and feel like new even after several wash cycles meaning reduced replacement.

Optimize laundry operations

Having a drycleaning and laundry company at hand which provides express cleaning options is a life saver especially during busy holiday period. These express dry cleaners can provide you with the crispness and quality you desire in bedsheets and duvet covers. Heavily soiled items can be cleaned and ironed by these experts increasing their longevity and preventing rebuying as opposed to using washing machines and dryers within the housekeeping department. Outsourcing laundry to a professional dry cleaning and laundry company can free up staff time and resources while providing a faster turnaround time.

Implement an organized system

Clear organization in the housekeeping stock/inventory room is pertinent to smooth laundry operations. Label shelves by type and size (bedsheets, towels, duvets and covers) to minimize staff search time. Keeping a count of linen inventory is needed regularly to catch shortages early. Using RFID tags in bigger hotels is useful as it reduces the time taken to manage linen and results in more accurate and quicker stock checks. Having a (FIFO) First in first out system in place ensures that old stock is used up first.

Linen Storage

Linen and towels in hotels need to be stored well to prevent mould and mildew. The linen storage room should be well ventilated and free of humidity to prevent damage to the fabric. The shelving needs to be smooth and high quality to prevent snagging and tear of the fabric. Lastly, linen should have a 24 hour “resting” period after being cleaned and before being reused to ensure it stays smoother and extends its life. Keeping the laundry room locked to prevent theft and have access restricted to staff only should also be considered.

The hospitality industry prioritises the guests experience and satisfaction. At Gold Dry Cleaners, we are also a customer centric company focused on providing the best quality dry cleaning and laundry service with quick turnaround times. Hoteliers looking to smooth their laundry operations and have hassle free collection and deliveries of their linen should look no further than Gold Dry Cleaners. With over 30 years of experience in the drycleaning industry as well as several notable B2B contracts, we understand the nature of hospitality. For towels that don’t wobble and fray after two washes, duvets which retain their shape and crisp pillow cases which have been laundered to a very high standard, use Gold Dry Cleaners!