A Housekeeping SOP Checklist is used as a guide to ensure that the standard cleaning protocols set by an establishment are followed. This checklist can be used by housekeepers, cleaners, and housekeeping managers to ensure that rooms are clean and adequately prepared before allowing the next guest to check in.
A housekeeping SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) is a documented, step-by-step process on how to effectively perform various housekeeping procedures. This includes daily cleaning activities and regular maintenance tasks. SOP in housekeeping is primarily used by hotel housekeeping supervisors to help maids and commercial cleaners observe housekeeping standards, deliver consistent quality service, and support positive reviews.
Housekeeping SOPs are critical because they uphold the standards of an organization’s housekeeping procedures. The benefits of having cleaning standard operating procedures include:
Housekeeping standard operating procedures (SOP) contain industry best practices that organizations use as a guideline for employees. Depending on the scope, a housekeeping SOP may contain specific instructions for a specific industry. But below are common areas that a housekeeping SOP includes:
Part of housekeeping procedures is managing the manning of employees. This area specifically covers the expected schedule of teams and lays out the policies in handling leaves and absences of employees. Below is an example outline of an SOP for attendance management:
SOP should outline the role and responsibilities of the employees. This will help avoid confusion in the activities a role is responsible for. Also, it makes it easy to identify point persons for each area or department should inspections or investigations be carried out.
Part of housekeeping procedures is managing waste. Depending on where you are, proper waste management methods are required to be practiced by local organizations. Housekeeping businesses must comply with these standards to avoid consequences of non-compliance. Get familiar with local standards and apply them within your standard operating procedures to ensure that everyone in the team is on board. If necessary, organizations may include additional instructions for managing wastes. Time of pick up and drop off can also be included in the SOP.
This refers to general best practices and code of conduct that employees are expected to abide by. For example, wearing the proper uniform, ID Cards, and necessary PPE’s like masks and gloves.
In most cases, checklists are used by housekeepers to record and monitor the activities performed in the facility. It is signed by either team members or supervisors. These records are important as they serve as proof of the work done. Instructions regarding the management of checklists can be added on the SOP to better guide members and supervisors how this can be effectively carried out.
Housekeeping procedures (SOPs), for hotels in particular, is important in the hospitality industry because cleanliness is a basic expectation of guests . There are two types of cleaning procedures for hotel housekeeping:
Manual – this is a cleaning method that doesn’t require the assistance of equipment and machines, it includes the following:
Mechanized – as the name suggests, this type of cleaning needs the assistance of mechanized or electrical equipment, including the following:
Well-implemented hotel housekeeping SOPs can help establish a welcoming atmosphere for the guests and ensure reliable and courteous service from staff. Here are some of the best hotel SOPs for three of the most common housekeeping room status:
These are standard housekeeping procedures for hotel staff when preparing rooms for new set of guests:
Perform the following sample proper housekeeping procedures for an occupied room and use the housekeeping SOP checklist to record task completion:
It can be used as a teaching tool to educate workers on the correct housekeeping procedures and keep them updated regarding any process changes.
A sample of a step-by-step housekeeping sop pdf can be found here.
Housekeeping SOP is not limited to hotels, it also applies across other industries such as manufacturing, medical, education, construction, and others. It helps maintain a safe and secure environment not just for customers but for employees as well. Here’s how housekeeping SOP helps the following businesses:
A hospital housekeeping SOP aims to maintain a sterile environment in all areas of the hospital. It guides cleaning personnel in prioritizing the task to maintain high standards of cleanliness especially in the crucial areas including high-touch surfaces and high-risk areas.
A restaurant housekeeping SOP ensures high standard cleaning operations to avoid food contamination and foodborne illnesses. It helps restaurants build exceptional ambiance and cleanliness to impress their clients.
A warehouse housekeeping SOP helps maintain a clean workplace that is free of debris and clutter to keep a safe environment. It helps prevent workplace hazards including incidents, near misses and injuries.
A public area housekeeping SOP helps maintain a safe and hygienic community. It ensures proper waste management is in place to eliminate environmental pollution and pathogenic diseases.
There are two types of cleaning procedures for hotel housekeeping, see below:
Manual – this is a cleaning method that doesn’t require the assistance of equipment and machines, it includes the following:
Mechanized – as the name suggests, this type of cleaning needs the assistance of mechanized or electrical equipment, including the following:
A sample of a step-by-step housekeeping procedure report can be found here.
A housekeeping SOP can be written into the following format types:
A good housekeeping SOP should consider the following 7 standards of housekeeping:
A housekeeping SOP should cover standard procedures for operations, this includes:
With dozens of rooms to service and multiple housekeeping tasks to perform for each one, there is a chance that housekeepers may miss critical SOP points. With SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor), a web and mobile inspection app, housekeeping supervisors can strengthen compliance with housekeeping standards and enjoy the following benefits:
To help get you started, we have created 6 of the best housekeeping SOP checklists you can download, use, and customize for your purpose.
This comprehensive checklist can be used by supervisors to check the duties of the housekeeper and evaluate their adherence to housekeeping SOPs. It can also be utilized to verify if hotel staff and amenities comply with hotel safety regulations and housekeeping standards. This checklist converted using SafetyCulture uses dynamic field feature which allows you to label or identify individual rooms and conduct inspections with specific recurring questions.
Inspection template Powered byHousekeepers and cleaners can use this Bathroom Cleaning SOP Checklist as a step-by-step guide to the proper process for cleaning bathroom tiles, mirrors, and drains. This tool can help housekeeping managers train staff and ensure strict compliance to SOPs for bathroom cleaning.
Inspection template Powered byFoodservice employees can use this SOP checklist to ensure that kitchen equipment and kitchenware are cleaned and sanitized before and after use to avoid foodborne illnesses and allergies.
Inspection template Powered byThis General Kitchen Cleaning Checklist can help maintain a clean and sanitized restaurant. Conduct your inspections using this checklist to evaluate if employees wear hygienic clothing and if food is properly handled. This also checks if kitchen facilities are cleaned and sanitized properly after use, and waste materials are segregated and properly disposed of. Provide your recommendations and overall assessment after the inspection. Use SafetyCulture on your mobile device to generate on-site reports and capture photo evidence of defective items.
Inspection template Powered byHousekeepers and cleaners can use this Corridor Cleaning and Maintenance SOP checklist as a step-by-step guide to the proper process of sweeping, dusting, and cleaning the hotel and office corridors.
Jona Tarlengco is a content writer and researcher for SafetyCulture since 2018. She usually writes about safety and quality topics, contributing to the creation of well-researched articles. Her years of experience in one of the world’s leading business news organisations helps enrich the quality of the information in her work.
This comprehensive checklist can be used by supervisors to check the duties of the housekeeper and evaluate their adherence to housekeeping SOPs. It can also be utilized to verify if hotel staff and amenities comply with hotel safety regulations and housekeeping standards. This checklist converted using SafetyCulture uses dynamic field feature which allows you to label or identify individual rooms and conduct inspections with specific recurring questions.
Housekeepers and cleaners can use this Bathroom Cleaning SOP Checklist as a step-by-step guide to the proper process for cleaning bathroom tiles, mirrors, and drains. This tool can help housekeeping managers train staff and ensure strict compliance to SOPs for bathroom cleaning.
Foodservice employees can use this SOP checklist to ensure that kitchen equipment and kitchenware are cleaned and sanitized before and after use to avoid foodborne illnesses and allergies.
This General Kitchen Cleaning Checklist can help maintain a clean and sanitized restaurant. Conduct your inspections using this checklist to evaluate if employees wear hygienic clothing and if food is properly handled. This also checks if kitchen facilities are cleaned and sanitized properly after use, and waste materials are segregated and properly disposed of. Provide your recommendations and overall assessment after the inspection. Use SafetyCulture on your mobile device to generate on-site reports and capture photo evidence of defective items.
Housekeepers and cleaners can use this Corridor Cleaning and Maintenance SOP checklist as a step-by-step guide to the proper process of sweeping, dusting, and cleaning the hotel and office corridors.
