Laundry/ linen change out tips

[Linda169]

I’ve been a host for quite a few years and I am always looking for an easier, quicker way to do the linen/bedding changes between guests.  I offer king size beds in some rooms because that is what I prefer for comfort. Changing out all the king size linens is time-consuming. I need to find a simpler way to have all of that. replaced during one cleaning session. Although I have duplicates and triplicates of everything, I have a cleaning crew wash everything while they are doing the cleaning change out.   I am in a different state when our property is available for rent, so it’s not like I can do the laundry myself, or have dirty laundry sitting waiting for me. It needs to be completed during the change out.

Is it better to wrap the comforter in sheets, the way hotels do, and then just wash the cover sheets?  Duvets can be cumbersome and time-consuming to wash and dry.  I am in the process of purchasing a bigger washer, due to the fact that washing a king size duvet has pretty much ruined my washer.  
Does anybody have a recommendation on a king size duvet that is easy to wash and dry?

Also looking for a recommendation on a good washer for large loads.  

[Joan2709]

Hi @Linda169 

Agree with @Mike-And-Jane0 , most Hosts I work with have covers for the duvets that are removed and easily washed and dried between guests. You can buy duvet covers on Amazon or Ikea that have zippers and are easy to put on & take off. There are also several YouTube videos on how to easily re-insert a duvet into a duvet cover (burrito method). 

Hosts that don't use duvets use a coverlet instead that is light-weight and easily washed and dried. Quilts and bedspreads tend to be too heavy and are hard to dry.

[Joan2709]

Hi @Linda169 

Yes...agree. Most hosts only wash the duvet cover (which is usually relatively thin and easily washed and dried). The duvet inserts usually don't get washed, as you said as they won't fit in most residential washers/dryers and would take forever to wash and dry.

You can always go the hotel sheet route, but as @Mike-And-Jane0 noted, these sheets don't always stay in place and result in skin contact with duvet insert.

[Greystone0]

Hi @Linda169 ,

You may already do this, but, if your washer doesn't have a 'fast' wash setting, that might be something to make sure is part of a future machine. Some guest laundry just doesn't need the same 'treatment' and the cover might fall into this category.

Another thing that helps with timing is dryer balls, they make things dry faster, or so it seems from my experience. While we don't leave them for guests we use them for all house laundry to help move things along. In addition we keep dryer racks handy so we can just keep going with laundry from washer to dryer. We keep large foldable drying racks that are utilized. If there happens to be a few items not fully dried then this rack gets stashed in a locked closet with the stuff on it for the next turnover.  This can make for some stiff laundry but is remedied by throwing back in the dryer with a damp towel, etc.

Sometimes there just isn't enough time to get laundry done, no matter the machine. There are some circumstances that arise for our cleaning crew and laundry just doesn't get done (guest is extra dirty, leaves late, something like that). Especially for a same day turnover. In that circumstance our cleaner takes the laundry home with her and returns at the next check out with clean, dry, folded laundry. She charges more for doing this which is totally fine with me. I don't pass this cost on to my guests and I make sure my crew is compensated for any extras, if that makes sense. Hopefully some food for thought here.

[Angela3989]

Hi! 

In summer we switched to bedspreads and ditched the comforter/duvet altogether and it is *way* easier. Amazon about $40 and so cute! We offer a plush blanket at the bed end for if it's cooler nights, but for the most part in summer they don't use it and the bedspread is enough. I also got the same color for both bedrooms so we don't have to worry which is for which. Of course in winter it will be back to the duvet/duvet covers but at least it's only then.

Good luck!

[Alvin297]

An LG top loader washer is deep and wide able to accomodate very large loads suitable to handle jist that kind of item.