I have a question

[Bernadette466]

So I am newer host about 11 months in, I have only had one cleaner so far who I had to switch out because they kept leaving trash under the beds or behind the dressers. The new cleaner I found seemed great, but come to find out that after a second inspection I found a stain on one of the duvets. I questioned it she stated that they do not wash them unless they see noticeable stains, hairs or something of that sort. My last cleaner washed everything is that typical? To me it seems unsanitary she wanted to up charge me $50 dollars per bed because it would be an extra load for a duvet cover..... A DUVET COVER ..... I have a 5 bedroom home with 9 beds. Your help is appreciated. 

[Shelley159]

Hi @Bernadette466 

Duvet inners don't have to be washed at every changeover, but I agree with you that duvet covers do.

I think maybe a 5-bedroom house can be a big job for just one person? If there's time pressure too, it's not impossible that some things will be missed.

[Mary1523]

It's your choice what you wish to have cleaned. Changing duvet covers for every booking is time intensive, especially if you don't have extras and they have to be washed and dried first. To get them professionally laundered at the laundromat - even the covers, is way more expensive than a set of sheets.

Honestly for our 5 bed home, we do not wash duvet covers every booking. Although we have top and bottom sheets on the bed which rely upon the guests to use. If it looks they haven't, then we'll go and wash the duvet covers. Or if they do have stains absolutely they get swapped out and washed. We will cycle through a clean of them on a regular basis, depending upon the number of bookings. 

Regs

MK

[Karen114]

@Bernadette466  Finding the right housekeeping set up is a challenge for sure.  In the 14 years I have been doing this, I can't even count how many I have had.  

Just my 2 cent's, for a home of your size with 5 bedrooms and 9 beds, that seems like a lot for one cleaner.  I am assuming that you are leaving a day between bookings. 

As someone that owned a residential house cleaning company for 17 years, I understand the challenges cleaners face especially cleaning solo in a large home.  Because of this understanding of how it all works, I have used solo cleaners as well as teams.  Both have their pros and cons.  I use a company now that works in teams and I am comfortable with that. 

The Duvet...😑  This was always a bone of contention for my cleaners and I think they would call in sick when they had homes that used Duvets.  They are very challenging for 1 person to change out.  There are some handy hacks on Youtube but it's still a challenge. 

I have switched from Duvets, quilts and bedspreads in my units and gone to triple sheeting with a bed scarf at the foot of the bed.  This is what hotels do and it's a quick turnaround for the cleaners and very crisp and clean looking.  Some hosts won't agree with this if they themselves are turbulent sleepers. 

The triple sheeting will preserve the comforter of blanket between the two flat sheets so they don't always have to be washed. The flat sheets and fitted sheets wash and dry quickly.   

I had so many quests sleeping on the bedspreads or comforters, using the decorative sham pillows to sleep on, it was weird lol.  Things seem to be going well with the triple sheeting and the cleaners I use like it too.  

Here's a link at to how it's done https://youtu.be/9FkuTAY77FQ?si=gulZ4aWeOJkDNqcQ 

[Emilie]

Hi @Bernadette466, 

You are approaching your one year hosting anniversary, how exciting! 😃

Shelley, Mary and Karen have all shared their perspective on the matter, did you get a chance to read through them?  

You might find discussion interesting as well, for even more insights:

💡How do you handle the cleaning and management of bed linens and sheets?

💡Bedding blankets

I hope this helps!

Emilie