Confessions of a hotel housekeeper

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Permalink Reply by Kate on January 29, 2009 at 5:28pm

I just read it. While I agree that housekeeping is a low-paid job, I think it's sad that the internal work-ethic of this person was so low.

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Permalink Reply by Jason Kemple on January 29, 2009 at 5:29pm

I've cleaned rooms before in a hotel i worked at for a few years while they were short... and practically everything she said was true, except that we always used a disinfectant cleaning spray in the showers, but i'd spray the entire thing and wipe it good... did the sink also. If the carpet looked really clean, there seemed no need to vacuum, sheets were always changed...

The only thing that ever got to me (and still gets to me) is that although the sheets were always washed and changed, the comforter wasn't washed that often at all... even to this day, staying at hotels, i always put the sheet up over the comforter when i pull it up to my chin. But all in all, the room was clean, but sometimes not spotless. But then again, is any room ever really spotless?

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Permalink Reply by Erin on January 29, 2009 at 9:29pm

Yeah, I always throw the comforter on the floor as soon as I get into a hotel room! Ewww...

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Permalink Reply by windmoonstarsocean on January 30, 2009 at 3:37pm

Well I am happy to say that when I did housekeeping we did not *spray and swipe* and we always vacuumed and sanitzied everything. We were always getting yelled at to get rooms done 3 hours before due but we did not skip corners.

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Permalink Reply by Jim on January 30, 2009 at 8:33pm

I think her work ethic is spot on, as the Brits say. If you can cut some corners and not get complaints, then why not? Who suffers? Nobody. If a guest gives great tips, then extra attention to the guests' needs is warranted, much like a bartender or waitstaff person would do with their serving practices.

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Permalink Reply by Chefness on January 30, 2009 at 9:02pm

Well, it's a very good thing you don't work in a kitchen, because if you agree with the ethics in the article, then chances are you go by the same poor ethics. A job is a job, and whether or not a tip is received, the job should be done to the best of one's ability, strict to policy, no corners cut.

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Permalink Reply by Jim on January 31, 2009 at 9:31am

Oh Chefness, I have worked in a kitchen as a salad maker and did an excellent job. And besides, food preparation is not something you can cut corners on anyway. Just because I was amused by this girl's "confessions" doesn't mean I condone them. I just thought it was funny.

An ironic side note: At this very moment, after my coffee and oat bran cereal, I am about to launch into the thorough cleaning of my mother's vacation rental here in Palm Desert. Snowbirders are showing up tomorrow. I've got the Simple Green, tweezers and q-tips out and ready to go!

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Permalink Reply by Chefness on January 31, 2009 at 9:35am

Okay, I can open my mouth and insert my foot. My apologies.

Your gonna have to explain something to me though. Snowbirders? And tweezers? I think I'm still waking up.

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Permalink Reply by reggie on January 31, 2009 at 10:14am

snowbirds are people who have an home in canada for the summer the have an home in fla or az for the summer dont know what they used the tweezers thats news to me

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Permalink Reply by Jim on January 31, 2009 at 10:36am

Chefness, I'm in Palm Desert CA and the season is in full swing. Most visitors are from the colder climes where there is still lots of snow on the ground. The term for these people is "snowbirds". Tweezers? Just a dumb joke about my cleaning tools. Unlike the "confessions girl", I will do a thorough job getting every last crumb and piece of lint off the floor. ;)

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Permalink Reply by Brenda on February 3, 2009 at 1:48am

Well, wow after working for years in housekeeping in Yellowstone, in one way I know what that girl means and yes there are times I was guilty, buttttt I don't know who told her that she could keep the tips. thats a no go in Yellowstone. all tips no matter what location were to be turned in and split up at the end of the season. As for her lacking in some of those ethics. Well, a bit oh how should I put it, scary. No matter how much I wanted to I did clean the bathrooms and sanitize them. It just makes you wonder when you go to hotels and really gets to you when you have worked in hotels yourself. A lot like when I worked in the medical field there is just no way to cut corners.

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Permalink Reply by Amanda on February 16, 2009 at 1:46pm

You know I've been a cleaner for quite a while and started by working in housekeeping at a large hotel. First off there is not really an excuse for making the guests suffer for something that should be an issue taken up with your employer. Cleaning can be a very profitable job if you have the experience and the reputation of doing good detailed work. I personally think it takes longer to figure out how to cut corners than having a routine and doing it right. We all know that one of the many benefits of working seasonally is if you don't like your current position make a change, move, find a better paying job. Let's show those employers that we just simply won't stand being underappreciated by showing how much we deserve to be appreciated, and when that doesn't work excersize your right to CHOOSE an alternate employer. Be happy for this moment, this moment is your life!

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