10 Basic housekeeping skills for hospitality teams

Good housekeeping is the foundation of exceptional service. When guests walk into a well-maintained environment and a spotless room, it immediately signals that your business cares about their comfort and prioritizes attention to detail.

Dust off your team’s expertise and keep your establishment spick and span. Explore this list of 10 essential housekeeping skills that will guarantee efficiency, cleanliness, and a welcoming environment.

What skills are needed in housekeeping?

Housekeeping requires a variety of skills that maintain a clean and well-kept environment for guests. Housekeepers need a high level of attention that creates a positive first impression and improves the overall guest experience.

Some housekeeping skills examples include practical cleaning abilities to keep rooms clean and hygienic and stamina to keep up with the physically demanding tasks of a housekeeper. Beyond these, they need to work closely with other staff members, meet guest needs, and address potential problems.

Ultimately, well-organized teams equipped with the right skills for housekeeping contribute to a seamless guest experience. By doing their duties efficiently, they elevate the comfort and satisfaction of everyone who walks through your hotel’s doors.

10 basic housekeeping skills

Explore this list of basic housekeeping skills that every hospitality team should master.

Housekeeping skill #1 - Cleaning know-how

Cleaning know-how is an indispensable skill for any housekeeper. In hospitality, hotel rooms, common areas, and facilities are expected to remain inviting and hygienic. A well-maintained environment not only creates a welcoming atmosphere for guests but also plays a vital role in maintaining the property’s reputation and longevity.

Housekeepers who understand the nuances of cleaning various surfaces, fabrics, and materials can avoid causing damage and preserve the quality of furniture, fixtures, and appliances. Additionally, an experienced housekeeper knows how to clean both visible messes and the often-overlooked areas.

Beyond physical cleanliness, cleaning expertise in hospitality directly impacts the health and well-being of your guests. A deep understanding of sanitation guarantees that high-touch surfaces are regularly disinfected, allergens are minimized, and bacteria and germs are eliminated.

If you’re looking to refresh your team’s knowledge of proper cleaning practices, learning and development software SC Training (formerly EdApp) has the perfect solution. It houses a gamified Cleaning and Sanitizing in Hospitality course that covers servicing restrooms, dining spaces, and public areas, all designed to enhance the customer experience.

Help your team master the best housekeeping practices for a cleaner, safer environment with SC Training!

Housekeeping skill #2 - Equipment knowledge

Whether it’s a vacuum cleaner, mop, or steam cleaner, understanding how to operate and maintain these tools can make a big difference in the efficiency and effectiveness of cleaning. This is why familiarity with equipment is important in housekeeping.

The right tools should be used for the appropriate job and your housekeepers should know how to use them effectively. Proper use of cleaning tools not only saves time but also reduces the risk of damage to both the equipment and the surfaces being cleaned.

With cleaning training courses, you can give your teams the equipment knowledge needed to work safely and avoid accidents. Different cleaning tools and machines can be powerful and sometimes dangerous if not handled correctly. Understanding the specific safety measures for each piece of equipment helps prevent injuries.

Housekeeping skill #3 - Chemical handling of cleaning materials

Chemical handling of cleaning materials is an essential housekeeping skill because it directly affects the safety and effectiveness of the cleaning process. Many cleaning products contain powerful chemicals that, if not used correctly, can harm people, pets, and surfaces.

A skilled housekeeper knows how to read labels, mix solutions properly, and use the right chemicals for each task. This helps make sure that the different areas in your facility remain safe and clean. For example, using a bleach-based cleaner on a surface that can’t handle it may cause damage, while mixing certain chemicals can create dangerous fumes. 

Understanding these risks and following proper procedures helps avoid accidents and assures that the cleaning process is both effective and safe. Housekeepers should know how to handle these materials with care while maintaining proper ventilation.

• Recommended courses: Ammonia Awareness Training (US), Hygiene and Cleanliness

Housekeeping skill #4 - Multitasking

For efficiency and productivity, your housekeeping staff needs good multitasking skills. Housekeepers who can juggle multiple tasks at once, like cleaning the windows while waiting for the floor to dry after mopping, can get more done in less time. 

This is especially important in hotels with many rooms to clean or when time is limited. Being able to switch between tasks smoothly without losing focus helps keep things in order without feeling overwhelmed.

The ability to optimize time helps your facilities stay clean and organized consistently, even on busy days. Multitasking is essential because it allows your housekeepers to stay on top of all their responsibilities without compromising the quality of their work.

Housekeeping skill #5 - Attention to detail

Maintaining a clean hotel room isn’t just about completing the visible tasks, such as changing linens or vacuuming the floors. It's also about addressing the hidden corners and less obvious spots where dirt and grime can accumulate, such as baseboards, behind furniture, or inside drawers. This is where attention to detail comes in.

In the hospitality industry, attention to detail is a crucial skill for housekeepers. It makes sure that every aspect of a guest room or common area is meticulously cared for, leaving no part overlooked. A housekeeper who pays attention to these small but important details creates a space that feels truly immaculate and welcoming for guests. 

For instance, wiping down baseboards, organizing clutter in drawers, or making sure that the room is free of dust in hard-to-reach areas adds to a guest’s comfort and satisfaction. This thoroughness in housekeeping not only elevates the guest experience but also reflects the quality and standards of your establishment.

Housekeeping skill #6 - Interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills help create positive, respectful relationships between housekeepers and the people they serve. Whether it's a family, a busy professional, or any hotel guest, being able to communicate well and understand their needs is crucial. 

A housekeeper with strong interpersonal skills can ask the right questions, listen carefully, and adapt to different preferences. This helps guarantee that each guest’s expectations are met. Additionally, interpersonal skills help foster a collaborative and supportive work environment, especially in team settings. 

• Recommended courses: Operating with Empathy, Active Listening

Housekeeping skill #7 - Adaptability

No two cleaning tasks are exactly the same. This is why adaptability is an important skill for housekeepers. It helps them adjust to different environments, schedules, and needs. Being adaptable means being able to handle unique challenges and adjusting methods to suit the situation. 

Flexibility is key to making sure that the job is always done to the highest standard. Adaptability is important in responding to unexpected situations—maybe a cleaning product runs out, a new stain appears, or an area needs more time than expected. An adaptable housekeeper can think on their feet and find alternative solutions so they stay efficient even as challenges arise.

• Recommended courses: Mental Health & Wellbeing (Hospitality)

Housekeeping skill #8 - Customer service

Customer service plays a huge role in the satisfaction and comfort of your guests. Because housekeepers often interact with clients, they should possess strong customer service skills to guarantee that the guest’s needs are met with professionalism and care.

Well-skilled housekeepers make a lasting impression by being friendly, respectful, and attentive to the specific preferences of the individuals they serve. Customer service skills help your teams communicate effectively and solve problems when issues arise. This type of service helps guests feel at ease and appreciated, encouraging repeated business and good relationships. 

• Recommended courses: Guest Service in Hospitality and Tourism, Guest Experiences

Housekeeping skill #9 - Organization

When housekeepers are organized, they can work more efficiently by having a clear plan of action and knowing exactly what needs to be done next. Organization skills allow for a systematic approach to cleaning and maintaining facilities in your hospitality business. 

This means less time wasted searching for cleaning supplies or deciding what to tackle first. By keeping cleaning tools and supplies neatly arranged and planning out tasks ahead of time, the housekeeper can guarantee that the job is done thoroughly from start to finish.

Being organized also helps maintain a clutter-free and neat environment. A housekeeper who is skilled in organization creates a more comfortable, enjoyable atmosphere for everyone in the hotel leading to a more harmonious space.

Housekeeping skill #10 - Health and safety compliance

In the hospitality industry, it’s your and your teams’ job to guarantee that guest rooms, common areas, and the overall facility remain safe for everyone. A housekeeper who understands and adheres to health and safety protocols can work with confidence, knowing they are safeguarding both themselves and the guests in the environment. 

Housekeepers are often exposed to cleaning chemicals, heavy equipment, and potentially slippery surfaces, so following safety guidelines is essential to prevent injuries or health issues. Beyond personal safety, this skill plays a vital role in maintaining a hygienic and healthy space as cleanliness enhances the well-being of everyone who enters the space.

• Recommended courses: Infection Control, Fire Safety

Polish your team’s housekeeping skills with training

Giving your team the best means giving your guests the best. The skills of a housekeeper are crucial for maintaining a clean, welcoming atmosphere. That’s why it’s essential to enhance cleanliness standards and transform your housekeeping team into experts. With top-notch training from advanced learning and development software tools, you can make this a reality.

From cleaning practices to interpersonal skills, SC Training has got you covered. Our hospitality training courses are packed with powerful features that will enhance the learning experience for your staff. We understand that your housekeeping staff are often on the go and with mobile-first access, they can access training content anywhere, on break, or even while on duty.

Your crew can also finish the courses in five minutes or less, thanks to microlearning – a perfect fit for their busy schedules. Plus, with many housekeeping teams from diverse backgrounds, SC Training can translate content into 100+ languages with AI translation, making it more accessible to everyone.

Don’t sweep the details under the rug. Take your housekeeping skills to the next level with SC Training!