04 Nov 2009
Army Lodging
Standard Operating Procedures
Room Cleaning Procedures
1. Purpose: To set procedures to ensure proper room cleaning.
2. Scope: All guestrooms.
3. Authority/Responsibility: Management and Housekeeping Personnel
4. Procedures:
a. Guestrooms are maintained in a clean and orderly condition.
b. Each housekeeper should follow the same sequential procedure for cleaning rooms, i.e.,
turn on light, do quick room inspection, spray bathrooms, strip bed etc. Suggested guest room
cleaning procedures are provided at enclosure.
c. Housekeepers shall respect guest property and shall not open guest personal belongings
or open dresser drawers in occupied rooms.
d. Guest personal property will not be removed, moved or touched. Only items in the trash
receptacles will be thrown away.
e. Report any suspicious items or discrepancies within guestrooms to on duty supervisor.
f. Guestroom door will remain open during cleaning. The housekeeping cart will remain in
front of the guest room door for safety and security.
g. When the housekeeper enters the guestroom and the room is vacant, but not on the
expected departure report; the housekeeper must notify the supervisor immediately. Upon
confirmation from the supervisor that the room is an early check out, the housekeeper will clean
the room accordingly. If the guestroom is not an early check out, the housekeeper will clean the
room accordingly.
h. When the housekeeper enters the guestroom, and the room is occupied, but is on the
expected departure report, the housekeeper must notify the supervisor immediately. Upon
confirmation from the supervisor that the room is occupied/stay over, the housekeeper will
proceed to clean the room as a stay over. If the guest’s stay over is unauthorized or it is past the
published check-out time, the housekeeper will verify room cleaning status i.e. clean as a check
out or stay over with supervisor. (Refer to local policy).
1
i. At garrisons providing Exodus Storage, local management will implement procedures to
ensure exodus rooms are entered and a cursory check/cleaning is performed at least once every
three to five days.
j. When cleaning rooms all housekeepers should wear disposable gloves and they should be
disposed of after cleaning of each guest room.
5. Local Appendix:
a. Annotation to Room Cleaning Procedures.
b. Procedures for stay overs.
c. Procedures for updating room status with the Housekeeping Supervisor or Front Desk
Exodus Procedures.
2
SUGGESTED CLEANING THE GUESTROOM PROCEDURES:
1. Turn on all lights and check for burnt-out light bulbs.
2. Turn on TV by using remote for battery check. Turn on Radio check for battery check and to
confirm correct time is set.
3. Open draperies. Check drapery rods and hooks.
4. Open windows if appropriate. Check for breakage and dirt.
5. Check heating and air conditioning units (if applicable) to see if they are working properly.
6. Remove all seat cushions from armchair and sofa and remove dirt, crumbs, etc. Using
external attachments, vacuum the upholstery when necessary.
7. Dust and wipe down lamps (to include lampshade and light bulb), end tables, coffee table
and television stand.
8. Vacuum carpet, move furniture around and vacuum those areas. Place furniture back in its
proper place.
9. Empty the trash and replace wastebasket liners.
10. For checkout rooms – report any personal belongings left behind by the guest to your
supervisor.
11. Clean microwave inside and out.
12. Open refrigerator and freezer and check for cleaning and defrosting that are needed.
13. Use proper cleaning cleanser and clean mini-kitchen sink, counter tops, etc.
14. Mop the floor; shut off lights and windows and spray air freshener.
15. Close the door. Write down any damages on your sheet and report to your supervisor.
STRIPPING THE BED PROCEDURES:
1. Remove the bedspread and blanket and place them on a chair.
2. Check the bedspread and blanket for stains, tears or holes. Replace if necessary.
3. Remove cases from pillows. Place the pillows aside with the bedspread and blanket.
4. Remove sheets and place them in the dirty linen cart.
3
5. Check under the bed for trash.
MAKING THE BED PROCEDURES:
1. After stripping the bed, check the mattress pad for stains and damage. Notify your
supervisor if you note stains or damage to the mattress.
2. Change the mattress pad if necessary.

Lay a fresh pad on the bed.

Unfold pads right side up and spread it evenly over the center of the bed.

Smooth out any wrinkles.
3. Center the fitted sheet on the mattress by pulling over all four corners.
4. Place the flat sheet on the bed, right side up.
5. At the head of the bed, turn the flat sheet down about 6 to 8 inches.
6. Miter the flat sheet at the lower corner of the bed.
7. Tuck in the flat sheet along that side up to the top of the bed.
8. Walk to the other side of the bed and miter the flat sheet at the other lower corner of the bed.
9. Tuck in the flat sheet along that side up to the top of the bed ensuring neatness on the top,
along the sides, and foot of the bed.
10. Center the bedspread. Make sure the head, leaving enough room to cover the pillows.
11. Fold the bedspread down from the head, leaving enough room to cover the pillows.
12. Slip the cases over the pillows.
13. Place the pillows at the head of the bed and bring the bedspread over them. Tuck in the
bedspread beneath the pillows.
14. Take a moment to check the bed for smoothness both up close and from a distance. Smooth
out any wrinkles.
4
DUSTING PROCEDURES:
1. Using a cloth sprayed with furniture polish solution, dust items located on walls or use
feather duster with long handle for items high off the floor. Work clockwise around the room.
Items include:
 Headboard

Picture frames

Lamps and shades

Ceiling fan blades

Any air conditioning or heating units you can reach
2. Dust and clean mirrors. Spray glass cleaner on and wipe down the mirror ensuring no streaks
are left.
3. Check the windows carefully. Clean with glass cleaner if necessary.
4. Dust the windowsills.
5. Dust the polish the dresser. Open the drawers and dust the inside surfaces.
6. Dust the nightstand. Start with the top surface and work your way down the sides to the legs
or base.
7. Clean and dust the telephone.
8. Dust the top of sides of the television set and the stand it rests on.
9. Clean the front of the television set with glass cleaner. Turn on the set with the remote to
make sure it works properly, then turn it off.
10. Dust any tables, beginning with top surface and working your way down to the base and legs.
11. Dust wood on chairs, beginning at the top and working your way down the legs.
12. Clean both sides of the connecting door to an adjoining guestroom, if applicable.

Wipe from top down.

Polish the knobs and remove any smudges around the knob area.

When finished, make sure the door is closed and locked.
5
13. Clean the closet.
 Dust both the top and underside of the closet shelf. Remove any smudges on the
surfaces.

Wipe down the closet rod.

Dust hangers and hooks.

Clean and dust both sides of the closet door.
14. Wipe down light switches and clean any smudges on surrounding wall area.
15. Clean both sides of the guestroom door.
16. Restock the room with guest supplies.
VACUUMING AND CLEANING BASEBOARDS PROCEDURES:
1. Clean the baseboards. Begin in the closet area and work your way around the room. Wipe
all exposed areas of the baseboard to remove any surface dirt and dust.
2. Take vacuum to the farthest corner in the guestroom. Begin vacuuming.
3. Vacuum you way back to the door. Cover all exposed areas of the carpet you can reach
including under tables and chairs, behind the door, and in the closet.
4. Close windows and turn off lights along the way.
CLEANING THE BATHROOM PROCEDURES:
1. Turn on lights and fan. Check fan for proper operation.
2. Remove any used towels that are placed in the bathtub or on the floor. Leave the ones that
the guest left on the rack in accordance with the "Earth Friendly" program.
3. Empty trash and wipe container.
4. Flush the toilet. Apply all-purpose cleaner around and under the lip of the bowl. Let it stand
while you attend to other cleaning tasks.
5. Clean the shower area.

Check the showerhead to make sure it is positioned correctly.
 Wash the tub or shower walls and soap dishes using a damp cloth and all-purpose
cleaner.
6

Check condition of walls as you clean.

Rinse the tub or shower walls and soap dishes with sponge.
 Clean both sides of the shower curtain. Pay special attention to the bottom where mildew
may accumulate. Wipe dry.

Clean shower curtain rod.

Scrub the bathtub with all-purpose cleaner. Remove and clean the drain trap.

Clean bathtub fixtures. Polish dry to remove water spots.

Place clean towels on the rack.
6. Clean the vanity and sink area.

Clean countertop area of the vanity.

Clean the sink. Remove drain traps and clean.

Clean sink fixtures. Polish dry to remove water spots.

Wipe dry the countertop area of the vanity.

Clean mirror with glass cleaner.

Clean drawers out.
7. Clean the toilet.

Scrub the insides of the toilet and under the lip with the bowl brush. Flush.

Using cleaning solution and a cloth, clean the top of seat, the lid, the tank, and the outside
of the bowl.

Wipe dry all the outside surfaces.

Close the lid.
8. Clean bathroom walls and fixtures.

Dust light fixtures.

Using a clean damp cloth, spot-clean fingerprints and smudges.
7

Wipe down electrical outlets and light switches, paying close attention to the surrounding
wall area.

Wipe and polish towel bars.

Dust all exposed piping.

Clean both sides of the bathroom door.
9. Restock bathroom supplies.

Replenish the towels.

Replenish guest amenities.

Replenish toilet and facial tissue supplies.
10. Clean the floor.

Spray bathroom floor and baseboards with all-purpose cleaning solution.

Starting with the farthest corner and working your way toward the door mop the floor and
wipe baseboards.
11. Make one final check. Visually scan all areas of the bathroom for areas you may have
overlooked. Turn off the lights and fan (if applicable).
MINI-KITCHEN PROCEDURES: (note Steps 1, 2, and 3 apply only to
checkout procedures):
1. Unplug refrigerator and leave open (to defrost, if necessary). Remove all items abandoned
by departed occupants. Place unserviceable towels on racks and in freezer compartments to
absorb water and melting ice build-up. Wipe dry and plug refrigerator back up.
2. Wash dinnerware and other dishes that departed occupants did not do.
3. Remove trash bag from container and replace with new one. When necessary, clean the
container.
4. Dust and wipe down all cabinets, top, side and inside.
5. Clean coffeepot.
6. Wipe down inside and outside of microwave oven.
8
7. Clean sink and faucet, chairs, table and walls.
8. Replenish coffee, sugar/cream packets, napkins, etc. Place fresh set of kitchen towel/cloth.
9. Sweep and mop floor.
CHECKING THE GUESTROOM PROCEDURES:
1. Check that all supplies and equipment are properly loaded back to the room attendant cart.
2. Review the room checklist.
3. Stand by outside door. Visually scan the guestroom, beginning at one point in the room and
working your way back to the beginning point.
4. Attend to any cleaning task or item you may have overlooked.
5. Smell the air. Spray air freshener if necessary.
6. Make sure all lights are turned off.
7. Leave the room and close the door. Check to ensure it is locked.
8. Indicate status of room on the room status sheet and update the front desk in accordance with
local procedures.
9