Once you have made the transition to a hotel laundry service, it is best practice to take additional steps to ensure you’re providing guests the best and cleanest linens possible and that there are enough of them
Invest in the right kinds and amounts of linens. Hospitality Lawyer advises that next to personnel, linen costs are the highest expense in the housekeeping department, and thus careful policies are needed to control the hotel’s inventory. This involves establishing the proper par number of linens. One par of linens equals the total number of each type of linen needed to outfit all guest rooms one time.
The recommended par number is four: one clean in the guestroom, one dirty leaving the room, one in storage, and one on its way to be laundered.
In addition, while commercial equipment is generally gentler on linens, it does involve high temperatures, and not every kind of linen can take the heat. If you’re in a situation to purchase new linens, it is best practice to select brands and blends that are recommended by your vendor to withstand the rigors of hotel laundry services.
Review your bill. Go over your bill regularly and make sure it makes sense. You should see somewhat stable costs based on the weight of your linens. If a bill seems large, it may be because the vendor is not returning damaged or soiled items. Getting everything back, and in a separate bag for damaged items, can help you keep track of costs.
In addition, if your invoice includes charges you don’t recognize or understand, confirm you’re not being extra for things like sorting, delivery or fees.
Make regular visits. Finally, do not just set up the outsourcing relationship and walk away. Stay in touch with our housekeeping and maintenance staff and be aware of any potential problems. Visit the laundry facility to make sure things continue to be performed based on your contract and expectations.