Hotel Housekeeper

Sleep Inn Columbia Airport; West Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 16,531 - 22,041; Full time

Job summary

Sleep Inn Columbia Airport is seeking a detail-oriented hotel housekeeper responsible for cleaning guest rooms, replenishing supplies, and maintaining pristine public areas to ensure guest comfort and hotel reputation. The role requires physical stamina and consistent adherence to safety and cleaning standards.

You will report maintenance issues, assist guests with basic requests, and work with front desk to update room statuses.

Qualifications

• Physical stamina to bend, lift heavy items, and stand for long periods.
• Efficient room turnover while maintaining quality.
• Knowledge of cleaning chemicals and equipment usage.
• Strong communication and guest service skills.

Responsibilities

• Clean occupied rooms, including making beds, replacing linens, and restocking supplies.
• Sanitize bathrooms, clean and mop floors, and vacuum carpets.
• Restock amenities and maintain housekeeping carts and supply closets.
• Empty trash, remove room service items, and manage waste.
• Maintain public areas such as lobby, hallways, elevators, and restrooms.
• Report maintenance issues and update front desk on room status.

Skills

Physical stamina

Time management

Cleaning standards

Interpersonal skills

Job description

Overview

A hotel housekeeper is responsible for maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness, safety, and presentation across guest rooms and public areas. They ensure a welcoming, sanitary environment that directly impacts guest satisfaction, reviews, and the hotel's overall reputation.

Core Daily Responsibilities and Duties

A hotel housekeeper's daily routine is physically demanding and requires high attention to detail. Primary duties are generally broken down into the following categories:

• Guest Room Servicing: Cleaning both occupied rooms (stay-overs) and vacant rooms for new arrivals (check-outs). This involves making beds, replacing dirty linens and towels, and dusting all surfaces.
• Sanitization: Thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting bathrooms, including toilets, showers, tubs, and sinks. Mopping hard floors and vacuuming carpets are also required.
• Replenishing Supplies: Restocking guest room amenities such as toiletries, drinking glasses, coffee, and notepads, as well as refilling housekeeping carts and floor closets.
• Waste Management: Emptying trash receptacles, recycling bins, and removing room service trays from the rooms.
• Public Area Upkeep: Maintaining high-traffic areas such as the lobby, reception desks, hallways, elevators, fitness centers, and public restrooms. This includes wiping down high-touch surfaces like elevator buttons and door handles.

Reporting, Compliance, and Guest Services

Beyond cleaning, housekeepers act as the "eyes and ears" for management and interact directly with hotel guests:

• Maintenance Reporting: Identifying and reporting maintenance issues (broken appliances, burnt-out light bulbs, or leaky faucets) to the maintenance or management team.
• Lost and Found: Retrieving, logging, and turning in any personal items left behind by departing guests.
• Customer Service: Fulfilling guest requests for extra items like towels, pillows, or toiletries. Housekeepers must also respect "Do Not Disturb" signs, uphold guest privacy, and maintain the hotel's confidentiality standards.
• Room Status Updates: Communicating with the front desk to update the status of cleaned rooms (e.g., notifying them when a room is ready for check-in).

Typical Job Requirements and Skills

To be successful, a hotel housekeeper must possess certain qualifications and competencies:

• Physical Stamina: The ability to bend, stretch, lift heavy items (like mattresses and linen bags), and stand or walk for extended periods.
• Time Management: The capacity to clean and "turn" a quota of rooms (typically 12–20 rooms per shift) efficiently without sacrificing quality.
• Knowledge of Cleaning Standards: Familiarity with the proper use of commercial cleaning chemicals, sanitizers, and equipment to avoid property damage and ensure a safe environment.
• Interpersonal Skills: Excellent communication skills to interact courteously with guests and team members, as well as strong organizational skills.