These Cleaning Secrets from Hotel Housekeeping Professionals Will Have Your Home Holiday-Ready

With the holiday entertaining season just around the corner, creating a pristine environment for guests is a top priority. After all, nothing sets the tone for a gathering like a clean, welcoming home. We turned to the professional housekeepers at Malibu Beach Inn and Banyan Tree Mayakoba for their expert tips on achieving that luxurious hotel cleanliness at home. From efficient tidying techniques to secret hacks for maintaining impeccable surfaces, they’ve shared how to transform your living space and make every corner both spotless and welcoming.

Don’t Cut Corners

No matter how hard we try, it seems impossible to get bedding as tightly tucked as hotels. Turns out there’s more than one way to go about doing this. “We use the triple sheet method to make our beds, but instead of having a fitted sheet on the bottom we use a flat sheet along with a second flat sheet layer over it and then duvet. A flat sheet pulls up tight around the corners of the mattress,” says Malibu Beach Inn Executive Housekeeper Bianca Alejandre.

At Banyan Tree Mayakoba, they use the hospital corner technique, carefully tucking and folding each side tightly under the mattress, ensuring every sheet is perfectly taut. “Start by tucking the sheet securely at the foot of the bed. Fold each corner at a 45-degree angle and tuck it tightly for a clean finish. As you go, smooth it down and pull the sheet to remove wrinkles,” says Banyan Tree Mayakoba Executive Housekeeper Moises Rubio. “We use a tucking tool made of acrylic plastic, like a spatula, to help push the sheets tightly under the mattress.”

Photo courtesy of Malibu Beach Inn

Get Lit

Nothing sets the mood quite like the right lighting. Same goes for bad lighting; it can totally throw the vibe off, especially direct overhead fluorescent bulbs. “Consider getting dimmers on lights for soft lighting at night, which will create a turndown service feel to the room,” says Alejandre.

Invest in Quality Bedding

“To achieve a hotel-feel at home, create an organized space and invest in high-quality bedding along with plush pillow,” says Alejandre. “We use high-quality pillows that are filled with down, feather and foam depending on guest preference. We fluff our pillows every time we service our guests’ rooms to break up any lumps and allow the inner materials to expand.”

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Use the Shower Cap Hack

This backpacker hack is just as relevant during rainy season for urban travelers, and for anyone who likes to get out and hike during the fall and winter months. “Place each pair of shoes inside a hotel shower cap to keep dirt from touching clean clothes in your luggage,” says Rubio. Shower caps also make great last-minute protectors for camera bodies in a pinch when the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Do Declutter

Sometimes the best way to quickly elevate a space is to edit. “My number one tip would be to prioritize decluttering,” says Alejandre. “Remove all unnecessary items from all surfaces and rooms to create a spacious and tidy appearance.”

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Set the Mood

“Soft lighting, a glass of fresh water, and a book by the bedside create a relaxing experience,” says Rubio. We also love placing a candle or small bud vase bedside, as well as a carafe of water to go along with the glass. Another nice amenity is a turndown of a handmade local chocolate to give that homey feel.

Find a Signature Scent

“Using a consistent scent for linens and a room spray can create a cohesive, luxury feel,” says Alejandre. Think about using soothing aromas that guests will enjoy, and that you will too. “We also use the Banyan Tree aromatherapy spray with a lavender scent, which helps add that soothing touch. You can buy a diffuser and choose your favorite.” says Rubio.

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Hit High-Touch Areas

When it comes to detailed cleaning, whether its the home or a hotel, “the TV remote and high-touch areas like switches and faucets are often overlooked,” says Rubio. Alejandre agrees, especially when out in the wild in public spaces. She says the areas to avoid or pay careful attention to DIY sanitizing are door handles, counter tops, sink faucets and light switches, and recommends carrying travel-size disinfecting wipes to clean areas you might be concerned about, as well as hand sanitizer.

Double Down with UV

If you’re really wanting to be intense and aren’t sure of the space you’re staying in, “UV light can be very effective. We use it for high-touch items like remotes, phones, and bathroom surfaces,” says Alejandre. “While UV light is effective at neutralizing bacteria, we consider it a supplement rather than a replacement. By combining it with a traditional cleaning method.”

Boost Bath Towels

“A small trick is to roll towels instead of folding them; it saves space and adds a spa feel,” says Rubio. Also make sure to provide black makeup towels when having guests over. It’ll save you time and money on replacements down the line. “My biggest pet peeve is guests using the white washcloths to remove makeup instead of the black makeup remover cloths we provide in our rooms,” says Alejandre.