Hotel Housekeepers Share Their Top Spring Cleaning Tips

What do tennis balls, coffee grounds, cotton balls, sticky paper, and baking soda have in common?

Answer: They’re all clever tools you’ll find on the rolling carts of executive housekeepers and cleaning crews who tidy up rooms every day at some of the top hotels across the country.

Taking cues from these seasoned pros, we’re sharing insider tips to kick your spring cleaning up a notch—hotel-style. So, turn up the music, roll up your sleeves, and grab those spray bottles and microfiber cloths. It’s time to work smarter (not harder) and clean like a pro.

Hotel bedroom cleaning tips

A quick win to build momentum: Strip the bed first to create “instant progress,” advises Elizabeth Torres, director of housekeeping at Mission Resort + Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. Then vacuum mattress seams (where dust collects), wipe down the headboard and bed frame, and clean around the bed.

Hotel-crisp sheets, no iron required: Spread a clean sheet on the mattress and lightly spritz it with water, then pull the sheet tight, says Joanna Siwecka, director of housekeeping at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago. “This removes wrinkles and makes the bed look pristine.”

How hotels remove stains from floors and carpets

How to remove scuff marks from waxed floors

A tennis ball isn’t just for the court. To lift marks from a waxed floor, rub the stain with a tennis ball. The stain will come off without removing the wax, according to Assistant General Manager Carlos Gil at the Seelbach Hilton in Louisville, Kentucky.

How to remove candle wax from furniture and carpet

Let heat do the hard work.To remove candle wax from furniture and carpets, use an iron set on low, advises Michael Barton, director of housekeeping and laundry services at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Place a clean washcloth or towel over the dried wax, and then gently iron. The wax will melt and absorb into the cloth.

How to remove red wine stains from carpet

Treat red wine spills immediately, Barton advises.

Step 1: Blot the liquid with a clean towel or paper towel—do not rub, as that will expand the stain by pushing the wine deeper into the carpet fibers.

Step 2: Create mixture.

• 2 cups of warm water
• 1 tablespoon of dish soap
• 1 tablespoon of white vinegar

Step 3: Apply to the stain with a spray bottle, being careful not to oversaturate the carpet.

Step 4: Blot with a clean towel or paper towel. As the stain begins to lift.

Step 5: Apply a small amount of clean warm water to rinse as the stain begins to lift.

Step 6: Blot again until the area is as dry as possible.

How to remove pet hair, dust, and debris from floors

Think beyond the broom.Running a sticky roller across floors, tables, wood furniture, or other hard surfaces picks up pet hair, lint, crumbs, and even glitter. “It’s a fast alternative to sweeping and keeps hair from scattering across the floor,” says Maria E. Rivera, guest room attendant at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, near Washington, DC.

How to remove odors like a hotel

Use coffee grounds to neutralize musty odors

Coffee isn’t just for mornings. Setting out a cup of dry coffee grounds or a full pot of strong brewed coffee can neutralize odors from musty pillows or sofa cushions, according to Rivera.

Use vanilla extract to remove stubborn household odors

Vanilla isn’t just for baking. For stubborn household odors, Barton recommends soaking a few cotton balls with pure vanilla extract and placing them in small bowls around the space. Let them sit for a few days to absorb lingering smells, including fresh paint fumes. For larger areas, use multiple bowls placed throughout the room.

Use baking soda to deodorize carpets

Baking soda to the rescue. To remove carpet odors, sprinkle baking soda over the affected area, let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, and then vacuum it up, Barton says.

Hotel bathroom cleaning tricks

How to remove soap scum from tubs and showers

Baking soda, combined with white vinegar and dish soap, removes soap scum and grime from bathtubs and showers, according to Barton.

Step 1: Rinse the affected area with warm water.

Step 2: Sprinkle baking soda generously over dirty areas, and add a few drops of dish soap on top.

Step 3: Using a spray bottle, coat the baking soda and soap mixture with white vinegar. Let the fizzing solution sit for 10 minutes—longer for stubborn buildup.

Step 4: Scrub the area in circular motions with a sponge or scrub brush to evenly break down the grime, and then rinse thoroughly with warm water.

How to clean mirrors for a streak-free shine

For shiny mirrors, make your own cleaner by mixing equal parts white vinegar and cool water. Adding a drop or two of dish soap helps break down greasy fingerprints, Barton says. Shake the mixture gently, and spray it onto the mirror. For a streak-free finish, use a dry microfiber cloth or paper towel, and wipe in an S-shaped pattern.

One final hotel cleaning habit 

Prep before you clean: To ensure a successful spring cleaning, assemble the proper tools in advance, advises Juliana Marcano, executive housekeeper at Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa/Ybor City/Downtown in Florida. “Having everything you need before you get started is key,” she says.

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Now that you’re armed with the small moves hotel teams rely on every day, it’s time to put them to work in your own home. Happy spring cleaning!