It's spring and for many of us, that means an annual spring-cleaning. But after a long, cold winter, who wants to be stuck inside doing housework?
No one knows how to spring clean like the people who welcome visitors 365 days a year: executive housekeepers at hotels across North America. Below, find a spring bouquet of quick and simple cleaning tips from the pros in the know.
Before you begin
Mary Ann Rodino, a 16-year veteran executive housekeeper at The Spa at Norwich Inn in Connecticut, recommends starting with organization. Check out each room for what needs to be done and make note of the supplies you'll need to get the job done.
1. Ciao to chocolate stains
No one knows chocolate better than Hotel Hershey in Hershey, Pennsylvania, home of all things chocolate. At Hotel Hershey the customary nighttime send-off for drowsy guests is a chocolate Hershey's Kiss on the pillow. Sean Nies, executive housekeeper at the hotel, says chocolate is a combination stain -- with both greasy and nongreasy components. "Use cool water and detergent first, to treat the nongreasy portion," recommends Nies. "Rinse thoroughly and let dry, and then sponge the greasy stain with cleaning liquid."
2. Banish bathtub soap scum
Got soap scum? "Bug sponges, sponges with fine plastic netting over them, are good to clean acrylic bath surroundings," says Josephine Bousfield, executive housekeeper for Best Western Lamplighter Inn and Conference Centre in London, Ont. "They remove soap scum and residue without scratching. You can find bug sponges in the automotive section of hardware stores."
3. Blood begone!
Scrapes and cuts are an everyday part of family life. When you need to treat a difficult blood stain, executive housekeeper Paulette Sable at Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans recommends hydrogen peroxide.
Josephine Bousfield suggests a liquid soap, like Sunlight detergent. "Add a spot of detergent to the blood stain, run cold water over it and rub the sheet or clothing together. The dark stain should come out after a normal wash."
Or, says Ewa Borkowska, executive housekeeper at the Historic Hotel Bethlehem in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, use shaving cream to remove blood from throw pillows, rugs and upholstery.
4. Light's out on lampshade stains
To get rid of stains on lampshades, Best Western's Josephine Bousfield applies a dab of water to the stain, and then rubs with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
Do you have more great cleaning tips? Share them with other readers in our forums!
Page 1 of 2
|
more articles
