A day in the life of a Housekeeper (with timeline)

Housekeeping is the beating heart of every hotel. Without clean rooms, fresh bathrooms and tidy corridors, there is no great guest experience. Yet this work often happens behind the scenes. What does a typical day actually look like? Below, we take you through a standard shift: from the start briefing to the final check and handover. For a realistic behind-the-scenes look, you can also watch this video: “A day in the life of housekeeping” (PPHE Hotel Group)

07:00 – Start of the shift: clocking in and quick check-in

You arrive early in uniform via the staff entrance. You greet colleagues, collect your supplies and check for any updates from the previous shift. Sometimes there’s information about a room that was occupied late, a found item, or a room that needs extra attention (for example, additional cleaning). The atmosphere is usually energetic: you know the schedule is tight, but you work as a team.

07:15 – Briefing and planning: what are today’s priorities?

The supervisor or Executive Housekeeper briefly runs through the day. You receive your room list: which rooms are check-outs (guests leaving) and which are stay-overs (guests staying). You may also hear about VIP guests or special requests, such as an extra bed, allergy-friendly setup or early check-in.

The workload is divided by floor or section. The number of rooms varies per hotel and occupancy, but you can expect a full list. Knowing priorities is key: check-out rooms usually come first, as they need to be ready quickly for new arrivals.

07:30 – Preparing the trolley: efficiency starts here

Before heading to your floor, you prepare your trolley. You check that you have everything you need: clean linen, towels, toilet paper, amenities, cleaning products, cloths and tools. If anything is missing, you restock it now. Good preparation saves a lot of time later and prevents unnecessary back-and-forth. You also check your equipment (for example, whether the vacuum cleaner works properly).

This may seem like a small step, but it sets the pace—and your peace of mind—for the entire shift.

08:00 – The first rooms: stay-over versus check-out

From around eight o’clock, you start cleaning rooms. The room type determines your approach:

1) Stay-over (guest staying)
You work with respect for privacy. You knock, announce yourself (“Housekeeping”) and check whether the guest is present. Stay-over service focuses on a quick but thorough refresh: making the bed, emptying bins, replacing towels, touching up the bathroom, wiping surfaces and light vacuuming or mopping. You move personal belongings as little as possible. The goal is for the guest to return to a fresh, tidy room.

2) Check-out (guest leaving)
Here, you prepare the room fully for the next guest. You remove used linen, collect towels and waste, and reset the room completely. Then comes the deep clean: cleaning and disinfecting the bathroom, vacuuming/mopping, dusting, polishing mirrors and taps, replenishing amenities and arranging everything neatly. You finish by making the bed tightly and checking the room for details.

During check-outs, you also have an extra responsibility: reporting issues. Do you notice a stain, a broken lamp or a minibar that isn’t cooling properly? You report it to your supervisor or the maintenance team. This helps prevent complaints from the next guest.

Always: check for forgotten items
In every room—especially check-outs—you routinely check for left-behind items. Think chargers, jewellery, clothing or items in the safe. You look under the bed, in drawers and wardrobes. This is part of professional housekeeping: being careful and trustworthy.

10:30 – Mid-morning coordination: priorities can change

By mid-morning, the schedule often shifts slightly. Reception may request that a specific room be prioritised (for example, due to an early arrival or room change). You adjust your order in consultation with your supervisor.

Guest requests also come in throughout the day: extra towels, an extra pillow or a baby cot. If you can handle it right away, you do. These are short interruptions, but they make a big difference to the guest experience. You may not work in front office, but you are delivering service.

11:15 – Lost & Found: found an item? Follow protocol

You might find a watch in a wardrobe while cleaning. In that case, you always follow the Lost & Found protocol: you record the room number, date/time and a brief description. You label the item and hand it in according to hotel procedures (to housekeeping or reception). The hotel then contacts the owner and stores the item securely.

This is a crucial part of trust: guests need to know their belongings are handled with care.

11:30 – Lunch break: recharging

Around lunchtime, colleagues rotate breaks so work can continue. In the staff canteen, you take a moment to rest, eat and often share short stories with colleagues. The break isn’t just about rest—it also reinforces teamwork and keeps everyone motivated.

12:00 – Afternoon round: remaining rooms and “Do Not Disturb”

After lunch, you continue with your list. This is often when you can clean rooms that were skipped earlier due to a “Do Not Disturb” sign. Many guests are out during the day, so you can work more efficiently. You finish your rooms, update their status and ensure everything meets standard.

14:00 – Quality check: the details make the difference

Once your section is mostly finished, a supervisor (or a colleague in a checking role) often inspects the rooms. They check whether everything meets hotel standards: fresh, complete, tidy and free of errors. Think streak-free mirrors, fully stocked amenities, clean corners and a pleasant smell.

If something small was missed, you fix it immediately. After approval, the room is officially marked as “ready” so reception knows it can be sold or assigned.

14:30 – Maintenance reports: working with the technical team

During your rounds, you may have spotted a broken light, a loose door handle or a minibar issue. You report this via the system, walkie-talkie or supervisor. Good cooperation with maintenance prevents small issues from becoming big complaints. Housekeeping often notices problems first and therefore plays a key role in maintenance and quality.

15:00 – Wrapping up: restocking and reporting

At the end of your shift, you prepare everything for the next day. Dirty laundry goes to the laundry carts, your trolley is restocked with linen and amenities, and equipment is returned to its place. You usually note any special issues: technical problems, Lost & Found items or room irregularities.

Sometimes you help a colleague who is running behind. Team spirit is essential in housekeeping: finishing together really means finishing together.

16:00–16:30 – End of the workday

You return keys or keycards, change out of your uniform and head home. You’ve delivered visible results: rooms that look spotless and are ready for new guests. The work is physical and fast-paced, but also highly rewarding. Without housekeeping, a hotel simply cannot function.

Interested in this kind of role? Through Hotelprofessionals.nl, you can easily find vacancies that match your experience, availability and preferred type of hotel—from large chains to boutique hotels.