Cleaning and sanitation
Hotel Linen Room and Laundry Checklist
- Who checks
- Executive housekeeper or linen room supervisor; for an on-premises laundry, also the lead laundry operator
- When
- Weekly; linen counts with the contractor at every pickup and delivery
- Time
- ~30 min · 28 items
| Location | Date and time | Inspector | Signature |
Linen is one of the largest cost lines in housekeeping, and the losses are invisible: sheets vanish when they go to the laundry without a count, stained towels become rags without being recorded, damp sets turn moldy on the shelf. Then, at peak arrivals, the hotel finds it has less stock than the books say and rooms sit uncleaned.
The checklist works both for hotels with an on-premises laundry and for those that send linen to a contractor; in the latter case, skip the washing and drying section. Start in the linen room (stock and storage), then soiled linen sorting, then the laundry, and finish with a quality check of clean linen on delivery.
Stock and inventory
-
1
Linen stock meets the hotel's par level Compare actual stock in the linen room and on the floors with the par set by the hotel (typically 3–5 sets per bed). Count at least one item: king/queen sheets.☐ Yes☐ No
-
2
Number of king/queen sheets in the linen room by physical count Count and record; compare with the book figure.
-
3
Soiled linen sent to the contractor or laundry is documented on a delivery note with item counts The latest note is signed by both parties, with counts by item, not "number of bags".☐ Yes☐ No
-
4
Clean linen is counted on return and checked against the outgoing note Any variance by item is recorded the same day and claimed from the contractor.☐ Yes☐ No
-
5
Discarded linen is recorded in a write-off log with the reason Stains, holes, wear: an entry in the discard log; discarded items are marked and never go back into circulation.☐ Yes☐ No
Linen room storage
-
6
Clean linen is stored on shelving, not on the floor The bottom shelf is raised high enough to clean underneath (exact height per local sanitary rules); no linen on the floor or on boxes.☐ Yes☐ No
-
7
Linen is sorted by type and size on labeled shelves Each type has its own labeled shelf; room attendants grab what they need without searching.☐ Yes☐ No
-
8
Freshly laundered linen goes to the bottom of the stack and is issued from the top Ask the linen supervisor how stock is put away after laundering; proper rotation keeps wear even.☐ Yes☐ No
-
9
The linen room is dry with no damp or musty smell Walls and corners free of dark spots; linen feels dry all the way through the stack.☐ Yes☐ No
-
10
The linen room is locked and the key is held by the person in charge Door locked when the linen supervisor is away; key access is logged.☐ Yes☐ No
Soiled linen and sorting
-
11
Soiled linen is moved in closed bags or carts, separately from clean linen Soiled and clean linen do not share routes or elevators at the same time, and never the same carts.☐ Yes☐ No
-
12
No soiled linen lies on the floor in corridors, floor pantries or the laundry Walk the route from the floor to the laundry or dispatch area.☐ Yes☐ No
-
13
Linen contaminated with bodily fluids is collected separately in labeled bags Blood, vomit and similar: a separate labeled bag, staff wear gloves, the linen is processed on a dedicated cycle or discarded.☐ Yes☐ No
-
14
Linen is sorted by fabric, color and soil level before washing Terry, bed linen and restaurant textiles separated; heavily soiled items go to pre-treatment.☐ Yes☐ No
-
15
Pockets and bundles are checked before loading Guest items, pens and key cards removed from the linen; anything found goes to Lost and Found.☐ Yes☐ No
Washing and drying (on-premises laundry)
-
16
Wash programs are selected from a chart for each linen type A program chart (temperature, chemicals, spin) is posted by the machines and agreed with the chemical supplier.☐ Yes☐ No
-
17
Chemical dosing is automatic or by measuring cup, never by eye Dosing pumps connected and drums not empty; for manual dosing a measuring cup is on hand.☐ Yes☐ No
-
18
Machines are not loaded beyond rated capacity Compare load weight with the machine's rated capacity; the drum is not packed tighter than specified.☐ Yes☐ No
-
19
The dryer lint filter has been cleaned this shift Open the filter: no lint layer, and the cleaning is logged. Frequency per the manufacturer's instructions (many machines require it after every cycle). Lint buildup is a fire hazard.☐ Yes☐ No
-
20
Hot linen is unloaded and folded right after drying, not left in a pile Carts of freshly dried linen are not left standing unprocessed.☐ Yes☐ No
Clean linen quality
-
21
Linen has no stains, streaks or graying Unfold 5 random sheets and pillowcases in good light.☐ Yes☐ No
-
22
No holes, split seams or snags Inspect edges and hems; rejects go to a separate pile for discard or repair.☐ Yes☐ No
-
23
Linen is completely dry with no off odors Feel the middle of the stack and towel seams; no damp or chemical smell.☐ Yes☐ No
-
24
Linen is ironed and folded to the hotel standard Even edges and identical folds; one folding standard for all sets.☐ Yes☐ No
-
25
Terry items are soft, not stiff or pilled Feel 3–4 towels; stiffness is a signal to check chemical dosing or the wash program.☐ Yes☐ No
Chemicals and safety
-
26
Chemicals are kept in a closed cabinet, in original labeled containers No decanting into unlabeled bottles; cabinet closed.☐ Yes☐ No
-
27
Safety data sheets for the chemicals in use are kept at the workstation A binder with SDS for every product present in the laundry.☐ Yes☐ No
-
28
Staff handle concentrates wearing gloves and safety glasses PPE issued and used when changing drums and dosing by hand.☐ Yes☐ No
This template is a starting point. Check the limits and wording against your local regulations, your company standards and the equipment manufacturers' instructions.
jeCheck · https://jecheck.io/en/templates/hotel-laundry-linen
Common violations
- Sending linen to the contractor "by the bag" without a count. Months later the shortage runs to dozens of sets and there is no one to claim it from.
- Moving soiled and clean linen on the same cart. Bacteria from soiled linen transfer to clean linen that then goes on guest beds.
- Not cleaning the dryer lint filter every shift. It is a well-known cause of laundry fires.
- Stacking linen that is still slightly damp. Within a day it smells musty, mold spots follow, and the set has to be rewashed or discarded.
- Not rejecting stained linen on delivery and hoping the room attendant will notice. It ends up on a guest's bed.
Frequently asked questions
Common practice is 3–5 sets per bed: one in the room, one in the laundry, one in the linen room, plus a reserve for peaks and wear. The exact number depends on whether the hotel has its own laundry or uses a contractor and how fast linen comes back.
Outgoing and incoming counts at every shipment. A full audit with a stock count weekly or monthly, depending on hotel size, and always before high season.
Set it aside and try reprocessing as recommended by the chemical supplier. If the stain remains, write it off with the reason recorded and, where it makes sense, repurpose it as marked utility textile.
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