During my career as Housekeeping Manager, I tested eco-friendly products on many occasions, but I was not always fully satisfied with the cleaning results. That said, there are some eco-friendly products I tested and can genuinely recommend — and I will share those with confidence.
1. Window Cleaning — Especially Large Sliding Door Windows
Forget cloths and window detergent. All you need is two squeegees — one with a microfibre/fur sleeve for applying water, and one with a rubber blade for wiping — plus a single bucket of clean water. That's it. No chemicals, no streaks, no cost.
2. White Vinegar — An Excellent Eco-Friendly Cleaning Product
White vinegar is excellent for cleaning the interior of room kettles and for the daily maintenance cleaning of sink and bathroom taps. For deep cleaning of taps, sinks, and bathroom basins however, stick to standard detergents — but make sure you train your room attendants on how to use them correctly and safely. Do not spray detergent from a distance; instead, apply a small amount directly onto the sponge and work from there. This protects your team's health and delivers considerable savings on product consumption.
3. Microfibre Cloths — Reusable, Durable, and Cost-Effective
A good microfibre cloth can be washed and reused continuously for 3 to 4 months before disposal. At roughly €2 per cloth, the cost per use is negligible — making microfibre one of the smartest investments in any housekeeping operation. They clean effectively, reduce waste, and eliminate the ongoing expense of disposable alternatives.
4. Removing Chewing Gum — Hot Water and a Spatula
For chewing gum removal from stone floors and public area surfaces, all you need is hot water and a 5cm rounded-edge spatula. A practical tip: purchase standard spatulas and pass them to your Engineering department to round off the corners using a grinding wheel — this way you avoid damaging carpets and delicate surfaces. For indoor carpeted areas, hot water from a bar steamer works perfectly — lifting the gum cleanly without damaging the fibres.
Important: When removing chewing gum from marble surfaces, be extremely careful. Wrap the spatula with a cloth before use to avoid scratching or damaging the floor. This approach eliminates the need for chemical chewing gum removers, which cost €6–8 per unit and are highly toxic. A practical, zero-chemical solution that saves money and protects your team.
5. Microfibre Mops — Not Standard Mops
Switch from standard mops to microfibre mops. Use colour-coding to prevent cross-contamination: blue for the room and red for the bathroom area. Microfibre mops can be rewashed and reused many times, leave minimal moisture on the floor, and surfaces dry quickly with a natural shine. They may cost more than cheap standard mops upfront, but the savings in time, product reuse, and job quality make them a clear winner in any professional housekeeping operation.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, these are pretty standard tips — but you would be surprised how many hotels are aware of them yet still stick to the old ways: cheap product lines used in excess, with the mindset that more is better. It is no wonder that so many room attendants suffer from respiratory problems. A large part of this comes from the overuse of detergents, often without any dosage control whatsoever.
If you want to learn more about professional cleaning supplies, correct usage, and housekeeping systems, explore the resources below.
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