If you want to help your housekeeping staff work more efficiently, or if you can’t afford as many staff members as you would like, there are some things you can get to help maximise the productivity of the staff you do have on your schedule.

One thing you don’t want to do is skimp on cleanliness - you don’t want to tell staff to spend less time than is necessary cleaning rooms. So help them by giving them ways to do a sufficient job but also take less time doing so.

One is a high-capacity housekeeping trolley, preferably with locking cabinets and security hoods. Giving housekeepers trolleys that can hold everything they need to make their rounds without having to return to the housekeeping station saves a great deal of time and is worth the investment.

Full-size housekeeping carts are ideal, but not necessary for every property. Likewise, some housekeeping carts are maximised for high security, if this is a concern of yours, carts are available to help you with this. Whatever kind you have, trolleys do need to be replaced from time to time when they become more of a hindrance than a help for efficient cleaning. Of course, you’ll want to first investigate repair before replacement.

A Sheet Folding Mate is a useful housekeeping help that is not expensive at all. This essentially takes the place of the second person needed to fold clean sheets - both fitted and flat sheets - as well as duvets, quilts, bedspreads and blankets.

The Sheet Folding Mate mounts to the wall, and is basically a rod that holds one end of the sheet or blanket, so it takes up very little space. It’s operated by foot pedal, so the person’s hands are free to work.

Buying cleaning fluids and disposables in bulk is an obvious yet surprisingly underused tactic for stretching a tight housekeeping budget. Check to see if there are larger quantities you can purchase your cleaning soaps, liquids or powders, towels or brushes. Chances are good there are, and in addition to running low less often, you save money with the lower price per quantity. Just remember to get a tap of sort for that giant 20 or 25L chemical drum - no-one enjoys lugging those around.