How to Properly Disinfect Hotel Bedding and Linens

Fresh, spot-free linens are one of the first things guests notice—and one of the last things they forget. But keeping linens looking clean isn’t enough. If your hotel disinfection standards aren’t up to par, it’s not just your housekeeping score that’s at risk; it’s your reputation. Here’s how to disinfect hotel room linens the right way.

Why Maintaining Hotel Disinfection Standards Matters

Clean looking doesn’t necessarily mean clean. Even if you can’t see stains or linens…even if they smell fresh and appear unused, they can still harbor bacteria and viruses. And if you’re not maintaining proper hotel disinfection standards, you risk more than guest complaints. You’re opening the door to cross-contamination, health code violations, and legal liability. Long story short? Disinfection isn’t just good housekeeping; it’s essential to protecting your guests and your brand

Pro tip: Some properties are starting to use UV light for hotel room disinfection as an added layer of protection, especially in high-touch areas.

How to Properly Disinfect Hotel Room Linens

Collecting & Sorting Procedures

All linens, even those that appear untouched, should be treated as used and collected in designated bins or bags. We recommend sorting by type or fabric and color-coding bags to help staff quickly identify items that require different disinfectant processes or handling procedures.

This helps protect delicate materials, ensures proper hotel disinfection standards, and speeds up processing.

Proper Handling and PPE Requirements

To keep hotel housekeeping staff safe and prevent cross-contamination, team members should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling linens. This includes:

• Disposable gloves, which should be changed between rooms
• Face masks, especially when handling large volumes of linen
• Protective aprons if there is a risk of contact with bodily fluids

Also, make sure your team knows how to safely handle linens. That means no shaking them out and spreading airborne contaminants. After removing PPE, staff should always wash their hands, and all carts and hampers should be wiped down and sanitized between uses.

Contamination Assessment

Before linens are washed, staff should inspect them for visible contamination, whether blood or other bodily fluids. These items pose greater health and safety risks and require special handling. We recommend adhering to the following hotel disinfection standards:

• Visually inspect linens for discoloration, stains, and odors that suggest contamination beyond normal use
• Separate any linens that show signs of biohazard contamination, placing them in a clearly marked bag
• Minimize handling and avoid shaking these items, and always wear proper PPE when working with biohazard-contaminated linens.
• Follow strict disinfection protocol—biohazard linens must be washed at higher temperatures for longer using disinfectant-grade chemicals

Cleaning Processes

Once everything’s sorted and checked, it’s time to properly clean those linens. Here’s how:

Pre-treat: If there are any visible stains or extra-grimy spots, hit them with a stain remover first. Enzyme-based products are great for breaking down things like sweat, body oils, or other organic messes.

Wash: Use commercial-grade disinfectant detergents and wash on high heat—at least 160°F when possible. That heat, combined with the right chemicals and cycle time, is what kills germs.

Dry and store: Linens should be completely dry before they’re folded and stored. Once they’re clean, store them in a sanitized area away from high-traffic areas.

Hotel Disinfection Done Right Since 1983

It’s time to protect your linens, guests, and reputation. When you partner with Hotel Cleaning Services, you get consistent, high-quality cleaning that keeps your hotel compliant, your linens spotless, and your guests coming back time and time again. Contact us today!