The sudden outbreak of the novel coronavirus has brought life and business to a standstill. More than 200 countries on the globe have been affected, with many under lockdown to prevent the virus from spreading further. According to the data collected by the Johns Hopkins University’s Coronavirus Resource Centre, the virus has so far claimed more than 50,000 lives globally.

Even though the federal government of the U.S. is trying to boost the economy and keep small businesses afloat by introducing new loans to help those adversely affected, staying positive and hopeful is tough. Hotels have shut down and hotel rooms are lying empty. While we worry about the finances and are dealing with the pressures of the lockdown, it is also important to ensure we are ready to get back in business when the war with COVID-19 is won.

Maintenance of the hotel rooms is as important as trying to get them occupied. Let’s look into a few of the chores that we might give a miss during these tough times:

When kept closed, even for a few weeks, rooms tend to develop an unpleasant smell. With no ventilation, the stale air becomes the breeding ground for mold and mildew giving off the musty odour. If there is a smell, the first thing to do is to remove any damp fabric from the room. Then spray the room with a concoction of 1-pint water, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, and 1 oz. of essential oil like clove, rosemary, sage or mint. Open the doors once every couple of days and your room will remain fresh as new.

Electronic items have a way of going out of order when they fancy. And the likelihood of this happening increases if they have not been used for some time. Frequently check all the electronic equipment in the hotel room like hairdryer, air conditioner, coffee maker, microwave, refrigerator, television and so on. The pandemic will one day be brought under control and people will get back to do what they do. Let’s be prepared for that day and try not to displease the guests with shoddy service.

Every gallon of water that enters your property is billed twice over. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, utilities measure both – water entering the property and wastewater leaving to the sewer – while they charge you. Even if you have only one meter on location, you will be charged with both volumes based on water entering the hotel. For example, if you are using 1-gallon water per day, you will be charged for its usage and its sewage treatment separately. Thus, you are paying twice for using 1 gallon of water.

The only way to cut costs here is by saving as much water as possible. Ensure there are no leaks bathrooms of the hotel rooms that are shut. The lesser water enters your property, the low your water bill will be.

Having a botched up door lock can be a major put off for a customer. Imagine having your first customer after the lockdown and he or she gets a door lock that is jammed or just not budging. To avoid this unpleasant situation, make sure the card readers are functioning and ready for the next guest.

Regular cleaning, dusting, washing, vacuuming of a hotel room is very important to keep it fresh and lively. Do not procrastinate cleaning the hotel room regularly just because there are no guests for now. Doing that will only make cleaning the room a harder job later.