Linen Program ~ Sunriver Vacation Rental Property Management

Click here to read about Our Housekeeping Standards

Housekeeping is one of the most critical aspects of any lodging business. Without clean homes we have nothing to sell.  Prior to November 2006 all of our housekeeping was managed by independent contract housekeepers.  As 2006 came to a close we saw a need to have more control over the quality of our housekeeping and hired several housekeepers to work as employees of Bennington Properties.  At this time we also started an in-house laundry service at the request of many of our homeowners.  The number of homes our housekeeping department managed steadily grew until March of 2008 when we took over the housekeeping for all of the properties we managed.  

In September of 2008 we hired a nationally recognized housekeeping consultant, Steve Craig (www.proresort.net), to tell us what we are doing right and what we are doing wrong and to keep us informed of any changes in the housekeeping industry.  The most important thing we learned from Steve’s analysis is that a housekeeping department cannot achieve a high level of quality cleaning without a linen service.

In June of 2009 we purchased 4 high grade commercial washers and dryers and switched the remaining 20% of our homes to our linen program.

Why is a linen program so important?

Linens that are not properly cared for make a house look dirty no matter how clean it is.   The attention needed to properly care for linens cannot be accomplished in a residential washer and dryer and therefore requires the bleaching and high heat drying capabilities of commercial washers and dryers.  They also require daily oversight to ensure ripped, stained or damaged linens do not return to a home.

Here are some of the benefits of joining our linen program
 

♦  Linens provided to guests are more consistent in quality and condition.

♦  Housekeepers have more time to clean your home instead of doing laundry.

♦  A centralized laundry facility provides a more efficient, consistent and sanitary method for cleaning sheets and towels.

♦  Wear and tear of your washer/dryer is decreased.

♦  Cost of water and electricity for property owners is decreased.
♦  Attrition costs for replacement of linens is controlled and more predictable.

♦  Owners no longer have to worry about the replacement of linens that become soiled, damaged, missing or just worn out.

But I can't stand hotel towels, is this really better for the guest?

Colored towels fade quickly and look terrible so the favorite guest standard in the country is still white towels.  When we started our linen program we did not want the scratchy linens or thin towels so common in hotels.  We invested in higher quality, thick fluffy white towels and a 300 thread count sateen/cotton blend sheet.  The sateen/cotton blended sheets are much softer and more comfortable that a 100% cotton sheet so even though it is a lower thread count, they have been very popular among our guests and owners.