The Covid-19 virus has a major impact on the hospitality industry, resulting in many temporary closings. When this crisis is past, normal life will be resumed.

Since the Covid-19 virus, there is a greater personal focus on health and the influence of external factors on this. This also affects factors in and around hotels. After a crisis, consumers need security, it is therefore important that hoteliers take measures to improve hygiene where possible.

The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly increased the interest of hoteliers in hygiene solutions; an exploded demand for disinfectant hand gel, plexiglass screens on the reception desk and paper towel dispensers. However the most important part of a hotel is forgotten; the pillow.

A pillow absorbs body fluids and has the ideal temperature as a breeding ground for bacteria.

Breeding ground for bacteria

A pillow absorbs body fluids and has the ideal temperature as a breeding ground for bacteria. A pillow is therefore often full of dead skin cells, insects, dust mites and feces. There is no product in the hotel room that comes as close to the vital parts (mouth, nose and eyes) of the human body as the pillow. Hotel guests know that their bed has probably already been slept in by hundreds of people, including the pillow, but they still assume that it is hygienically clean.

In most cases, the hygiene of the bed linen is fine. Unfortunately, experience has shown that washing pillows and duvets is often at the bottom of the priority list due to the time pressure on cleaning a hotel room.

RIVM and GGD Kennemerland

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the Common Health Service (GGD) apply strict guidelines for hygiene in hotels, accommodations and public places. These rules are included in the hygiene code, which contains a specific instruction for cleaning bed linen.

RIVM and GGD Kennemerland recommend disinfecting pillows and duvets in a hotel regularly (preferably after every change of guest, at least once a month) to prevent the transmission of viruses and bacteria through the pillow.

Disinfection of textiles

Pillows can be easily disinfected. Disinfection frees the pillow from pathogenic micro-organisms, including a virus such as Covid-19. There are two ways of disinfecting textiles: chemical disinfection or thermal disinfection.

Textiles that cannot be washed at a high temperature must be disinfected according to chemical disinfection. In this process, pathogenic microorganisms are removed by adding certified detergents to the low temperature wash program. In thermal disinfection, the micro-organisms are killed by high-temperature washing.

Thermal disinfection is perfectly suitable for pillows and duvets and is done by means of a washing program at a minimum of 60 ° C and drying to a minimum dry state.

Despite the fact that the disinfection of pillows takes time, this is a valuable intervention with the right product and the hotel guest is assured of a hygienic and carefree stay. A solid, clearly communicated hygiene plan also strengthens your position towards the hotel guest when this crisis is over.

You will most likely consult your full-service laundry company about the aforementioned recommendations. However, if you have any questions or need additional preventive measures, please feel free to contact us. As a specialist wholesaler, we offer a wide range of hygiene products, including pillows and duvets which are suitable for thermal disinfection and drying by machine.

In addition, you can contact us for protective covers for pillows and mattresses and various other items to ensure hygiene in your hotel.

We are happy to think about a suitable solution for your hotel. Do you have any questions regarding the above information or can we assist you with anything? Please contact us by email: info@hotel-supply.com or phone: +31 (0) 85 0210 900.