Hotel & Motel Management - November 5, 2007 - (Page 88)

88 Maintenance Doctor IN THE details Make a good impression Machine rids room of odors Extra care may be necessary Give staff bathroom checklist By Ed Forister H&MM Columnist H&MM November 5, 2007 | HotelMotel.com www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition Ozone machines help ﬁght smoke odors Q A I have received complaints from guests that their nonsmoking room smells like smoke. What can I do to combat smoke odors? On occasion, a guest will light up in a nonsmoking room, leaving an odor for the next guest, who is expecting a smoke-free experience. To remove smoke and other odors, use an ozone-generating machine. These compact and portable machines are an effective way to eliminate smoke, stale beverage odors and general body odors from guestrooms. Most sprays are temporary and only mask the odor with a pleasant one. With odors that linger, such as cigarette fumes, an ozonegenerating machine is your best bet to remove the odor altogether. Using ozone to remove odor is possible because of the unstable nature of the ozone molecule. Ozone is made up of three oxygen atoms, but about an hour after ozone is released into the atmosphere, one of its three atoms detaches. This free atom binds with the organic compounds in smoke, mold and mildew, pet odors and other undesirable elements and neutralizes the offensive odor. Because ozone generation (in high concentrations) reduces oxygen in a room, it can cause respiratory problems; therefore, it should not be used in closed rooms where people are present. The housekeeper should clean another room while the unit is running in the targeted room. A standard-size guestroom can be deodorized in 15 to 20 minutes with 300 mg/hr of ozone. Q A I am creating a checklist to use in reviewing guest bathrooms. What are some key focuses? The bathroom is key to the guest experience because it helps your guests get a great start to their day. The checklist below provides a starting point. Plumbing Check all drains for hair. Hair in the drain is a common problem and can lead to clogged drains if not checked regularly. Listen and look for leaking faucets; 60 drops per minute is equal to 192 gallons a month. Check the toilet for leaks by removing the toilet and the entire wax ring. Check toilet tanks for leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the tank. Clean the aerators in the showerhead and faucets to remove calcium and mineral buildup. Lighting & Electrical Make sure outlet faceplates are tightened to the wall. Hardware Make sure all towel bars, hooks, toilet paper holders and shower bars are securely in place. General Check the hair dryer to be sure it is working; the ﬁlter may need to be cleaned or replaced. hmm@questex.com Ed Forister is a national account manager–hospitality at HD Supply Facilities Maintenance. He can be reached at edmond.forister@ hdsupply.com. CIRCLE NO. 139 http://HotelMotel.com http://www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition http://www.hmrsss.com http://www.hmrsss.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Hotel & Motel Management - November 5, 2007

Hotel & Motel Management - November 5, 2007 Contents M&A Pace Slowing After Early Boom LodgeWorks Jumps Into Upscale Game Accor Reorganizes Leadership, Structure Perspective At Your Risk Travel Trends Sales Clinic On Finance Family Business Matters Cornell Insights Franchise Law Training Trends Satisfaction Trends Management Trends Events Guest Column Trends & Stats GM Survey Historic Property Conversions Offer Appeal for All Extended-Stay Brands Survey Green is the Word at IH/M&R Show Transactions Restaurant POS Handhelds Keep Managers Alerted Rising Costs Confront Midwest Builders Business Travelers: Breakfast Still an Important Perk IH/M&RS Product Preview Vacation Ownership Projects to Grow in U.S., Abroad Awards Training Programs Jump to Front Lines Refrigeration: Before You Break It, Fix It Lighting Enhances Property People Supplier News Best Western Aims High with Atria Vantage Makes Global Plans Sierra Moves Forward with New Name, High Expectations Maintenance Doctor Social Marketing Makes Way into Hotel Industry People Ad/Editorial Index Marketplace Classifieds Checking Out

Hotel & Motel Management - November 5, 2007

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