The Optus Glean promise: predictability
Three pillars. Three commitments. No exceptions.
Predictable cost. One fixed monthly fee, set against a defined scope and an annual indexed review. No variable hours. No surprise invoices. No padded callout charges. Budgeted once, paid by Direct Debit, reviewed once a year.
Predictable presence. The site is cleaned every day it is meant to be cleaned. A named primary cleaner is rostered to your contract, supported by a named relief who is already vetted, inducted, and trained on the same colour-coded system and IPC standard. The schedule does not depend on whether one person is available on one day.
Predictable freedom. A single point of accountability. One contract. One named manager. One number to call. Cleaning is no longer a problem the site has to manage — it is a service that runs.
Why cleaning in Ireland is structurally hard to get right
Most cleaning provision in Ireland — including in healthcare-adjacent settings — is delivered by a workforce that is structurally part-time and casual. A significant proportion of operatives across the sector also work as healthcare assistants in nursing homes, residential care, and acute hospitals. Cleaning shifts are typically taken when healthcare shifts are not available, and released when they are. This pattern is consistent with CSO labour data on accommodation, food, and administrative-support employment, and it is the underlying reason that buyers across Ireland encounter inconsistency from agencies they have contracted in good faith.
The pattern is reinforced by two background pressures specific to Ireland. Housing affordability limits the catchment for any role paying at or near the minimum wage. The Contract Cleaning Employment Regulation Order rate of €14.80 per hour for 2026, set under the Labour Court's sectoral employment framework, sits close enough to flexible care-sector pay that operatives drift toward whichever shift pays slightly more on the day. Both pressures pull cleaning staff away from contracted shifts and toward casual healthcare work.
The result, from the buyer's perspective, is the experience most practice managers, facilities leads, and procurement officers in Ireland describe: a clean that is half-completed when the contracted cleaner is available, missed entirely when they are not, and accompanied by recurring conversations with the agency about cover that may or may not arrive.
This is the structural problem Optus Glean is built to solve. Our operatives are fully PAYE-employed with guaranteed weekly hours, paid leave, and pension contributions under Irish auto-enrolment. They are paid above the ERO floor deliberately — because the structural reliability of the service depends on the cleaner choosing to remain in the role rather than rotating through casual healthcare shifts. A named primary cleaner is assigned to your site, supported by a named relief, both Garda-vetted and trained to Optus Glean's documented HIQA-aligned IPC standard.
Professional Hotel Cleaning in Ireland
In hospitality, cleanliness is not a background detail — it is the single biggest factor in guest reviews, repeat bookings, and brand reputation. A 2026 survey by Failte Ireland confirmed that cleanliness remains the number one priority for guests when rating accommodation, ahead of location, price, and facilities. One negative review mentioning dirty rooms can cost a hotel thousands in lost bookings.
Optus Glean provides comprehensive hotel and hospitality cleaning services across all 26 counties of Ireland. We offer two service models: full housekeeping outsource (where we manage the entire housekeeping operation) and staff-supply (where we provide trained, vetted cleaners who work under your hotel's management). Both models are priced per room, giving you complete cost visibility and the flexibility to scale with occupancy.
Every member of our hotel cleaning team is Garda vetted, trained in HACCP awareness, and inducted on your specific property standards before their first shift. We carry €6.5 million in public liability insurance and €13 million in employer's liability cover.
Two Service Models: Full Management vs Staff Supply
We recognise that every hotel operates differently. Some general managers want to outsource the entire housekeeping function. Others prefer to retain control and simply need reliable, vetted staff. We offer both:
Full Housekeeping Outsource
Under this model, Optus Glean takes complete responsibility for the housekeeping operation in your hotel. This includes:
- Recruiting, training, and managing the entire housekeeping team
- Daily guest room turnover cleaning to your property standards
- Public area cleaning: lobby, corridors, lifts, restaurant, conference rooms
- Back-of-house cleaning: kitchens (HACCP compliant), staff areas, laundry rooms
- Deep cleaning programmes on a scheduled rotation
- Linen management and optional integrated laundry service
- Quality inspections and reporting
- Cover for holidays, sick leave, and seasonal peaks
Staff Supply Model
Under this model, we supply trained, Garda vetted housekeeping staff who work under your hotel's direct supervision. You control the standards, rosters, and assignments — we handle recruitment, vetting, training, payroll, and replacement cover. This is ideal for hotels that want to maintain their brand's housekeeping culture but need a reliable staffing partner.
Hotel Cleaning Pricing in Ireland (2026)
Hotel cleaning is priced per room for guest room turnover, with public area and back-of-house cleaning included in the contract rate or charged separately depending on the scope. Below are indicative pricing ranges for 2026:
| Service | Price Range (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard room turnover | €12 – €18/room | Checkout clean with linen change |
| Suite / family room turnover | €18 – €25/room | Larger rooms, multiple bathrooms |
| Stay-over service | €8 – €12/room | Mid-stay refresh, bed tidy, bathroom clean |
| Public area cleaning | €13 – €22/hr | Lobby, corridors, restaurant, conference |
| Deep clean (per room) | €35 – €60/room | Full deep clean including soft furnishings |
| Integrated laundry (per room) | €4 – €8/room | Bed linen + towels, wash and return |
All pricing is exclusive of VAT. Volume discounts apply for hotels with 50+ rooms. Every contract is quoted individually after a site survey and detailed scope assessment.
What Is Included in Guest Room Turnover?
Our standard guest room turnover clean follows a documented checklist that meets Failte Ireland quality standards:
- Strip and remake bed with fresh linen (hospital corners, duvet alignment)
- Replace all towels, face cloths, and bath mats
- Clean and sanitise bathroom: toilet, shower/bath, basin, mirror, floor
- Vacuum carpets and mop hard floors
- Dust all surfaces, headboard, bedside tables, desk, wardrobe
- Clean TV screen, remote control, and telephone
- Replenish tea/coffee tray, toiletries, and stationery
- Empty bins and replace liners
- Check all lights, report maintenance issues
- Final inspection before releasing room to front desk
Public Area Cleaning
Your lobby is the first thing every guest sees. Your corridors, lifts, and stairwells are used multiple times a day. Your restaurant and bar areas must meet HACCP standards. Public area cleaning at a hotel requires a different approach to guest rooms — it is continuous, visible, and must be done without disrupting guests:
- Lobby and reception — Floor cleaning, furniture polishing, glass cleaning, washroom maintenance, and general tidying throughout the day.
- Corridors and lifts — Vacuuming, spot cleaning, mirror polishing, and high-touch surface sanitisation on a rotating schedule.
- Restaurant and bar — HACCP-compliant cleaning of all food contact surfaces, floor cleaning, table and chair wiping, bar surface sanitisation.
- Conference and function rooms — Pre-event preparation, inter-event turnaround cleaning, and post-event deep clean.
- Leisure facilities — Pool surround cleaning, gym equipment wipe-down, changing room and shower cleaning.
HACCP Compliance for Hotel Cleaning
Any area of a hotel where food is stored, prepared, or served must comply with HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) regulations. This is not optional — it is a legal requirement enforced by Environmental Health Officers. Optus Glean ensures full HACCP compliance in all food-related areas:
- Colour-coded cleaning equipment — Different colours for kitchen, bathroom, and general areas to prevent cross-contamination.
- Approved chemicals — All cleaning products used in food areas are approved for food-contact surfaces and carry appropriate safety data sheets.
- Temperature-controlled dishwashing — We monitor and verify wash temperatures to ensure effective sanitisation of crockery and utensils.
- Documented cleaning schedules — Written records of all cleaning activities in HACCP areas, available for inspection at any time.
- Staff training — All hotel cleaning operatives receive HACCP awareness training before working in food areas.
Integrated Laundry Service
This is where Optus Glean differs from almost every other hotel cleaning company in Ireland. We offer an integrated laundry service that combines cleaning and linen management in a single contract. Instead of dealing with separate cleaning and laundry providers (and the coordination headaches that creates), you get one provider, one invoice, and seamless room turnaround.
Our laundry service covers:
- Bed linen (sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases)
- Towels, face cloths, and bath mats
- Table linen (restaurant and conference)
- Staff uniforms and workwear
- Spa and leisure facility towels
Linen is collected, washed, pressed, and returned on a schedule that aligns with your room turnover. Pricing starts from €4 per room per day for bed linen and towels. For hotels currently managing laundry in-house, outsourcing to Optus Glean typically saves 20-30% on total laundry costs when factoring in equipment, utilities, labour, and chemical costs.
Seasonal Flexibility
Irish tourism is seasonal. Occupancy rates in many hotels swing from 30% in January to 95% in July and August. Your cleaning provider needs to flex with you. Optus Glean provides:
- Scaled staffing — We increase team size during peak season and scale down during quieter months. You only pay for the rooms cleaned.
- Event cover — Weddings, conferences, and festivals create spikes in cleaning demand. We provide additional staff at short notice.
- Seasonal deep clean programmes — Between seasons, we schedule deep cleaning of all rooms, public areas, and back-of-house to prepare for the next peak period.
Who We Serve
Our hospitality cleaning service is designed for:
- Hotels (3-star to 5-star)
- Boutique hotels and country houses
- B&Bs and guesthouses
- Hostels and budget accommodation
- Self-catering holiday apartments
- Airbnb and short-let operators (visit our vacant property cleaning page for turnover services)
- Conference and event venues
- Restaurants and bars (standalone cleaning contracts available)
Visit our hospitality sector page for more information on how we serve the hotel and tourism industry across Ireland.
How Optus Glean handles staff shortages
Every Optus Glean contract is staffed on a redundancy model rather than a single-person model. A named primary cleaner is assigned to the site at contract start. A named relief is assigned alongside them. Both are PAYE-employed by Optus Glean, both are Garda-vetted, both are inducted on the site's specific layout, access protocols, and colour-coded equipment system, and both are trained to the same documented HIQA-aligned IPC standard. Substitution is built into the contract from the first day, not arranged on the day cover is needed.
Sick day cover. When the primary cleaner is unable to work, the named relief is deployed. The site site contact is notified by 06:30 on the morning of the absence by SMS or email, with the name of the relief who is attending. The relief follows the same task list, uses the same equipment, and finishes within the same window. The standard of clean is unchanged because the relief was prepared for this scenario before the absence happened.
Annual leave cover. Annual leave is rostered weeks in advance and the relief is scheduled to cover the full leave period. The site is informed at the start of the leave period — not on the morning leave begins. This is the same model used in clinical rota management: known absences are pre-staffed, not improvised.
Long-term cover. If the primary cleaner is absent for more than two weeks (extended illness, parental leave, bereavement leave), cover is drawn from the wider trained bench rather than relying on the single named relief. The site is kept informed of the cover plan, the named individuals involved, and the expected duration. Continuity of standard is maintained because every operative on the bench is trained to the same documented standard.
Permanent reassignment. If the primary cleaner moves to a new permanent role within Optus Glean — promotion, relocation, retirement — the relief is promoted to primary on a planned timetable, a new relief is trained on the site, and both are introduced to the site before the handover takes effect. There is no day on which the site discovers, after the fact, that their cleaner has changed.
Substitution is Optus Glean's operational problem, not the site's risk to absorb. The buyer pays a fixed monthly fee for a defined scope to be delivered, every day it is meant to be delivered. The mechanism by which we deliver it — primary, relief, bench, retraining — is our cost to manage and our risk to carry.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hotel Cleaning
How much does hotel cleaning cost in Ireland?
Hotel cleaning costs in Ireland vary by service model. Per-room turnover cleaning typically costs between €12 and €25 per room depending on room size and standard required. Full housekeeping outsource contracts are priced on a per-room-per-day basis. Public area cleaning is typically charged hourly (€13–€22/hr) or as a fixed monthly fee. Optus Glean provides free site surveys and bespoke quotations for every hotel.
How much do hotel cleaning companies charge per room?
Hotel cleaning companies in Ireland typically charge between €12 and €25 per room for a standard turnover clean in 2026. The exact rate depends on the room type (standard, suite, apartment), the level of service required (express turnover vs full deep clean), linen change requirements, and the total number of rooms in the contract. Volume discounts apply for larger hotels.
What is included in hotel cleaning services?
Hotel cleaning services include guest room turnover (bed making, bathroom cleaning, vacuuming, dusting, amenity replenishment), public area cleaning (lobby, restaurant, conference rooms, corridors, lifts), back-of-house cleaning (kitchen, staff areas, laundry rooms), deep cleaning programmes on a scheduled rotation, and optional integrated laundry services for bed linen, towels, and table linen.
What are HACCP cleaning standards for hotels?
HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is a food safety management system that applies to all food handling areas in hotels, including kitchens, restaurants, bars, and breakfast rooms. HACCP cleaning requires documented procedures for each area, specific cleaning chemicals approved for food-contact surfaces, temperature-controlled dishwashing, colour-coded cleaning equipment to prevent cross-contamination, and regular cleaning verification records.
Is it cheaper to outsource hotel housekeeping?
For most hotels in Ireland, outsourcing housekeeping is more cost-effective than managing an in-house team. Outsourcing eliminates recruitment, training, uniform, holiday cover, sick pay, and equipment costs. It also provides flexibility to scale the team up or down with occupancy. Hotels typically save 15–25% on total housekeeping costs by outsourcing to a specialist provider like Optus Glean, while benefiting from higher consistency and cover reliability.
What cleaning standards do Irish hotels need to follow?
Irish hotels must comply with HACCP regulations for all food areas, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 for staff and guest safety, Fire Safety regulations for evacuation routes and fire door maintenance, Failte Ireland quality assurance standards for accommodation, and relevant environmental health regulations enforced by local authorities. Optus Glean builds compliance with all these standards into every hotel cleaning contract.
How often should hotel rooms be deep cleaned?
Hotel rooms should receive a full deep clean every 4 to 6 weeks in addition to daily turnover cleaning. Deep cleaning includes mattress turning and sanitisation, curtain and upholstery cleaning, carpet extraction, behind-furniture cleaning, full bathroom descaling, air vent cleaning, and thorough high-level dusting. High-occupancy rooms may need more frequent deep cleans.
What qualifications do hotel cleaners need in Ireland?
Hotel cleaners in Ireland should be Garda vetted (especially given access to guest rooms and belongings), trained in HACCP awareness for food area cleaning, trained in manual handling, familiar with COSHH requirements for cleaning chemicals, and ideally hold a QQI or equivalent cleaning qualification. Optus Glean provides all training and certification for our hotel cleaning teams before they begin work on your property.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-06
