If you run a B&B, you’ll know that time is always in short supply – especially on changeover days. There's often a very small window between guests checking out and new ones arriving, and every minute counts. Whether it’s one room or the dreaded full changeover, where all your guests leave and new ones are arriving the same day, the pressure is real. And let’s not forget – bed and breakfast owners aren’t just cleaning! You’re also squeezing in trips to the butcher for sausages, baking those breakfast goodies, and somehow finding time to deal with all your admin.

A fast and efficient changeover process isn’t just about keeping the rooms clean – it’s about giving yourself some breathing space to handle everything else that running a B&B throws at you. In this post, I’ll share 8 simple tips to speed up your changeover routine, plus a few tried-and-tested products from Out of Eden to make life that little bit easier.

Just a heads up, this is a paid sponsored post. This blog relies on the support and trust of readers like you. Collaborating with companies like Out of Eden, and only recommending products I'd actually buy or have been recommended to me by other hospitality providers I trust, helps me keep providing valuable content to you for free.I'll be recommending some products from the UK Hospitality Supplier Out of Eden in this blog post. For more about my collaboration with Out of Eden, read this post >> Where to shop for your hospitality supplies.

Tip 1: Keep a Cleaning Caddy for Each Floor or Building

One of the best ways to speed up your B&B changeover is to have a fully stocked cleaning caddy ready to go. Make sure it’s packed with everything you might need – from cleaning cloths and multi-surface cleaners to bathroom sprays, bin liners, and even a stash of spare light bulbs. Having a caddy that covers all eventualities saves you from running back and forth when you realise you've forgotten something halfway through.

If your B&B has rooms on different floors or in a separate annex, and you’ve got the space to store it, it’s a great timesaver to have a caddy for each area. This way, you’re not lugging a heavy basket of supplies up and down stairs or across the garden every time a room needs cleaning.

Out of Eden Products:

• Out of Eden Green Cleaning Caddy – Perfect for organising all your cleaning essentials in one place.
• Out of Eden Professional Microfibre Cloths – Stock up on these for each caddy, ensuring you’ve always got plenty to hand for quick and effective cleaning.

Tip 2: Organise Room Amenities Like Toiletries

Toiletries are a key part of the guest experience, and keeping them organised can save you loads of time during changeovers. If you use refillable toiletries, it’s a good idea to have a complete set of refilled bottles ready to quickly swap out for the used ones. 

In my own B&B, I always made sure that every toiletry bottle was full for each set of arriving guests. Once a week, when I had a quieter day or a bit of spare time while waiting for guests to arrive for breakfast or check out, I’d go through and refill all the bottles, making sure they were properly sanitised and checking if I needed to reorder anything.

For B&B owners who prefer individual toiletries, pre-arranging them into sets, including extras like shower caps, can speed things up significantly. You can keep these ready in baskets or containers, making it quick and easy to restock each room during a changeover.

Out of Eden Products: 

• Cole & Lewis Refillable Toiletries – Perfect for a quick swap out, and easy to refill and sanitise weekly. 
• Cole & Lewis Amenities – Including items like shower caps, these can be pre-arranged in sets to save time during changeovers.

Tip 3: Create a Cleaning Task List

Having a list of cleaning tasks can streamline your changeover process significantly. Create a comprehensive checklist that includes everything that needs to be done in each room, as well as items that need to be replaced. Make sure your list covers all the essentials, such as swapping out cups, teaspoons, glasses, towels, teas, coffees, and snacks.

It's also helpful to keep a list of tasks that don’t need to be done at every changeover, like dusting the top of the wardrobe or deep cleaning under the bed, which might only be done weekly. This way, on your busiest days, you can focus on the essential tasks without getting overwhelmed by non-urgent jobs.

You can keep it simple with the good old paper and pen, or opt for a more modern approach by using an app like Notion. The Notion app is mobile-friendly, allowing you to easily track your completed tasks for each room and include all those little extras.

Another option is to use Google Sheets to create a checklist that’s accessible on your mobile device. The Google Sheets app enables you to check off tasks as you finish them and make adjustments as you go, ensuring you don’t miss anything during a busy changeover day.

Tip 4: Organise Your Bed Linen

Keeping your bed linen well organised and easily accessible can make a big difference during changeovers. Consider sorting your bedding by type and size – for example, have all the kingsize duvet covers in one pile, or create complete sets for each room that include the duvet cover, sheet, and pillowcases.

You can do the same with towels by organising them by size, such as bath sheets, towels, and hand towels, or by creating sets needed per room. In my own B&B, I used a laundry basket for each room to keep all the bed linen and towels together, ready for the morning of the changeover.

It can sometimes be tricky to figure out which way a duvet or sheet should go, especially with super king sizes that are almost square. I’ve probably wasted a lot of hours over the years putting a fitted sheet on the bed, only to find it's the wrong way around! To save time, I sewed a small tab onto the short end of the duvet or sheet, so I could instantly see which way it fitted into the duvet cover and onto the bed.

There are plenty of  hacks online for quickly putting on duvet covers, but I’ve always used the method of turning the duvet cover inside out, then putting my hands into the corners, grabbing the duvet, and shaking the cover onto it. Storing your duvet covers inside out can speed up the process even more.

Check out this blog post >> How to Make Up a Bed and Breakfast Bed

If you have different sizes of beds, Out of Eden offers colour-coded tabs on their duvets and sheets, making it easy to identify the size at a glance. If you already have your own bed linen, you can always sew on your own tabs for quick identification.

Out of Eden Product: 

• Colour-Coded Tab Bed Linen – Makes it easy to identify sizes quickly, helping speed up bed changes and ensuring you always use the right linen.

Tip 5: Keep Spare Linen and Protectors on Hand

While there’s an initial cost, ensuring you have spare bedding and protectors for unexpected emergencies—like a stain on the mattress or pillow protectors—will save you time. Remember, your time is precious and worth money!

In my early days of running a B&B, I was a bit naive and didn’t have all the spares I should have. On a busy changeover day, I had to fit in a 40-minute round trip to Ludlow to buy a mattress protector after a guest had an accident in the bed. Having a stock of essentials can help you avoid these stressful situations.

Out of Eden Product:

• Out of Eden Mattress Protectors – Protects your mattresses from spills and stains, while ensuring breathability and comfort for your guests.

Tip 6: Invest in Time-Saving Tools

Having the right equipment can make a huge difference in speeding up your changeovers. On changeover days, I always used my corded Miele Cat and Dog vacuum and a proper mop for a thorough clean, but for quick room tidies, I’d switch to a spray mop and cordless vacuum, which speeded up the process. This combination allows for faster tidying, freeing up more time for the more intensive room changeover tasks.

If you have a day with both changeovers and room tidies, using the cordless tools for the tidies means you can focus more time on the full room changeovers. You could also consider asking guests if they’d actually like their room tidied during their stay. Some guests may prefer to skip it, giving you even more time to manage other tasks.

I’ve written a separate blog post on managing room tidies >> Should You do a Room Refresh at Your Bed and Breakfast when Guests are Staying?

Tip 7: Take Care of Yourself and Plan Ahead on Busy Changeover Days

It’s easy to get caught up in the rush of changeover day, but looking after yourself is just as important as getting the rooms ready. Pre-making a nutritious lunch can help you avoid the temptation of grabbing quick, unhealthy food. Consider creating healthy snack boxes with things like nuts, fruit, or homemade energy balls to keep your energy levels up throughout the day. This can also help you avoid snacking on leftover cake and biscuits from the rooms. Make sure your water flask is full so you stay hydrated while working.

Focus on priority tasks for the day, and don’t try to do everything at once. Plan your week ahead of time, scheduling less essential tasks and admin for quieter days. This keeps you organised and helps avoid feeling overwhelmed. Don’t forget to schedule in rest days and time for your social life, so you can recharge between busy periods.

Looking after yourself and planning ahead will make your changeover days more manageable and productive.

Tip 8: Regularly Review Your Rooms and Processes

Take the time to regularly review your rooms and cleaning processes to identify areas where you can be more efficient and speed things up. Look for any tasks that seem to take longer than necessary or consider whether there are better ways to organise your supplies and equipment.

Ask yourself if there are any changes you can make to speed up the process without sacrificing quality. For instance, consider rotating stock in your cleaning supplies so you always have the essentials on hand or rearranging your storage for easier access.

By continually assessing your methods and being open to change, you can streamline your operations and make changeover days smoother and more efficient over time.

The Final Word

To wrap things up, handling changeover days like a pro is essential for running a successful B&B. By using these tips—like keeping your cleaning supplies organised and having spare essentials on hand—you can cut down on stress and work more efficiently. Don’t forget to take care of yourself too; staying hydrated and planning your meals makes a world of difference! Regularly checking in on your processes helps you find ways to speed things up. A well-prepared B&B not only keeps your guests happy but also makes your life a lot easier. So, give these strategies a go and enjoy smoother, more enjoyable changeover days!