NATIONAL REPORT—An American Hotel & Lodging Association survey showed that 97 percent of respondents were experiencing a staffing shortage. The most critical staffing need is housekeeping, with 58 percent ranking it as their biggest challenge. Just about everything to do with housekeeping needs a do over, with its reputation for low pay, exposure to chemicals and a high rate of injuries due to repetitive tasks.
Several companies have come up with solutions for one of the most back-hurting tasks of a housekeeper—the lifting of the mattress. According to Yonatan Guy, CEO of Beddingo, a housekeeper typically changes 20 to 25 mattresses a day. Mattresses gain weight and become thicker over time as they absorb dead skin, colonies of dust mites (which feed on dead skin), oil and moisture.
Beddingo’s solution eliminates the need to lift a mattress. A key part of the Beddingo system is the Beddingo base, an elastic band placed on the mattress before the first use. The base positions Velcro at each corner of the mattress. The specially made Beddingo Sheet, which also includes Velcro within each corner section, attaches to the base. In addition to removing the need to lift the mattress, the Beddingo system prevents the mattress cover from moving off the mattress and helps keep the mattress cleaner. It also saves time and worker’s compensation costs associated with ergonomics-related injuries.
“It is a game changer for the industry,” Guy says. “We finished the pilot three months ago with the Waldorf Astoria in Jerusalem.”
The maintenance of the Beddingo system is simple. The elastic band requires no regular cleaning and the Beddingo (fitted) Sheet, flat sheet, pillowcases and duvet covers that also come with the system are handled and washed just like other linens. The system is made for all sizes of beds. “We can work with any size hotel,” Guy says.
Other Mattress Lifting Solutions
In addition to the Beddingo system, other systems available to ease or eliminate the lifting of mattresses range from the Bed MadeEZ mattress lifter to the MattressJack lifting solution. The Bed MadeEZ mattress lifter, available online at sites such as Amazon is simply a hand-held wedge that lifts a mattress 4 to 5 inches to make sheet changing easier.
The MattressJack is an inflatable product placed between the mattress and its foundation. When inflated by an electric pump, MattressJack lifts the entire mattress 10 inches to a comfortable working height. MattressJack deflates within 60 seconds, remaining invisible and in place underneath the mattress until the next use.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
