A customer of mine has asked me the following and seeks a definitive answer: "Do you happen to know how often the main curtains and nets in the boarding houses need to be washed. Also how often we should look at replacing the mattresses, provided that they have not been damaged and need to be replaced for that reason. We use the beds for approx 10 months of the year, so is there a statutory requirement time wise in replacing matresses and washing curtains.?" This question has arisen because Ofsted asked this question during a recent inspection, and my customer could not give a concrete answer. I have looked on the Ofsted website and emailed their enquirie line. I have also rung the local councils and the health and environmental agencies and nobody has any clear information. I have checked on the hotel and guest house website as well and it appears to say that replacing mattresses is all down to the frequency of use. There is no clear guideline, to what constitutes the frequency of use of matresses and thus replacing or for washing curtains and nets. I, as their advisor, need them to put in place some sort of protocol / guidance / procedures, so that these areas become standard. Any answers, best practice, or good opinions most welcome. Rich

Personally I would look at buying in Matress protectors, which should be less expensive to change more often and will prolong the life of the mattress and also be more hygienic. As to the changing of the matress, I have been reliably informed that there is no set guideline, as long as the guests are still comfortable.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/...cyAndGuidance/DH_4006331 This is the document which I think is the standards that OFSTED inspect to. From a quick look it doesn't actually answer either question but the fact that it doesn't suggest these aren't specified.

Most hotels I have spoken to tend to change matresses when they receive a complaint from a customer, since the qualities of individuals using mattresses varies and therefore can cause one matress to last 5 years and another only 3. Curtain wise, it probably depends on the curtains since some will be fine with just a vaccum and washing them would destroy them.

The easy answer to a question like that is "as required".