Schloss Elmau: How five-star cleaning works

Cleanliness at 1,000 metres above sea level

Schloss Elmau sits high in the Bavarian Alps – a place where luxury, serenity and nature blend in perfect harmony. Here, where heads of state and artists have stayed, perfection can be felt in every aspect. For Ines Sagolla, Executive Housekeeper leading a 50-person team, this means:

“Our new cleaning methods protect the staff, prevent damage to interior furnishings and increase hygiene standards.”

To maintain the pristine appearance of a house of this class, more than hard work is required – it takes system, knowledge and partners who share the same standards. In 2018, Schloss Elmau decided to modernise its entire cleaning process – together with Wetrok. The goal: to clean more sustainably, more efficiently, and more safely.

Three innovations that make the difference

1. WetBox system – maximum hygiene, maximum efficiency

In the past, every floor had the classic bucket with a press. Today, sealed boxes filled with pre-moistened mops are used – precisely dosed, damp rather than wet. Each mop is used only once: one room, one mop. This saves time, prevents cross-contamination and ensures consistently high cleaning quality.

“With the WetBox, we always have a fresh mop ready for each room – and it never goes back into dirty water,” explains Karolina Kowalczyk, Housekeeper at the Spa Retreat.
Especially on sensitive wooden floors, the advantage is clear: the damp (not wet) method protects the surface and leaves a uniform sheen.

Main advantages:

• Maximum hygiene (1 mop = 1 room)

• Even dosing, no overwetting

• Time savings thanks to pre-prepared boxes

• No wringing, no cross-contamination

  
  

2. Foam instead of spray – for health and precision

The second change affected the cleaning of bathrooms and surfaces. Where spray bottles used to dominate, staff now use the Wetrok foam bottle. The difference is obvious: no aerosols, no vapours, no irritation to the airways.

“In guest bathrooms, we used to spray a lot. Some employees reacted with coughing and irritation. With the foam, that problem disappeared,” says Ines Sagolla.

Not only does the staff benefit – so do the premium materials. Acidic cleaners and uncontrolled spraying previously caused corrosion on fittings and stains on natural stone. Foam, by contrast, stays exactly where it’s needed: on the surface. The products Caledor and Calexan forte remove limescale effectively without damaging the sensitive Solnhofen limestone.

Advantages of the foam method:

• No airborne spray particles

• Noticeably better air quality

• Lower chemical consumption

• No material damage to fittings or stone

• Faster, more precise application

3. Machine cleaning – precision on quiet wheels

For larger areas, the hotel relies on machine assistance: Discomatic Mambo and Monomatic now take care of floor cleaning in the spa, lobby and corridors. Both machines clean even textured natural stone floors thoroughly – quietly, nimbly and emission-free.

In the wellness area, where soap foam can make floors slippery, the cleaning agent Wetrok Reshine ensures safe grip and visible shine. The machines must meet demanding standards: they need to be quiet, compact enough for lifts, and deliver perfect results.

Knowledge as a success factor

Wetrok supports Schloss Elmau not just as a supplier, but as a partner in quality. Training, consulting and service are part of the overall concept. When new products or machines are introduced, staff are trained directly on site.

This creates a system in which technology, knowledge and application work seamlessly together – that is Cleaning Excellence the Wetrok way.

Conclusion

Five-star cleaning means more than flawless surfaces. It combines quality, safety and sustainability – and it begins with the people who make it happen every day. Schloss Elmau shows impressively how well-designed cleaning methods can raise hygiene standards while protecting both health and the environment.