Guide
Storing amenities in humid stores and warehouses
In a humid climate, a store room can spoil cartons, labels and some products long before the stock is used. Good habits cost little.
Get the stock off the floor
Place cartons on pallets or racks at least 10 to 15 cm above the floor and away from walls so air can move behind them. Floors collect moisture, especially in monsoon months, and cardboard takes it up quickly. Never stack directly against an outside wall.
Check for hidden moisture sources as well: air-conditioner drip trays, nearby washrooms, or a store beneath a terrace that leaks in heavy rain. Fix the source before you buy equipment to deal with the symptoms.
Control the room, not just the shelf
Look at ventilation, leaks and sunlight. A small dehumidifier in a closed store can help, and so can simply fixing a leaking pipe. Install a basic thermometer-hygrometer and read it daily; write the readings on a sheet. A pattern of rising humidity tells you to act before stock is damaged.
Keep the store clean and free of pests, which are attracted by damp cardboard and food crumbs.
Log the date and the reading, and set a trigger, for example a level above which the store is checked and the dehumidifier switched on. A written trigger means the response does not depend on who is on duty.
Use first-in, first-out
Mark each delivery with the received date and put new stock behind old. Write the manufacture date or batch on the outer carton if the supplier has not. Rotate on a schedule rather than when someone remembers. Items kept for months in warm, humid conditions are the ones most likely to show problems.
A simple wall chart helps: one line per delivery with date received, quantity, batch and the date it should be used by. Update it whenever stock moves. It takes a minute and prevents boxes at the back of the shelf from ageing unseen for half a year.
Protect cartons and labels
- Keep cartons closed until needed; open one at a time.
- Use plastic sheets or tubs for opened cartons, not loose paper wrap.
- Avoid stacking taller than the carton rating allows.
- Keep soap and paper-wrapped items away from damp walls.
Ask your supplier about carton strength and moisture protection when you order. Our catalogue lists pack sizes so you can plan shelf space.
Keep strong-smelling cleaning chemicals out of the amenity store. Fragrance and soap can pick up other odours, and a guest who notices a chemical note in a bar of soap will not think of the store as the cause.
Know the warning signs
Inspect a few cartons each week for these signs: soft or stained cardboard, labels lifting, bottles with condensation, a changed smell in soap or liquid, or discolouration in a product. If you see any, quarantine the batch and compare with a sealed reserve sample kept in a cooler, drier room. Ask the supplier to look at the problem; give them photographs and batch codes.
Plan quantities against the climate
Do not over-order simply because a discount is offered. If your store is humid, six months of stock is a risk, whereas two or three months is safer. Balance this against lead time and the risk of stock-outs; see the article on inventory control. Where long storage is unavoidable, ask the supplier about shelf life and storage guidance before you commit.
If you must hold extra stock for a season, split it: keep a working quantity in the main store and the rest in the driest, coolest space you have, checked every week. Avoid putting amenities near laundry, kitchens or boilers, where heat and steam make conditions worse.
Keep a reserve sample
Retain one sealed unit from each delivery in a cool, dry place. If a guest complaint or a storage doubt arises, compare the stored unit with the reserve. If you are trying a new item, request samples and store one in your worst-conditions area for a month to see how it behaves.
Label the reserve sample with the date and batch and note what you compared. A short written comparison every quarter, such as 'same colour, same scent, no leakage', takes minutes and gives you evidence if there is later a dispute with a supplier.
Questions on this topic
Do we need air conditioning in the store?
Not always. Ventilation, dehumidification and good shelving may be enough, depending on your climate.
How long can amenities be stored?
It depends on the product and its shelf life. Ask the supplier for guidance for each item.
What should we do with damaged cartons?
Quarantine, photograph, record batch codes and contact the supplier.
Keep reading
- Setting up the housekeeping trolley for amenities
- How much time restocking takes per room and how to cut it
- Amenity inventory control that doesn't need software
- Training housekeeping staff on amenity standards
- How to stock an Airbnb bathroom
- Hospital and clinic bathroom amenities: what to consider
- Gym locker room amenities: a practical checklist
Looking for supply? See Hotels & resorts, browse the product range or request samples.