Housekeeping Department

• Housekeeping refers to the upkeep and maintenance of cleanliness and order in a house or a lodging establishment, be it an inn, hotel, apartment-hotels (apartels), condominium, resort, dormitory or hospital.
• A housekeeper is the one who is responsible for administering housekeeping maintenance and for ensuring that everything is in order and that all occupants are made comfortable, safe and protected from disease-causing bacteria.
• Housekeepers clean guest rooms and the public areas of hotels and other lodging places.
• Hotels, motels, resorts and conference centers are places where housekeepers work.
• Housekeeping is a large occupation with high turnover, meaning there are many openings.
• Cleaning equipment should be cleaned and stored with care and made sure it does not bump on hard surfaces.
• A Carpet Sweeper is used to pick up dirt and particles from the carpet.
• The manufacturer’s operating instructions should be followed when using cleaning equipment.
• To vacuum sweep the carpet, press the handle and push the Carpet Sweeper towards the dirt.
• The wax on the floor should be allowed to dry before polishing.
• Dust bags of dry vacuum cleaners should be emptied before they overload and after each use.
• Before using cleaning equipment, it should be checked for any electrical defects, frayed wires, loose plugs and connections.
• Electrical equipment should never be used in wet surfaces.
• Electrical shock or short circuit should be avoided by not exposing cleaning equipment to rain or water and storing them indoors to protect them from getting wet.
• Cleaning equipment should be handled with care and made sure it does not bump on hard surfaces.
• The appropriate pad for scrubbing, stripping and polishing should be used.
• Domestic housekeeping refers to housekeeping maintenance in a house, covering bedrooms, kitchen, dining, receiving area, grounds and the surrounding areas within the house.
• Institutional housekeeping usually covers the following areas: Guestrooms, Hallways and corridors, Lobby, Public rooms and restaurants, Offices, Stairways, Windows, Stores, Concessionaire shops, Grounds.
• Chemical Cleaners include those that are intended to remove soils, those that kill pathogenic microorganisms and disease carrying pests, and those that preserve, protect and beautify the property.
• Alkali cleaners remove and suspend heavy soil and grease so it can be rinsed away.
• Detergents use to remove soils from a surface through a chemical action and are used in solution of warm to hot water to clean washable surfaces such as counter-tops, appliances, fixtures and floors.
• Liquid detergents are safe for washable surfaces and skin.
• Basic cleaning families include Mechanical Cleaners, Chemical Cleaners, Detergents, and Basic Home Repair.
• Acid cleaners can be used to remove tarnish, alkaline discoloration and corrosion from metals.
• Bleaches can remove stains from surface and fabrics and may also be used to lighten stains in wood as well as remove the color naturally in woods such as mahogany.
• Insect sprayer is used for fumigation to eliminate pests and mosquitoes.
• Mechanical Cleaners include Abrasive Cleaners, which physically scratch off dirt, stains and tarnish via friction as you rub the surface, and Non-Abrasive Cleaners, which use chemicals to remove dirt, stains and tarnish.
• Sanitation in ideal housekeeping standards includes the whole area being free from all sources of bacterial contamination such as un-disposed garbage and left-over, stagnant water, etc.
• Powdered detergents, mostly contain washing soda as a builder and some are very alkaline which can damage surfaces and irritate skin with prolonged contact; a strong solution can damage paint.
• Organizing is a vital part of housekeeping, because no matter how clean your area is, or how well decorate, a cluttered home seems poorly kept.
• Soft broom and stick broom are used for sweeping, with the former being used for fine surfaces like floors and the latter for rough surfaces like grounds.
• Decorating is a necessary component of housekeeping because it allows you to personalize your area.
• Sweeping in housekeeping involves all swept floors not having dust streaks nor showing marks where dirt is picked up, no dirt left on corners, behind doors, under carpets or furniture.
• Cleaning product precautions include reading all labels, wearing gloves, avoiding fumes and heat, never mixing different products, and storing cleaning products securely and out of reach of children.
• Cleanliness in ideal housekeeping standards includes all areas being immaculately clean corner-to-corner, top-to-bottom, including surfaces, closets, cabinets, and storage areas, and furniture and fixtures being properly dusted and doorknobs and fixtures being polished with the right metal polishing chemical.
• Sponges are used for cleaning fine surfaces.
• Orderliness in ideal housekeeping standards includes facilities and fixtures being properly arranged and installed in appropriate location, linen being neatly folded, beds being made properly, and amenities for guest comfort like linen, toiletries, drinking glass, etc. being provided.
• Buckets and mops are used for cleaning floors, walls, and other parts of the hotel.
• Dusting involves ensuring all surfaces are dust free and all corners are vacuumed.
• Floor finishes are not allowed to build up in corners, baseboards, or under furniture.