Housekeeping department is that department of hotel which is responsible for cleanliness, maintenance and asthetic up keep of the hotel. Housekeeping department is the heart of lodging industry, hotels, motels inns. A hotel survives on the sales of room, food & beverages and other minor operating service such a the laundry, health club etc. the sales of room is maximum 50%in other words, Hotels largest source of revenue is earned by sales of rooms because a room once made can be sold over and again. The housekeeping department has two primary functions, providing clean interiors in order to increase sales & protecting the owner’s investment in the properties interior. It is the executive housekeeper’s responsibility to make sure these goals are meet on time.
Cleaning
Cleaning is the main role of housekeeping department so great case is taken to keep hotel clean, comfortable and safe. House keeping departments takes pride in keeping the hotel clean and comfortable so, as to creat a “ Home away from home” atmosphere.
Cleaning is done with a hygienic point of view since cleaning not only make frees from dust and dirt but also from disease causing germs. It also prolongs the life of the materials such as carpet, furniture, etc. clean articles last longer than dirty articles. The most important aspect of cleaning is to maintain the standard of the establishment.
Why to clean?
- To prolong the health, safety & hygiene.
- To maintain the standard.
- To prolong the size of the furniture, fixtures & safety.
- Public areas,
- Guest room
- Lobby
- All area and compound of the hotel
- Mopping
- Washing
- Vacuuming
- Dusting
- Shampooing
- Polishing
- Dry cleaning
- Damp cleaning
- Washing (using wet cloth)
Cleaning equipment depends upon the type of surface to be cleaned, H/k department uses different equipments in order to clean more effectively in an efficient and comfortable manner.
The cleaning equipment can be classified as:-
Cleaning Equipment
Tools Materials Product/ Agent
Sponges Detergent Soap
Manual Electricity Floor Cloth Abrasive
Broom Floor Washing & Polishing Machine Glass Cloth Chemical Solution
Brush Floor Scrubbing Machine Rag or Pad Polishing Stain removal
Container Carpet Sampooing Machine Duster natural sources
Disinfectants
(dettol , phenol)
Care Maintenance of Cleaning Equipment
- Remove fluff, hair after use.
- Wash/ rinse and dry frequently.
- Store in secure place.
- Labeling for difference material and keep according to the hotel.
- Before use we should know the instruction how to handle
- Transportation on time to replenish
- Availability of future stock
- Durability
- Best quality
- Easy to handle and affordable
- Possible damage to surface (point to be consider
Furniture are made up of different materials like wood, plastic, brass, etc. The plastic furniture can be washed with soap, then damp rinsed and dried. For cleaning metal furniture, metal polish such as, Brasso can be used, which make them shiny and clean. The polish is done monthly or periodically.
Furniture can be also soap washed if they are made of sun-mica, tiles, granite, marbles on its surface. For wood only we can polish the wooden surface with mansion polish, which kills germs and makes shiny.
Wooden Furniture
- Equipment
- Bucket
- Furniture duster
- Rag or pad
- Mainson or furniture polish
- Dust pan
- Dust bin
- Remove or wipe away the dust with furniture duster.
- If any stain, remove it by damp dusting.
- Apply mainson polish on the furniture, mostly apply those places of furniture which can be directly seen.
- Rub and shine it.
Synthetic furniture
- Equipment
- Bucket
- Detergent / liquid soap
- Sponge
- Furniture duster
- Dust pan & dust bin
- Prepare detergent solution in one bucket and arrange plain water in other bucket.
- Remove dust from furniture with furniture duster.
- Wash the furniture with sponge dipped in detergent solution.
- Rinse the furniture with sponge dipped in plain water.
- Dry the furniture wth clean furniture duster.
Glass/window cleaning
- Glass is a solid hard, brittle, usually transparent substance made by fusing sand with soda and limestone. Most glass break easily, so care must be taken while cleaning such a complicated substances.
- Equipments
- Bucket
- Sponge/ duster
- Liquid soap or detergent
- Dustbin / Dust pan
- Colin or vinegar
- Glass cloth / Newspaper
- Window wiper
- Nylon scrubber
- Thinner / Blade toremove enamel stain on glass.
Prepare detergent solution in one bucket & plain water in another bucket.
Remove the dust with the help of duster.
Take a nylon scrubber using very little water, clean the glass removing all the stains.
Clean the article with duster.
Get some clean water in a bucket and add few drop of vinegar. Apply this on glass with the duster.
Take a piece of newspaper and clean the article (place) removing all the stains.
Clean the work area.
Floor
Floor is the bottom part of a place. It is the most noticeable area so its maintenance is very important . its cleanliness represents the quality of the establishment.
Floors are classified as follows:-
Floor
- Hard floor
- Semi hard floor
- Soft floor
Hard floor is noisy and does not absorb liquid. The construction cost depends upon the type of the materials used. Hard floor is generally long lasting and used in the areas having high traffic flow.
For example:
- Marble floor
- Cement floor
- Chips floor
- Stone floor
Semi Hard Floor
Semi hard floor basically comprises of wooden type of floor which is less noisy in comparison to hard floors and good for winter season. These types of floor is very difficult to maintain as the dampness in the main cause to destroy.
For example:
Nemo parquet = Type of wooden floor made by placing similier sized wood in various angular way.
Block wood = This type of floor is made by using equal size of block of wood.
Striped = Equal size of rectangle or square wood blocks are used
Soft Floor
Soft floor doesnot produce noise while stepping and absorbs liquid. Soft floor need high degree of maintenance as the dampress cause the floor to be destroyed. Soft floor is used in the area where there is not a huge traffic flow.
For example
Vinial- made of plastic
Linoteum
Rubber
Floor Cleaning
Mopping :- Mopping is a manual process of floor cleaning, carried out on a daily basis. Mopping is done in order to remove soluble dirt, dust and germs from the hard floor and to make the floor dirt, dust and germ free for the aesthetic up keep of the hotel.
Equipments
- Bucket
- Broom or Brush
- Detergent/ liquid soap
- Disinfectant (dettol)
- Mopper - dry & wet
- Floor duster
- Dust bin & dust pan
- floor covering is known as carpet. As their quality represent the Procedure
- Brush or sweep the floor.
- Prepare the solution (Detergent solution in one bucket and dettol & water solution in another)
- Mop the area with detergent solution.
- Rinse the area with dettol & water solution.
- Dry the area/floor with help of dry duster.
Scrubbing is to clean something by rubbing with a brush. This method of cleaning can remove tough stubborn dirt which cannot be removed by mopping.
Equipment
- Scrubbing brush
- Buckets
- Disinfectant/ dettol
- Floor duster
- Broom/ brush
- Detergent / Abrasive (vim powder)
- Dust bin & dust pan
Procedure
- Brush or sweep the floor.
- Prepare detergent solution in one bucket & dettol solution in another.
- Sprinkle the detergent solution on the area to be cleaned.
- Scrub the floor with the help of scrubbing brush.
- Rinse with dettol water solution.
- Dry with a dry duster.
Any decorative textile normally made up of a thick material and intended as a standard of the hotel a heavy investment will have been made on them.
In hotels, apart from their standard and appearance, carpets are used for warmth and safety. Carpets are made from , wool, face fiber, synthetic fiber & nylons.
Carpet cleaning
Special attention must be paid in cleaning the carpet. The type of cleaning varies according to types and materials of the market. For daily cleaning of carpets brushing and vacuuming is done, vacuuming is preferable for any kind of carpets. Carpet shampooing is done periodically.
Carpet shampooing
Equipment
- Carpet shampoo/ liquid soap
- Bucket
- Carpet Brush
- Vacuum Cleaner
- Floor duster
- Disinfectant (Dettol)
- Dust pan / Dust bin
- Brush or vacuum the carpet
- Prepare a solution of carpet shampooing one bucket and dettol water solution in another
- Take the foam with the help of carpet brush and apply on the carpet & scrub gently.
- Wet the floor duster with dettol water solution and rinse the carpet.
- Dry with floor duster.
- Brush or vacuum again.
Room is a place which is sold to the guest either for day purpose or night purpose where guest find complete privacy, security as well as comfort. Hotels largest source of revenue is earned by sales of rooms because a room once made can be sold over and again. A room not sold on a particular day has lost its opportunity to earn revenue for that day. Hence rooms are reffered to as highly perishable commodities.
Bed Room Cleaning
The normal practice for guest bed room cleaning is to attend the vacant room first, the departure room, then the departure room, then the clean my room and at last occupied room.
Bed making procedure
- Remove all solid linen and shake individually to insure that no guest belongings are lost in the folds of linen.
- Check the mattress pad.
- Change the mattress pad if necessary.
- Place the bottom sheet (1st sheet on the mattress with equal falling) on all sides and tuck in head and foot board side.
- Place the second sheet with wrong side up.
- Place the blanket on top of 2nd sheet about 6 to 8 inches away from head board.
- Place third sheet over the blanket and turn it under the blanket.
- Turn the 2nd sheet over the blanket and tuck in lower part with miter carner.
- Make sure that the blanket and sheet are tucked in neatly along the side of the bed.
- Place the pillows in the headboard side. (face the mouth of pillow ship towards each other if two pillows are used)
- Place the bed spread to cover the bed and make sure that all the patterns are straight, neat and smooth.
- Give a glance to bed from distance for any upgrading.
Bathroom Cleaning
Equipment Required
- . Commod brush & container
- . Detergent
- . Disinfectants (Dettol)
- . Floor Duster
- . Glass Duster
- . Bucket
- . Toilet Cleaner (Harpic)
Bathroom Supplies
- . Bath Towels
- . Hand Towels
- . Face Towels
- . Bath Mat
- . Tissue paper
- . Soap, shampoo, bath gel, moisturizing lotion etc
- . Shower cap
- . Disposable or sanitary bags
- . First aid kits
- . Swing kits
- Turn on the light
- Remove soiled towels & other used supplies
- Empty bathroom hamper and clean
- Flush the toilet and apply cleaner inside the bowl
- Clean the shower area and bath tub. Check shower head for functioning and clean
- Clean both side of shower curtain, shower door and shower rod
- Clean bath tub fixtures
- Hang clean bath mat on the edge of tub
- Clean the vanity or wash basin area along with walls and fixtures.
- Clean mirror
- Clean towel rods
- Clean toilet or commode
- .Wash cistern and area the around
- .Wash and clean the area of the bowl
- . Wipe and dry out all surfaces
- . Brush inner part of the bowl and wipe the rim (edge)
- Clean the floor
- Clean both sides of the bathroom door.
- Replace bathroom supplier
- Make final check switch off the light and close the door.
- Check trolly / equipment
- Enter the guest room a announcing “House Keeping”
- Open curtains & windows
- Check for lost and found
- Flush toilet & apply toilet cleaner or harpic on commod
- Change all bed linen and make bed
- Sanitize glass/ashtrays / bins and replace in its location
- Clean the guest room in clockwise or anticlockwise direction
- Clean all pictures, frames, mirrors, head board, both side of guest room door
- Clean the bathroom
- Replenish the guest supplies and amenities
- Check and replace hangers, laundry, dry cleaning list and laundry bag inside cupboard
- Close the window and curtains
- Vacuum bedroom/bathroom floors
- Give a final glance
- Switch of the lights
- Report room as ready using hotel procedure
- Evening Services / Turn Down Service
- Evening services is also known as twin down services provided to all the guest roomsn making ready for guest comfortable sleep.
- Procedure for Turn Down Service
- Check room occupancy list and floow up.
- Enter the guest room announcing ‘H/K’.
- Remove guest article from the bed.
- Remove bed cover from the bed and place in a convenient place.
- Turn the blanket along with the sheet in a triangular shape on the guest entering side
- Empty and clean ash tray and waste basket.
- Replace necessary amenities if required.
- Close curtains and turn on bed side lamp.
- Check the room and close the door.
Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning is the complete cleaning of any given area. It is done by housekeeping in co- ordination with various other departments. The task to be done in annual cleaning are refurnishing of the room, redecorating and repairing.
The task to be done in annual (spring) cleaning are as follows:-
- . Strip the remove
- . Remove loose furnishing and small articles include lamp, shades and pictures
- . Wipe and wash furniture inside and outside
- . Change furniture covers
- . Sweep ceiling, walls, doors, windows and wardrobe
- . Wash paint work
- . Dust all articles
- . Check furniture for repair and polish
- . Spray the insecticides and pesticides in the corners and under the carpet
- . Put the curtains and arrange furniture in the appropriate location and re- arrange the room
- . Dust, vacuum clean and shampoo carpet
- . Check for details
- . Inform the front office that the room ready for re- sale
Metal is an expensive material used for purposes in the hotel. Probably all metal get oxidized when exposed to humidity and air. Oxidiation creates a thin and blond film outside the metal, which infact hides the gloss. Different metal require different procedures for cleaning. Following are some of the important metal and their cleaning procedures.
Metal (Aluminium)
Equipment
Hot Soapy water
Clean water
Sauce pan brush
Steel wool
Net cloth
Method
- Wash with hot soapy water using a sauceper brush, or a piece of steel wool. If it is greasy use very hot water.
- Remove stains by using a nylon soft brush.
- Rinse thoroughly in clean hot water.
- Dry with net cloth.
Lead - soft grey metal
Flannelette – napped cotton fabric like flannel
Chromimum - plate, load
Stainless steel, silver
Equipment required
- Warm soapy water
- Warm clean water
- Flannelette or net cloth
- Linen cloth
- Two soft clean dusters
Method
- If dirty wash with warm water
- Rinse with clean warm water
- Dry with linen cloth
- Hot soapy water
- Soda
- Net cloth or floor cloth
- Bucket of water
- Paraffin Newspaper
Method
- Wash with hot soapy water
- If greasy add soda
- Remove stain with nylon brush
- Use a net cloth or a floor cloth, according to the type of article.
- Rinse through with clean water.
- Dry with the net cloth or the floor duster
Another method
- Clean with paraffin using a pad of newspaper
- Rinse thoroughly with clean, hot water, using a floor cloth
Tin
Equipment required
- Hot soapy water
- Soda
- Net cloth
Method
- Wash with hot soapy water using a net cloth.
- If it is greasy add soda to washing water.
- Remove stains by using a nylon soft brush.
- Rinse in clean hot water.
- Dry with the net cloth.
Metal Cleaning/ Polishing
Identification / Types of metal
- Copper
- Bronze
- Brasso 1 – 3 = Brasso
- Silver 4 – 8 = Dard Multi Purpose
- Aluminum
- Zinc
- Steel
- Gold
- Vim
- Metal polish
- Bucket
- Duster/ rag/ pad
- Brasso / silvo
- Wash the metallic items
- Dam dusting
- Dry it well
- Apply the metal polish
- Rub it gently
Basically these are 4 types of carpet
- Woolen carpet : this types of carpet is made of wool and has large files. Their colours are fasters and they are luxurious. These carpets and they are luxurious. These carpets are easy to maintain but are expensive. They absorbs sound and are highly inflammable. They have water holding, capacity and hence provide better breeding ground for micro- organisms. Mold, mildew, bacteria and other growth spoils the woolen carpet. Ammonia, salt, alkaline, chorine bleach, strong detergent can spoil or damage woolen carpets
- Nylon carpet : This type of carpet are easy to clean, can hold its colour and are washable. Because they do not hold water, they are less likes to promote bacteria they are cheaper compared to woolen carpets.
- Synthetic/ Acryline : they came in use only after 1955. They look like woolen carpet and are not easy to clean. They get browned during cleaning. The quality is too poor and may be used only in some specific areas.
- Synthetic fiber carpet : it is also called force fiber carpet. This is the blend of woolen and synthetic They are good in appearance spongly and retain texture for long time. They are made more durable and cheaper.
Carpet Problems:- Pile destruction
- Shading
- Fading
- Wicking
- Mildew
- Pile destruction : it is the most common problem of carpet. The fiber become twisted, pilled or crushed. It occurs when carpet received heavy traffic, heavy equipment and improper cleaning.
- Shading : It occurs when pile in the carpet is brushed in two different directions, so that dark and light area appears. Shading is normal features of almost all carpets. Vacuuming or pile lifting in one direction help to reduce shading problems.
- Fading: every carpet fades with time, sunlight wear, improper cleaning and spot removal can do more damage.
- Wicking : sometime when the backing becomes week, wicking occurs. It can be avoided by proper cleaning.
- Mildew : moisture allows to grow mildew which causes staining adour and rotting. The carpet should be kept dry and treated
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