This document provides an overview of housekeeping basics and best practices. It discusses the importance of housekeeping to hotel competitiveness and image. It outlines various safety procedures for housekeeping staff, such as proper lifting techniques and handling chemicals. It also describes different room types, bed sizes, cleaning procedures, and amenities to be replenished.

1. House keeping basicsPresentation Transcript
 1. Housekeeping Basic knowledge in housekeeping presented By Akhilesh Pandey H.O.D. of F.& B. Service in HERITAGE
INSTITUTE OF HOTEL & TOURISM ,VACO-DA-GAMA, GOA.
 2. Importance of housekeeping • The hotel’s main product. • In order to be competitive in the industry, they must have a
clean and functional room. • An image of a clean room creates an imagery of impeccable service.
 3. Housekeeping Department
 4. Your Safety: Lifting heavy objects • Get help when lifting heavy items. • Follow these safe lifting methods: • Bend your
legs , not your back, when you pick up something heavy. • Hold the heavy item close to your body. • Move to face the heavy
object before you lift instead of twisting your body.
 5. Doing the same motion over and over • Use a cart to move linens, laundry, or other heavy items. • Push rather then pull
carts. • Take regular rest breaks, even just short breaks to stretch your body. • Take turns with other workers to do different
types of tasks. • Pad your knees (with a mat or towel) and change your position often when you work on your knees.
 6. Slippery and cluttered floors • Clean up spills immediately. • Keep floors dry. • Never run or move too fast. • Do not carry
items too tall for you to see over. • Wear shoes with non-skid soles. • Use a ladder or footstool to reach objects up high. •
Never stand on the edge of a bathtub, bed, or chair.
 7. Laundry and other cleaning products • Ask for information about the chemicals you use. • Read labels and follow
instructions before using. • If you do not understand the label, write down the name and ask someone for help. • Wear
goggles and gloves when needed. Your boss should provide them. • Do not mix chemicals together.
 8. Handling abusive guest • If you are being yelled at or harassed by anyone, get help from a co-worker or your boss. • If
someone continues to harass you at work, get help from a trusted friend or community organization outside the workplace. •
Do not work alone in a hotel room if hotel guests are present.
 9. Diseases from hotel guests • Wash hands with soap often, especially after handling soiled linen or cleaning the
bathroom. • When you handle trash cans or bags, watch out for syringes, razor blades, or other things that might hurt you or
spread disease.
 10. Study guide • Research on new technologies featured on rooms • Provide pictures on your favorite hotel guest rooms.
Explain why it is your ideal room and provide a short description on the features of the room. • Why is housekeeping an
important department in the hotel? • Why do we need to learn the room attendant pre- requisites?
 11. Types of guest rooms • Single Rooms: A room designed for a single traveler. • Double Rooms: A room with two double
beds. Doubles beds size is usually 54 × 75 in (4’6″ × 6’3″) or 137 × 191 cm. • Twin Rooms: A room with two single beds.
Single bed size is usually 39 × 75 in (3’3" × 6’3″) or 97 × 191 cm • Suite Rooms: A complete room usually with a foyer that
connects to one or more bedrooms. Usually, these are the most expensive rooms in the hotel
 12. History of Beds • Earliest Beds Our earliest ancestors simply slept on the ground. • Egyptian Beds Piled palm leaves in
their houses and slept on them, while the pharaohs slept on flat pallets made of hard materials such as gold. • Roman Beds
The Romans invented the mattress, making beds that were comfortable as well as decorative.
 13. History of Beds • Renaissance Beds Roughly 1400 to 1600, beds were located in every room of the house, doubling as
couches during the day. • Mattress History Renaissance mattresses were filled with straw and bound with rope. Only in the
late 1700s were softer cotton mattresses introduced. • Modern Beds The 20th century saw the evolution of comfortable
mattresses, including foam mattresses, waterbeds and the queen-size mattress.
 14. Guestroom beds Bed Type US Size European Size Single 39 × 75 in (97 × 191 cm) 35 × 79 in (90 × 200 cm) Double 54
× 75 in (137 × 191 cm) 55 × 79 in (140 × 200 cm) Queen 60 × 80 in (152 × 203 cm) 63 × 79 in (160 × 200 cm) King 76 × 80
in (193 × 203 cm) 71 × 79 in (180 × 200 cm)
 15. Housekeeping Organizational Chart Brief Description Task to clean and maintain the quality of guest room. These are
comprised mostly of chambermaids and room attendants. In some establishments, the minibar team is usually under this

2. department (depending on the size of the property). This department handles all laundry, dry cleaning and pressing needs of
the hotel and guest. Cleans and maintains all public areas of the hotel. Hotel Cycle Typically, in-stay, departure and post
departure phase Commercial needs of the hotel are performed in all phases. Guest laundry is mainly performed during in-
stay process of the laundry. Performed in all phases. Lobby cleaning is usually performed during night time, as there is
lesser traffic in the hotel during these hours. Department Head Director of Rooms Section Manager Executive Housekeeper
Executive Housekeeper/Laundry Manager Executive Housekeeper Supervisory Guest Room Supervisor Laundry Supervisor
Public Area Supervisor Rank and File Room Attendants Chambermaids Mini bar Attendant · In some of the hotels Room
Service attendant is part of rooms Laundry Attendants Linen Attendant Steam Pressure/Ironer Valet Runner Utility man
Public Area Attendants Pest Control Gardener
 16. Housekeeping activities • Room Cleaning • Laundry services: • Commercial laundry (uniforms, linens, towels, table
napkins, table cloths and others) • Guest laundry (laundry of guest) • Mini bar • Public areas • Location and facilities of the
hotel where the public can generally use. These include the lobby, public sitting areas, public toilets and walkways.
 17. Room Assignment Priority •Early make up request is the request of the guest to “make up room” of the guest. •VIP
rooms are guestrooms that require extra attention since the occupants are considered Very Important Persons. •Blocked
rooms are guestrooms that are reserved for guest with special requirements or needs. •Vacant and dirty rooms are checked
out rooms to be blocked by front office for prospective guest.
 18. Room Assignment Priority • Late Checkout rooms are guestrooms are request made by the occupant and subsequently
granted extension of check-out beyond the standard check- out time. • DND (Do not disturb) as per request of
guest(signage), rooms are not to be cleaned until specific request of guest. • No service rooms are guestrooms requested by
guest that his room not be cleaned.
 19. Study guide • What are the different types of guestrooms? • Discuss the history of Bed • What are the different sizes of
bed? • Select one job in housekeeping and research on his competencies • What are the different room assignment
priorities? Why do we need to know this as future room attendants? • What are the different housekeeping activities?
 20. Chemicals Toilet bowl cleaner • A toilet Bowl cleaner kills germs and get out hard water deposits such as bowl ring in the
toilet bowl. • Most toilet bowl cleaners may contain hydrochloric or phosphoric acids. These acids aids in removing all kinds
of dirt, stains, rust and others from bowls and urinals. • An effective toilet bowl cleaner kills a wide range of disease-and
odor- causing bacteria. There are commercial cleaners readily available in stores. For larger hotels, distributors and
suppliers sell industrial cleaners.
 21. Chemicals All purpose cleaner • An all purpose cleaner concentrated general- purpose cleaner should be gentle on the
hands and be tolerable for any furniture surface. A good number of all purpose cleaners have a PH level of 11 to 12. • Most
of the all-purpose cleaners nowadays are equipped will germ killing formulation.
 22. Chemicals Glass cleaner • A glass cleaner is meant for windows, mirrors, glass counters, tabletops, display cases and
other glass surfaces. Some contain ammonia solution and alcohol content to clear away grease, dirt and fast dry. • The
cleaner is usually partnered with the squeegee for fast and effective cleaning of windows. Wood polisher • Use polish only if
the furniture starts to look dull, worn-out and seedy.
 23. Chemicals Chrome & brass polisher • Metal polishes contain solvents and detergents to remove tarnishes, mild
abrasives and oil to brighten and slow down the tarnish process in metals.
 24. Cleaning Tools 1. Chamois and non-abrasive sponge 2. Chamois absorbs liquid up to seven times their weight. It is
used for drying various surfaces such as granite, marble, mirror and glassware. 3. Toilet brush, Toilet swab, bucket, scoop
4. Toilet brush is a bristle brush often uses to clean inside the toilet bowl. 5. Toilet swab or Johnny mop is a ball of rayon,
acrylic or cotton at the end of long handle. The tool is designed to clean the bowl without scratching its surface. 6. Complete
set of rags: 1. One (1) for toilet 2. One (1) for dusting wooden surfaces 3. One (1) for drying marbles 4. Two (2) for glass and
mirrors 5. Squeegee 6. Tool designed to swipe dry glass and windows.
 25. Room amenities • Basic room amenities are stocked in their housekeeping cart for replenishment of used items. • Room
amenities would include linens, towels, room forms, stationary, pencils, bath toiletries and others • Room amenities would
vary from one property to another. • Amenities in the hotel room are based also on the number of occupants. For
example, if there are two people in the room bathroom supplies and amenities should be adequate for two people.
 26. Room Cleaning process
 27. Entering guest room 1. Rooms are accessed according to the property’s standards Entering a guestroom is the first
contact with guest. If done professionally, this will leave a lasting impression with the guest. 2. Find out if the guest is in the
room. •If a Do Not Disturb (DND) sign is displayed at the door, note it on your worksheet and return to the room later. •Ask
your supervisor to call the guest if DND sign is still displayed on the door.

3.  28. Entering guest room 3. Properly introduce yourself in entering the room. • Knock the door announcing “Housekeeping”
and step back for about three feet from the main door so that the guests can see you from the door eye viewer. • If there is
no reply from the room, after 10 seconds knock for the second time announcing “Housekeeping”. • After the third attempted
knocking the door, simultaneously use your master key and announcing “Housekeeping” in opening the room. When you are
reasonably sure that there is no occupant, open the door wide.
 29. Entering guest room 4. If the guest is inside the room ask permission if you can clean the room. • Introduce yourself and
politely ask if you can clean the room. • “Good morning/ afternoon/evening (guest name). Is it alright if I can clean your
room?” • If the guest gives a later time, note the time on your room assignment sheet. Thank the guest, and quietly leave the
room and return on the specified time given by the guest • Sometimes the guest will be sleeping or in the bathroom. If so
leave quietly, close the door and return on later to clean the room.
 30. Entering guest room 5. Prop open the guest room door • Use doorstopper • Time and motion from going to the
housekeeping cart 6. Position your cart • Blocks the room from possible intruders