2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

AREA CLEANING - GUEST ROOM

Daily cleaning of a guest room – A GRAs work begins when he reports

at the housekeeping desk in correct uniform and proper grooming. A
briefing is conducted by supervisor at the beginning of shift highlighting VIP
rooms, any messages from previous shift and a briefing of work ahead. After
briefing, area allocation is done (recorded in Reporting Staff Placement
Register) and accordingly each GRA collects his room status report and
master key.

A GRA may have to service anywhere between 12 and 16 rooms in a day

depending on the elaborate work in the rooms. After the GRA finishes
servicing one room, he/she informs the floor supervisor that the prepared
guestroom can be inspected. The proper order of the daily cleaning/servicing
of guestrooms by the GRAs is;

1. Guestrooms whose occupants requested for early make up.

(Guest request has to be honoured first)
2. VIP, VVIP rooms.
3. Checkout rooms blocked for arrivals. (So that the guest need
not wait for checking in the room)
4. Check out rooms. (Makes more rooms available for sale by Front
desk)
5. Stay overs (In-house guests, who usually go out in the day for
business or tourism and we can clean without disturbing the
privacy of the guest)
6. Rooms that had a DND card displayed in the morning but has
been removed now.
7. Rooms due to become check outs much later in the day. (If
cleaned early, then need to be cleaned again post check-out)
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

Cleaning of an occupied room-

Entering the guestroom

1. Knock on the door with your knuckles and announce housekeeping,

wait for ten second. (Do not use any other articles, such as pens or
keys, for the purpose).
2. In case a DND sign is displayed, proceed to clean another room,
making a note of the DND status on the room assignment sheet.
3. If there is no answer after 10 seconds knock the door the second time
announcing housekeeping.
4. If there still no answer uses the master key to open the door announcing
housekeeping.
5. If the guest bids GRA to enter, open the door slightly and ask if you may
service the room. if the guest is willing, proceed to clean the room. In
case the guest does not want the room serviced at the moment, ask for
an alternative time and make a note of it on the room assignment sheet.
6. If there is still no answer, use master key to open the door if it is
locked. Hold the door slightly ajar and repeat housekeeping. In case
there is no answer, enter the room discreetly and make sure that the
guest is not in the bathroom or in a deep sleep or even ill. Otherwise
proceed to clean the room .If the guest is in the bathroom asleep,
retreat and close the door.
7. In case GRA end up having disturbed the guest, apologize, explain the
reason for your enter and say that you shall come back later to clean
the room.
8. Upon entering the room, open the door wide and position the cart in
front of the door with the shelves facing the door.
9. Keep the door wide open during servicing of the room.

Preparing to clean the guest room-IF the guest is out or has permitted you
to clean the room, greet them politely and begin your work, but take care to
minimize any disturbance or inconvenience to the guest.
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

 Ventilate the room by drawing back the drapes and opening the
windows. While drawing back the curtains, check the curtain
rings and tracks.
 Remove room service (IRD) trays and used tea trays.
 Switch on all electrical appliances such as lights, fans,-
conditioners, television, and so on to check that they are in
working order. Switch them off after the check.
 Empty ashtrays, wastepaper baskets and the sani bin from the
bathroom into the trash bag on the cart.

Cleaning the guestroom-

 Remove soiled linen and make the bed as per standard

procedure.
Follow a systematic method by starting at the door and cleaning
surface as you move clockwise or anticlockwise .Also always clean
from higher to lower levels.
 Damp dust the door and all the door fixtures.
 Damp dust cabinets and closets.
 Damp dust the luggage rack.
 Damp dust the dressing table, drawer and lighting fixtures
around or near it.
 Clean mirror.
 Damp dust the bedside tables.
 Dry dust all the fixture and accessories in the guestroom.
 Damp dust chairs and tables; vacuum upholstered furniture.
Rearrange all furniture properly after you are done.
 Vacuum the carpet edges and floor baseboards.
 Clean window frames and glass panes if required.
 Damp dust the headboard of the bed.
 Damp dust the telephone and disinfect the mouthpiece and the
handle of the receiver.
 Spot clean all walls if necessary.
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

Replenishing minibar –Replenish the minibar as per set standard and

prepare bill for consumed items

Replenishing bedroom supplies-Replenish the bedroom supplies if

required and place them as per the hotel policy.

Cleaning the bathroom-Put on protective gloves and an apron before begin

the work at bathroom-

 Before starting to clean any surface, apply the toilet cleaner in WC. It may
require that the WC be flushed first. Proceed with other tasks in the
bathroom while the toilet cleaning agent does its job.
 Clean the shower curtain using a damp sponge. Let the shower curtain
hang loosely on the tap side of the bath tub, with the bottom of the curtain
inside the tub. This is important for avoiding the build-up moisture.
 Clean the bath tub, surrounding tiles, shower area, and vanity unit using
a wet sponge and neutral detergent.
 Clean the mirror in the same ways as flat glass,.
 Replenish toiletries and other bathroom supplies if required. Gargle
glasses should be replaced with clean ones covered in a wrapper with the
message ‘sanitized for your use’
Replace used towels with fresh ones.
 Clean the outside and surrounding area of the toilet bowl.
 Using a toilet brush, clean the inside of the toilet bowl, especially under
the rim and flush, rinsing the toilet brush in the flush water. A bidet, if
present, is also cleaned in the same way.
 Apply a disinfectant solution on the toilet seat and inside of the lid and
close the lid of the toilet bowl .Place the disinfected strip with the sign
‘sanitized for your use ‘around the bowl.
 Check all electric appliances to see that they are in working order.
 Damp dust the door and door fixtures, the toilet – roll holder and other
fixtures.
 Clean and disinfect the wall phone.
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

 Mop the floor. It is a good practice to add a little disinfectant to the mop
water since many guests walk barefoot in the bathroom.
 Take a critical look around, Leave the bath room door open for air to
circulate and exit the bathroom.

Concluding work in the guestroom-

In the end, vacuum clean the room (or mop). Begin from the farthest end,
drawing the sheer curtains and move back towards door. Switch off extra
lights except the ones that are to be left on as per policy.

While cleaning an occupied room .you may tidy the guest’s possessions and
belonging scattered around but never throw away anything. They should not
touch any valuables or money left in the room. So that he /she can inspect
the cleaned room. After cleaning, inform the floor supervisor so that he/she
can inspect the cleaned room.

Servicing a vacant room – Brush up BUP

A vacant room is one in which no guest has slept the previous night and which
is not yet occupied. This room would have already been serviced earlier when
the last guest to have stayed in it departed from it. Thus a vacant room needs
only a
 light dusting
 a check of all electrical appliances
 Vacuuming the carpet if required
 In the bathroom, the W. C. should be flushed

In the event of a vacant room having been unoccupied for a long time,
however, it may need to be cleaned in the manner of a vacated room. A GRA
should also look for signs of illegal occupation in the night by checking if the
bed has been slept in, the bathroom supplies used.
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

Turn down service / Evening service in a guest room -The turn down
services is provided by the housekeeping department in the evening at
hotels as a special service to guests. It is, therefore .also referred to as evening
service or night service. Turn down refers to making the bed ready for
sleeping in by removing any bedspread or duvet and turning down the
covers. Along with this function, a few other tasks are carried out in the
evening to make the guestroom environment conducive to and comfortable for
a good night’s sleep. To provide the turn down service, a GRA enters the
guestroom early in the evening to replenish supplies, generally tidy the room
and turn down the beds. The procedure is given below.

 Follow the usual procedure of announcing housekeeping and entering

the guestroom.

 Empty and damp dust the ashtray, replace matchbox and generally
tidy the room. Empty the wastepaper basket.
 These tasks should be done before turning down the sheets on the bed.
 Turn down the sheets. (fold one corner of the blanket to enable the guest
to slide into the bed 90 or 45 degree).
 Place the breakfast card and chocolate ( depends on the hotel sop)
 Hang any scattered about clothes left by the guest in the cupboard.
 Replace used glasses and replenish water jugs.
 Adjust the air conditioner controls.
 If the bathroom has been used, damp dust the vanity unit and bath
tub, flush the WC wipe the seat, and mop away any marks on the floor.
 Replace soiled linens with fresh ones.
 Replenish the bathroom supplies.
 Empty the sani bin.
 Pull the guestroom drapes closed. (draw the heavy curtain).
 Switch off all lights except the bedside lamp to create a welcoming glow
around the bed.
 Exit and lock the door if the guest is expected later.

Second Service-Second service is provided on the special request of a guest

after the guestroom has already been serviced earlier in the day. The guest
may ask for this chargeable service after he has had visitors in the room for
a party or meeting ,as a result of which the room may have become dirty or
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

disorganized. Second service may involve the following tasks;

 Removing room service trays and used plates, dishes, glasses and bottles.
 Emptying and damp dusting ashtrays, emptying the waste basket.
 Damp dusting surfaces in the guestrooms that are likely to have been
used by visitors and guests.
 Mopping the floor in the sitting area.
 Making the bed if required.
 Replacing glasses and refilling water jugs.

 Cleaning the bathroom thoroughly, including the toilet bowl and placing
the disinfected toilet strip.
 Replacing soiled linen with fresh.
 Spraying an air freshener if the room has any residual odour of food or
cigarette smoke.
 Exiting and locking the door if the guest is out.
 Recording the service provided appropriately so that it may be added to
the guest’s bill.

SERVICING VIP ROOMS

Very important persons( VIP) rooms are always given priority for service. The
front desk should give advance information to housekeeping about the arrival
of any VIP. The cleaning of rooms meant to be occupied by a VIP must be as
thorough as that for a vacated room .Generally extra complementary
amenities and giveaways that are kept in the VIP rooms.
These amenities may differ from hotel to hotel. VIP rooms may also require
some extra time during cleaning due to the thoroughness expected and the
added amenities to be placed. The inspection of a VIP room should also be
more thorough.

VIP are categorized into four different groups according to the degree of their
importance:
VIP1- These are heads of state ,ministers and celebrities.
VIP2-These are presidents and CEOS of large companies ,the management
and directors of the hotel itself, well known personalities and other high
ranking officials
VIP3-These are regular repeat guest of the hotel and people known
personally to the management or directors of the hotel.
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

VIP4 – These may be the HANDLE WITH CARE - HWC guests and certain
groups of people known to the managers.

VIP 1 VIP 2 VIP 3 VIP 4

 PARTIAL BAR:  Mineral water  mineral

 FULL BAR:This includes
beer ,soft drinks,  Assorted water
whisky,gin,vodka,beer,softdrinks,
water biscuit  small sized
cocktails,and mixers(soda lime
 Snacks: assorted  Small sized flower
water)
biscuits flower arrangement
 Snacks: Assorted nuts, biscuits
 Assorted arrangement  small fruit
 Assorted chocolates
chocolates  Small fruit basket
 Large flower arrangement
 Medium sized basket  comb
 Large fruit basket
flower  Soft slipper  dental and
 Bath robes
arrangement  Comb and hair shaving kit
 Soft slippers
 Medium sized brushes
 Combs and hair brushes
flower  Dental and
 Dental and shaving kit
arrangement shaving kit
 Bath foam
 Bath robes  Bath foam
 Assorted soaps
 Soft slippers  Cologne
 Cologne
 Combs and hair
brush
 Dental and
shaving kit
 Bath foam
 Assorted soaps

SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for dealing with DND Rooms:

For expected checkout / due-out guests:

• If the guest is due to checkout, then do not disturb the DND room
until check out.
• Once the expected checkout time is over, Inform the
housekeeping control desk supervisor that the guest room is still
on DND.
• Housekeeping supervisor should call up the guest and enquire if the
service is required.
• In case there is no response from the guest room then, the supervisor
should call up the front desk and check if the guest had
already checked out.
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

• After confirming that the guest had checked out then the room boy
can enter the room with Do not disturb sign.
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

All DND rooms and actions taken should be mentioned in detail on

the log book.

For Stay over guest:

• A DND - (Do not disturb) sign clearly indicates that the room
attendant should check later if service is required.
• If there is no response till evening ( 2.00pm or 3.00 pm ) then the
housekeeping supervisor should ring the guest and check if he / she
requires the room to be serviced.
• Ask the guest if he or she require fresh supplies ( eg: Towels,
• When service is refused at (2.00pm or 3.00 pm ), the evening boy
has to clean the room during evening service.
• If service is not provided during evening also then a note to be slipped
under the door.
• When guest refuses service a floor supervisor / duty manager / lobby
manager should call the guest and arrange a convenient time for
cleaning.
• If there is any suspicious or doubt about the room status or other
incidents then a Manager along with the security personal should
knock and enter the room with the master key card.
• In some case guest might be un-well or some accident occurred which
require urgent intervention,
• The room should not remain with out service for more than 24 hours,
unless this is specifically requested by the guest and approved by the
general manager
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

PRINCIPLES OF CLEANING

 The cleaning should be done without harming or damaging the

surface being cleaned or the surrounding surfaces. Cleaners should
take all safety precautions for themselves & for guest.
 The cleaning procedure should be efficient, using minimum of
equipment, labor, time & cleaning agents.
 Cleaning should be started from ceiling towards the floor / Top to Bottom.
 The cleaner should start from the farthest end of an area, working
towards the exit.
 The cleaner should take clockwise or anti-clockwise motion/direction
for cleaning the area and to prevent confusion.
 All loose dust & litter to be removed before dealing with stubborn
stains/ dirt
 Use lighter cleaning first before attempting stronger methods
 When in doubt choose the simplest method
 Abrasives should be used as the last resort as they can damage the surface
 All staff to be well trained in cleaning methods & the use of cleaning agents.
 Use methods that are least inconvenient to guests.
 While wet cleaning of the floor, the cleaner should work backwards
towards the exit
 Divide the area into two parts/ half /sections for the purpose of
cleaning for guest convenience
 Stains should be removed as soon as they occur
 Caution boards to be used while cleaning public area
 Noise level to be kept as low as possible
 All the equipments & cleaning agents to be stacked neatly at an
appropriate place
 After cleaning is over all the equipments should be washed, wiped, dried
and stored properly; Cleaning agents should be replenished and stored;
waste discarded and the area left neat & clean.
 Dusting then sweeping then suction cleaning
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

 Damp dusting is more effective than dry dusting as it prevents dust

from flying out. (the damp duster should be clean or else it might
leave streaks)

FREQUENCY OF CLEANING

Cleaning tasks may be divided according to the frequency of their scheduling, which depends upon the
level of soiling, the type of surface, the amount of traffic, the type of hotel and the cleaning standards.
Employees should be given the procedures and frequencies for carrying out various tasks outlined in
the book or manual. This information may also be displayed in the floor pantries.

 DAILY CLEANING: These are routing operations carried out on a day-

to-day basis by the staff of the housekeeping department. These
include the regular servicing of guestrooms, cleaning of bathrooms and
toilets, suction cleaning of floors and the floor coverings and so on.
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

 PERIODIC CLEANING: This is the task carried out on

monthly, quarterly, half yearly or on annual basis. Some of
the usual periodic task in the hotel includes shampooing of
carpets, washing of walls, polishing of floors and cleaning of
chandeliers.

 WEEKLY CLEANING: These, as term implies, are

routine tasks carried out on a weekly basis. Weekly
cleaning schedules are made and these normally
include some cleaning tasks that are time consuming
or tasks that cannot be done on a daily basis. Example
 Monday Polishing Brassware
 Tuesday High dusting
 Wednesday Scrubbing of Bath room Tiles
 Thursday Vacuuming under heavy furniture
 Friday Scrubbing of balconies / terrace
 Saturday Changing paper under liner in drawers
 Sunday Cleaning the window Ledges

 FORTNIGHTLY CLEANING – 15-day cleaning schedule

Guest floor practice:-

 The staff should be calm and polite to the guest, greeting them according to the time of the day
 A GRA should not knock on the door or try to access a guestroom when the DND card is displayed on
the door knob. If the card has been displayed for a long time, the matter should be referred to the
supervisor.
 GRA’s should follow the standard procedure for entering a guestroom. A GRA should knock softly on
the door with the knuckles and announce in a steady, soft voice ‘house keeping’. If there is no answer,
the GRA should wait for a few moments and knock again. He/she should announce house keeping
again. If there is no answer, the door should be held slightly ajar and the announcement house keeping
repeated. If the guest does not respond, it can be assumed that the room is empty and the GRA can
enter and proceed to clean it.
 In case the guest answers the knock, the GRA should introduce himself/herself and ask if they would
like their room serviced. If yes, the GRA should proceed to clean the room. Alternatively the guest might
not want service immediately. In this case ask for their convenient time.
 GRA should keep the door wide open when doing the cleaning
 GRA should keep their cart parked in such a way that the guest corridor is free for movement. The room
service tray should not be kept in the guest corridor. The staff should not leave any kind of notes to the
guest
 The staff should not leave any kind of notes for the guest
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

 If a guest acts in a strange manner or one that makes a GRA un comfortable, the GRA should make an
excuse to leave and contact the supervisor
 GRA should not throw any paper or item found in check out rooms. All the items found should be
reported to the supervisor and handed over to the lost and found section.
 The staff should communicate with each other in low tones on the guest floors, and only when
necessary. Unnecessary speech, especially gossips, is to be avoided
 The staff should always remain calm in front of the guest- running about in haste or due to panic must
be avoided.
 The staff should keep an eye open for any suspicious and untoward activity being indulged in by a
guest on the guest floor. They should remain alert at all times and display presence of mind
 Staff should readily offer assistance and relevant information to the guest. However when they do not
have the requisite knowledge, they should consult their supervisor
 The staff should not accept tips. When accepting gifts from guest, they should also request a letter
stating this gift and explaining the guest’s action
 The staff should at no time argue with a guest, however unreasonable he/she may be. They should
refer the problem to a supervisor when such a situation presents itself
2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2
2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

Module 5
PUBLIC AREA CLEANING

The public areas in a hotel comprise the ‘front of the house’ areas such as
entrances, lobbies, lounges, the front desk, guest rooms; functional areas
such as restaurant, banquet halls, bar and waiting rooms; and leisure areas
such as swimming pools, the spa , and health club. In others words, the
areas of the hotel that are inconstant view and frequented by guests are
referred to as public areas. A neat and clean public area is reflective of the
cleanliness standards throughout the hotel property, because guests see
these areas first and form an overall impression of the hotel based upon
these.. The housekeeping is responsible for the cleanliness and
maintenance of these public areas in the hotel.. Many hotels get their public
areas cleaned by contractors. Like cleaning in other areas of the hotel, the
cleaning routine areas can be divided

Cleaning procedure of various public areas

ENTRANCES-

The guests get their first impression of the hotel from the entrance and
lobby. Due to this reason, some hotels may have elaborates or dramatic
design feature at the entrance, cleaning which may be a difficult
proposition for the housekeeping department. Entrance, if not cleaned
and maintained daily, can easily acquire a neglected look due to the
heavy traffic and exposure, which can be very unappealing for an arriving
guest.

Flooring and mats-

Key features here are the doormats and runners that act as the reservoirs
for dust and dirt rubbed away from the shoes. One doormat or runner
should be placed just outside the entrance to prevent most of dirt and
soil being brought in with the guest’s shoes another doormat or runner
must be placed just inside the entrance, to remove any remnants of dust
from the shoes so that they do not leave any footprints on the floor.

Other cleaning and maintenance tasks for this area are listed below.
 The doormats and runner must be vacuum cleaned daily to remove dust
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

and grit.
 In the rainy season and during times of heavy traffic, cleaning the mats
twice a day or even more often may be called for.
 The floor at the entrance has to be mopped frequently throughout the
day.
 Plants at the entrances should be watered when required.

Doors
 Glass doors should be cleaned twice a day and where public traffic is
high, the frequency of cleaning may have to be even three or four times
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

daily. A proprietary glass cleaner may be used for the cleaning or a

vinegar and water solution may be used for glass that is not too soiled.
 Dirt, grease and scuff marks on the door frames should be damp dusted
with an alkaline detergent and water, and re wiped with clean water to
remove all traces of the detergent.
 Wooden doors should be damp dusted once daily. A neutral detergent
should be used with water for damp dusting once a week to avoid the
build up of layers of dust
 Brass knobs and handles should be polished weekly and in case of
lacquered brass, only damp dusting is sufficient.

LOBBIES-

These are areas provided as a common meeting point for guests near the
reception. Many lobbies are carpeted, while others have hard flooring.
cleaning processes for the two kinds of flooring will be different. Floors in
the lobbies need to be cleaned frequently since these are spaces where
guests interact, relax and check in. Like entrance, these are also heavy
traffic areas. Hence cleaning should be scheduled for the night or early
morning when there are fewer people around.

Daily cleaning of lobbies-The daily tasks should be scheduled so that

the lobby may be cleaned with the least inconvenience to guest.

 Ashtrays, sand urns and wastepaper baskets should be emptied and

damp dusted –if required as often as twice or thrice a day.
 Flower arrangement should be attended to daily and indoor plants
watered as required.
 Glass surfaces and windows should be cleaned with a proprietary glass
cleaner daily.
 Doors, door handles and knobs should be damp –dusted daily. If the
fixtures are made of lacquered brass, they need not be polished; damp
dusting should suffice. A more thorough cleaning of the doors, including
their tracks, should also be carried out once a day.
 Carpeted areas should be suction cleaned daily to remove dust and dirt.
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

 Any stains on the carpet or upholstery should be removed immediately.

 Hard floors must be mopped or vacuumed daily.
 Lights and lighting fixtures should be checked daily and cleaned weekly.
 Furniture should be damp-dusted daily. Occasional tables should be
cleared and cleaned frequently during the day.
 Telephone must be damp dusted with a disinfectant solution and wiped
dry with a dry duster.

Periodic cleaning of lobbies-

Some cleaning tasks need not be carried out daily. These should be
scheduled on a periodic basis, for once in a week, once in six months, or
once in a year.

 High level dusting, to clean ceilings and other hard to reach areas such
as tops of fans and cornices, should be done once in a week. Very high
ceilings may be dusted once a month.
 Elaborate chandeliers may be brought down and cleaned once in six
months.
 Upholstered furniture should be suction cleaned with an upholster
attachment once a week.
 Wooden furniture should be polished once a week.
 Blinds and curtain should be polished once a weekly.

Carpets should be shampooed once a month, but in case of heavy traffic

or heavy soiling the cleaning frequency could be once a week.

FRONT DESK-

The front desk is the hub of activities in the front desk part of the
property, since all arriving guests are registered to their rooms here and
many enquiries are made here. Hence the cleaning should be done at no
peak hours so as not to interrupt the flow of business. When guests
approach the front desk during the cleaning process, cleaning should be
stop momentarily and employee doing work at the task should step aside.
Cleaning task should in no way hamper the flow of work of front desk.
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

Specific cleaning tasks-The front desk calls for some exclusive cleaning
tasks as well

 Empty wastepaper baskets as and when required in the day.

 Damp dust the desk, taking care to wipe under the telephone wires and
computer cables. The front panel of the desk should be damp dusted and
a neutral detergent should be used to remove scuff marks from guest’s
shoes.
 Any railing and fixture should be damp dusted. If made of brass, they
should be polished according to a schedule.
 Damp dust all the telephone with a disinfectant solution and wipe with a
dry duster twice daily.
 Damp dust the computer components and fax machine and wipe with a
dry duster twice a day.
 Any smears on the computer screen may be wiped with a proprietary
glass cleaner .it should be ensured while cleaning the computers that
the machines are switched off.
 Suction clean the carpet under the desk .If the floor is uncarpeted, mop
the hard floor.
 Damp wipe the furniture. Upholstered furniture should be suction
cleaned with an upholstery attachment.

ELEVATORS-

These too must be cleaned at the time of day when they are least used.
They should always be taken out service for cleaning .these necessary
signboards indicating that cleaning is being carried out must be
displayed prominently .Elevator doors are usually made of steel and
sometimes they may covered with wooden panels. Steel doors show
grease marks from fingers easily. Elevators should be cleaned daily and
a more thorough cleaning may be done on a periodic basis. The tasks
here are as follows:

 Damp dust the steel doors, inside and out, using a neutral detergent
solution and then wipe clean using water .Dry with a clean duster.
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

 Damp dust the inside walls panels, door panels and control panel. A
neutral detergent may be used for the purpose and residue removed with
a duster dampened with clean water.
 Suction clean the elevator floor if carpeted. If it is hard flooring, mop the
floor.
 Suction clean the door tracks on all the floors using a crevice –cleaner
attachment on the vacuum cleaner.
 Lightly damp dust the ceiling and light fixtures. These may be
thoroughly cleaned periodically.
 Clean any air conditioning or ventilation duct using a suction cleaner.

STAIRCASES-
Staircases should be cleaned when there is least traffic. The appropriate
way to clean staircases is to divided them into half lengthways and clean
one half at a time .This is required not only to prevent dirty footprints on
a wet floor, but also as a safety precaution so that there are no accidents
due to slipping on wet steps.

The specific tasks are following;

 Carpets should be suction cleaned daily and any stain should be
attended to immediately .Due to practical reasons, a backpack type of
vacuum cleaner is best for suction cleaning staircases.
 Hard floored staircases should be suction cleaned and then damp
mopped. They can be scrubbed weekly with a deck scrubber, using a
neutral detergent. If a floor sealer has been applied, however, scrubbing
should be avoided. Use of excess water should be avoided on wooden
stairs.
 While cleaning the floor, the vertical riser of each step should be
cleaned as well as the treads.
 Damp dust the wall skirting weekly.
 Damp dust the banisters and handrails daily. If they are ornately carved
,a vacuum cleaner with a crevice cleaning attachment should be used.

GUEST CORRIDORS-
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A long corridor should be divided into sections for cleaning. As for

staircases, the corridor should be divided into half lengths so that the
other half is open for use while one half is being cleaned. Appropriate
cautionary signs should be used to indicate that cleaning is in progress.
Many hotel corridors are fully carpeted. These carpets should not only
be attractive but also sturdy and durable to withstand everyday wear
and tear.

The cleaning tasks for guest corridors are listed below-

 The carpet should be vacuum cleaned daily. It also needs to be

shampooed once in six months-This may be scheduled as a special
project in the off season periods.
 The wall skirting or baseboards all along the corridor should be cleaned.
 Any finger mark or smudge on the walls should be spot cleaned.
Through cleaning of walls may be done weekly.
 Sprinklers installed as part of a fire fighting system should be checked
and cleaned.
 Fire extinguishers should be dusted. Fire buckets should be dusted daily
and filled with fresh sand once a month.
 Lights and lighting fixtures should be checked and dumped dusted.
 Air conditioning vents should be cleaned weekly
 The exit and entrance doors on the corridor should be damp- dusted on
both sides and the tracks cleaned. Brass knobs and handles should be
polished once a week.

PUBLIC RESTROOMS- This refers to the washrooms and toilet meant for
use by the general public and not restricted to Guest registered to the
hotels. Washrooms may have elaborate mirrors, other ornate fixtures and
some pieces of upholstery furniture. The sanitary fittings commonly
found in washrooms are WCs, urinals, sluices, bidets and vanity units or
pedestal type wash basins. Public restrooms need to be cleaned
thoroughly twice a day at the minimum; when Guest traffic is more, the
frequency will have to be higher. In lower traffic periods frequent but light
 2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2

tidying may be required. Some of the primary areas of concern are

unmerited below:

BANQUET HALLS-
The may be used for dinners, conference ,convection ,exhibition , and so
on. For convections and conferences ,hotel provide audio visual aids
that may include overhead projectors(OHP),liquid crystal displays
(LCDs),digital laser projectors (DLPs) and other presentation devices ,as
well as appropriate arrangement tables and chairs. The cleaning process
includes daily cleaning tasks and weekly cleaning tasks.
 Sweep and mop the floor area well before the event .If the area is carpeted
,a vacuum cleaner should be used. Spot clean the carpet if any stains
are present.
 Assemble and arrange the furniture and audio visual equipment required
,In many hotels ,The assemble of audio visual equipment comes under
the purview of the maintenance department.
 Damp dust or suction clean the furniture.
 Tables cloths, chairs covers and decorative bows should be replaced if
dirty.
 Lighting fixtures should be checked and may be cleaned weekly.
 Chandeliers may be brought down and cleaned once in six months.
 The walls only need to be spot cleaned in case of stains; otherwise they
amy be washed periodically.
 Flower arrangement s, mineral water, glasses and other specific
requirements such as notepads and pencils should be provided and
arranged neatly in place.
 In case another event has just concluded before the one scheduled
tofloolw, take care to remove and replace all bottles and glasses.
 Replenish stationery and generally tidy the room up; then rearrange the
furniture according to the requirement of the next event.
DINING ROOMS:-
These needs to have visual appeal as well as meeting sanitation
standards. In many properties, housekeeping may be responsible for
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maintaining the dining areas in conjunction with the service staff of the
dining room. In such properties the house keeping department takes on
the tasks of the thorough weekly cleaning, whereas the service staff are
responsible for the daily cleaning and maintenance. Housekeeping is
also responsible for the supply of clean table linen and for the collection
of dirty linen.
The cleaning tasks include here are-
 Vacuuming the carpeted areas, moving out the dining chairs to clean
under the tables, spot cleaning any stains.
 Damp dusting the furniture daily, polishing wooden furniture one a
month, vacuuming upholstery furniture.
 Wiping all glass surfaces with a proprietary glass cleaner.
 Checking and cleaning the lighting fixtures.
 Following the regular schedule of pest control.

LEISURE AREAS:-
These are include health clubs saunas and solariums, swimming
pools, spas and changing rooms, meant for recreation and relaxation of
Guests.
1. HEALTH CLUBS:-
All hotels have an exclusive areas for Guests to exercise and workout
in, perhaps using exercise equipment like tread mills, bench presses,
rowing machines, cycling machines, dumb bells and so on. The flooring
in health club should be non slippery, the walls will usually have several
mirrored panels. Health clubs also have shower cubical and lockers.
CLEANING TASKS:-
 Damp dusting equipment after first making sure that they are switched
off.
 Damp dusting all furniture’s, wooden furniture’s should be polished
monthly.
 Cleaning all glass services including mirrors and windows.
 Remove any stains from walls by spot cleaning as soon as noticed.
 Checking and damp dusting the lightly fixtures.
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 Sweeping and moping or suction cleaning a hard floor.

 Remove soiled linen(s) such as bath towels, hand towels and so on, and
replacing with fresh ones.

2. SAUNAS AND SOLARIUMS:-

Saunas and steam bath cubical made of wooden or glass. Solariums
are enclosed glass areas for the enjoyment or therapeutic use of sun
rays.

CLEANING SAUNAS:-
Saunas are warm and moist over long periodic. Moss may collect
outside too, where there is a lot of moisture. To clean sauna bleach
should be added as a cleaning agent to the water and a nylon scrubber
needs to

be used. A concentrated solution of blench should be used in the most

badly affected areas. After cleaning with the bleach the sauna should be
rinsed thoroughly with cold water to remove all residual bleach. The
sauna should then be left open to dry so that they fames from the bleach
dissipate a deodorizer may be used to counter act the smell of the
bleach too.

CLEANING SOLARIUMS:-
This primarily involves cleaning the glass panels, for which a
proprietary glass cleaner or a solution of vinegar in water may be used.

3. SWIMMING POOLS, SPAS AND CHANGING ROOMS:-

Regular cleaning and disinfecting of swimming pool is important
from the point of view of hygiene. If not cleaned to a regular schedule
swimming pools may become carriers of water born infections.
The pool water becomes contaminated with body fats and oils, sweat,
saliva, urine, cosmetics and air borne dust particles.
CLEANING:-
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The primary concern in swimming pools is water clarity and water

chemistry control. Water clarity results from effective filtration to remove
all particulate matter. Water chemistry control implies the chemical
safety of water for swimming pool and involves the maintenance of
harmful bacteria in the pool water.
DAILY CLEANING TASKS:-
 Skimming the surface of the pool water for floating debris using a
skimmer net attached to a long pole.
 Sweeping and moping floor surfaces.
 Suction cleaning any carpeted areas.
 Spot cleaning the walls.
 Checking and cleaning the light fixtures.
 Cleaning any glass surfaces.
 Emptying waste paper baskets.
 Damp dusting any furniture.
 Remove solid linen and replacing with fresh ones.
 Replenishing toiletries.

CLEANING BACK OF THE HOUSE AREAS

These areas include all those areas which are not in view of Guests but
form an essential part of the hotel for smooth functioning of the hotel.
These include ladies and gent’s lockers, account office, time office,
management department, security office, purchase office, stores,
receiving area, staff cafeteria, and kitchen and so on.
These areas need to be clean by housekeeping staff i.e. houseman,
except kitchens, where cleaning is done by the kitchen stewarding
department or utility trainees.
Officers like human resources, time office, security office, purchase office.
All these officers are cleaned in the morning before they start functioning.
DAILY CLEANING:-
It includes brooming, moping, dusting and emptying of ash
trays and dustbins.
PERIODIC CLEANING:-
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It includes floor scrubbing cleaning of hard to reach areas, thorough

clean of furniture and fixtures and windows.
2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2
2nd Semester Housekeeping | UNIT 2