HOTELIER LIFE

The Executive Housekeeper or Director of Housekeeping is accountable for managing and ensuring that all the housekeeping staff follows the standard operating procedures of cleaning and properly uses the methods of cleaning procedure. All the housekeeping staff must use the proper tools (mechanized or non-mechanized) that are been utilized to carry out the tasks assigned.

The hotel has to do regular cleaning and finishing of the marble floors and carpets to keep their appearance, permanence, and durability. Executive housekeepers have to determine how and when carpets and floors need to be cleaned, it is an essential task and this task is further involved by the availability of different cleaning procedures, equipment, and chemicals.

 The housekeeping cleaning procedure can be done manually or mechanically. They may include distinct methods like washing i.e. make use of water as a cleaning and rinsing agent, abrasion, applying stable or static electricity i.e. using of the static mop, suction i.e. use of vacuum cleaner, or by force by using pressurized water. The numerous types of cleaning procedures are summarized in this segment.

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MANUAL CLEANING METHODS

1. Sweeping

Sweeping is performed to collect the dust from the floor when the surface is too uneven for a dust mop.

• Push brooms are those which are utilized for big areas and corn brooms are those which are best for corners & tight spaces.
• A broom that has long handle is most suitable ergonomically.
• The sweeping process starts from the back corner of the room or area and ends at the door or exit.
• Sweeping is considered to be inefficient, not so much advanced or hygienic as so much of it becomes airborne.
• Use small, smooth strokes and sweep right into a long-handled dustpan without squandering the dust.
• Always keep the head of the broom flat on the floor.
• While using a long-handled broom, always use smooth strokes to sweep away from yourself.
• Nowadays sweeping has been replaced by the use of the suction machines.
• It is very essential in sweeping to develop a proper rhythm and ‘bounce’ which push broom to keep away from rolling the bristles under.
• Have to use the broom to sweep dirt into a small stack.
• Use a dustpan to pick up the dirt before sweeping further.
• Then clear the dirt from the dustpan into the trash bag on your cart.

What is the equipment required for sweeping?

Broom, a dustpan, a trash bag, and a public area cart.

2. Dusting

.This task needs a well-organized, methodical, and well-ordered approach for efficiency & ease.

• Room attendants have to begin dusting from the entrance door of the room (top to bottom) and then need to go ahead clockwise or anticlockwise around the room.
• This will minimize the possibility of missing a spot.
• Always have to fold the duster three times and then thrice again, with this technique you can easily get 18 clean folds and consequently making the duster more effective.
• You should make sure that not a single corner of the duster should be left hanging.
• Always use microfiber duster with color-coded.
• Do not use old rags, it leaves beyond their dust and lint.
• Generally, dusting starts from the highest surfaces so that dust does not fall on the object which is already cleaned.
• If you are applying a dusting solution or chemical, spray a small amount of solution onto the duster.
• Keep in mind never spray dusting solution directly onto the surface being cleaned as it can stain or cause stickiness.
• Ensure that the duster not be unfolded in the room after finishing dusting, neither outside the window.
• Have to carry the duster carefully aside to such a place where it can be washed & dried.

What are the equipment & chemicals required for dusting?

Feather duster, Microfiber cloths, Cloth duster, and Dusting solution or chemical if required.

3. Damp Dusting

• This is the most preferred process for cleaning in hotels where all the areas and surfaces can be wiped as well as dusting, it removes dirty marks as well as stickiness at the same time.
• Always use microfiber cloth at the accurate level of dampness that should be used to avoid leaving any stain.
• A chemical can be applied by spraying a small quantity into the dust cloth.
• Nee to avoid damp dusting on all the electrical and electronic equipment.

What are the equipment & chemicals required for damp dusting?

Cloth duster, microfiber cloth, water, plastic bowl, and chemical/solution if required.

4. Dust Mopping/ Dry Mopping/ Mop Sweeping

• This is the preferred process of removing and eliminating dust, sand, or grit from the floor.
• If the dust and other substances are not removed from the floor daily, they will continually scratch the surface finish, deprecate its gloss, and in the end it will penetrate down to the floor itself.
• Dust- mopping is performed with a dust control-mop that may or may not be infused with a cleaning solution.
• When we use such a solution it will stop the dust from rising.
• During dust- mopping have to apply a figure of eight strokes and need to place the mop head on the floor every time.
• Do not pull the mop straight backward.
• On completing each figure of eight, swivel the mop around and on the return, proceed & extend over to cover partly the areas that have been wiped by about 8 inches.
• During sweeping in open places, need to clean in long straight lanes and have to cover all area by moving up & down.
• Always use a dustpan to sweep up gathered thrash.
• Need to carry the head of the mop upwards extremely carefully after you are finished and then quiver into a bag to clean.

What are the equipment & chemicals required for dry mopping the floor?

Dustpan, Dust control mop, Dustbin, and Dust- collecting bag.

5. Spot Mopping

• Spot mopping is vital to the conservation of the floor surfaces.
• Fluids & solids that are spilled on the floor, if left for a long period, may penetrate the finish & stain the floor.
• Even acids from fruit juices may inflict destruction on a floor if it is not instantly cleaned up.
• Always use cold and clean water so that the finish on a floor is not softened.
• Need to place caution signs before beginning the mopping. 
• Try to avoid the use of detergents unless necessary i.e. if the substance on the floor has been dry.
• Use a damp cloth to mop the floor.
• Let the floor air dry.

What are the equipment & chemicals required for spot mopping the floor?

Mop- wringer trolley or Mop & Bucket, Coldwater and Dilute solution of neutral detergent if required.

6. Wet Mopping/ Damp Mopping

• Need to do damp mopping to remove spills and cling soil that was not able to remove during the dry removal process.
• Wet-mopping removes light to heavy soil within the floor surface, which could or else will become embedded in the surface or sum up in the seal or finish.
• Before wet mopping on the floor first needs to do dust mopping.
• Apply neutral or mild alkaline chemicals in water for wet-mopping.
• The chemical which applied must be of the variety that doesn’t require rinsing or else need to spray diluted one from the spray bottle and have to do damp mop.
• Have to mix the proper cleaner with water in the mop bucket and use it on the floor.
• While using mop water, submerge the mop in the bucket and squeeze it out until it gets damp.
• Start mopping near baseboards in smooth strokes.
• Then continue mopping the entire area with the figure eight strokes.
• Always change the water from the bucket when it becomes dirty.
• A hard brush is used for stubborn & obstinate spots and uses the squeegee to increase the pace in drying the floor.
• Then need to clear the water from the mop bucket, rinse it with clean water and keep it to dry.

What are the equipment & chemicals required for damp mopping?

Floor cleaner, Squeegee, Wet mop & Bucket or Mop- Wringer trolley and Chemical/Solution.

7. Manual Scrubbing

• We require little hand scrubbing for modern surfaces.
• Need to scrub gently in uniformly away from yourself, always working backward.
• Rinse nicely in sequence to detach any chemical from the surface.
• Have to use a squeegee to clear away surplus rinse water.
• Then need to mop the floor.

 What are the equipment & chemicals required for manual scrubbing?

Bucket, Water, Mop, Long-handled scrubbing brush, Mild chemical/Solution, and Squeegee.

8. Manual Polishing

• Sparingly have to apply the polish.
• Need to make use of cotton rags to apply polish and a cloth for buffing.
• Need to use a soft brush for carved objects to get the polish into the fissure.
• Always use the proper polish for a specific surface i.e. for gold metals items need to use Brasso,

What are the equipment & chemicals required for manual polishing?

Clean cloth, rags, Brasso, and proprietary polish for each type of floor or surface.

 9. Spot Cleaning

• This is done for removing the stains from different kinds of hard & soft surfaces.
• For removing a restricted stain, the whole area does not require to be treated with stain-removal reagents.
• Need to be treated only in those areas where the stain discolors the surface and is performed in the process of spot cleaning.
• We mostly do spot cleaning on walls, fabric, carpets, or flooring.

What are the equipment & chemicals required for spot cleaning?

Solvents, Cleaning agents, Cleaning Cloths and brushes

MECHANIZED CLEANING METHODS

1. Suction Cleaning

• This is the primary & preparatory step of all mechanized methods and has to perform on daily a basis.
• At the end of these processes very frequently it is repeated.
• The aim is to remove as much dry soil as achievable so that it won’t spread out, damage the surfaces or scratch the finish.
• It helps to remove dirt from the corners of the room and also the carpet edges.
• Need to plug in the vacuum cleaner to an appropriate power socket.
• Always begin vacuum from one position of the room to the other.
• Always use a vacuum cleaner with high filtration machines, which is the most complete method of removing dry soil as it picks up, packages, and removes the soil without spreading it around.
• Nowadays a wet vacuum cleaner is available, which sucks the water from floors as well.
• Normally we used wet and dry vacuum cleaner for this process which can be used for both wet & dry work.
• Need to use extraction machines for carpet cleaning that works on the principle of suction.

What are the equipment & chemicals required for suction cleaning?

A stick broom, Caution signs, Wet/dry vacuum cleaner with attachments, and a mild detergent for wet cleaning if required.

2. Spray Buffing

• This method uses a 175- or 300-rpm (revolutions per minute) floor machine and with a soft pad or brush.
• The mechanist sprays a light mist of a commercialized cleaning preparation or chemical and a finishing solution in front of the machine.
• As when we take the machine above the area, soil, scrape, light scratches, marks are detached and the shine is restored to the original surface.
• The next step is to do the vacuuming or dust mopping to remove loosened dirt.

What are the equipment & chemicals required for spray buffing?

Spray bottle, 175 –or 300-rpm buffing machine with beige pad, Chemical, and Finishing solution.

• This method uses a 175- 1500-rpm floor machine and requires a soft pad or brush to remove some soil and need to brush to remove some soil and lay the shine back in the finish.
• The next step is to do the vacuuming or dust mopping to remove loosened dirt.

What are the equipment & chemicals required for spot cleaning?

Soft pad or Brush and 175-1500-rpm floor machine

4. Burnishing

• This method uses an ultra-high-speed floor machine (1500-2500 rpm) to reinstate a deep shine to the floor finish.
• Since the finish is ’tempered’ by the friction and heat is been produced by the burnishing machine, therefore the floor looks finer for a lengthy period.
• Followed by vacuuming or dust-mopping and damp-mopping which are preparatory steps, and it is also used as follow-up procedures to detach the loosened dirt.

What are the equipment & chemicals required for burnishing?

1500-2500 rpm floor machine.

5. Scrubbing

• This method removes the embedded dirt, marks, deeper scrape, and also scratches from the floor along with some of the finish.
• Have to use the pad or brush, the chemical/solution, always use proper water temperature, the weight and the speed of the machine all decide whether the procedure is consists of light or heavy scrubbing.
• For occurrence, aggressive pads, higher acid chemical/ solutions, and have to use fast, heavy machines that perform the deepest scrubbing.
• Heavy scrubbing removes completely or most of the finish, down to the protective sealing coat.
• Light scrubbing removes only one or two coats of finish.

What are the equipment & chemicals required for scrubbing?

Floor- maintenance machines along with a green pad.

6. Stripping

• This is a very vigorous method that needs to removes all the floor finish and sealer, leaving an uncovered floor prepared for refinishing.
• Need to use a powerful stripping agent, a bristly pad or brush, require hot water and concentrated work make stripping an expensive as well a time consuming and occasionally an even hazardous process, that must be used only when no other procedure will attain the desired outcome.
• Industrious use of additional maintenance process detains the requirement for stripping.

What are the equipment & chemicals required for stripping?

A floor-maintenance machine along with a black pad.

7. Laundering

• This is the cleaning procedure used for washing fabrics.
• It is a method where soil and stains are removed from textiles in a containing water medium.
• It includes the set of instructions for washing, bleaching, drying as well as pressing, it carries out utilizing specialized laundry equipment and cleaning agents.
• There are also other sub-processes i.e. starching, spot cleaning, and softening which also be included.

What are the equipment & chemicals required for laundering?

Drying Machines, Drying Machines, Flatwork Irons, Steam Cabinets and Tunnels, Folding Machine, Washing Chemicals, and Detergents.

 8. Dry Cleaning

• This is the process where soil & stains are removed from textiles in a without containing water medium.
• Dry cleaning is a process of cleaning cloths and textiles where we use a chemical solvent other than water.
• It is used to clean fabrics that demean in water, and fine fabrics that cannot resist the rough, uneven, and clumsily of a washing machine and clothes dryer.

What are the equipment & chemicals required for dry cleaning?

Dry Cleaning Machine and Chemical Solvents