PRACTICAL
HOUSEKEEPING
Starting the day Systems and techniques vary from hotel to hotel. In most places room attendants go to the locker room, change into their uniforms, then go to the housekeeping office and get their room assignment. They receive the keys, either in the housekeeping office or from the floor supervisor. The carts - stored in the housekeeping stores on the floors - are to be filled with linen, cleaning materiel and guest supplies. Every effort is to be made not to disturb the guests! The proper order for servicing guest rooms is as follows: Occupied rooms requesting "first" service Check-out rooms that are reserved for arrivals Check-out rooms so that they are ready for sale Remaining occupied rooms Rooms due to depart, but still occupied (late check-outs)
CLEANING THE GUEST ROOM Room attendants must follow a system to produce spotlessly clean guest rooms. A systematic plan saves time and can prevent the room attendant from overlooking a cleaning task. Guest room cleaning should follow a logical progression from entering the guest room to the final check and departure. ROOM ATTENDANT TASK LIST 01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06. 07. 08. 09. 10.
Use your room assignment sheet Get guest room amenities for assigned rooms Get cleaning supplies for assigned rooms Keep cart and work areas organized Enter guest room Prepare the guest room for cleaning Begin to clean the bathroom Clean the tub and shower area Clean the toilet Clean the sink and vanity
How to make a room/Pract.HK/HIHTM/ Handout
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PRACTICAL
HOUSEKEEPING 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.
Clean the bathroom floor Finsih cleaning the bathroom Clean the guestroom closet Make the bed Dust the guest room Replenish supplies and amenities Clean windos, tracks and sills Put finishing touches on the guest room Vaccum the guest room and report room status Make a final check Leave the guest room
ENTERING THE GUEST ROOM
Check for non disturb sign (DND) Check if door is not double locked Knock on the door and announce yourself with "Housekeeping" If no answer, knock again and announce "Housekeeping" If no answer , open the door announcing "Housekeeping".
Note: if there is no answer from a guest when knocking at the door, does not mean that there is no guest in the room.
BEGINNING TASKS Position cart in front of the door with open section facing the room easy access to supplies blocks room to intruders alerts returning guest that room is being serviced
Airing out and tidying up guest room Turn all lights > check for bulbs to be replaced Draw back draperie Openin the windows Check air condition and/or heater to make sure they are working and set to appropriate temperature Look at the room, take note of eventual damages or items missing. In check-out rooms look for item left behind and turn it in to lost property Remove dirty ashtrays (make sure cigarettes are extinguished properly), glasses, dishes, bottles, cans, etc. Empty trash and replace waste paper basket liners
How to make a room/Pract.HK/HIHTM/ Handout
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PRACTICAL
HOUSEKEEPING
MAKING THE BED
Remove any personal items from bed Remove bedspread and blanket and place them on chair Strip the bed of dirty linen and place pillows on chair Check the matress for burns, spots, stains or damage > inform supervisor Change matress pad (if necessary) Place bottom sheet on matress and miter Place a fresh top sheet on bed, wrong side up! Place blanket on top of sheet At the head of the bed, turn top sheet over the blanket about 25 to 30 cm Miter the top sheet and blanket in the bottom, left-hand corner of the bed and tuck them in along the side of the bed. Working clockwise, walk to the other side of the bed Miter the bottom sheet at the right foot of the bed, followed by the top sheet and blanket. Move down by the right ahnd side of the bed and miter the bottom sheet in the top right corner. Fold the top sheet over the blanket so it is even with the left hand side. Make sure the top sheet and blanket are neately tucked in along the sides and the foot of the bed. Center the bedspread evenly over the bed. Fold the bedspread down from the head to the bottom of the bed. Fluff the pillows and put on the pillow cases Placethe pillows at the head of the bed with the tucked ends facing the center Pull the bead spread over the pillows and tuck in the bedspread Step back and look carefully if the job is well done.
Note: Mitering > a way to make a smooth, neat, professional corner 1. Begin with the sheet hanging loosely over the corner, tuck in the sheet along the foot of the bed, right up to the corner 2. Take the loose end of the sheet, about one foot from the corner and pull it straight out, forming a flap. 3. Pull up the flap so it is flat and wrinklefree. 4. Tuck in the free part at the corner, making sure it is snug. 5. Pull the flap out toward you and down over the side of the bed. 6. Tuck in the flap and make sure the corner is smooth and snug.
How to make a room/Pract.HK/HIHTM/ Handout
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PRACTICAL
HOUSEKEEPING
CLEANING THE BATH ROOM A bathroom is important for more than simply appearance. Health and safety considerations on the local, state and federal levels necessitate that the room attendant take extra care when scrubbing, rinsing and drying bathroom surfaces. Sequence of cleaning a bath room: Shower area Vanity and sink Toilets Walls Fixtures Floor It is important to work from top to bottom to avoid spotting or dirtying areas already cleaned. As you clean the bath room, continually check the condition if they need ot be repaired. Check for finger prints and other smudges on the walls, especially around light fixtures and electrical outlets. Check for hair at the bottom of the water stopper in sink units and bath and shower tubs. Clean bottom of sink units and outside of toilets. The necessary cleaning equipment should be stocked conveniently in the hand caddy. Cleaning products consist of: All purpose cleaner for bathroom surfaces Cloths and sponges Glass and mirror cleaner Rubber gloves, eventually protective eye covering Disinfectant Towels, wash cloth, bath mats, toilet and facial tissues as well as guest amenities should be replenished according to company standard. Mopping the floor: start with the far corner and work backwards towards the exit.
How to make a room/Pract.HK/HIHTM/ Handout
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PRACTICAL HOUSEKEEPING Gather your things and make a final check, scan all surfaces from the ceiling to the fixtures to the floor. Make sure you leave the bathroom in the best posisble condition.
DUSTING Use a systematic and orderly approach for efficiency and ease. Start dusting at the door and work clockwise around the room. Begin always with the highest surfaces so that dust does not fall on items you already cleaned. If using a dusting solution, spray it on the cloth. Never use a solution directly on the object > can cause stain or stickiness. The following should be dusted and/or polished (depends from one property to another):
Picture frames Mirrors Head boards Lamps, shades and light bulbs Bedside tables Telephones Windowsills Window and sliding-glass door tracks Dresser, including inside drawers Television and stand Chairs, desks Closet shelves, hooks and clothes rod Top of doors, knobs, sides Air conditioning and heating units, fans or vents
Mirrors, glass surfaces, television front: use glass cleaner Use a desinfectant (where approrpiate) for telephone, fax machines.
VACCUMING Before vaccuming loosen dirt around baseboards with a broom or rag so it is easier to pick up. Run the hoover all over exposed areas that you can reach, including under the tables and chairs and in the closet. Unaccessible areas (under the bed or heavy
How to make a room/Pract.HK/HIHTM/ Handout
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PRACTICAL HOUSEKEEPING furniture) are normally cleaned on a special project basis. But you must check under the bed for any debris which must be removed or lost items. Start at the farthest end of the room and vaccum your way back. Close windows, close drapperies and turn off lights as you walk back.
FINAL CHECK The final check is a critical step in the guest room cleaning. It makes the difference between just cleaning and doing a professional job. Give the room a careful look from the guest's perspective. Start at one point in the room and scan it in a circular fashion from one corner to the next until you have visually inspected each item. Make sure all furnishing is back in the initial place Look for little things like crooked lampshades, or lampshades with their seams showing Smell the air for any unusal odors. Spray air freshener if needed. When you are satisfied with your inspection turn off lights and close the door. Note the condition status of the room on your assignment sheet.
How to make a room/Pract.HK/HIHTM/ Handout
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PRACTICAL
HOUSEKEEPING
PARK HOTEL
ROOM ASSIGNMENT SHEET
Floor: 4 Section: B Room Attendant: Jeff st Date: November 01 , 2003 SHIFT: AM√√√ PM ROOM STATUS COMMENTS OUTCOME ROOM # 510 D A 511 D A Arrival: VIP 512 D 513 D 514 OOO OOO 515 SO OCC 516 D A 517 D A Arrival: VIP 518 VAC A 519 VAC A 520 OCC OCC 521 OCC OCC 522 VAC A Early Arrival, VIP 523 D Late check-out 524 D A 525 D 526 VAC A EXPLANATIONS: D Departure/check-out th
A VAC OCC SO OOO
Arrival Vacant room Occupied room, stay over room Sleep-out, room occupied, but guest did not sleep in the room Out-of-order room, room under renovation, cannot be rented
How to make a room/Pract.HK/HIHTM/ Handout
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