Housekeeping is the process of maintaining a clean, orderly, and functional environment in a hotel. Cleanings an important aspect of housekeeping, and there are many different types of cleaning that may be performed in order to keep a space looking and smelling fresh and clean.
Each type of cleaning serves a specific purpose and may be performed on a regular basis or as needed. Proper cleaning is important for maintaining a healthy and welcoming environment for guests and visitors.
In housekeeping cleaning processes may be either mechanical or manual.
They may involve washing, friction (used for abrasives), suction (as in using a vacuum cleaner), or force (as in using pressurised water).
Types of Cleaning methods in Hotel Housekeeping
- Manual Methods
- Mechanical Methods
Manual Method
In Manual method of cleaning includes following cleaning processes
- Sweeping
- Dusting
- Damp-dusting
- Dust-Mopping/Dry-Mopping/Mop-Sweeping
- Spot Mopping
- Wet-Mopping/Damp-Mopping
- Spot Cleaning
Sweeping
This is done to collect dust when the floor surface is too rough to mop. Push brooms are used in large areas, and corn brooms are better for corners and tight spaces. From an ergonomic point of view, a broom with a long handle is more suitable. Always rest the broom head on the floor. If you’re using a long-handled broom, use gentle motions to sweep away from you.
Sweeping is not the most efficient, hygienic, or advanced way of removing dust, as much of it is airborne. In many cases, sweeping has been replaced by the use of vacuum cleaners.
Sweeping with a dry mop is called ‘mop-sweeping’.
Equipments required for this types cleaning are –
- Broom
- Dust pan
- Dust bin for collection of dust.
Dusting
This task needs a systematic and orderly approach for efficiency and ease.
Room attendants ought to begin dusting articles at the door and work clockwise around the rooom.
This minimises the probability of dominating a spot. Fold the duster thrice and then thrice again.This provides you with eighteen clean folds, making the duster very effective.
Corners of the duster should be left hanging.A soft, lint-free fabric should be used as a duster.
Equipments and agents required –
- Cloth duster
- Feather duster, and
- dusting solution
Damp-Dusting
This is the preferred form of cleaning in hotels, as it allows surfaces to be cleaned and dusted while removing any dirty sticks or stains.
A suitable lint-free cloth with the correct moisture content should be used to avoid streaking.
Equipments and agents required –
- Cloth duster
- Water
- Plastic bowl, and
- a neutral detergent if necessary.
Dust-Mopping/Dry-Mopping/Mop-Sweeping
This types of cleaning in hotel hotel Housekeeping preferred for removing dust, sand, or gravel from a floor. If these substances are not removed from the floor on a daily basis, they constantly scratch the surface, dull its shine, and eventually penetrate the floor itself.
Dusting is done with a dust control mop, which may or may not be soaked in a cleaning solution. Using such a solution will prevent the production of dust. Always very gently lift the mop head after it is done.
And then shake it into a bag to clean.
Dusting removes gross dirt but also redistributes or leaves behind small amounts of fine particles.
Equipment required of Dust moping
- Dust-control mop
- Dust pan
- Dust-collection bag, and
- Dust bin.
Spot-Mopping
Spot mopping is important to maintain the floor’s finish. Liquids and solids spilled on the floor.
If left for any length of time, it may penetrate the finish and stain the floor.
Clean, cold water should be used to prevent the floor covering from becoming soggy.
Equipments and agents required –
- Mop and bucket or a mop-wringer trolley.
- Cold water, and
- A very dilute solution of neutral detergent if necessary
Wet Mopping
This type of housekeeping cleaning uses a damp mop to remove spills and adhered soil that were not removed during wet mopping. It will remove light to heavy soil that could otherwise become embedded in the surface.
Equipments and agents required –
- Wet mop and bucket or mop-wringer trolley
- Squeegee, and
- Detergent solution.
Spot Cleaning
This refers to the removal of stains from various kinds of hard and soft surfaces.
To remove a stain, the whole surface does not need to be treated with stain-removal reagents.
Just the area where the stain discolours the surface is treated and cleaned in the process of spot cleaning.
Spot cleaning is the types of cleaning process in hotel housekeeping used as a cleaning method on walls, fabrics, carpets, or flooring.
Mechanized Methods
These utilize equipment powered by electricity as well as mechanical gadgets.
These include:
- Suction Cleaning
- Spray Buffing
- Polishing
- Burnishing
- Scrubbing
Suction Cleaning
This is the basic and preparatory step to all other mechanised procedures and should be performed regularly.
Very often, it must also be repeated at the end of these processes.
The goal is to remove as much dry soil as possible so that it does not spread, scratch the finish, or damage the surface.
Vacuuming with high-filtration machines is the most complete method of dry-soil removal, as it picks up, packages, and removes soil without spreading it around.
Wet-vacuum cleaners are now available, which help to mop up water from floors as well.
These are usually dual-function machines that can be used for both wet and dry work.
Extraction machines for cleaning carpets also work on the principle of suction.
Equipments and agents required
- Wet/dry vacuum cleaner with attachments A mild detergent for wet-cleaning if necessary
Spray Buffing
This process uses a 175 or 300 rpm (revolutions per minute) floor machine and a soft pad or brush.
The operator sprays a light mist of a commercial cleaning preparation or detergent and a finishing the solution in front of the machine.
As the machine goes over the area, soil, scuffs, light scratches, and marks are removed, and the shine is restored to the surface.
Equipments and agents required –
- 175- or 300-rpm buffing machine with beige pad,
- spray bottle,
- detergent, and
- finishing solution.
Polishing
This process uses a 175–1500 rpm floor machine and a soft pad or brush to remove some soil and put the shine back in the finish.
Equipment required –
- 175-1500-rpm floor machine and soft pad or brush.
Burnishing
This process uses an ultra-high-speed floor machine (1500–2500 rpm) to restore a deep gloss to the floor finish.
Since the finish is “tempered” by the friction and heat produced by the burnishing machine, the floor looks better for a longer time.
Vacuuming, dust mopping, and damp mopping are preparatory steps and should also be used as follow-up procedures to remove loosened dirt.
Equipment required –
- 1500-2500 rpm floor machine.
Scrubbing
This process removes embedded dirt, marks, deeper scuffs, and scratches from the floor along with some of the finish.
The type of pad or brush, the type of detergent, the water temperature, and the weight and speed of the machine all determine whether the process is considered light or heavy scrubbing.
For instance, aggressive pads, higher-pH detergent solutions, and fast, heavy machines perform the deepest scrubbing.
Light scrubbing removes just one or two coats of finish.
Heavy scrubbing removes all or most of the finish, down to the protective sealing coat.
Equipments required –
- Floor maintenance machines with a green pad.