Chapter 6

Housekeeping Inventories
Hotel Housekeeping Chapter 6 Housekeeping Inventories

Objectives:
The procedures used in cleaning the guest room.
The various cleaning equipments used in hotels.
Pest-control methods.
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Cleaning Equipments:
 Efficient cleaning and maintenance are dependent
upon high-quality equipment, correctly using.
 Though only 5-10% of the overall cost incurred on
cleaning is accounted for by cleaning equipment and
agents, selecting the ideal equipment plays a major role
in the cleaning process.
 There will often be several ways of carrying out any
particular cleaning task and different types of
equipment that can be employed for it.
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Basic parts of a brush:

 Bristles.
 Head stock.
 Handle.
Types of brushes:
 Hard brushes.
 Soft brushes.
 Scrubbing brushes.
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Classification of brushes on the basis of their function

 Toilet brushes.
 Bottle brushes.
 Cloth scrubbers.
 Deck scrubbers.
 Carpet brushes.
 Upholstery brushes.
 Feather brushes.
 Hearth brush.
 Flue brush.
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Care and Cleaning of Brushes

 Brushes should be washed by beating the head up and
down, with the bristles facing downwards, so that the
water splashes up between the tufts.
 They should be rinsed well in cold water.
 After shaking off excess water, the brushes should be
left to dry in such a way that the remaining water may
drip-off the side of the brush or the top of the head
stock.
 Never leave brushes resting on their bristles. When
possible, dry brushes in the sun or open air.
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Brooms
 Sweeping brooms consist of long bristles gathered
together and inserted into a handle. The bristles of a
broom may be made of grass, corn or coconut fibers.
Depending on the type, brooms may be used for
removing dust or dirt in large areas.
Main categories of broom are :
 Soft-bristle brooms.
 Hard/coarse-bristle brooms.
 Wall brooms.
 Electric brooms.
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Box Sweeper
 These are also called carpet sweepers and are used for
sweeping up dust and litter from soft floor coverings as
well as rugs and carpets.
 They are ideal for the removal of spills and for light
cleaning of small carpeted areas.
 A box sweeper consists of a friction brush that resolves
when the equipment is pushed manually over the
carpet bottom to facilitate emptying after use.
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Dry Mops
 They are also called as dust control mops, these are
designed to remove soil and debris from floors, walls
and ceiling without raising and dissipating dust.
 These mops are generally consist of a handle to which a
metal frame is attached. The mop head is either
inserted into the frame or stretched over it.
Types of Dry mops:
 Mops with impregnated fringes.
 Impregnated mop sweepers.
 Static mops.
 Disposable mops.
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Wet/damp mops
 These mops are used in conjunction with buckets for
the removal of dirt adhering to a surface.
 The mop heads can be made of cotton, sponge or any
other fiber capable of absorbing moisture well.
Type of damp mops:
 Do-all mops.
 Kentucky mops.
 Foss mops.
 Sponge mops.
 Squeegee.
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Types of Cloths
 Duster and cloth mittens.
 Swabs and wipes.
 Floor cloths.
 Scrim.
 Glass cloth.
 Rags and polishing cloths
 Wet cloths.
 Chamois leather.
 Dust sheets.
 Druggets.
 Hearth and bucket cloths.
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Chamois leather:
 Real chamois leather is the skin of the chamois goat
antelope, but now various cheaper imitations are
available.
 These simulated chamois leathers are usually skivers,
that is, split sheepskin.
 Chamois leather can be used wet for cleaning windows
and mirrors, when dry, it is used as a polishing cloth for
silver and other metals.
 It is also ideal for wiping squeegee blades.
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Druggets:
 It is “a coarse woolen fabric felted or woven, self-
coloured or printed one side”. The term is now applied
to a coarse fabric having a cotton warp and a wool
filling, used for rugs, tablecloths etc.
 They are placed on the floor in door ways to prevent
excessive dirt being tracked in or out during bad
weather and during redecorating projects.
 They are sometimes placed in the passage between the
kitchen and dining area to catch spills and debris.
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Polishing applicators:
 These are usually oblong in shape for efficiency of
application. The polishing head should slide out from
the metal or plastic casing to enable easy replacement.
Types of polish applicators:
 Natural lambswool – with a built in polish reservoir or
tray.
 Synthetic wool– with a built in polish reservoir or tray.
 Solid-wax pressurized applicator.
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Containers:
Work becomes much easier and efficient if the staff is
given appropriate containers in which to carry,
transport, collect and store supplies and other items.
Types of containers:
Buckets. Basins and bowls.
Dustpan. Dust-bins.
Sani-bins. Spray bottles.
Polish applicator trays. Hand caddies.
Carts and trolleys. Maid’s cart.
Janitor’s trolley. Mop-wringer trolley.
Linen trolley. Laundry sacks.
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Containers:
Dust-bins:
The housekeeping department is concerned with
dustbins in 4 areas.
 In guest rooms.
 In the service rooms.
 In public areas such as guest corridor and lobbies.
 In waste collection areas.
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Containers:
Sani-bins:
 These are metal or plastic bins with lids, used in toilets
for the collection of soiled sanitary towels.
 They should be lined with plastic or paper bags for easy
cleaning.
 Disposable paper bags should be provided in the guests
toilets for wrapping sanitary towels, before disposing
in the sani-bin.
Spray Bottles: These are light weight containers that
deliver a fine mist or cleaning solution through a fine
nozzle, particularly used for spray cleaning.
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Containers:

Polish applicator trays:

 These are used in conjunction with a polish applicator
mop for polishing floors with a liquid polish.
Hand caddies :
 They are usually made of plastic. They consist of a box
with a handle and fitted tray. They are used by room
attendants for carrying cleaning supplies from room to
room.
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Containers:
Maid’s cart/room attendant’s cart:
 This is perhaps the most significant piece of equipment
in housekeeping department.
 It is like a tool Box, stocked with everything necessary
to service a guest room effectively.
 There are 3 deep shelves- the lower 2 for linen and top
partitioned shelf for small supplies.
 It has a sack for soiled linen, detachable trash bags,
storage space for a vacuum cleaner.
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Sundry equipments:
This includes other miscellaneous pieces of equipment
used in the housekeeping department –
Ladders.
carpet beaters.
Abrasive pads.
Rubber gloves.
Airing racks.
Fit pumps.
Choke removers.
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Mechanical Equipments:

 The various pieces of mechanical equipment used in

the housekeeping department are usually powered by
electricity or gas.
 The staff should be well trained in the operation of
these equipments since incorrect usage will not only
lead to inefficient cleaning but may also become a
safety hazard.
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Vacuum cleaner/ Suction cleaner:

 Vacuum cleaners remove debris and soil and / or water
from a surface by suction.
 All vacuum cleaners work on the same principle. In all
types, motor drives an impeller, which sucks in air
through an inlet, creating a difference in pressure
between the air within and outside the machine.
 Air drawn in from the inlet passes through and out of the
machine. Usually the air is sucked in together with soil,
debris or water.
 The dust is collected into a container provided, which may
be within or outside of the machine.
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Variations of Dry Vacuum Cleaners

Electric brooms: These are very lightweight vacuums

without a motor-driven beater brush. They are used
only for light vacuuming and for touch-ups on carpets
and hard floors.
Dustettes: These are small, lightweight vacuum
cleaners used for cleaning curtains, upholstery
edges, mattresses, computers and music systems.

Cont…..
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Variations of Dry Vacuum Cleaners

Backpack vacuums: These are very efficient to clean

high, hard-to-reach areas. These machines can
easily be strapped to the back of the operator.
Upright vacuums: Frequently seen in hotels, the main
body of the cleaner lies horizontal on the floor and is
driven by a single motor. The dust bag is outside the
machine’s body. There is a belt-driven beater brush to
facilitate removal of dust from thick-pile carpet.
Cont…..
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Variations of Dry Vacuum Cleaners

Cylindrical vacuums: They work by suction only. The

filter-cum-diffuser is fitted at the outlet which removes
fine dust and micro-organisms from the flow of air
passing through the outlet. The dust bag is inside the
cylindrical body. The term ‘suction cleaner’ is generally
used for this kind of vacuum cleaner.
Pile-lifter vacuums: They lift up the carpet pile that has
become packed down and restore their vertical
orientation.
Cont…..
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Variations of Dry Vacuum Cleaners

Centralized vacuums: Here the suction is generated at
one point in the building. Soiling can be removed at
vacuum points somewhere else by suitable nozzles
connected to detachable hoses. The collected dirt is
then conveyed by a network of pipes to a central
container.
The advantages are :
• It is extremely hygienic.
• Maintenance costs are usually lower.
• Operative fatigue is lower.
• There are no frayed flexes to repair.
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Wet-and –Dry Vacuum Cleaners

 These are extremely useful in hotel housekeeping
operation.
 They can pick up spills and excess wash water when on
the wet mode.
 When on the dry mode, they help in removal of dust and
debris.
 The waste water collects in a tank that needs to be
emptied after use.
 They are required when a large area is to be stripped of
polish and cleaned.
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General-purpose floor machines

These are designed for scrubbing, buffing, furnishing,

scarifying and spray maintenance.
 Scrubbing: The bristle tips of a brush or the surface of a
pad abrade and cut the soiling to remove it.
 Buffing: The bristle tips of a brush or the surface of a
pad create a high-gloss finish on the floor surface.
Cont…..
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General-purpose floor machines

 Burnishing: The tips of a brush or the surface of a pad

abrade and cut the floor surface to create a smooth
surface with a glossy finish.
 Scarifying : The bristle tips or edge of a cutting tool, cut
into impacted soiling and remove it by means of a
chisel-like action.

Cont…..
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General-purpose floor machines

 Spray cleaning: These machines consist of one large or
several small brushes that revolve and scrub the floor.
 Water and detergent are released from a tank attached
to the machine.
 These machines can be used for shampooing carpets,
polishing floors and spray maintenance.
 In some machines, colored, abrasive nylon pads replace
the scrubbing brushes.
 For normal-speed machines: Beige pads are used for
buffing. Green pads are used for scrubbing. Black pads
are used for stripping.
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Wet-extraction systems
These machines are used to restore the surface
appearance of carpets, upholstery and curtains. They
remove the more deeply embedded soilage not easily
removed by suction cleaning.
Types of wet-extraction systems:
 Hot-water extraction machines.
 Solvent extraction machines.
 Carpet shampooing machines.
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Types of carpet shampooing machines

1. Steam-extraction machines.
2. Cylindrical-brush dry-foam machines.
3. Rotary-brush wet-shampooing machine.
4. Small rotary-brushes wet-shampooing machines.
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Scrubber-drier-sweepers

These machines remove debris, soiling and /or water.

They are suitable for large areas where mechanical
sweeping, scrubbing and drying are required.
Types of scrubber-drier-sweepers.
1. Power sweeper.
2. Pedestrian-driven sweepers.
3. Petrol or gas-driven sweepers.
4. Self propelled sweepers.
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Placement of Guest Supplies

 Guest supply include all items that are conductive to

the guest’s material comfort and convenience.
They are sub-divided into:
 Amenities.
 Essentials.
 Expendables.
 Loan items.
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Placement of Guest Supplies

Behind the Door:

 A DND card the reverse of which may be “please make

up my room card” on the door knob on the inside of
the door.
 Room’s rate for different kinds of rooms.
 A detail map fire exists.
 A notice reminding the guests of the safe-deposit
facilities at the cashier’s desk.
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Placement of Guest Supplies

On the bedside table:

 Telephone and the service dictionary.

 A notepad and a pencil.
 An ashtray and a matchbox.
 A breakfast shelf knob card is usually kept on the first
shelf or in the drawer of the bedside table, during
evening service it is kept on the pillow.
 Local telephone directory. Cont…..
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Placement of Guest Supplies

On the bedside table:

 A Bible, a Gita or a Quran may be placed. In Buddhist

countries, “The Life and Thought of Lord Buddha” may
be place.
 A channel music panel may be fixed to the bedside.
 A bedside lamp.
 A flask on the tray with two glasses.
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Placement of Guest Supplies

On the Coffee table:

 An ashtray and a matchbox.

 The house magazine or some tourist magazines and a
newspaper.
 Room service menu.
 A letter of greeting signed by the General Manager,
wishing guests in special holidays and feasts.
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Placement of Guest Supplies

In the Mini Bar:

 All, some, or none of these may be included, depending

on the type of hotel and the type of guest room as well
as sometimes the profile of the guest.
 Mineral water bottles.
 Beverages such as liquor and soft drinks.
 Ice trays.
 Lemon wedges.
 Some snacks.
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Placement of Guest Supplies

On or near the Vanity Unit:

 Monogrammed soaps, Shampoo bottles, Moisturizers,

Cologne, Aftershave lotion and shower gels.
 Shower caps, Gargle glasses, Tissue box, Razor blades,
Dental kit and Shaving kit.
 A mirror mounted on the wall with appropriate lighting
facility.
 A sani-bin beside WC or under vanity counter.
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Uniforms

 Providing uniforms to hotel staff is one way of

ensuring proper grooming.
 It reflects the standard of the hotel and creating a good
impression on the guest.
 Uniform and enables the guest to identify staff and
their position in the organization.
Cont…..
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Uniforms

To the employees:
It is a status symbol, creating a sense of belonging and
thereby boosting their morale. Apart from the
aesthetic appeal, uniforms are frequently designed to
suit the task that is carried out.
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Uniforms

Types of uniforms used:

Aprons…… Cooks and Utility workers.

Belt………… Parking attendant, Doorman and Lady
captain.
Bows……… Managers – black.
Coats……… Stewards, Cooks, Utility workers, Captains,
Receptionists, Gardeners and Housemen.
Jackets…… Bell captains and Restaurant captains.
Caps………. Parking attendants, drivers, Utility workers
Cooks.