Definition of Housekeeping

Housekeeping refers to the management of duties involved in the running of a household, such as cleaning, cooking, home maintenance, shopping and bill pay.

These tasks may be performed by the household members, or by other persons hired to perform these tasks.

The person who is employed to manage a household and the domestic staff is called housekeeper.

Introduction to HousekeepingEvery house, whether private, like yours, or commercial like offices, shops, hotels, hospitals, clubs, etc., needs to be kept clean and tidy, so that it looks inviting to all. This is where housekeeping comes in. Cleaning and maintenance services can be spotted very easily anywhere.

The basic concept of housekeeping has started from keeping a domestic houseclean and has gradually come to maintaining high standards of cleanliness and maintenance at commercial levels. Besides this , housekeeping should also contribute to the saving in costs of labor, cleaning material and equipment, furnishings and the like in every type of establishment.

Housekeeping is a department that deals essentially with cleanliness and all the related works that attached to it.

The hygiene of housekeeping is essential. One can clean by dirty methods, but in our courses we have to stress and demonstrate clean and correct method. The hygiene factor must always be present.

Importance of Housekeeping

Housekeeping in a hotel provides the accommodation for the guests. A guest spends more time alone in the room than he spends alone in any other part of the hotel, therefore he can check on the standards of cleanliness of a room and he doesn’t find it clean then he would loose his confidence in the hotel and change over to another one.

The facilities provided for guest should be superior quality and hygienically cleaned as the guest is going to touch his body. Dirty linen is unforgiving in any hotel. Before the next guest comes into the room, the pillows and mattress as well must be checked by housekeeping staffs.

The maximum revenue comes from the sale of rooms, therefore stress must be paid to proper cleanliness of guest rooms and all public areas which are in continuous contract with the guests.

Cleanliness involves health which is happiness in our life, therefore its not something to be ignores at our homes as well as at our work place.

House keeping ensures that guest feels that the hotel is his “Home Away From Home”

SUBSECTIONS OF HOUSE KEEPING DEPARTMENT

Guest room

Public area

Control desk

Linen room

Uniform room

Laundry

horticulture

Guest room

What does a room mean to a guest?

Comfort

Security.

Privacy.

Convenience.

Cleanliness and hygiene

Comfort: House keeping achieves maximum efficiency possible in the care

and comfort of the guest and in providing support and services for the smooth

running of hotel. Its the duty of house keeping department to ensure comfort and

welcoming atmosphere of guests.

Privacy: The prime concern of any guest, irrespective of whether rich

or poor, is privacy. House keeping staff ensures the privacy of guests and

they should be trained with proper procedures to enter the guest room.

Convenience: A guest is provide convenience such as food and

beverages services,entertainmnet,telephone services etc. house keeping should

ensure that there is such literature in the room so that guest is able to know how to

reach such

Convenience and avail of them.

Cleanliness and hygiene: house keeping ensures a high standard of cleanliness and general upkeep in all areas. Clean and well maintained areas and Equipment create a favorable impression on guests.

Security: security is one of the prime concerns of hotel guest. The housekeepingStaff should ensure safety and security of guests with the help of security services. They Should also ensure a peaceful,quiet and noise free atmosphere in the area

Types Of Rooms

It is a standard room. It is for single occupancy having one single bed having two side tables. Dressing-cum-writing table is available along with this room.

Single Room

A room with one double bed meant for two people but can be sold on single occupancy. It is a standard room having a dressing-cum-writing table.

Double Room

A room with two single beds for two people having only one bed side table between the two beds. It has a dressing-cum-writing table.

Twin Room

A room with two single beds and one single headboard meant for two people. Isis separated by a side table

Hollywood Twin

A new type of set up with a studio bed which can use as a sofa during the day and it can be converted into a bed during the night.

Studio Room

A parlor is a sitting or a living room and it is not used as a bedroom. The guest are allowed to sit and be entertained in the parlor.

Parlor

It’s a two rooms and it has an interconnecting door between these two rooms. It is allowing entry from one room to another. The guest needn’t go into the corridor. The interconnecting doors can be opened when required or locked as per the guest request.

Interconnected Room

This is a set of rooms connecting one or more bedrooms. It has more facilities than a standard room and expensive too. The rates of this room is much higher because:

1. The size of the rooms are larger, more comforts and privacy. 2. It has more facilities like an extra television, a mini fridge, mini bar etc. 3. Particular décor and color scheme to suit the theme of the suit. 4. Large and elaborate furniture. 5. It has sitting arrangements separate from the bidding arrangement

Suite

A suite which has a set of rooms situated on the top most floor of the building has at least one room open to the sky.

Penthouse Suite

A set of rooms not on the same level but it is connected by an internal staircase. Generally, the parlor is at the lower level and the bedrooms are the upper level.

Duplex Room

This is a large bedroom with a sitting area provided with chairs and sofa. There will be dressing table and writing table as well. Newspapers and other business related magazines are also provided

Executive Room

A room that provides kitchen facilities , these type of rooms found in motels and residential hotels.

Efficiency Room

It used as a dress changing purpose. Now it is a room away from the main building having all basic facilities, mainly situated next to swimming pool. The décor would not be too luxurious and attractive therefore the rate is less.

Cabana

It is a type of room which has a Murphy bed.

SICO Room

Public area

The section of housekeeping maintains clean public areas like lobbies, restaurants, Swimming pool etc. The first impression must always be best. This section ensures that the Lobby is always thoroughly clean and well presented. It also makes sure that all the food and beverage outlets are hygienically maintained

Control desk

The housekeeping control desk is the central hub of the house keeping department. This is the area in the department where all information is received and from where messages are conveyed to housekeeping and other staff present in various parts of the hotel. Thus, the control desk may be considered the nerve centre of communication in the housekeeping department. one of the main functions of the control desk is ensuring smooth coordination between housekeeping and other departments such as maintenance, front office, food and beverages, security, sales and marketing etc.

LINEN ROOM

Hotel Linen in house-keeping department is the second large expense. Hotel Linen is expensive to replace, and if it is well maintained, correctly laundered, and properly stored its life can be extended. Soiled, worn or creased linen leave a bad impression of the cleaning standard of the hotel. Efficient Hotel linen and laundry management   ensure that the large volume of soiled linens are washed, and treated so as to look, neat smell fresh, and feel crisp that they are disbursed at the right time at right place.

ACTIVITIES OF LINEN ROOM

The following are the activities of linen roomCollection of soil linens

Counting and sorting of the soiled linens.

Packing of the soiled linens for the laundry.

Dispatch of soiled lines to the laundry

Receipt of fresh linen from the laundry.

Checking and sorting of the fresh linens

Storage of the fresh linens

Distribution of fresh linens to the floor and others

areas.

Stoking of for linen maintenance of records

Stitching monogramming of all the hotel uniforms.

Uniform selection

Uniform storage and issue.

UNIFORM ROOM

Hotel staff must always be well groomed and smartly dressed as they are the ambassadors of the hotel and must be at their best all times. This makes the guest fell reassured that the hotel will take care of all his needs. The uniform section is responsible for providing every staff member will well fitted uniforms. The uniform room also provides the staff daily with well laundered uniforms and it co-ordinates with the laundry for this purpose.

LAUNDARY

The laundry ensures that staff uniforms are laundered and sent to uniform room on daily basis. The laundry also ensures that they provide the Lenin room with clean bed and bath Lenin for guest room and clean table linen for the food and beverage outlets. The section also does guest laundry and charges for it, thereby earning revenue for hotel.

HOTICULTURE

The section of housekeeping takes care of landscaping, indoor plants and flower arrangements. It ensures a daily supply of fresh cut flowers plants give the hotel an eco-friendly environment. Flower arrangements add beauty and are symbol of welcome. Guests tend to frequent hotels which follow eco-friendly practices.

LAYOUT OF A ROOM

GuestroomSupplies

Guestroom Amenities

Bathroom Supplies Bathroom Amenities

Pillows Stationary Sanitary bags Facial soap

Pillow cases Postcards Hand towels Bath soap

Blankets Laundry bags Bath mats Moisturizer

Sheets Pens Bath towels Shampoo

Packets of coffee or tea powdered creamer

Utility bags Hair dryer Hair conditioner

Ice buckets Coffee or Tea maker

Bathrobe Shave

Trays Amenities container

Makeup mirror Cologne or after shave

GuestroomSupplies

Guestroom Amenities

Bathroom Supplies Bathroom Amenities

Hangers Laundry hanger Disposable slippers Razor

Ashtrays Iron box Waste baskets

Waste baskets Iron stand Shower curtains Shoe mitt

Telephone directories

Facial tissue Shoe horn

Stationary folders Sewing kit

Fire safety Bubble bath