Study These Terms

Abrasives – these can be a substances or chemicals that depend on their rubbing or scratching action to
clean dirt from hard surfaces.
Alkaline cleaners – alkaline-based cleaning agents are used in laundry and are particularly good for
removing grease.
Cleaning agents – are used to make the cleaning job easy.
Detergents – are made from pure soap or organic chemicals.
Deodorants – are agents used for hiding bad smells.
Disinfectants – are used to kill harmful germs.
Floor seal – is available in solvent- or water-based forms. It is applied to a floor’s surface to form a semi-
permanent protective barrier that prevents dirt, liquids, grease stains, and bacteria to penetrate.
Polishes – are cleaning agents that are applied to a surface to form a hard protective layer and thus guard
against finger marks, stains, and scratches.
pH (power of hydrogen) – the pH scale measures how acidic or basic a substance is. The pH scales ranges
from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral, less than 7 is acidic, and greater than 7 is basic.
Ppm (parts per million – an expression that represents the part of a whole number in units of 1/1000000.

DISCUSSION

“Excellent Hotel, Manila airport”

Reviewed 2 weeks ago
Marina service excellence gets to shine
at the Manila Airport. Marina Hotel, my fourth
time here and have been impressed each time.
Service professionals do all they can to make
the guest feel welcome; they greet courteously,
and are very friendly. Very safe feeling, very
clean, and attached to Nice Hotel mall for a
terrific selection of restaurants, high-end
shopping or browsing, and a casino. Each
transportation arrangements can be made to the
airport and back. Will stay here again!

Take note of a hotel evaluation review given by a guest at Marina Hotel. What is your impression
on the reviewer’s evaluation of Marina Hotel’s services including their sanitation and cleanliness?
In the previous lesson you already learned the importance of cleaning and sanitation. In this lesson
you will be oriented with the cleaning materials, tools, and equipment so you will know the right cleaning
chemical and equipment to use for the job.
Cleaning Agents or Chemicals
Cleaning agents are used to make the cleaning job easy. Cleaning agents used in housekeeping
include:
a. Detergents
b. Deodorants
c. Acid cleaner
d. Laundry aids
e. Alkaline
cleaners
f. Polishes
g. Solvent cleaners
h. Floor seal
i. Disinfectant
j. Abrasives

Detergents
a. Detergents are made from pure soap or organic chemicals. There are two types of
detergent.
b. Soapy detergent comes in flakes for washing delicate fabrics and powder for
washing soft fabric.
c. Synthetic detergent is made from organic chemicals delivered from petroleum.
These are used extensively in housekeeping. It is used for cleaning task and for
washing up the floors. It may be in forms of powder, liquid, gel, or crystals.
Deodorants
Deodorants are agents used for hiding bad smells. They counteract stale odors and sometimes
introduce fragrance in the area. They are used in guest rooms, bathrooms, and in public areas. They are
available in liquids, powders, and crystalline blocks. Naphthalene serves as effective deodorants.
Acid Cleaner
Acids used as cleaning agents may vary from mild acid (e.g., acetic acid) to strong concentrated
hydrochloric acid. Acids should be used in solutions followed by through rinsing. Except for citric and
acetic, all acids should be used under supervision with extreme caution and with the protection of rubber
gloves. Strong acids are poisonous and corrosive. Here is a guide for using the following acid cleaners:
1. Use citric acid and acetic acid for cleaning metals.
2. Use diluted hydrochloric acid in removing lime scale from sanitary ware.
3. Use oxalic acid for removing stubborn water stains from hard floors and sanitary ware

Laundry Aids
Laundry aids which are used as cleaning materials contain stiffening agents and fabric conditioners.

Polishes
Polishes are cleaning agents that are applied to a surface to form a hard protective layer and thus
guard against finger marks, stains, and scratches. They also create a pleasant shine on a hard surface.
Examples: metal polish, furniture polish, and floor polish.
Alkaline Cleaners
Alkaline-based cleaning agents are used in laundry and are particularly good for removing grease.
Very strong alkaline materials are known as caustic materials and are extremely corrosive and poisonous.
They must be used under strict supervision. The following are alkaline-based cleaning agents.
a. Sodium carbonate (washing soda) is used to soften water and remove light grease
marks.
b. Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) is used for removing grease from grills and
blocked drains.
c. Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) is used for whitening and removing stains from hard
and soft surfaces.

Solvent cleaners
These cleaning agents are used extensively for dry cleaning and for stain removal. They all have
strong fumes and should be used in a well - ventilated room. Solvents are useful for cleaning grease or
polishing surfaces. Solvents will evaporate so they are ideal for cleaning windows, mirrors, and picture
frames.
Methylated spirits, turpentine, white spirit, and acetone are used for removing stains of hard and
soft surfaces.
Floor seal
A floor seal can be either solvent - or water - based. It is applied to a floor's surface to form a semi
- permanent protective barrier to prevent dirt, liquids, grease stains, and bacteria from penetrating. It may
last for up to five years before replacement is necessary. Examples are:
a. Oleo-resinous. It is a clear solvent-based sealer used on wood cork and magnesite
floors. It consist of oils, resins, and solvents.
b. One pot plastic. It is made up of synthetic materials. It is used on wood, cork and
magnesite floors.
c. Pigmented sealers. These sealers contain color pigments which provide color and
also strengthen the sealers. They are used on wood, concrete, and stone floors.
Disinfectants
Disinfectants are used to kill harmful germs. Most disinfectants have a strong smell and therefore
should be used in recommended amounts in areas where germ control is required. Example are:
a. Phenol. It is used in dilute or concentrate solution to disinfect surfaces in hospital.
b. Halogen. Its elements chlorine and iodine may be used as disinfectants.
Abrasives
These are substances or chemicals that depend on their rubbing or scratching action to clean dirt
from hard surfaces. They are used to remove very stubborn stains of various surfaces. Examples are:

• Fine abrasives -jeweller’s rouge (a pink oxide of iron used for shining silver).
• Hard abrasives - sand paper, fine ash, pumice stone, and steel wool are commonly used abrasives.

Water is not a cleaning agent but it is very important in rinsing and finishing the final cleaning
process. Use warm water to dissolve detergent more easily.

Different Cleaning Chemicals: Use and Proper Dilution

1. All - purpose cleaner - this is used to clean all types of washable surfaces.
Ratio of solute (all-purpose cleaner) to solvent (water) depends on the type of material being cleaned.
A. For glass panels and mirrors:
1:100 - one part of cleaner to 100 parts of water
To use: Spray or wipe. Then rinse and dry with clean cloth.
B. For steel, rubber, fiberglass, and formica:
1:75 - one part of cleaner to 75 parts of water.
To use: Spray or wipe. Then rinse and dry with a clean cloth.
C. For painted walls, surfaces, floors, and ceiling:
1:50 - one part of cleaner to 50 parts of water
To use: Spray or wipe. Mop, rinse, and dry with a clean cloth or mop.
2. Wax stripper or remover - this is used to loosen, break up, and strip off old waxes, finish, and sealers.
A. For stripping of polymer sealer or finish or heavy wax build up:
1:4 - one part of wax stripper to four parts of water.
B. For unusual stripping of wash buildup on floor, corners, and edges:
1:0 - pure concentrated wax stripper.

Useful Tips in Selection of Cleaning Agents

 a. Always use mild cleaning agents, as they are more pleasant to use and less likely
to cause damage or injury.
b. Strong smelling agents should be avoided due to their offensive smell which might
cause harm to an individual and the environment.
c. Buy polishes in manageable amount to avoid wastage because it can evaporate and
dry in short span of time.

Safe Use of Cleaning Chemicals

a. Read container labels and follow directions.
b. Make sure all chemicals containers are not leaking or damaged.
c. Label all chemicals correctly.
d. Wear personal protective equipment at all times while handling chemicals.
e. Do not mix chemicals.
f. Do not sniff contents of containers.

Cleaning Tools
1. Dusters - materials for dusters are made of soft cotton, flannel, or artificial
feathers. But the best material for dusters is the ostrich - down feathers because
it attracts dust. Dusters are used for removing dust and for wiping various
surfaces. Care and maintenance of dusters for long use includes proper washing
and drying after use. Then technique in dusting is to pull the feathers along the
dusty surface, using a steady even stroke. Shake out accumulated dust from the
feathers by tapping the duster against your ankle every once in a while. The dust
then settles to the floor, where you can later vacuum it away.
2. Dustpans - used to collect dust and dirt with a help of a broom. Dustpans are made
of either plastic materials or metal, which must be cleaned after use before storage.

3. Mops - useful tools in wiping dirt and dust from the floor. Mops are usually made
of thick, loosely woven cloth. After use, mops should be washed with soap and water
and squeezed to dry. Mops come in various sizes for specific purposes, below are examples of
mops.

Big floor duster Floor mop Magnet mop Micro floor squeeze mop

4. Brooms - used in sweeping dirt and dust from the floor and other areas that
need cleaning. It may be made from man-made materials like plastic or from
natural materials like the soft broom (walls tambo) made from tiger grass and the
stick broom (walis ting - ting) made from spine of dried coconut leaves.
5. Brushes - designed with different sizes and shapes for specific cleaning purposes. After use,
brushes should be washed with soap and dried in the sun to last longer. Below are the types of brush
used in housekeeping:
 Toilet brush is used for cleaning bidets and toilet bowl.
 Sink brush is used for unclogging sink.
 Scrub brush is for cleaning sturdy dirt from floors and walls.
 Carpet hand brush is an alternative for vacuum in cleaning the carpet.
 Cane hairbrush is a soft nylon brush used to prevent damage to cane surfaces.
 Soft hand brush goes with a dust pan and is used to collect dust.
 Wall brush is a soft brush with long handles to clean hard to reach wall.
 Feather brush is used to clean delicate surfaces like lampshade, television, etc.

Carpet hand brush

Toilet brush Sink brush
Scrub brush

Soft hand brush Long handle brush Feather brush

Cane hairbrush

6. Buckets or pails - used for holding water or detergent while cleaning.

7. Garbage bins - are available in plastic with lid,

to hold gathered garbage and trash while cleaning.
 8. Caddy basket - used to hold small tools and chemicals while cleaning.

9. Squeegee - used to gather water while cleaning window glasses.

Cleaning Equipment
Floor scrubber and Polisher
This is used in scrubbing, stripping, and polishing hard floor surfaces,
vinyl wood parquet, etc. Use the appropriate pad for scrubbing, stripping,
and polishing. Give the wax on the floor enough time to dry before
polishing.

Upholstery Steam Cleaner

Equipment used to clean carpet and upholstery. It had been fitted
with an upholstery wand for maximum reach when dealing with tight,
hard-to-reach crevices of upholstery.

High Pressure Washer

This equipment is design to remove soil from the surface with the help
of water and steam subjected to high pressure. Water under pressure
dislodges the dirt from the surface.

Carpet Shampoo Machine

This equipment is used for deep cleaning and stain removal. The
cleaning agents are simply mixed with hot water and detergents. The
detergent is injected on the carpet piles and extracted back by a wet
vacuum built into the same machine.

Vacuum Cleaner
 This is used in removing dust and small pieces of debris from the floors,
upholstery, furnishings, walls, and ceilings. It comes with different flexible
attachment such as crevice nozzle, upholstery cleaning brush, floor cleaning
brush, etc.

Among the five cleaning equipment, the most commonly used by a room
attendant in cleaning guestroom are the vacuum cleaner and polisher.

Parts of Vacuum Cleaner

Parts of a Floor Polisher

 Operation Control

Handle Tube

Power Cord

Transport Wheel

All Metal Housing

Pad Diameter

How to Safely Use Electric Equipment

a. Voltage of the machine and supply should be same.
b. Plugs must be used correctly.
c. Machine and socket must be switched off before plugging in or disconnecting.
d. Check the cable and flexes if properly clamped into plugs.
e. Loose cables should lie behind the machine as close to the wall as possible and
passes over door handles if passing the door way.

Scheduling and Performing One's Task

Employee scheduling will depend greatly on the occupancy of the hotel. The number of occupants
varies depending on the season. The executive housekeeper is the one who decides on this matter. The
standard practice in assigning rooms to housekeepers is 16 rooms per room attendant. The productivity
standard in cleaning an occupied room takes about 30 minutes, then 6 minutes in cleaning the bathroom,
and 4 minutes in loading carts and tea breaks. A hotel room with 100 rooms all are occupied needs 8 room
attendants per shift. There is also a software that can be used to aid the complexities of the task such as the
Visual Rota.

Assignment or distribution of tasks should be fair and equal. No employee must be overburdened
with tasks. Rotation of tasks is also considered to avoid monotony. Common task for all employees is to
provide service for the guest. The executive housekeeper should make sure that rotation of employees on
different floor is observed and each floor should have an equal employee to work on the entire tasks.
Sample Room Attendant Work Schedule

MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT SUN

Ana Room
Attendant
1st Floor 1st Floor 1st Floor 1st Floor 1st Floor 1st Floor Off

Jonie Room
Attendant
1st Floor 1st Floor 1st Floor 1st Floor 1st Floor Off 1st

Jessie Room
Attendant
2nd Floor 2nd Floor 2nd Floor 2nd Floor Off 2nd Floor 2nd Floor

Catherine
Room
2nd Floor 2nd Floor 2nd Floor Off 2nd Floor 2nd Floor 2nd Floor
Attendant

Allan Room
Attendant
3rd Floor 3rd Floor Off 3rd Floor 3rd Floor 3rd Floor 3rd Floor

Jose Room
Attendant
3rd Floor Off 3rd Floor 3rd Floor 3rd Floor 3rd Floor 3rd Floor

Chris Room Reliever Reliever Reliever Reliever Reliever Reliever

Attendant Jose Allan Catherine Jessie Jonie Ana
Off

Maintain Cleaning Tools, Materials, and Equipment

Proper selection and maintenance of equipment are important factors to consider. Selecting the proper
tool for the job and using the tool properly will increase efficiency and reduce maintenance problems.
Purchase tools that are well made and suited to the intended use. Commercial usage may entail more heavy-
duty demands on equipment. Always follow the routine "clean up while in use and clean up before keeping
it".
Tools and Equipment Care
a. Perform basic preventive maintenance.
b. Execute clean up practices on the tools and equipment that must be maintained.
c. Keep all cutting tools sharp. Use the right tool for the job.
d. Ensure tools are in safe working order. Attach a "do not use" tag to damaged tools
and notify the maintenance department.
e. Clean up and pick up after yourself as you go. Good maintenance practices on the
job site must be maintained.
f. Manufacturer's instructions for operation and maintenance should be followed.
 g. All equipment must be inspected before and after use and all defects should be
reported.

Maid's Cart or Trolley Care and Maintenance

a. All soiled linen bags and trash bags be emptied.
b. Thorough cleaning of maid's cart is done once in a week. The wheels may be oiled
during the cleaning for smooth movement of the trolley.

Safekeeping of Cleaning Tools and Equipment

Hand tools:
a. Store hand tools in a clean dry storage area.
b. Protect surfaces of cutting tools in storage.

Equipment:
a. Store equipment in a clean dry storage area
b. Rinse and clean spray equipment after each use.
c. Clean and check wheel-driven gears.
d. Clean maid's carts after use.
e. Carts and trolleys should never be used as general dumping grounds when not in
use.
f. When storing maid's cart, it should be clean and then stored locked.
g. The storage area of maid's cart and all other cleaning equipment should be dry and
well-ventilated.
Safekeeping of Cleaning Tools, Equipment, and Chemicals
a. Provision should be made for correct storage of all equipment.
b. There should be space for each machine.
c. Shelves, cupboards, and drawers for all spare parts (e.g., mop brush, mop heads,
and mop pads) should be provided.
d. Storage place should be equipped with power points.
e. Proper lightning should be provide.

Remember These
1. Cleaning agents are used to make the cleaning job easy. Cleaning agents used in housekeeping include
detergents, deodorants, acid cleaner, laundry aids, alkaline cleaners, polishes, solvent cleaners, floor seal,
disinfectants, and abrasives.
2. There are two types of detergent: the soapy detergent comes in flakes for washing delicate fabrics and
powder for washing soft fabric; and synthetic used for cleaning task and for washing up the floors.
3. Examples of acid cleaner are citric acid and acetic acid which is used for metal cleaning, diluted
hydrochloric which acid which is used for removing lime scale from sanitary ware, and oxalic acid for
removing stubborn water stains from hard floors and sanitary ware.
4. Polishes are cleaning agents that are applied to a surface to form a hard protective layer and thus guard
against finger marks, stains, and scratches. Examples of polishes are metal polish, furniture polish, and
floor polish.
5. Alkaline-based cleaning agents are used in laundry and are particularly good for removing grease.
Examples of alkaline-based cleaning agents are sodium carbonate (washing soda) which si used to soften
water and remove light grease marks, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) which is used to remove grease from
grills and blocked drains, and sodium hypochlorite (bleach) for whitening and removing stains from hard
and soft surfaces.
6. Solvents are useful for cleaning grease or polish from surfaces.
7. A floor seal can be either solvent - or water - based. It is applied to the floor surface to form a semi-
permanent protective barrier to prevent dirt, liquids, grease, stains, and bacteria from penetrating.
8. Disinfectants are used to kill harmful germs. Most disinfectants have a strong smell and therefore should
be used in recommended amounts in areas where germ control is required.
9. Abrasives are substances or chemicals that depend in their rubbing or scratching action to clean dirt from
hard surfaces. They are used to remove very stubborn stains from various surfaces. Examples are fine
abrasives --- jeweller's rouge (a pink oxide of iron used for shining silver), and hard abrasive ---sand paper,
fine ash, pumice stone, and steel wool.
10. Water is not a cleaning agent but it is very important in rinsing and finishing the final cleaning process.
Use warm water to dissolve detergent more easily.
11. Useful tips in selection of cleaning agents are: always use mild cleaning agents as they are friendlier to
use which are less to cause damage and injury, strong smelling agents should be avoided due to the offensive
smell they give which might cause harm to an individual and the environment, and buy polishes in
manageable amount to avoid wastage due to evaporation and drying.
12. The basic tools you will need to efficiently clean an area include dusters, dustpan, mops, brooms,
brushes, bucket, garbage bins, caddy basket, and squeegee.
13. Cleaning equipment used for room servicing are chambermaids or maid's trolley, wet and dry vacuum
cleaner, scrubber and polisher, and upholstery cleaner.
14. Cleaning materials and chemical agents include all - purpose spray, disinfectant, cream cleanser, bleach,
detergent, polish, glass cleaner, abrasives, and polishing cloth.
15. Items that a room attendant or housekeeper needs to prepare in cleaning a guest rooms include clean
sheets and pillow cases, clean towels, several color - coded cleaning rags, bathroom cleaner, all-purpose
cleaner, air freshener, toilet brush, toilet paper, trash bags, amenities, and vacuum cleaner.
16. The sequence for cleaning of guest rooms are are initial procedures, bed making, dusting and polishing,
cleaning of bathroom, replenishing of room supplies, vacuuming, and final procedures.
17. Points to remember when servicing a guest rooms include: clean in one direction, clean from top down,
and clean from furthest point out; check for damage, maintenance required, and lost property; and use
correct equipment and cleaning agents for surface.
18. Maintenance of tools helps in maintaining their efficiency and keeping their life long. It is therefore
essential to keep tools and equipment clean after use, follow the routine "clean up while in use and clean
up before keeping it".
19. Maintaining safety in using chemicals when cleaning requires the following: careful selection of all
reagent chemicals, accurate assessment of relative hazards of chemicals, proper labelling and storage of all
chemicals, safe use of all materials, and proper disposal of all materials.

References
Books
Andrews, Sudhir. 1985. Hotel Housekeeping Training Manual. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill
Publishing Co. Ltd.
Dugan, Beth; 2005 (1st edition); The Responsible Serving of Alcoholic Beverages: A Complete Staff
Training Course for Bars, Restaurants and Caterers; Atlantic Publishing Company
Hurst, Rosemary. 1971. Housekeeping Management for Hotels and Residential Establishments.
United Kingdom: William Heinemann Ltd.
Martin, Robert J. 1998. Professional Management of Housekeeping Operations. New York:
John Wiley & Sons.
Plotkin, Robert; 1988 (1st edition); Intervention Handbook: The Legal Aspects of Serving Alcohol;
Barmedia
Various authors; 2012; Responsible Service of Alcohol: A Server’s Guide; International Center for
Alcohol Policies (ICAP) and the European Forum for Responsible Drinking (EFRD)
Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation; 2012; A Guide to the Responsible Service of
Alcohol; Victoria Government