Cleaning
is carried out for the following reasons:-
a)
Aesthetic appeal – The environment
is made visually attractive and appealing
b)
Hygiene – Effective, frequent
cleaning controls, the growth and reproduction of pathogenic bacteria and other
germs.
c)
Maintenance – Surface and articles,
however good in quality will have a long and functional
Life
only when they are cleaned on regular basis.
d)
Safety – Cleaning is done for safety
against health hazards, fire hazards and slip hazards.
Types of soil:-
a)
Dust - This is composed of loose
particles deposited from the air. It contains both organic matter (Human and
animal hair, dead skin cells, plants) and inorganic (sand, dry earth)
b)
Dirt – This implies dust held
together firmly by moisture or grease on rough surfaces.
c)
Tarnish – This is a discoloration or
deposition on a metal or alloy surface caused by chemical reaction with certain
substances found in air, water and food stuffs. Different types of metals get
tarnished when they are exposed to air (copper gets a greenish colour called
‘verdigris’).
d)
Stain – This is discoloration
caused on a hard or soft surface by a substance containing dyes, proteins,
acids or alkalis. Stains cannot be removed by routine cleaning process. It must
be removed as soon as they occur using solvents to dissolve it or an acid or
alkaline to neutralize it.
Principles of
cleaning:-
These
are the basic rules to follow in any kind of cleaning activity, whatever the
nature of surface or the soil
·
All soil should be
removed
·
Soil should be removed
without harming the surface being cleaned or the surrounding surfaces
·
The surface should be
restored to its original state after the cleaning process
·
The simplest method
should be tried first using the mildest cleaning agent
·
Cleaning should proceed
from high to low wherever possible
·
When cleaning an area
start with the cleaner surfaces and articles and then go to clean more heavily
soiled areas so as to prevent the spread of soil dorm dirty to cleaner
surfaces.
·
While wet cleaning or
polishing the floor, the cleaner should walk backwards while cleaning in front
of him
·
Suction cleaning should
be preferred over sweeping wherever possible
·
Sweeping should be done
before dusting and dusting before suction cleaning
·
Stains should be
removed as soon as they occur
·
The cleaner should take
all safety precautions while cleaning. In particular, cleaning agents & equipments
should be stacked neatly to one side.
·
The cleaner should
start cleaning from the farthest end of an area working towards the exit
Cleaning Procedures:-
MANUAL METHODS :
MECHANICAL METHODS
a)
Sweeping a)
Suction Cleaning
b)
Dusting b)
Buffing
c)
Damp Dusting c)
Polishing
d)
Moping d)
Burnishing
e)
Scrubbing e)
Scrubbing
f)
Polishing f)
Stripping
Frequency of cleaning:
1)
Daily task – These are routine operations carried out on a day-to-day basis by
the cleaner. This includes the regular servicing of guest rooms, cleaning of
bathrooms and toilets, suction cleaning of floors, dusting of furniture, etc.
2)
Weekly Task – This term implies the task carried out on a weekly basis. This
may include the work like polishing of metal, high dusting, dusting under the
furniture, vacuum cleaning of upholstery, etc
3)
Periodic – This is the task carried out on a monthly, quarterly, half yearly or
on annual basis. Some of the usual periodic task in the hotel includes
shampooing of carpets, washing of walls, polishing of floors, cleaning of
chandeliers.
Organization of
Cleaning:
a)
Orthodox/ Conventional/Traditional cleaning – In this method of cleaning a GRA
completes all the task in one guest room before going on to the next room in
the section allotted to him/her. On an average a GRA may be required to clean
12-20 rooms in an 8 hr work day.
b)
Block Cleaning – In this way of cleaning, the GRA moves from room to room and
completes the same task in every room before returning to begin the cycle again
for the net task on the list. This involves blocking several rooms at a time to
form a ‘room section’ and usually more than one GRA will be at work in the
section. For example, the GRA might make all the beds in a particular room
section while other GRA cleans the toilet, and the third GRA replenishes the
supplies.
c)
Team Cleaning – In this method of cleaning, two or more people work together in
the same area either the same task or a different task.
d)
Deep Cleaning/Spring Cleaning – Deep cleaning refers to intensive cleaning
schedule which is carried out quarterly, half yearly or on annual basis. Deep
cleaning is essential at periodic interval. This task is complicated and time
consuming also. So housekeeping department has top coordinate with maintenance
and front office.
Spring cleaning task
may include the following:
·
Shampooing carpets
·
Striping and polishing
floors
·
Washing of ceiling and
walls
·
Vacuum cleaning the
mattress
·
Cleaning accessories
such as lamp shades and picture frames
·
Thorough cleaning of
bathroom including walls, floor tiles, fixtures and fittings.
Features that ease
cleaning:
1)
Smooth texture, straight, neat and smooth lines, medium toned colours are some
of the designed features in the surface that makes the cleaning easier. Medium
toned colours show less dirt than surfaces of darker or lighter shades.
2)
Furniture should be so designed that cleaning under and behind them is easy.
Furniture on castor wheels and glides are easily moveable making cleaning under
and behind them easier. Bed frames should not have a raised edge.
3)
Carpets should have the shorter pile for cleaning easier. Upholstery should
have minimum of decorative features such as buttons, gathers, and ruffles.
4)
Surfaces of solid wood are now being substituted by laminates of wood
(sunmica), laminates of plastic (formica) for regular buffing and low
maintenance.
5)
Metals which require constant polishing should be avoided in the public areas
or in the guest rooms. Example – brass becomes easily tarnished.