GUIDE FOR GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

Housekeeping is the maintenance of the household work either by the members of the family or by a housekeeper, the person hired by them. A housekeeper is a person hired to manage the household chores like cleaning, laundry, dishwashing, floor cleaning, and gardening. A housekeeper is paid for the work done by him/her. A housekeeper can be the solution to balance your work and busy life. You can spend more time with your family and friends or more time relaxing. Good housekeeping is necessary for safety and here are the tips and guides for good housekeeping.

• Eliminating Fire Hazards.
• Preventing Slips, trips, and falls.
• Prevent falling of Objects.
• Storing Materials Properly.
• Controlling Dust.
• Determining Frequency.
• Clearing Clutter.

 

What contributes to good housekeeping?

It includes keeping work areas neat and clean, arranging orderly, maintaining free of slip and trip hazards, and removing waste materials and fire hazards from work areas. Good housekeeping is also a part of incident and fire prevention.

What are the 5’s of good housekeeping?

“5S” is a practical management tool adopted for good housekeeping practice in workplaces. The 5S are

• Organization
• Neatness
• Cleanliness
• Standardisation
• Discipline

 

What are the 7’s of good housekeeping?

7S of good housekeeping is

• sort,
• systematize,
• sweep,
• standardize,
• safety,
• self-discipline
• sustain.

 

What is the key task of a housekeeper?

A Housekeeper is responsible for cleaning the floors, taking care of pets, laundry, and other household chores.

What does good housekeeping promote?

Some benefits of good housekeeping practices of a housekeeper are

• Decrease in fire hazards.
• Reduction in handling to ease the flow of materials.
• lower housekeeper exposures to hazardous products (e.g. dust, vapors, chemicals)
• lesser tripping and slipping incidents in clutter-free and spill-free work areas.

How do you keep your workplace clean and safe?

 

• Make sure housekeepers are properly trained.

• Providing safety aids and messages
• Ensure housekeepers have the proper equipment.
• Eliminating potential hazards
• Create a safety committee – and hold monthly safety meetings.

 

What is poor housekeeping?

 
One of the most common findings in workplaces is poor housekeeping by some housekeepers i.e. untidiness, disorder, poor storage of materials and stock. One can usually see dirt and dust on the workbenches, light fittings, floors, etc.
 

What are the signs of poor housekeeping?

 
The signs of poor housekeeping by housekeepers are

• Broken furniture and equipment.
• Poorly organized workspaces
• Dusty/dirty floors or work surfaces.
• Untidy or dangerous storage of materials (e.g. dangerous stacking of materials or overcrowded shelves).
• Storage of items no longer needed or used.
• Blocked or cluttered aisles and exits

 

GUIDE FOR GOOD HOUSEKEEPING:

 
Tackling the chores in a messy and dirty house can be difficult. There is so much that you need to do. Sometimes it is just easier to drop onto the sofa, watch TV and relax. Ignoring the household chores won’t clear the mess. You can hire a housekeeper so that you can spend more time with family and friends. However, you have to take a look over the works of your housekeeper for good housekeeping.
To make housekeeping easy, create a list system of daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal works and discuss it with your housekeeper. Breaking down the tasks into small steps that can be done in just a few minutes each day so the mess will be under control. Dividing the household chores between family members and housekeepers teaches responsibility and makes everyone’s life better. Please visit https://childcarehelp.co.uk/ to know about our services.

Daily Chores

Some tasks that can be done daily will keep your home in order and prevent that overwhelming feeling that everything is out of control. Some chores can be done first in the morning, can be done throughout the day as you do like other activities, and some can be done at night so that you wake up to an orderly home.
 

Kitchen

 

• Eliminating Dirty Dishes

There should never be dirty dishes in the sink or on the counter. Load the dishwasher after every meal and snack. Make sure that your housekeeper cleans the sink daily.

• Declutter and De-crumb Counters

After cooking any food, housekeepers should clean all the waste and keep the counter clean and neat daily.

• Sweep, mop, or vacuum floors

The kitchen will often have messy floors. Housekeepers should sweep, mop, or vacuum floors every day so that the mess can be removed.

• Recycle, Compost, and Empty the Trash

A housekeeper needs to empty the trash each day which will help keep pests away and leave a fresher smelling home. A fresh home gives you a happy mood.

 

Bedroom

 

• Make the Bed

A housekeeper has to fluff the pillows and select bed linens that are easy for everyone to spread up quickly.

• Put Away Clothes

Housekeepers should place soiled clothing in a hamper and return clean clothes and shoes to the drawers or closet.

• Check the Laundry Hamper

Laundry can be done daily depending on your needs. It will be easier for one load a day rather than seven loads on a single day. So make a proper plan and ask your housekeeper to do laundry according to your needs.

• Return Things to Their Proper Place

If cups or dishes have migrated to the bedroom, housekeepers have to return them to the kitchen. You can also teach your kids to put away toys and gather school items needed for the next day which will create responsibilities for your children.

 

Bathroom

 

• Dry the Shower

Make sure the shower curtain is closed so it will dry quickly. Housekeepers can clean the bathrooms with good chemicals and prevent water spotting and soap build up.

• Wipe Down Fixtures

After each use, housekeepers have to wipe the sink, taps, and counters with a disinfectant wipe or towel to remove spatters and spills.

• Hang Up Damp Towels

Housekeepers should make sure that towels and bathmats are hung so they will dry as quickly as possible to prevent mildew.

 

Living Spaces and Entry Areas

 

• Put Things Away

Before leaving a room, housekeepers should put away any dishes, books, and toys that have been used in the proper place.

• Clean Up Messes

Housekeepers should wipe up or vacuum the spills or dust on the floor and keep it clean.

• Deal with Paper wastes

Housekeepers have to clean the paper waste near the table and also make sure that the papers are really waste or any important notices by asking the house owner in case of any doubts.

 

Weekly Chores

 
Since the housekeeper has been following the list of daily chores, weekly chores should not be as worrying. There shouldn’t be a sink full of dirty dishes, a house with things in random places, untidy rooms, and a floor so sticky that you lose your shoes. Weekly chores don’t have to be done on a single day. Weekly chores can be done by spreading them out during the week so that the housekeeper may just follow those works in a weekly manner.

Kitchen

• Clean and Disinfect:

Housekeepers should use a disinfectant wipe to go over every surface like sinks, counters, doors and hardware, appliance handles and touch screens, etc., to kill the bacteria and keep the house germ free.

• Check the Refrigerator:

A housekeeper has to wipe down bins and shelves with a disinfectant wipe. A germ-free kitchen is essential for a healthy life. Housekeepers should take time to toss leftovers and spoiled foods.

• Clean the Floor

A housekeeper has to give the kitchen floor a thorough cleaning with disinfectant solutions.

 

Bedrooms

 

• Time for Fresh Sheets

A housekeeper has to change the sheets and wash them.

• Gather Clothes for Laundry

If all of the dirty clothes are not in the hamper, a housekeeper has to gather clothes and sort them to do laundry.

• Dust and Vacuum

Dusting all surfaces and vacuuming floors are to be done by housekeepers.

 

Bathrooms

 

• Time for a Scrub

A housekeeper has to give a good scrubbing to remove bacteria, and soap scum in every area like toilets, sinks, counters, bathtubs, shower stalls, and clean hair from all drains. Shine mirrors.

• Freshen Towels

Gathering and washing the towels, bath mats, and shower curtains are to be done by the housekeeper.

 

Living and Entry Areas

 

• Clean Surfaces and Floors

A housekeeper has to dust every flat surface and the fan blades and top of bookcases and vacuum or mop floors cleanly.

• Disinfect

Housekeepers should use a disinfectant wipe that is approved for electronic equipment to wipe down remotes and game controllers.

• Sort and Return

Housekeepers have to take a look at the items that have accumulated during the week that do not belong in that area. Arrange or return them to their proper place.

 

Monthly Chores

 
Now the daily and weekly chores are listed that keep your home cleaner and more orderly, there are some monthly tasks that require more time and effort. These deeper cleaning tasks make daily housekeeping chores easier, help home furnishings look better and long-lasting, and reduce the allergens in your home leaving a better healthy life.
 

Kitchen

 

• Check the Stove, Oven, Coffee Maker, and Refrigerator

Checking the stove top drip pans, the oven, and the filters and taps and giving them a good cleaning is a monthly chore. If the refrigerator is not kept spill-free, the housekeeper has to give it a good cleaning as well. Small appliances like toasters, waffle iron, instant pot, or coffeemaker are to be cleaned well to remove water scale by the housekeeper.

• Clean the Dishwasher

There may be grease and food that ends up in the dishwasher. A housekeeper needs to give it a neat cleaning monthly resulting in better results and cleaner dishes, and also it is a good time to clean another major appliance workhorse, your clothes washer monthly.

• Scrub Out Trash Cans

Even if you use heavy-duty trash bags, trash cans and recycling bins can get pretty dirty. Housekeeper has to give them a good scrubbing with a disinfectant monthly.

 

Bedroom

 

• Housekeepers have to spend some time organizing closets and drawers to keep clothes neat and wrinkle-free and pull out any garments that need mending and send them to the dry cleaner.
• If vacuuming under the bed and all of the furniture cannot be done by the housekeeper weekly, now it’s time to get rid of dust bunnies

 

Bathroom

 

• Clean a Little Deeper

If the housekeeper has been doing daily and weekly cleaning, the bathroom should be in good condition. However, the housekeeper has to take time to clean and disinfect make-up and grooming tools, check for mildew on grout and other surfaces, and scrub away any soap scum.

 

Living and Entry Areas

 

• Clean Furniture

A housekeeper has to clean the furniture with thorough vacuuming including under the cushions. Dusting and polishing wooden finishes and conditioning leather to keep it supple are also to be done.

• Look Up and Down

Checking fan blades, corners, and light fixtures for spider webs, dead insects, and dust need to be done by the housekeeper. Taking time to move the furniture and clean the dust is good housekeeping by a housekeeper.

• Wipe Down the Small Things

Light switches and the wall around them may get lots of smudges and grime. A housekeeper should not forget to dust door jambs, window ledges, and baseboards.

• Stop the Dirt

Checking the doormats both inside and outside the entry areas and giving them a good cleaning to prevent dirt from being tracked into living spaces are the works of the housekeeper.

• Breathe Easier

The air filter in the air purifiers must be checked, cleaned, or replaced for top performance by the housekeeper.

 

Seasonal Chores

 
There are some chores that only need to be done seasonally or just once a year.
 

Kitchen

 
Once or twice a year, a housekeeper has to go through cabinets and food storage and discard expired foods and donate or move out items like dishes and devices that cannot be used.
 

Bedroom

 
Clean Your Mattress and Pillows
Housekeepers have to clean bed covers, bed pillows, and window treatments well. A mattress should be vacuumed each season to remove dust and dust mites.
Sort and Toss
At least twice a year, the housekeeper has to empty drawers and closets and give them good vacuuming and cleaning. A housekeeper has to sort accessories, clothing, and toys then toss or donate unused items according to the wish of the house owner.

 

Bathroom

 

• Check Drawers and Medicine Cabinets

A housekeeper has to go through beauty and first aid supplies and toss any expired products. Dispose of unused medications should be done properly by the housekeeper.

• Inspect Fixtures

For good housekeeping, a housekeeper has to take time to look under the sink and around fixtures to catch any small leaks or drips. This will help you to save money.

 

Living Areas

 

• Clean Carpets and Hardwood Floors

Hire a professional housekeeper to clean carpets and large area rugs and damp mop hardwood floors to maintain the shine.

• Clean Upholstered Furniture

Couch and chair upholstery can usually be cleaned seasonally to remove stains and smell by the housekeeper.

• Lighten Up

A housekeeper has to vacuum and clean window screens, wash windows outside and inside.

• Be Safe

Chimneys and fireplaces, especially gas fireplaces should be checked and cleaned yearly by the housekeeper.

• Help Prevent Leaks

A housekeeper has to clean out gutters and drains around the house.