MODULE - 6A

IntroductiontoHousekeeping

Housekeeping

28
Notes

INTRODUCTIONTO
HOUSEKEEPING

Every house, whether private, like yours, or commercial like offices,

shops,hotels,hospitals,clubs,etc.,needstobekeptcleanandtidy,sothat
itlooksinvitingtoall.Thisiswherehousekeepingcomesin.Cleaningand
maintenanceservicescanbespottedveryeasilyanywhere.
Thebasicconceptofhousekeepinghasstartedfromkeepingadomestichouse
cleanandhasgraduallycometomaintaininghighstandardsofcleanlinessand
maintenanceatcommerciallevels.Besidesthis,housekeepingshouldalso
contributetothesavingincostsoflabour,cleaningmaterialandequipment,
furnishingsandthelikeineverytypeofestablishment.

Butbeforewemoveintotheactualworkinganddetailedproceduresof
thisinterestingandprobablythemostimportantactivityofourdailylife,it
isimportanttogetintroducedtothecommercialconceptofhousekeeping,
its roleandimportance,the various functions ofhousekeepingand the
responsibilitiesofpersonnelinvolvedinhousekeepingservices.Besides,it
isalsoimportanttoknowthegroomingstandardsofthesepersonnel.

OBJECTIVES
Afterreadingthislessonyouwillbeableto:
explainthemeaningandimportanceofhousekeeping;
identifytheareaswhichrequirehousekeepinginabuilding;
list the personnel involved in housekeeping in commercial
establishmentsandelaboratefunctionsofeachpersonnel;
explaintheneedforgroomingofpersonnelinvolvedinhousekeeping.

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Housekeeping

Notes

IntroductiontoHousekeeping
28.1WHATISHOUSEKEEPING?
Housekeepinginsimplewordsmeansmaintainingahouseonadailyorlongterm
basisorlookingafteritscleanliness,tidiness,upkeepandsmoothrunning.Whenyou
keep your house clean and well maintained, you would also like to make it as
beautifulaspossible.Howdoyoumakesurethateverythinginthehouseisinusable
condition?Noneoftheobjectsarebrokenorchippedandfabricsarenottorn.Allthe
fixturesliketaps,geysers,electricwiring,bulbs,tubes,fans,plugpoints,areingood
workingcondition,geysersarenotleaking,electricwiringisproperandthereisno
dangeroffireduetoshortcircuiting,andsoon.

Thus,thedifferentproceduresfollowedtokeepandmaintaineverythinginthe
house in a good and presentable order, are collectively known as good
housekeeping.Inotherwords,wemayalsosaythathousekeepingisaprocess
ofkeepingaplaceclean,beautifulandwellmaintainedsothatitlooksand
feelspleasantandinvitingtoall,eitherliving,visitingorworkingthere.
28.2IMPORTANCEOFHOUSEKEEPING
Toknowtheimportanceofhousekeeping,letusexaminethefollowingsituation.

Rohangetsupwithabackacheashismattressislumpy.Hehastocatcha
train;heopensthetapforbathingbutthereisnowater!Hegoestotheroof
tocheckthetanks,aleakinthepipehasdrainedoutallthewater!
Hesitsforhisbreakfastandmanagestosavehimselffromfalling,asthe
chairisbroken.Tohishorror,henoticesatinycockroachinhisfood.
Now,wouldyouliketobeinRohansplace?Wouldyouliketouseadirty
toilet?orweardirty,tornclothes?Wouldyouliketoworkinashabby,dirty
place?Ifeatingout,wouldyouliketogotoarestaurantwithbrokenfurniture
orpestscrawlingallover?Wouldyouliketosleeponadirtyandlumpybed?
IamsuretheanswertoalltheaboveisNo.Theseareverysmallthingsbutcan
makealotofdifferenceinyourdailylife.Thesesmallthingsaretheveryessence
ofagoodhousekeeping.HadRohanattendedtotheleakintime,repairedthe
diningchairwhenithadjuststartedcreaking,oruncloggedthedrainthefirsttime
itshowedminorblockage,regularlydisinfestedhishouseatperiodicintervals,
itwouldhaveensuredaclear,comfortableenvironmentinwhichRohanwould
havebeenhappyandrelaxed.Hewouldnothavefeltuncomfortable,depressed
and frustrated or suffered from an inferiority complex. A good housekeeping
wouldhaveensuredsmoothfunctioningofallgadgets,noleaks,acomfortable
environment in which Rohan would have enjoyed a hassle free living. Thus
housekeepingmeansattendingtothesmalltasksintime.

Activity28.1

1)

Observeyourownhouseandmakealistofareasthatare:
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iv)

IntroductiontoHousekeeping

v)

1- Wellmaintained
2- Neglected.
28.3 AREASOFHOUSEKEEPING
Youmusthaveunderstoodbynowhowimportantgoodhousekeepingistoyourown
house.Similarly,itisequallyimportantforanyotherkindofestablishment,beita
shop,atradingcenter,anoffice,club,guesthouse,hospital,hotelorahostel.Every
area in the establishments mentioned above needs to be kept clean and tidy and
everything placed here has to be in a presentable and working condition. Thus,
housekeepingisanessentialandregularfeatureinalltypesofestablishments.

Incommercialestablishments,thehousekeepingservicesaredonebya
teamofspecializedpeopleaccordingtodifferentareas.Hereisadetailed
listofareaswhichneedhousekeeping.Youcanaddtothelistifyoulike.
1)

Roomsandcorridors:ceilingandwallpaint,wallpaper,fans,air
conditioners,electricalswitchesandsockets,wiring,windows,doors,
glasspanes,bed,bedmaking,carpets,locks,keys,etc.

2)

Toilets:taps,sinks,watercloset,geysers,watersupply,electricalsockets
andswitches,supplyoftowels,toiletpaper,toiletries(soap,shampoo,etc.)

3)

Linen: linen (table napkin, tablecloth) towels, bed sheets, bed

covers,blankets,garmentsofguests,staffuniforms,etc

4)

Furniture and furnishings: furniture, curtains, table lamps, tube

lights,chandeliers,bulbs,sofas,diningtablesandchairs,etc.

5)

Gardens:Plants,pots,lawn(grass),flowers,trees,bushes,hedges,etc.

6)

Publicareas:staircase,corridors,lobby,conference/seminarroom,
waitinghalls,recreationroom,parkingarea,clubs,swimmingpool,
offices,commontoiletsetc.
Activity28.2
Goaroundyourbedroom,toiletandkitchen.Listfivethings
whichmayrequirehousekeeping.
Area

Housekeepingneeds

Bedroom

i)Example:Knobscrewsofcupboardneedtobetightened
ii)
iii)

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Housekeeping

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IntroductiontoHousekeeping
Toilet

Housekeeping

i) Example:Leakingcisternneedstobefixed
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)

Notes

Kitchen

i) Example:Chippeddoorneedstoberepainted.
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)

INTEXTQUESTIONS28.1
1. Correctthefollowingstatements:
1) Housekeepingreferstocookingnutritiousmealsforyourfamily.
2)
3)
4)
5)
2.

Housekeepingrefersonlytoresidentialpremises.
Housekeeperisapersonresponsibleforkeepingthehouse.
Housekeepingathomeisdonebymaidservant.
Housekeepinginabighotelisdonebyasingleperson.

Given below is a list of areas/appliances. Suggest the kind of

maintenanceservicesrequiredforeach.
i.
iii
v
vii
ix

Fan
Gasstove
Pipe
Windowpane
Lawn

ii
iv
vi
viii
x

Tap
Mixergrinder
Wall
Airconditioner
Bedsheets

Nowletusseewhoisresponsibleforcarryingouttheaboveactivities.
28.4 PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN HOUSEKEEPING
INCOMMERCIALESTABLISHMENTS

Looking at your
own home, who is
the person most
responsible for
upkeep of your

house?Yes,itisyourmother,whomaybehelpedbyotherfamilymembersorahired
help.Similarly,inmostcommercialorganizations,theresponsibilityofhousekeeping
isassignedtoapersoncalledahousekeeper.Sheorheisresponsibleforupkeepand
maintenanceofthepremises.Dependingonthesizeandtypeof

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IntroductiontoHousekeeping
organization,theremayormaynotbeaseparatesectionmeanttolookafter
variousaspectsofhousekeeping.Asmallshopmaydeputeasinglepersonto
lookaftertheseaspects.Yetbiggeroffices,commercialestablishments,guest
houses,hotels,hospitals,hostels,clubsusuallyorganizeagroupofpeopleto
look after their housekeeping. These groups of people constitute a
housekeepingdepartment.Someestablishmentsmayalsoseekoutsidehelp
andmakeuseofcertainagencieswhichspecializeinsuchkindofwork.

Wherever there is separate housekeeping department a proper

organisational structure is necessary with different kinds of people
responsiblefordifferenttasksandsomepeopletosupervisethem.Letus
nowdiscussthedutiesandresponsibilitiesofeachofthemindividually.
Housekeeperthehousekeeperistheoverallinchargeofthehousekeeping
department.Heorshedirectlycontrolsallthepersonnelaswellasall
aspects of housekeeping. She/ he is responsible for the cleanliness,
beautificationandmaintenanceofthepremises.
Assistanthousekeeperheorsheisresponsibleforalltheaspectssimilarto
thatofthehousekeeper.Incasetheorganizationworksroundtheclock,there
maybemorethanoneassistanthousekeepertoworkindifferentshifts.

Housekeepers/assistanthousekeepersareinturnassistedbythefollowing
members.Thesemembersalsohaveworkerstoassistthem.
Controldesksupervisor:thispersoncommunicateswiththestaffandcoordinates
withvariousdepartmentsoftheorganization.Hebecomesthecentrepointofall
messages, complaints etc., and also keeps records of what work has been
assignedtowhomandmaintainsthegeneralfollowupofthesame.

Linenstorekeeper:he/sheisresponsibleforstorage,issue,cleanlinessand
maintenance of linen. (Napkins, table cloths, bed sheets, bed covers,
pillowcovers,blankets,curtainsanduniforms)
Floorsupervisor:formultistoriedbuildings,eachfloorisattendedbyafloor
supervisor.He/sheisresponsibleforthecleanlinessandmaintenanceofthe
assignedfloorwhichincludesrooms,corridors,restrooms,staircase,etc.,for
jobslikechangingorrepairinglights,switches,etc.

Public area supervisor: he/she is responsible for cleanliness and

maintenance of
waiting halls,
lobby,
conference/semin
ar

room,
recreation rooms,
parking area,
clubs,offices,etc.
Cloak room in
charge: he/she is
responsible for
the maintenance
and service of
commontoilets.
Hotriculturisthe/
sheisresponsible
for all the floral
and

plant
decoration as
well as the
upkeep

of
gardens in the
premises.

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Housekeeping

Notes
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MODULE - 6A
Housekeeping

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IntroductiontoHousekeeping
Skilled workers skilled workers like plumbers, electricians, carpenters,
painters are needed to do minor repairs. There may be a separate
departmentformaintenanceandengineeringworkandthehousekeeping
cancoordinatewithittodothesejobs.
Theseservicesaretoberenderedwiththehighestdegreeofefficiency.
Besidesthisefficiency,housekeepingshouldalsocontributetothesaving
incostsoflabour,cleaningmaterialandequipment,furnishingsandthe
likeineverytypeofestablishment.
Activity28.3:Preparealistofmaintenanceactivitiesperformed
byyourmother,father,brother,sisterandyourselfinyourhouse.
Familymember

Activities

Father
Mother
Brother
Sister
Yourself

INTEXTQUESTIONS28.2
9

Yourrelativehasbeenadmittedinahospital.Specifythepersonnel
youwillcontactincaseoffollowingsituations.
1.

Youwantthebedsheetsandpillowcoversreplaced.

2.

Thereisafusedbulboutsideyourroominthecorridoronthe1stfloor.

3.

Foodhasspilledonthesofaofthelobby.

4.

Thetoiletinthecloakroomisdirty.

5.

Plantsinthegardenhavedriedup.

6.

Youwishtofileacomplaintaboutgeneralmanagement.

7.

You want to contact the person responsible for the complete

maintenanceandupkeepofthewholebuilding.

Nowthatyouknowabouthousekeepingpersonnel,itisnecessaryto
prescribecertaingroomingstandardsforthem.
28.6 GROOMING OF PERSONNEL INVOLVED
INHOUSEKEEPING

Awellgroomed
personalityprojects
agoodimageand
speakswellof
hygieneand
efficiency.Asfar
aspossible,
personnelinvolved
inhousekeeping
should

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IntroductiontoHousekeeping

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Housekeeping

befresh,wellgroomedandclean,nothalfasleeporunkemptinappearance
whilereportingonduty

have their hair neatly cut and tied

properlyhavenailsneatlytrimmed
dressinsimple,cleanandwellironedclothes
avoidringsorotherjewellery
uselightmakeup,incaseofwomen
usefootwearthatislight,withoutheelsandnoiseless
behealthyandnotsufferfromanyskindisease,colds,etc
avoidbadhabitssuchasnailbiting,nosepicking,legshaking,sitting
onworktable,spitting,chewingpan,smoking,etc.
bathedaily.
Ifthesehygienicstandardsarenotmaintained,itcanspoilthereputation
oftheorganization.
Activity28.4Observeyourmotherasahousekeeper.Listfive
cleanlinesshabitsthatshepractices.

INTEXTQUESTIONS28.3
Whiletravelling,youmayhavestoppedataroadsiderestaurant/motel.
List8unhealthypracticesadoptedbytheworkersemployedtherethatyou
mayhaveobserved.

TERMINALEXERCISE
1. Whatdoyouunderstandbythetermhousekeeping?Whyisitimportant?
2.

Identifythemaintenanceactivitiesrequiredinthekitchen,verandah
andlawnofyourhouse.

3. Specifyfivewayseachbywhichahousekeeperhelpsinmaintaining
thebedrooms,corridors,lobbyandtoiletsofahotel.
4.

Reenagotemployedasahousekeeper.Educateheron10personal
groominghabitssheshouldadopt.

ANSWERSTOINTEXTQUESTIONS

28.11.(a)Housekeepingreferstokeepingaplaceclean,beautifuland
wellmaintained.

Notes

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IntroductiontoHousekeeping

Housekeeping

(2) Housekeeping refers tocommercial as wellas residential

establishments.
3) Housekeeper is a person responsible for keeping the
premisescleanandwellmaintained.
4) Housekeeping at home is done by the home maker
(mother),otherfamilymembersandbyanyhiredhelpers.

Notes

5) Housekeeping in a big hotel is done by a team of

specializedworkers.
i.Fangrease,replacebearing

2.

2. Tapchangerubberwasher,tightennut
3. Gasstovechangegasknob,cleanburner
4. Mixergrindersharpenblades,cleangrime
5. Piperepairleaks
6. Wallrepaint,change/stickbackwallpaper
7. Windowpanechangecrackedwindowglass,tightenscrews
ofhinges.
8.

Airconditionerfillgas,cleanfilter

9. Lawnmanure,trim,deweed
10.Bedsheetsremovestains,wash,iron.
28.2

i.linenroomsupervisor
2. Floorsupervisor
3. Publicareasupervisor
4. cloakroomattendant.
5. horticulturist
6. controldesksupervisor
7. housekeeper

28.3

(i)Unkemptappearance
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)

Pickingnose
Wearingrings
Sleepy(notalert)
Dirtyclothes
Longnails
Paintednails

(8) Highheels
(8) Hasskindisease
(9) Hairnotcovered

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