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Clean and store trolleys
Your work as a room attendant does not finish when you complete servicing the last room allocated to you.
Before you leave, there are several end-of-shift duties that will need to be completed.
This Section looks at the need to clean your housekeeping trolley that was used during the room servicing procedures
After every use you are responsible for cleaning and restocking the trolley you have used during the cleaning activities.
Cleaning the housekeeping trolley
Generally a wipe over assisted by a general purpose cleaner should suffice, with extra spot-cleaning as required.
The intention is to remove any marks that the trolley may have and to maintain its attractive appearance. You may need to replace used or dirty linen and rubbish bags that are provided at end of the trolley to maintain eye appeal.
Attention should also be paid to:
Removing any soiled items
Removing any empty packages.
Restock the housekeeping trolley
The trolley is not unloaded at the end-of-shift. Items that are on the trolley when it returns to the storeroom are left on it.
It is important that you restock your trolley so that it is ready for the next shift.
Each organisation will have different items that need to be placed on the trolley.
Replenish stock items as necessary
One of the last tasks you will be required to do at the end of a shift is to check the supplies that exist in the housekeeping store.
You may be required to order extra supplies, or replenish them.
Reordering stock and supplies
Your experience coupled with any management guidelines relating to the levels of stock to be kept in a housekeeping storeroom will assist in determining whether or not stock or supplies need to be ordered.
The aim of maintaining stock and supplies in a housekeeping store is that you never run out of anything but you don‟t over-stock
Housekeeping trolleys can be stocked at the beginning or end of each shift, but it is preferable that they are fully re-stocked at the end of the day‟s work, so the trolley is prepared for the next shift, and so that missing items are able to be bought in before the next shift.
When supplies run low during a shift, further supplies may be accessed from the housekeeping store room. There is generally one on each floor which must be kept locked to prevent unauthorized access.
When supplies in the floor housekeeping store room run low, further supplies can be brought up from the housekeeping department where there is usually some form of central store purely for housekeeping supplies.
When requesting supplies you may be required to complete a requisition form.
The requisition form is an internal stock ordering form that you fill in and give to the Head Housekeeper (or other nominated person).
It will identify:
Person requesting the items
Type of items needed
Quantity
Date.
The majority of housekeeping departments will have a standard order/requisition form.
Requisition forms that are completed and forwarded to the Head Housekeeper at the end
of shift today, should result in the supplies that have been ordered or „requisitioned‟ being
supplied to the appropriate floor housekeeping store/linen room later that day or early the
next day before the next shift starts work
What should be checked to replenish or reorder?
In short, „everything‟.
The housekeeping store often contains a multitude of items over and above the room and
guest supplies that have been mentioned elsewhere in these notes.
It is not uncommon to find one or a few of the following in most housekeeping stores:
Light globes
Batteries for remote controls
Ash trays
Glasses
An assortment of cutlery and crockery – plus an assortment of cooking items where rooms have a kitchenette
Safety pins and drawing pins
Spare electric blankets, irons, ironing board covers, hair dryers, electric jugs etc
Ice cube trays.
Where you have run out of any of the above or you suspect stocks are below what can
reasonably be needed, you should requisition or reorder them.
Clean housekeeping equipment prior to storage
Now that the storage areas are maintained and restocked it is important to ensure that all housekeeping equipment is clean and ready for the next shift.
Following is a brief description of how different equipment can be cleaned and stored.
Equipment to be cleaned
Mops
Procedures for cleaning of the three main types of mops are as follows:
Dusting mops – after use, shake thoroughly in appropriate location (outside) then wash in hot soapy water, and hang out to air dry
Polishing mops – on a regular basis, remove fluff and rinse mop in turpentine, which will remove the polish – after the mop has been squeeze-dried, re-coat with polish
Washing mops – on a regular basis mops should be washed in hot soapy water, rinsed thoroughly, squeeze-dried, and then hung up to air dry.
Dusters
Cleaning of dusters involves:
Shaking clean regularly in an appropriate outside location
Washing in accordance with the manufacturer‟s instructions – the laundry will be responsible for this: you will be required to leave all used dusters and cleaning cloths in a nominated location for the laundry porter to pick up.
Brooms and brushes
Cleaning of brooms and brushes may vary with special items but the general approach is:
Shake clean in an outside location
Wash with designated detergent – some properties will also require sanitizing
Hang to air dry.
Cloths and sponges
Clothes may be given to the laundry for cleaning, or you may have to do your own: the increasing use of disposable cloths has reduced the need to clean these.
Where you have to clean your own:
Wash with designated detergent – some properties will also require sanitizing
Air dry.
Buckets
A dedicated bucket wash area complete with purpose-built sink and grate (for resting the bucket on) may be available – buckets may also be filled at this location.
Cleaning involves:
Tipping out the dirty water into the sink or gully trap identified for this purpose – buckets should not be emptied in the guest room
Removing or rinsing out any dirt and material
Washing with designated detergent – some properties will also require sanitizing
Checking rollers and removing debris as required – clean rollers with cloth
Turning upside down and leaving to air dry.
Vacuum cleaners
All vacuum cleaners must be cleaned out at the end of the shift and the bag replaced if required.
The machine and its attachments must be wiped clean using a damp cloth.
The power cord should be wrapped correctly and safely.
All cleaning of vacuum cleaners must be done in accordance with manufacturer‟s instructions.
Where does this happen?
This cleaning is usually done in the room where the trolleys are kept at the end of shift. The floor housekeeping store, or there may be a need to take the trolley to some remote dedicated cleaning area.
Equipment is cleaned after use so as to:
Maintain a high level of appearance –equipment is seen by many guests who may reach a decision about our cleaning procedures based on the trolleys they see in the corridors
Maximize their operational effectiveness
Leave the items ready for use.
Location for storing equipment
In general:
Large items – vacuum cleaners, brooms, buckets – go on the floor
Smaller items go on shelves – shelves often have labels to show what goes where.
Everything has its nominated position in the storeroom to:
Make it easy to see what is left and how much is left
Allow all room attendants to quickly obtain what they want – remember that others will also be using this store
Facilitate stocktaking activities.
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