Chapter 2: HOUSEKEEPING

Recognizing Tools, Utensils material in Housekeeping

- Housekeeping is one of the areas in home economics which refers to the management of duties and
chores in running a household. This includes cleaning, cooking, home maintenance, shopping, laundry,
and payment of house bills. Household members may perform these different tasks, or the family may
hire other persons to do these for them. The term may also refer to the management of an office
where employees stay for several hours of the day.
- The individual who manages the household is referred to as housekeeper. In big establishments,
he/she may have his/her domestic staff. Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management of the
Victorian Era describes the housekeeper as “second in command in the house, and except in large
establishments, where there is a house steward, the housekeeper must consider himself/herself as the
immediate representative of her mistress.”
- Housekeeping is the most important component of housekeeping. Disposing of rubbish, cleaning of
dirty surfaces, keeping off dust on surfaces and pieces of furniture, and doing vacuuming. This is done
to make the home look pleasing to the eye, smell better, safer and comfortable to live in for all the
dwellers.
- The important areas of the house that must be cleaned and sanitized are the toilets and bathrooms,
urinals, lavatories and their accessories. These are the parts of the house which family members’ body
are in direct contact with.
- Without cleaning the house or office, dusts form on surface molds grow in wet areas, lime scale may
hardened on kitchenware and pipes, glasses may be blurry or stained, toilet may turn smelly, and
cobwebs accumulate.

Principles and Concepts of Housekeeping

- Home and offices have important areas which should be given attention first and foremost in
cleanliness. Areas which have direct contact with our bodies such as toilets and bathrooms, urinals
and lavatories and their accessories need to the cleanest parts of the house.
- For an effective and efficient housekeeping, amenities are considered and provided such as towels,
lines, beddings, glasses, tableware, pieces of furniture, appliances, and kitchen wares. Cleaning
equipment, tools, and supplies are also necessary for complete housekeeping needs.

Tools, Supplies and Materials Used in Housekeeping

- Effective and efficient housekeeping depends on the cleaning equipment, tools and supplies the
household or office provides. Tools used in house cleaning are vacuum cleaner, brooms, mops and
sponges together with the cleaning products such as detergents, disinfectants, and bleach. Accessories
such as towels, lines and bedding will be discussed here, too.

Cleaning and Sanitizing Equipment

Vacuum Cleaner. This is used to remove dust particles specifically from carpet surfaces and upholstered
furniture. This can be also be used in cleaning hard surface.
Floor Polisher. This is used to scrub floor, strip and polish hard surface and also to polish vinyl, wood and
parquet.

Carpet Sweeper. This used in picking up dirt and some from the carpet.

Hydro-Vacuum or Wet and Dry Vacuum. This is an all-purpose vacuum used for absorbing water in
flooded or wet surface and can also be used for dry surfaces.

Carpet Extractor. This is intended for dry foam shampooing of carpets. Dirt that sticks to or penetrates
into the layers of the carpets is removed by using this.

Cart or Trolley. It is used to shock cleaning supplies and chemicals in order to make cleaning faster and
easier.

Cleaning Tools

- Tools and equipment need to be checked and maintained before and after each use to prolong their
life span. Proper care includes a regular check up especially their wiring to avoid breakdown and
prevent untoward accident. This will also lessen the cost of maintenance.

Scouring pads. There are two colors, the green and white pad. Green is used for scrubbing rough dirty
surface. White is used for cleaning painted surface, marble, porcelain and mirrors.

Dusting Clothes. These are used to wipe or dust wooden and painted parts. These can be towel-clothe like.

Polishing Cloth. It is made of soft cloth used to polish metal surfaces in kitchen and in bathrooms and
other parts of the house made of metal.

Cleaning Broom. It is used for sweeping the floor. Some made of materials can be used to remove
cobwebs from the ceiling.

Mop with Mop Handle. It is used for mopping the floor. This has to be wet usually to remove stains on the
floor. This will also be used dry to wipe or dry wet floor to avoid accident.

Floor and Window Squeegees. These are used to remove excessive water from the surface and corners
especially glass surfaces. These speed up the drying process of the surface.

Toilet Bowl Brush. This is used for cleaning toilet bowls. It is provided with plastic or wooden handle for
ease in reaching hidden part of the bowl.

Sponges. These are made of soft material used to clean fine surfaces.

Trash Bags. These are to used as linings for garbage containers to prevent the wet garbage from
penetrating to the container.

Tongs. These are used for picking up dirt on the floor and cigarette butts from the ashtrays.
- Cleaning tools and materials are very important in doing housekeeping tasks. To attain quality
standards, adequate and appropriate tools to be used are necessary. Moreover, it is necessary to
observe proper handling these tools. Full awareness of the manufacturer’s instruction and asking the
assistance of your classmates or teachers enable you to do the assigned task effectively and efficiently.

Cleaning Chemicals

- In addition to cleaning tools and materials, a housekeeper also needs to use some cleaning chemicals.
Some of these are wood polish, insecticides, methylated spirit, air freshener and muriatic acid. These
chemicals are toxic, so utmost care should be observed in using or handling these solutions. Highly
combustible chemicals should never be used near fire or flame. Before using them, read the
instructions very well. When not sure on how to use it, ask or the assistance of those knowledgeable
individuals around to avoid possible accident or wastage. The following are some example of cleaning
chemicals:

Wood Polish. This is used to polish or shrine wood surface, leather surfaces such as sofa and similar pieces
of furniture.

Insecticides. This is used to fumigate or eliminate insects and pests.

Methylated spirits. This is a chemical used to polish all glass surface such as mirrors, windows and others.

Air freshener. This is used to spray guestrooms, comfort rooms, or any are to give fresh smell or to remove
foul odor from the room.

Muriatic acid. This is only appropriate for removing hard dirt from cemented floor or similar surfaces. This
must not be used in cleaning toilet bowls since it is very strong and it can damage the tiles.

Safety Measures in Doing Household Task

- Housekeeping is not only plain cleanliness. Keeping areas neat and orderly, keeping floors free of slip
and trip hazards, maintaining halls and hallways safe and clean, removing waste materials from work
areas and fire hazards places are some of tasks to be considered.
- Danger of risks can vary greatly. What is important is whoever is to use a tool or piece of equipment as
required in his/her job, he/she has to do this with care. Employers need to orient workers and provide
all the necessary information to ensure safe use f tools. At the start, they must see to it that workers
have the appropriate qualifications to use intricate tools and equipment. Orientation and training
should be provided as much as possible to improve skills and remind of safety procedures.
- The worker needs to handle material in his/her daily function in the workplace. Handling material
should not be taken for granted. Untoward incidents may happen if this is done incorrectly.
- An example of this is wearing gloves to prevent cuts and wearing safety shoes to prevent injury to your
feet from a dropped item. Sometimes there are tasks which require to carry load. Consider some of
these tips which the National Safety Council suggests:
1. Determine if you can carry a load comfortably; tip on its side.
2. Ask for help if the load is too heavy or bulky for one person. Check first if there are nails, splinters,
rough strapping or rough edges.
3. Lift the load correctly.
4. See to it that your footing is solid.
5. Position your back with no curving or slouching.
6. Your body must be at center over your feet.
7. Get a good grasp of the object and pull it close to you. Lift with your legs and not with your back.
8. Move your feet to turn; don’t twist your back.
9. Don’t attempt to carry a big or heavy load.