RESEARCH PROJECT REPORT

ON

USES OF ECOFRIENDLY
CLEANING AGENTS IN
HOUSEKEEPING

COMPILED BY:
Shubhanshu Acharya
ROLL NO. : ...............
THIRD YEAR
IHM BHOPAL
 Table of Contents

1.Acknowledgement
2.Objective
3.Research Methodology
4.Limitation of Study
5.Introduction
a)Toiletries, Textiles and Energy
Conserving Products.
b) Cleaning agents used in hotel
housekeeping
c)Water
d) Liquid agents
e)Equipments and cleaning agents

6.Classification of Cleaning Equipment

7.Mechanical Cleaning Equipments
8.Commercial Cleaning Agents
9.Cleaning Tools And Equipment
 Acknowledgement

In the course of completion of this dissertation, I received immense help

and co-operation from various persons and institutions. It is my sincere

duty to record appreciation for them.

I am Deeply Indebted To My Programme Coordinator And Guide MR.

R. K. GUPTA, PROJECT GUIDE, Whose Invaluable Support Helped In

Successful Completion Of This Project.

 Objectives

1. What is ECOFRIENDLINESS?

2. What does ECOTEL mean?

3. How is ECOFRIENDLINESS achieved?

4. Eco friendly products used by different hotels?

5. How do hotels conserve water?

6. How do hotels conserve electricity?

7. How is awareness level in both staff and guest

increased?

8. The ways different hotels practice this concept?

 Research Methodology

Research on any subject implies that an in-depth study has to be carried on

that subject. The in-depth study includes not only the printed and already

proven facts but its also calls for probing into the reason leading to such an

operational setup.

Research on a subject leads one to acquiring knowledge about “What” was

happening and “how” was happening “why” is that happening. Various
methods which have been used by the research includes the surveys,
questioner interviews, talks and discussions.
For collecting the data and the required information, I framed a questionnaire
which consist of certain basic and general questions regarding the “USES OF
ECOFRIENDLY CLEANING AGENTS IN HOUSEKEEPING ”.
I would hereby like to mention that my conclusions and information’s are
based on the collected information’s and their validity helds good to the point
that the provided information is very true and correct.
I have visited out institute library which has also helped immensely during
my research project.
I myself feel that I have done full justice to this research project. I feel that I
have inferred the collected data and information to the best of the best of my
ability and also to the best possible extend since my guide was always there
whenever and wherever I needed any assistance.
 Limitation of Study

1. Distance Matters:-
One can get a good exposure by visiting highly standardized ecotel
but they are either situated abroad or for away from Delhi
2. Adoptability:-
No every Hotels adopts Eco friendliness main focus being profit
making
3. Time Factor:-
Required extensive survey and can take years
4. Technology:-
It is not so advance in India.
 INTRODUCTION
Toiletries
More and more hotels are opting for toiletry ranges evolved after research
and experimentation on the potent healing, curative, and therapeutic properties of
herbs, their extracts, and essential oils on the skin and hair, especially as laid down
in Ayurveda. These products are also not tested upon animals and tend to be
biodegradable. Some of the herbs and natural substances frequently used in
toiletries such as shampoos, conditioners, creams, lotions, and so on are aloe vera,
liquorice, citrus fruit, Indian gooseberry, neem, sunflower, basil, pumpkin,
cucumber, turmeric, sandalwood, apricot, mace, clove, nutmeg, coriander, rose,
henna, clay (especially China clay), alum, and honey.
Textiles
Some international chains and ecotels are experimenting with textiles made
of bamboo fibres as an environmentally sustainable material for bed and bath linen
and uniforms. Bamboo is one of the world’s most prolific, regenerative crops and
is grown without the use of any pesticides or fertilizers. Fabrics made of bamboo
are naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic. Bamboo fibres are usually blended
with cotton (65% : 35% or 40% : 60%) to yield more absorbent, softer, and smell
resistant luxury bath linen than normal ones. Bamboo fabrics have a unique silky
texture and are superior to cotton in terms of softness, durability, and comfort and
are therefore ideal for the manufacture of bed linen. The fabrics do not pill. The
bamboo fibre under microscope shows various gaps and holes and hence the
fabrics made out of it can rapidly absorb and evaporate moisture, making them
exceptionally comfortable. Moreover, bamboo is cool in summer and warm in
winter.
 Energy-conserving Products
Housekeepers are now looking for products and equipment that help
conserve energy. One such product is the jet hand-dryer that produces bi-
directional jets of cold air jets that come to a head at 68 m/s to leave wet hands
bone dry in seconds, in an alternative to the conventional hot-air drying process.
The dryer is activated by placing the hands in the dryer bin, whereby the jet starts
up automatically. The product’s primary advantage is the enormous power saving
due to its low energy consumption compared to the conventional hot-air model:
this machine runs at 700W, whereas the conventional hot-air dryers run at 2000W.
This leads to huge savings in power bills-often as much as 67 per cent.
Housekeepers and interior designers today also have at their disposal energy-
efficient lamps that consume a mere 9W of power and give the same light output as
a 60W bulb. This can reduce power tariffs by as much as 80 per cent without
taking away the aesthetic appeal of the property. Some trends in lighting that have
been gaining momentum in Indian hotels are the use of luminaries and LEDs with
sensor technology, compact luminaries and compact halogen lamps.
 CLEANING AGENTS USED IN HOTEL HOUSEKEEPING

Shining and dazzling atmosphere of any hotel represents its cleanliness and
hygiene which is very much essential to draw the attention of potential guest.
Generally it is the duty of all hotel staffs or departments to maintain cleanliness in
the hotel but the housekeeping department are generally responsible for bringing
sparkling and hygienic tone in the hotel.
The regular cleaning process is done in order to remove dust and dirt with the help of
cloth, brush, vacuum cleaner. But sometimes dust or dirt could be or stubborn which
make it immovable. To get the best result of cleaning, the cleaning agents are the
most effective tool of cleaning process. Cleaning agents are very useful in

removing stubborn dirt.

There are some common cleaning agents that are used in cleaning process in
every hotel are as follows
 Water
In all over the world water is commonly used for cleaning purpose as it is easy to
handle and free to use. Water has the ability to remove any sort of dust and gives
the final touch in cleaning. But in most cases pure water is not enough to remove
some stubborn dust or dirt. Other cleaning agents also should be used along it for
proper cleaning. Generally, for cleaning purposes water is categorized into two
types:
1: Soft water
2: Hard water
Soft water is widely approached for providing best cleaning results. But hard
water does not always good for cleaning as it contains chemicals or mineral salts
(ex-calcium, magnesium etc).
To get the full benefit of water during cleaning process the housekeeping staff
must take the following recommendations:
After rinsing dirty water must be replaced with fresh water otherwise it will
give a reverse effect by leaving the film of dirt.
Always use warm water if you will use soap in water for cleaning. Warm
water is being able to liquefy soap or detergent more quickly than cold
water as well as to remove dirty soap suds.
Try to apply soft water for normal cleaning.
Before mixing other cleaning agents with water, check which one go best
for particular material.
Hard water has to tendency to remain in the cloth or any materials.
Therefore, try to avoid it and if you will use it then after applying
check carefully the applied area.
Surface should be wet properly before washing.
Liquid agents

Now a day in hotels or in the housekeeping departments multipurpose cleaning

agents are getting popularity which also saves money. Liquid agents could be
adulterate with water or even it could be apply directly in dry cloth. Some of
well known and widely used cleaning agents are given below:

Ammonia: Ammonia is a chemical strong compound of one nitrogen

atom and three hydrogen atoms. Ammonia can easily integrated into water
and highly soluble for cleaning. If it is applied in dry situation then it may
not bring any results in cleaning. In order to get proper cleaning ammonia
should be used in liquid form along with other chemicals. It can reduce the
hardness of water and can easily remove lubricant. But ammonia should be
kept away from bleach as combination of these two can produce a
very hazardous gas.

Methylated spirits: Methylated spirits basically resultant from methanol

which is used in manufacturing area. This cleaning agent is also called as
methy, even alcohol or wood alcohol as it is considered as a category of
alcohol. Housekeeping department use this along with other effective
substances Methylated spirits as they are very helpful in removing grease
stains, ink etc. It should be applied with special care otherwise it’s lethal and
combustible state can affect severely.
 Paraffin: this cleaning liquid agent is widely used in hotels for creating a
moisture proof layer on surfaces. Paraffin is a colorless and odorless
liquid but also can remove lubricant soils.

Turpentine: turpentine is used in cleaning process as a thinner. To make

paints glazy and clean, turpentine is best. Like paraffin turpentine is also
colorless but has strong odor and very much flammable. Therefore cautions
must be taken before using it. Many hotels avoid this cleaning agent due to
its strong agent.

Vinegar: though vinegar is used as food safeguard in most of the hotels

but it also has the capability to clean chores and remove light bath soil.

Hydrochloric acid: Hydrochloric acid is also applied for bathroom

cleaning but it can be very harmful if proper caution has not taken.

Carbon tetrachloride: is used for removing stains or cleaning grease.

Detergents
In previous days, soap was only option for cleaning hotel’s cloths or materials. Now
a day’s detergents are getting popularity for cleaning purposes due to easy
application and swift ability for swing dirt and dust. Pure water often is being unable
to clean strong grease or organic soiling. Moreover it is harmless for skin. Detergents
go well with both soft and hard water. Detergents are basically available in various
objects such as powder, solid soap, soap flakes etc. and also in liquid form. But
detergents do not work without water, it has to use with water during cleaning
process. Detergent contains various elements (surfactants, alkaline
salts, bleaches, foam boosters, germicides and perfumes) which make it stronger
and useful for bringing best output.
However, before using or selecting a detergent the housekeeping staff should go
after some procedures to get perfect cleaning and to make the materials safe.
Such as:
Detergents should be carefully soluble in water.
As detergents are costly, thus right amount of detergents should be used
which is also good for cleaning.
Detergents are more effective over a wide range of temperatures. Therefore
apply it on good temperature.
Detergents don’t work properly until physical power is applied to
the mixture.

Abrasives
Abrasives are cleaning substances including, rotten stone, whiting, powdered
pumice, volcanic ash, powdered tin oxide, alumina, sand, saw dust, wheat bran,
emery paper, filtered chalks, steel wool, nylon mesh, coconut fibers etc. which are
usually applied on various materials for making it smoothen and polish. Different
abrasives could be applicable for different use based on the materials to be cleaned
and the type of dirt to be removed. To get perfect cleaning right abrasives should
be applied with right amount.
For example, for removing stains and dust of plain wood, stone and cement
floors; silver, sand, steel wool and glass paper are applied. Moreover, pumice
powder is applied on sinks and bath tubes to clean soils whereas emery powder or
paper provides best result in removing steel’s tarnish. Powdered chalk is an
excellent mild abrasive for cleaning white paint and gilder’s whiting is suitable
for silver polishing.
Before using proper care must be taken that they do not create any damage to the
surface that is being cleaned. Many abrasives are made of strong alkalis, which are
effective for cleaning or polishing but these also harmful.

Washing soda
Washing soda can work as water softener. Though these cleaning agents are
getting less useful these days in hotels due to vast use of detergents but it has the
ability to clean drain pipes, or stone surfaces. Washing soda could be harmful for
some specific surfaces such as wood, paint, fabrics, and brushes or even for skin.

Polishes
Polishes are used in hotels as last option for cleaning purposes which are used on
various surfaces such as floors, furniture, leather and even metals. Polishes provide
a protective and shining covering to the surface in the property along with proper
cleanliness. Polishes could be classified into three areas. Such as:
1. Spirit based
2. Oil based
3. Water based
Each of the categories is applicable in different materials. For example oil based
polishes work great on stained, wax polishes or painted wood, cork or wood waste,
enameled tiles and lacquered metals, linoleum and synthetic flooring with an oil or
resinous base and leather and leather substitutes. To make clean and shiny floor
including sealed, thermoplastic or rubber flooring water based polishes are suitable.
Spirit based polishes are best applicable in metal mirrors, window panes and
Bakelite.
Like other cleaning agents, polishes also require some precautions which should be
followed by the housekeeper which are as follows:
Polishes should be used systematically as they are expensive.
The surface should be completely clean before polishing.
To make long lasting and safe the hotel surfaces, right amount of polish is
necessary as extra polish can reduce the life of the surface.
Rub off polishes carefully to prevent surface from being slippery and sticky.
To maintain the original shine of the hotel property, polishes should be
applied carefully as surfaces are already provided with permanent or semi-
permanent polishes. Especially wax polishes must not used in such surfaces.
The housekeeper should prefer multipurpose polishes while buying
polishes as polishes are very expensive.
Some polishes must be prohibited from using on particular surfaces, such
as wax polishes form French floors and metal polishes form chromium
plated and lacquered metals.
 EQUIPMENTS AND CLEANING AGENTS

CLEANING EQUIPMENTS

The housekeeping staff needs to clean various guest rooms, guest bathrooms, and a
number of public areas in the hotel. The staff needs to take the help of various
cleaning equipment while trying to keep the hotel premises to the highest standard
of appearance.

Advantages of Cleaning Equipment

The cleaning equipment is advantageous in multiple ways −

Equally effective for general as well as tougher cleaning tasks.

High cleaning capability.
Reduce work fatigue and increase productivity.
Save the time of hotel housekeeping staff.
High maneuverability. They can reach any corner or height of the room, which
is otherwise difficult to reach.
Eco-friendly, widely available, and easy to operate.
They give protection from injuries occurring while cleaning when they are
handled by using proper instructions.
 Classification of Cleaning Equipment
There are broadly categorized as follows −

A. Manual Cleaning Equipment: As the name suggests, they are

used manually to keep the surfaces clean. Some commonly used
manual equipment’s are −
1. Brushes- These may be designed to remove dry or wet or ingrained dust and
dirt from the hard or soft surfaces. Three main types of brushes are used in the
cleaning surface. They are as follows:
Hard Brush- Hard brushes have bristles that are fairly stiff and well spread
out cleaning equipment. They are most suitable for the removal of heavy
soil and litters from the carpets and for cleaning of rough surface.
Soft brush- Soft brushes may have bristles that are fairly flexible and set
close together. These are used for removal of loose soil and litter on
hard smooth surfaces.
Scrubbing brushes- Scrubbing brushes have short, coarse bristle designed for
use on surface that have become stained and heavily ingrained with dirt.
These brushes should only be used to remove stubborn heavy soiling small
areas that are difficult for scrubbing machines to access. Cleaning equipment
like Brushes are also classified on the basis of their functions:
a) Toilet brush – Used for cleaning of W.C.
b) Bottle brush – These are used for overflow vents in wash basin and tubs.
c) Flue Brush – These are used for cleaning chimney.
d) Feather brushes – These are used for light dusting.

Care and cleaning of brushes- Brushes should be generally tapped on the hard
surface to loosen the dirt and debris after the cleaning process. Frequent washing
with water is avoidable. Brushes should be washed in warm and soapy water.
2. Brooms- Sweeping brooms consist of long bristles gathered together into
handles. The bristles of the brooms are made of grass, corn or coconut fiber.
Depending on the type brooms are used for removal of dirt and dust in the large
areas. Brooms are classified into three main categories.
Soft bristled brooms- These types of brooms are made of corn fiber or
grass. This is used for smooth floor.
 Hard / coarse- bristled brooms- These types of brooms are used for hard
surface especially outdoor rough areas.
Wall broom- These are also called ceiling brooms. They have a soft head or
long handle made up of canes. These brooms are used for removal of cob
webs.
Care and cleaning of the brooms

Brooms should be shaken free, of dust and fluff. Never store them standing
on their bristle or the bristle will bend out of the shape.
Soft brooms should not be use in wet surface.

3. Wet /damp mop- These mops are used in conjunction with buckets for the
removal of dirt adhering to a surface. The mop heads can be made of cotton,
sponge or any other fiber capable of absorbing moisture well. Wet mops can be
classified into four types. They are as follows
Do-all mops- These mops consists of stand of twisted cotton, fixed to a
circular metal plate, which is in turn is fixed to a stock.
Kentucky mops- These mops consists of cotton stand fixed to a length
of cotton fabric, which is in turn instead into flat metal stock. They are
available in weights ranging from 330 g to 670 g.
Sponge mop- These consists of cellulose sponge fixed to a replaceable
lever controlled head, hinged for wringing out and attached to long handle.
Using sponge mop is one of the easiest ways to wash hard floor.
Squeegee – A squeegee consist of long metallic handle and a wooden or
rubber blade to remove excess water from the surface being cleaned. It
is effective when followed by damp mop.
Care and cleanings of the mops and cleaning equipment –
Take mops outdoors after use and shake well to remove excess moisture. Then
these mops can be washed. Detachable heads are easier to clean and maintain.
However drying is the most important part of this mop because if the mop has
not been dried properly it will be easily affected by bacteria.
4. Dry mops-Dry mops are also called dust control mops, these cleaning
equipment’s are designed to remove the soil and debris from the floors walls
and ceilings without raising. These mops generally consists of handle to which
a metal frame is attached
Care and cleaning of this mops-
Shake mops well after use in the outdoors. The mop heads should be easily
detachable , so that it can be washed in hot water with detergent.

5. Clothes-Various types of clothes are used by the housekeeping staff as duster.

For efficient and correct uses different colors of duster are used. Dusters can be
divided into many types according to the uses. Those are as follows-
Mitts- They are used for dusting and buffing. Soft absorbent plain or checked
cotton material or yellow flannelette of up to 15 sq. cm is ideal for dusters.
Swabs and wipes- These are all purpose clothes made of soft absorbent
materials. They are used for wet cleaning and damp dusting of the entire
surface above floor level. They are also use for cleaning sanitary fittings such
as bath tubs and wash basins.
Floor cloth- Floor cloths are bigger, thicker, and made from coarser
cotton material than all-purpose swabs.
Scrim-This is loosely woven linen materials cleaning equipment used
for cleaning mirrors and windows.
Glass cloths- Glass clothes are made of linen tow yarns and do not leave
behind lint. They are used for wiping mirror, and drinking glass.
Rags and polishing clothes- Rags are disposable clothes usually obtained
from the swing room or brought by the sack by tailor. They are used for
applying polish or strong cleaning agent and are disposed when dirty.
Chamois leather- Real chamois leather is the skin of chamois goat and
antelope, but now various cheaper imitations are available. Chamois leather can
be used for cleaning of windows, mirror when dry, it is used for polishing cloth
for silver and other metals.
Dust sheet- Dust sheet are made of thin cotton material. The size is the single
bed sheet size. Discarded bed sheet and curtains from the linen room is ideal
dust sheet. They are used for covering floor furniture during spring cleaning.
 Druggists – They are made of coarse linen, fine canvas or clear plastic. They
may be the size of a carpet square or runner. They are placed on the floor in the
door way to prevent excessive dirt being trekked in or out during bad weather
and during the redecoration process.

6. CONTAINERS- Work becomes much easier and efficient if the staff is given
suitable containers to carry transport and to carry store supply and other items.
The various types of containers used by the housekeeping staffs are as follows:
Buckets- These maybe made from plastic or galvanized iron. Plastic buckets are
more popular now a day as they are lighter in weight easy to clean.
Basin and bowls- They are used to carry small amount of water,
cleaning solution and powder for cleaning small areas.
Dust pan- These are used in conjunction with brooms or brush for
gathering dust. They may be made of plastic or metal.
Sani bins- They are metal or plastic bins with lit. They are kept in the toilet for
disposing of used toilet roll and sanitary towels. They should be lined with
paper or plastic bag.
Dustbins −They are used to collect daily garbage produced in the hotel.
Spray bottles- They are light weight containers that delivers a fine mist of water or
cleaning solution through a fine nozzle specially during the spray cleaning.
Hand caddies- Also called cleaners box. These are originally made of wood or
metal. But now a day are made of plastic. They consist of a box with handle and
a fitted tray. They are used by the room attendant for carrying cleaning supplies.
Chambermaid’s Trolley/Housekeeping Trolley −This trolley is large enough to
keep all the guest room and guest bathroom supplies in an organized manner. It
makes the housekeeping staff to move it around and carry large number of
items in one go while keeping and cleaning the guest rooms.
Janitor’s trolley − It is a trolley that stores cleaning supplies such as detergents,
spray bottles, dustbin, mop, and dusting cloths, all in a compact manner. It can
be moved around easily. It fulfills the challenge of modern day housekeeping in
hotels.
Mop Wringer trolley − A mop bucket cart (or mop trolley) is a wheeled bucket
that allows its user to wring out a wet mop without getting the hands dirty. The
mops are squeezed between two surfaces to remove dirty water from it.
 MECHANICAL CLEANING EQUIPMENTS

The various pieces of mechanical equipment used in the housekeeping

department are usually powered by electricity or gas. The staff should be well-
trained in the operation of this equipment since incorrect usage will not only lead
to inefficient cleaning but may also become a safety hazard.
1. Vacuum cleaners/ Suction cleaners: It debris and soil and/or water from a
surface by suction. All vacuum cleaners work on the same operating principle.
In all types, motor drives an impeller, which sucks in air through an inlet,
create a difference in pressure between the air within and outside the machine.
Air drawn in from the inlet passes through and out of the machine. Air drawn in
from the inlet passes through and out of the machine. Usually the air is sucked
in together with soil, debris or water. The dust is collected into a container
provided, which may be within the body of the machine (as in cylindrical and
canister models) or on the outside in the form of a bag (as in upright models).
The dust-collecting apparatus in the heavy duty models used in hotel properties
usually consists of 2 types of dust bags. The inner bag is made of disposable
paper and the outer one is made of fabric.
Types of vacuum cleaners: Various types of vacuum cleaners are available.
a) Dry vacuum cleaners: These are used for removing dust and small pieces of
debris from floors,
upholstery, furnishings, walls and ceilings. Those using a flexible hose come
with attachments, such as a floor-cleaning head, a power head, a crevice-
cleaning head, an upholstery-cleaning head, a dusting head and extension tubes.
Many variations of the dry vacuum cleaner are in use:
Electric brooms: These are very lightweight vacuums without a motor-driven
beater brush. They are used only for light vacuuming and for touch-ups on
carpets and hard floors. In other words, they come in handy when a full
vacuuming is required.
Dustette: These are small, lightweight vacuum cleaners used for cleaning
curtains, upholstery edges, mattresses, computers and music systems. They
clean by brushing and suction and are very easy to handle. The may be
carried in hand or strapped to the back of the operator.
Backpack vacuums: These are very efficient to clean high, hard-to-reach
areas. The vacuum unit in these machines can easily be strapped to the back
 of the operator. These machines have hand-held wands that come with
various attachments for flexibility in cleaning. They are ideal for use on
curtains, drapes and ceiling corners. These vacuums are also referred to as
piggyback vacuums.
Upright vacuums: These vacuums are the ones more frequently seen in hotels.
The main body of the vacuum lies horizontal on the floor and is driven by a
single motor. The dust-bag is outside the machine’s main body. There is a
belt-driven beater brush to facilitate removal of dust from thick-pile carpets.
In an improved variation, there is a dual-motor system – one motor drives the
beater brush and the other provides the suction. The machine also has a built-
in hose for cleaning corners and upholstery. This machine is most suitable for
use on large carpeted areas.
Cylindrical vacuums: These have no rotating brushes and work by suction only.
The term ‘suction cleaner’ is generally used for these kinds of vacuum cleaners.
A filter-cum-diffuser is fitted at the outlet which removes fine dust and micro-
organisms from the flow of air passing through the outlet. The filter-cum-
diffuser also reduces air disturbance and noise. The dust-bag is inside the
cylindrical body of the vacuum cleaner. A flexible hose along with the different
attachments is used to clean a variety of surfaces. These are the type commonly
used by GRAs in guestroom cleaning.
Pile-lifter vacuums: These vacuum cleaners are used to groom long-pile carpets.
They lift up the carpet pile that has become packed down and restore their
vertical orientation. It is especially useful before shampooing the carpet, more
so if the soiling is heavy.
Centralized vacuum: In this type of unit, suction is generated at one point in
the building. Meanwhile, soiling can be removed at vacuum points
somewhere else in the building by suitable nozzles connected to detachable
flexible hoses. The collected dirt is then conveyed by a network of pipes to a
central container. This unit is expensive to install and is generally done at the
building construction stage. The advantages of this kind of system are :
2. It is extremely hygienic, since all the dust is carried away from the point
of cleaning.
3. Maintenance costs are usually lower.
4. Operative fatigue is lower.
5. There are no frayed flexes to repair and no individual machines to go wrong.
 Wet-and-dry vacuum cleaners: These are extremely useful in hotel
housekeeping operations. They can pick up spills and excess wash water
when on the wet mode. When on the dry mode, they help in removal of dust
and debris. In hotels, these machines are usually used in their wet mode to
pick up spills. They are also required when large areas of floors are being
stripped of polish and cleaned. They have a flexible hose with attachments
such as a squeegee head. The waste water collects in a tank that needs to be
emptied after use. A variation of this is the large tank-type vacuum cleaners.
These are also called canister-type or industrial vacuum cleaners. They can
be used for dry and wet pick-up or both. The waste water is scooped up by a
squeegee attachment through a nozzle and travels back into the tank. They
are used for cleaning large areas when time is a constraint. They are ideal
for cleaning lobbies, banquet halls and restaurants.

Care and storage:

Vacuum cleaners will give maximum cleaning efficiency when they are
maintained well. Housekeeping staff need to be trained in the care and
maintenance of the machines.
The wheels of the machine need to be oiled periodically.
After use, the dust bags should be checked and emptied.
If the machine is operated with the dust bags full, cleaning will not be
operated, the machine may heat up too much and the bags may get damaged.
Wipe the casing daily and check the hose and flex before
use. Clean the attachment heads after each use.
Check the filter after use.
If the machine is meant for dry suction only, never use it to clear even a
little amount of water, else the dust bags will get damaged.
In-case of wet vacuums, the bucket should be washed, rinsed and dried.
The squeegee should be wiped clean and replaced whenever necessary.
The hose needs to be rinsed out, the casing and wheels wiped and the filter
checked after use. The wheels need oiling periodically.
The hoses should be stored hanging on hooks. The tubes and attachment heads
of a dry vacuum cleaner should be stored in boxes, drawers of shelves.
 The hoses and attachment heads of wet vacuum cleaners should be stored off
the ground on a rack, in a well-ventilated place.

1. Floor maintenance machine (scrubbing and polishing machines)

These are designed for scrubbing, buffing and burnishing, scarifying and
spray maintenance.

Scrubbing: The bristle tips of a brush or the surface of a pad abrade and cut
the soiling to remove it.

Buffing: The bristle tips of a brush or the surface of a pad create a high-gloss
finish on the floor surface. In case of a surface on which a polish has been
applied, it will involve generation of a local heat to harden waxes and resins.

Burnishing: The tips of a brush or the surface of a pad abrade and cut the
floor surface to create a smooth surface with a glossy finish. In case of a
polished surface, it will involve the removal of a surface layer of polish.

Scarifying: The bristle tips or edge of a cutting tool, cut into impacted
soiling and remove it by means of a chisel-like action.

Spray cleaning: This is similar to spray cleaning, but the term is applied to
the maintenance of floors where a buff-able or semi-buff-able polish has been
applied and the bristle tips of a brush or the surface of a pad remove both
soiling and the surface layer of polish to leave a smooth, glossy surface.
Resins and waxes in the maintenance product form part of the restored finish.
These machines consist of one large or several small brushes that revolve and
scrub the floor. Water and detergent are released from a tank attached to the
machine. These machines can be used for shampooing carpets, polishing
floors and spray maintenance. Such general-purpose machines are preferred
in many establishments as the machine can be put to greater use due to its
versatility. In some machines, colored, abrasive nylon pads replace the
scrubbing brushes.
For normal-speed machines:
Beige pads are used for buffing;
 Green pads are used for scrubbing;
and Black pads are used for stripping.
The lighter the color of the pad, the lesser abrasive is the action. These
machines may come with or without the suction capacity to pick up water. If the
machine is one without a suction action, then the machine will have to be used
in conjunction with it while scrubbing. The usual attachments for these
machines are brushes, drive discs, colored nylon pads, a water tank, a shampoo
tank and a sprayer.

2. Wet-extraction systems: These machines are used to restore the surface

appearance of carpets, upholstery and curtains. They remove the more
deeply embedded soilage not easily removed by suction cleaning. They
are also useful in the application of soil-retardant finishes on carpets.

Types of wet-extraction systems: There are various types of wet-extraction

systems.
Hot-water extraction machines: These are machines with no rotary action.
They carry a tank for hot water and detergent, which are used for deep
cleaning carpets. The hot water and detergent are shot into the carpet from
high-pressure spray nozzles. The dirt is thus flushed to the surface and
this, along with the soiled water is removed by suction into a container in
the machine.
Solvent extraction machines: These machines are primarily used for
cleaning upholstery and curtains and to a lesser extent for carpets.
3. Carpet shampoo machines: These machines, as indicated by the name,
are designed for the deep cleaning of carpets that are heavily soiled.

Types of carpet shampoo machines: There are 4 broad groups of

these machines:
Steam-extraction machines: Though these machines are universally
called steam extraction machines, there is in fact no generation of steam
and the cleaning agents are simply hot water and detergent. Hot water
containing the detergent is injected at a prescribed rate and subsequently
extracted by a wet vacuum system built into the machine.
 Cylindrical-brush dry-foam machines: This system has a cylindrical
brush that scrubs that scrubs and picks up in one pass, the foam generated
by the machine.
Rotary-brush wet-shampoo machines: A rotary brush cleaner in
conjunction with a wet shampoo is employed for the cleaning of
carpets here. The machine comes with a range of accessories including
vacuum and drying equipment.
Small rotary-brushes wet-shampoo machines: This is also a rotary brush
cleaner, but employs 2 brushes instead of 1 and is somewhat smaller
than the rotary-brush wet-shampoo machine.
4. Scrubber-drier-sweepers: These machines remove debris, soiling
and/or water. They are suitable for large areas where mechanical
sweeping, scrubbing and drying are required.
5. Power sweepers: These are self-propelled or manually propelled machines
designed to remove debris and loosen soiling from roads, pavements, carpets
and large areas of hard flooring. For e.g. High-pressure washers: This type
of equipment is designed to remove soiling by subjecting the surface to
water, steam and/or sand under pressure. Water under pressure physically
dislodges the dirt. The process can be assisted by the use of hot water, steam
or sand.
6. Scarifying machines: Scarifying is the process by which heavy grease, mud,
wet sawdust and thick deposits are removed from the surface of floors. The
process is employed when simple scrubbing has been ineffective. Here dirt
deposits are broken up by the chisel-like action of a wire-brush cutting tool.
Storage, Distribution and Control of Cleaning Equipment

1. All housekeeping equipment must be stored under lock & key. When issuing
equipment for use, proper records must be maintained with information
regarding:
The items issued
The attachments given along with
them To whom they were issued
The date and time of issue
The area where they are to be used
 By whom they were issued
The date and time of return
2. The signature of the personnel involved must be obtained on the document
during both issue and return. A card-index system is a useful method of
collecting all the relevant info about each piece of equipment being used in
a particular establishment. This system is of great value to the manager and
supervisor for the following reasons:
3. It gives up-to-date info concerning the equipment.
4. It indicated the location of the equipment.
5. It indicates who usually operates the equipment.
6. It contains a record of what servicing has been carried out, costs, new
accessories supplied, and so on.
7. When purchase of new equipment is being considered, this info can be used
as a reference to check on reliability.

Selection of Cleaning Equipment

It is the responsibility of the executive housekeeper to procure the ideal, most
efficient equipment for her staff to ensure maximum productivity. The choice
of equipment to be purchased is made after considering the following factors:
1. Safety in operation.
2. Suitability to the type of area, surface, work, amount of obstruction and
cleaning frequency.
3. Versatility to undertake various types of cleaning
4. Work performance in terms of capacity and machine and consumer
reports on performance.
5. Ease of handling in terms of size, weight and height of the machine
and ease of maneuvering and operating.
6. Portability in terms of ease of transfer between floors and the provision of
wheels and detachable parts and consumer reports on life expectancy.
7. Noise level which is a more important consideration for hospitals than
hotels.
8. Availability of spare parts, easy servicing conditions and lead time
after booking of equipment.
 9. Protective design which may feature a protective edging to prevent
damage to wall furniture and fittings and no sharp edges.
10.Ease of storage in terms of ease of dismantling detachable parts and
storage space required (compactness).
11.Cost as a sum of initial costs, operating costs, maintenance and
depreciation, as well as hiring considerations as opposed to purchasing..

CLEANING AGENTS
Cleaning agents are perhaps the most critical aids of housekeeping staff in their
job to keep their house neat and clean. Cleaning agents in general can be defined
as natural or synthetic substances that are used to assist the cleaning process.
Cleaning is primarily the removal of dirt and dust. The various kinds of cleaning
agents used for housekeeping staffs are as follows:
1) Water: Water is referred as a universal solvent, and this is the prime agent in
cleaning process. However though an excellent solvent, water alone is not an
effective cleanser to meet the standards most hotels require. Water is supposed
to be a surfactant (surface active agent).
2) Detergent: Detergents may be made from a base of either pure soap or organic
chemicals.
Properties of a good detergent:
Good wetting power
Good emulsifying power
Good suspending power
Detergents are of two types:
Soapy Detergent: Soapy detergent is made from animal or vegetable fat
and may be used as a solid block for washing skin and clothes, as flakes
for washing delicate fabrics or as a powder for washing of soft fabrics.
Soap is made by boiling fat with a strong alkali. E.g. coconut oil
provides a soap which is quick to lather, excellent at cleaning.
Synthetic detergent: synthetic detergent is made from organic chemicals
derived from petroleum. These are used extensively in housekeeping.
They are used for cleaning task and for washing up the floors. They may
be in the form of a powder, liquid, gel or crystals.
3) Abrasive: Abrasives are substances or chemicals that depend on their rubbing
or scratching action to clean dirt from hard surfaces. They are used to remove
very stubborn stains from various surfaces. E.g.
Fines abrasives- Jeweller’s rouge (a pink oxide of iron used for shining
silver)
Medium abrasive-salt, scouring powder and paste.
Hard abrasive- Sand paper, fine ash, pumice stone, steel wool, emery paper
are commonly used abrasive
4) Reagents: they are the compound which helps in cleaning by a chemical
reaction, requiring a distinctly low or high pH.
pH is a scale to measure the level of acid or alkali in a solution or substance. If
a substance when added to water increases the concentration of hydrogen ions
(lowers the pH) it’s called an acid. If a substance reduces the concentration of
hydrogen ions (raises the pH) it’s called alkaline or basic.

For ease of understanding we can view the pH scale as a range of 0 to 14.

a pH of 7 is neutral
a pH less than 7 is acidic
a pH greater than 7 is alkaline or basic

Types of reagents: reagents may be acids or alkalis

A) Acid cleaners: Acids used as cleaning agents may vary from mild acid (pH-
3), as acetic acid to strong (pH-1) concentrated hydrochloric acid. Acids should
be used in diluted form followed by thorough rinsing. All, except citric and
acetic acid should be used under supervision with extreme caution and with the
protection of rubber gloves. Acids are used for the removal of metal stain. E.g.
Citric acid, acetic acid, vinegar and lemon used for cleaning metal stain
Dilute hydrochloric acid used in removing lime scale from sanitary ware
 Oxalic acid for removing stubborn water stains from hard floors and
sanitary ware
B) Alkaline cleaners: Alkaline based cleaning agents are used in laundry and
are particularly good for removing grease. Very strong alkali materials are
known as caustic materials and are extremely corrosive and poisonous. They
must be used under strict supervision e.g.

Sodium carbonate (washing soda): it is used to soften water and

remove light grease marks.
Sodium hydroxide (Caustic soda): Removing grease from grills and
blocked drains
Sodium hypochlorite (Bleach): Whitening and removing stains from
hard and soft surfaces
5) Organic Solvent Cleaners: These cleaning agents are used extensively for dry
cleaning and for stain removal. Solvents are useful for cleaning grease or polish
from surfaces. Solvents will evaporate and so they are ideal for cleaning
windows, mirrors and picture frames. E.g. Methylated spirits, turpentine, white
spirit, acetone, used for removing stains from hard and soft surfaces.
6) Glass cleaners: They are composed of an organic, water-miscible solvent
(e.g. isopropyl alcohol) and an alkaline detergent.
7) Disinfectants, Antiseptics & Deodorants
Disinfectants, antiseptics and deodorants are not strictly cleaning agents but
are often used during cleaning operations. Disinfectants kill bacteria,
antiseptics prevent bacterial growth and deodorants mask unpleasant smell by
combining chemically with the particles producing the offensive smell.
CLEANING Disinfectants Antiseptic Deodorants
AGENT
FUNCTION Kills bacteria Prevent bacterial Mask unpleasant
growth smell
EXAMPLE Phenyl Dettol Naphthalene balls

8) Laundry aids: Laundry aids are used as cleaning agents for guest clothes,
staff uniform, hotel linen etc. are:
AGENT Bleaches Antichlor Sour Whitene Starch Softene
S r r
FUNCTI Remove Neutrali Neutralize Whit Stiffeni Soften
ON coloring ze any alkaline en ng the the
matter residual soap residue the fabric fabric
by chlorine fabric
oxidizin of Use
g or bleach with
reducin Especial white
g ly with fabric
action. polyeste
Use r
with
white
articles
only

EXAMP Sodium sodium Acetic Laundry

LE perborat thiosulfate acid blue
e, Oxalic
Sodium acid (with
hypochl water
orite. having
high
content of
iron)
9) Polishes: They do not necessarily clean but produce a shine by providing a
smooth surface from which light is reflected evenly. They do this by smoothing
out any unevenness on the surface of the articles. Polishes come in three forms
liquid, paste & cream. They fall into following categories –

Metal polish
Furniture polish
Floor polishes (Spirit based, water based and oil based)
Leather polish
10) Floor Seal: A floor seal can be either solvent or water based. It is applied to a
floor surface to form a semi permanent protective barrier which will prevent the
entry of dirt, liquids, grease stains and bacteria. Depending on the traffic they
receive, they may last for up to five years before replacement is necessary e.g.

Oleo-resinous floor seal: consist of oil, resins and solvent and is used on
wood, cork and magnesite floors.
One pot plastic: made up of synthetic materials and are used on wood, cork
and magnesite floors
Pigmented sealers: contain color pigments which provide color and also
strengthen the sealer and are used on wood, concrete and stone floors.
Common/domestic cleaning agents
CHEMICALS USE
Borax (sodium borate) To soft water
Remove coffee & tea stain
Lemon Remove ink stain from wooded
surface
Linseed oil Constituent of furniture polish
Methylated spirit Cleaning window panes and
mirrors
Common salt (sodium Act as medium abrasive
chloride)
Vinegar Remove stains and tarnish from
metals
Remove streaks from glass
surfaces

Selection of Cleaning Agents

The following points need to be considered while selecting cleaning agents.

The type of surface, soil and composition of cleaning agents

Mild cleaning agents are generally preferred for cleaning as they are less
injurious
Strong smelling agents like paraffin must be avoided due to the offensive
smells they lend to the environment
 Ease of use, saving of effort and time
Toxicity or side-effects
Shelf life and cost effectiveness

Storage of Cleaning Agents

Ensure that the storage racks are sturdy. Heavier containers must be kept on
the bottom shelf.
Label all containers neatly with a waterproof marker.
Ensure that the lids are tightly secured.
When dispensing cleaning agents, use appropriate dispensers and
measuring apparatus.
Avoid spillage; if a spill occurs, clean it up immediately.
Follow a systematic procedure for rotating stocks.
Organic solvents, strong reagents, polishes and aerosol-based agents should
be kept away from heat sources.
Distribution of cleaning agents

Requisition – Area supervisor maintains & raises the requisition slip in

duplicate when required. First copy goes to the housekeeping store, where
store in-charge issues the agents as per the requisition and availability.
Full for empty-empty containers of agents are replaced by the housekeeping
store in-charge when requested by the area attendant or supervisor.
Topping up-All cleaning supplies are topped up on the regular interval on
the basis of average consumption of material for particular area.
Dispensing unit-dispensing units are installed inside the housekeeping
stores or floor pantry, from where attendant can directly have their required
amount of cleaning agents. These dispenser are filed on daily basis or on
frequent interval by the store attendant or runner
 COMMERCIAL CLEANING AGENTS:

TASKI PRODUCTS

Product Function
name
TASKI R1 Cleaning and sanitizing of Bathroom/Toilet surfaces
TASKI R2 Cleaning and sanitizing general hard floor
TASKI R3 Cleaning of Window glasses and mirrors
TASKI R4 Cleaning and Shining wooden furniture
TASKI R5 Air freshener for deodorizing working area, guest area,
Lobby
TASKI R6 Toilet cleaner, for removal of lime-scale deposits and
stubborn stains
TASKI R7 For cleaning of Oil and Grease from Floors
TASKI R9 Cleaning of all fittings and walls in bathroom
 CLEANING TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Cleaning tools and equipment are very essential to make the work of the
housekeepers easier and faster. The correct choice as well usage helps the property
in terms of cutting cost, labor and time.

In stocking cart, pointers are to be followed such as:

Keep cart and caddy tidy
Place the supplies in designated areas on
cart Do not overload cart
Ensure adequate supplies on cart and in caddy
Restock cart and caddy at end of shift in order to prepare for the next shift or day.
Other cleaning chemicals used in housekeeping:

Ammonia – softens hard water and emulsifies grease.

Methylated spirit – a type of alcohol used to remove grease stains.
Wood polish – polish wood surface, leather and imitation-leather surface.
Insecticides – for fumigation process.
Muriatic acid – a very strong chemical used in removing cement and tough stains.
Drain cleaners – to declog drains.

Tips in using cleaning products and tools:

1.Use products properly:

Follow instructions
Prevent waste
2. Be sure that cleaning tools are in good condition before use.
3.For vacuum cleaner:
Check bag and filters daily; replace if required
Check cords for fraying
Check plugs for loose connections
Check handle carefully to prevent damage
Use even strokes to cover entire area Start
vacuuming at furthest point of the exit

Avoid hitting furniture and baseboards

Look for and pick up small items with your hands, not with vacuum cleaner
Use appropriate attachments for surfaces
- crevice tool for ledges, corners and furniture corners
- small brush for furniture, upholstery, and drapes
- floor brush for hard-surfaces floor
- power nozzle for carpet
Clean vacuum cleaner
Report problems to maintenance department
4. For step ladder:
Place level, stable surface
Open and lock into position
Move ladder closer to object rather than extending reach
5. For toilet bowl brush:
Use only on inside of toilet bowl
Swish around bowl
Ensure upper rim o bowl is cleaned
Store in caddy
6. For push mop (dry rust
mop): Clean mop head

7. For floor mop (wet mop):

Clean after use
Rinse with disinfectant
Squeeze out excess water
Hang to dry
8. For dusters:
Cover areas with