How the Housekeeping Department is responsible to keep the public area clean.

Front of the House

• Porch Area: It is the area where Guest vehicles come to pick up or drop and also it is the related part of the entrance area as the security checking is placed in the area. This is the area where the first impression comes into the eyes of guests. The Housekeeping department has the Clean and clear Space, move furniture, plant pots, etc., and remove cobwebs.

1. Wash and wipe walls, and sweep the Floor with a relative cleaning agent.
2. Sponge Clean and wipe the window or glass walls Exteriors.
3. Wash the Porch with a Water Hose (flexible tube) with cleaning
4. Clean and Mop the Floor exterior
5. Using a soft cloth or sponge, wipe down all outdoor table glass, lantern glass, patio light glass.

• Hotel Entrance: Appealing area of the front office. The entrance area cannot be neglected even if there is continuous traffic flow. Some hotel may have some artistic or significant design features at the entrance of the hotel, which creates difficulties to maintain cleanliness, and if it does not maintain cleanliness regularly or neglected then obviously it will look unappealing since this is the inlet point for dust, dirt or excrement trekked in by guest shoes or through the air. Many entrances have an arch without a door.

1. The housekeeping department has to take charge to remove all trash/debris before that cordoning (A rope line, tape, or bordering) is necessary.
2. Dust mop tiled areas using a treated or microfiber dust mop.
3. Clean the spots walls, doors, and frames using a degreaser for heavily soiled areas, and use an all-purpose cleaning agent for the every-day cleaning.
4. The doormats and runners must be vacuumed daily to remove dust and dirt and in the rainy season clean twice a day.
5. A plant at the entrance has to be watered as and when required.
6. Brass and knob have to be polished weekly and in the case of lacquered brass, only dump-dusting is sufficient.
7. Lights and lighting fixtures should be clean weekly but a daily eye on it.

• Lobbies: The lobby is one of the most closely connected and appropriate areas in the hotel. It is a common meeting and caters point to the guest near the front office desk. It has the design elements – colors, lighting, art, furniture, etc with seating and waiting for a place for guests. Many lobbies are carpeted. The housekeeping department has to take care of

1. Floors in the lobbies have to be cleaned frequently because this area is having continuous traffic with the guest for check-in, check-out, guest interaction, relaxation, etc.
2. Mostly the major area of the lobby is cleaned at night or early morning to avoid any uncomforted to the guest and smooth working.
3. Indoor plants have to be watered as per the requirement and flower arrangement inadequate way.
4. Brass and knob have to be polished weekly and in the case of lacquered brass, only dump-dusting is sufficient.
5. Lights and lighting fixtures should be clean weekly but a daily eye on it.
6. Carpet areas should be suction-cleaned daily to remove dust and dirt.
7. Ashtrays, sand urns, waste papers should be emptied and damp-dusted if required.
8. Telephone and furniture should be damp-dusted with disinfectant solutions and dry wiped with a dry duster.
9. Chandeliers polishing, cleaning of upholstered furniture, blinds, and curtains, shampooed to carpet, high level of dusting (high ceiling, ceiling fans, cornices) should be done once in a month.

• Lounges: It is a public area or room in a hotel where guests or guests visitor sit and relax. It may be chargeable to the outsiders to avoid the unnecessary crowd. The area may be well equipped with T.V or big screen theatre, beverage services, etc. Many lounges are carpeted, designed with indoor plants, chandeliers, Designer doors with the Brass knob, and designer furniture.

1. The floor in the lounge has to be cleaned frequently because this area is having continuous traffic with the guest and visitors.
2. Mostly this area is cleaned at night or early morning.
3. Indoor plants have to be watered as per the requirement and flower arrangement inadequate way.
4. Brass and knob have to be polished weekly and in the case of lacquered brass, only dump-dusting is sufficient.
5. Lights and lighting fixtures should be clean weekly but a daily eye on it.
6. Carpet areas should be suction-cleaned daily to remove dust and dirt.
7. Ashtrays, sand urns, waste papers should be emptied and damp-dusted if required.
8. Furniture should be damp-dusted with disinfectant solutions and dry wiped with a dry duster.
9. Chandeliers polishing, cleaning of upholstered furniture, blinds, and curtains, shampooed to carpet, high level of dusting (high ceiling, ceiling fans, cornices) should be done once in a month.

• Front Desk: “Front of the House” since all the guests arrive and register the rooms booking and inquiries are made from here cleaning has to be done at non-peak hours so that no one will be disturbed. It is one of many departments of the hotel business. During the cleaning period if guests approach the front office then employees should stop cleaning a step aside and can place precaution boards like “Caution” or “Wet Area” in the case of cleaning the floor.

1. Empty ashtrays and ash urns into the trash While emptying the ashtrays make sure cigarettes are not burning.
2. Remove garbage from dustbins and clean them as and when required. It is also a good practice to separate the recyclable items from the trash and place them separately.
3. If any trash is found in the lobby area then pick them up immediately. Not only the housekeeping staff but, another hotel staff is also responsible to do the same.
4. Clean telephone mouthpiece, earpiece, telephone instrument, and telephone receivers on the fax machine with a disinfected dry cloth. Wipe the kiosk touch screen and remove fingerprint marks using the recommended microfiber cloth.
5. Use mild detergents and wipe handrails with a wet cloth to rinse away them away.

• Guest Corridor: A long passage in a hotel from which the door leads into a room or compartment. 

1. While cleaning the corridor should be divided into two sections for cleaning so that one section can be used by the guest. Appropriate caution signs should be kept while cleaning the floor. Most of the corridors are fully carpeted which has to be vacuumed clean daily and shampooed once in six months.
2. Any mark or smudge on the walls should be spot-cleaned.
3. Sprinklers installed as part of a fire-fighting system should be checked and cleaned. Fire extinguishers should be dusted well.
4. The Entry and Exit door of the passage should be cleaned daily from both sides. Brass knobs and handlers should be polished once a week.
5. Air-conditioning vents should be cleaned once a week.

• Elevator: It should always be taken out for service for cleaning. Displayed Indicator “Cleaning” and should be carried out while cleaning.

1. Elevator doors are usually made of steel covered with wooden panels. Damp-dust the steel doors from inside and out by using neutral detergent solutions and wipes them with a dry and clean duster.
2. Clean the inside wall panel, door panel, and control panel with neutral detergent solutions and wipes it with a dry and clean duster.
3. Lightly clean light and ceiling fixtures periodically.
4. Clean any air conditioning or ventilation duct by using a suction cleaner.

Staircases:

1. While cleaning the staircase should be divided into two sections for cleaning so that one section can be used by the guest. Appropriate caution signs should be kept while cleaning the floor. While cleaning the staircase area, care should be taken that the debris and dirt do not fall downwards through the gaps in the banisters and railing. Any type of sweeping should be directed towards the wall. Most of the staircases are fully carpeted which has to be vacuumed clean daily and shampooed once a month.
2. While cleaning the floor, the vertical risers of each step should be cleaned as well as the treads.
3. Use mild detergents and wipe handrails with a wet cloth to rinse away them away.
4. If any trash is found in the lobby area then pick them up immediately. Not only the housekeeping staff but, another hotel staff is also responsible to do the same.

Public Rest Room: 

This refers to any structure or facility situated on public or private property equipped with toilets, urinals or washbowls, or other similar facilities, erected and maintained for use by members of the general public for personal hygiene and comfort. Washrooms may have elaborated mirrors, ornate furniture, sanitary fitting are mainly found of WCs urinals, slices, bidets, and vanity units or pedestal type washbasins. Here the services may be 24hrs without disturbing the guests or the visitors.

1. Make sure you put on gloves and an apron while cleaning.
2. Apply neutral detergent solution to swab cloth. Clean outside the basin, pipes, behind taps, mirror, and behind the basin, use scouring pad only for the stubborn mark.
3. Dry mirror, taps, and surfaces with lint-free dust.
4. Floors in the restroom to be cleaned frequently because this area is having continuous traffic with the visitors.
5. Remove garbage from dustbins and clean them as and when required.
6. The door of the restroom should be cleaned daily from both sides.