What do you mean by Public Area in Hotel Property and how Housekeeping Department manages to clean.

It comprises of:

Front of the House

Porch, Hotel Entrance, Lobbies, Lounges, Front desk, Guest Corridor, Elevator and Staircases. (Details are given below)

Functional Area

Restaurants, Banquet halls, Bar, and Waiting Rooms. (Details are given Below)

Leisure Area

Swimming Pools, Spa or Jacuzzi, Sauna and Solariums, and  Health Club. (Details are given below)

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.

Functional Area

Restaurants, Banquet halls, Bar, Waiting Rooms.

• Restaurants: Most of the stars hotel has more than one restaurant and each restaurant has its own food concept and the ambiance is related to the concept. The housekeeping department has to meet proper sanitation standards and may be responsible for maintaining the dining areas with the help of restaurant staff. The service staff help in the task of cleaning:
  1. When the restaurant carpet is vacuumed the service staff helps them to move the chair and table for smooth works.
  2. Dusting the entire dining room, furniture’s, spot-cleaning the walls, and wiping the entire glass surface with proper glass cleaner.
  3. One in a month the furniture’s should be polished.
  4. Checking and cleaning the lighting fixtures.
  5. Pest controlling as and when required.
  6. The door of the restaurant should be cleaned daily from both sides.
  7. If any trash found in the dining area then pick them up immediately. Not only the housekeeping staff but, service staff is also responsible to do the same.
• Banquet hall: Banquet halls are used for conferences, dinners, conferences, conventions, exhibitions, mini parties, etc. when banquets hall is booked then on that day proper cleaning, sanitizing, vacuumed (if carpet) or cleaning the floor take place. For that movement, a large force is required a few hours before and after to set up the banquet hall. The cleaning process includes daily and weekly cleaning tasks.

1. Flower arrangement, notepad, the pencil should be provided and arranged.
2. In case another event is scheduled back to back then bottles, glasses, replenish stationery if needed, rearrange the furniture, replace the flower if spoiled, vacuumed the carpet with the help of service staff.
3. Dusting the entire dining room, furniture’s, spot-cleaning the walls, and wiping the entire glass surface with proper glass cleaner.
4. If any trash found in the dining area then pick them up immediately.
5. Checking and cleaning the lighting fixtures.
6. Assembled and arrange the audio-video equipment. In many hotels, this comes under the purview of the maintenance department.

• Bar: A place where beverages are served and can serve food. Most of the Restaurants have a bar attached to the restaurant or near to the restaurant. The housekeeping department has to meet proper sanitation standards and may be responsible for maintaining the bar counter with the help of service staff. The service staff help in the task of cleaning:

1. Dusting the entire bar counter, furniture, chairs, spot-cleaning the glass, and wiping the entire glass surface with proper glass cleaner.
2. One in a month the furniture’s should be polished.
3. Checking and cleaning the lighting fixtures.
4. Pest controlling as and when required.
5. If any trash found on the bar counter area then pick them up immediately. Service staff is also responsible to do the same.

Leisure Area

Swimming Pools and Spa, Saunas and solariums, Health Club.

•  Swimming pool, spas, and changing rooms: As far as hygiene is concerned the swimming pool is the most sensitive place. Regular cleaning and disinfecting should be done. After the use throughout the day, the swimming pools become most contaminated and become the carrier of waterborne infections. Body fats, oils, sweat, saliva, urine, cosmetic and air-bone particles are the key source of creating an infection. Mostly maintenance and engineering works of a swimming pool are done by the maintenance department and daily cleaning comes under the purview of the housekeeping department. Chemistry is involved to control the water clarity, any hazard, and control the bacteria. It is important to maintain the pH level of water if the water has too much alkaline then it may create algae at the side and the bottom of the pool and become slippery and if the water has too much of acidic then it may damage the whole pump system. Earlier chlorine or bromine was used but now it has stopped because of health hazards like eye irritation, hair loss, and skin rashes. But, now a day ozone treatment is done in the swimming pool which keeps the swimming pool clear, sparkling, and attractive. It does not affect the neutral pH of water. Ozone is odorless unlike chlorine and does not pose a health hazard.
• Spa or Jacuzzi: It is a small pool bath with warm water at 39 degree Celsius is maintained. Before Hot tubs were used which was made of a wooden tub, the trade name is Jacuzzi, it gives a therapeutic effect with the help of whirlpool and hot water. If you are talking about a swirly, acrylic finish with molded seats and a million jets, that’s a spa. Spas and changing rooms are cleaned in the same way as swimming pools.  Like skimming the surface of the pool water for floating debris, using a skimmer net attached to a long pole, Cleaning glass surface, emptying wastepaper baskets, damp-dusting any furniture, sweeping and mopping floor surfaces, suction cleaning any carpeted area, removing soiled lined and replacing with fresh ones. Replenishing toiletries, etc. 

• Saunas and Solariums: Saunas are steam baths, mostly are cubicles shape made of wood or can be glass and Solariums are enclosed glass areas, mostly made for therapeutic of sunrays. Sauna, when used for a period of time contains lots of moisture as they are warm and due to the hot steam it creates moss from outside. To clean the sauna use a cleaning agent with a nylon scrubber probably bleach that can be used in a badly affected area. After all, the cleaning process washes with cold water, keep it open for dry, and can add deodorizer to counteract bleach and other odor. Solarium glass can be clean with a cleaning solution or with vinegar and water. Wipe with a dry cloth.
• Health Club: Health club can be defined as a part of activities to achieve well being physically, mentally, and socially. Most of the guests are health conscious and they select the hotel only due to the availability of a health club or Gym. The Gym is well equipped with treadmills, bench press, rowing machines, cycling machines, dumbbells, all the weight lifting items, Elliptical, scot, rowing machine, and so on. The floor of the health club should be non-slippery and should avoid tiles for any breakage and falling down. The walls are maximum covered with mirrors panel. They can also have a shower, lockers along with toilets and urinals. The housekeeping department works on dusting all the gym types of equipment and lighting fixtures, cleaning the glass surface, remove stains from the wall and floor, sweeping and moping, remove or replace linen such as bath and hand towels.