Professional Documents
Culture Documents
FOR HOUSEKEEPERS
AN INSIGHT INTO HOSPITAL
HOUSEKEEPING
Anastasia. I
Housekeeping Lecturer
THE ORDER
A QUICK CLASS EXERCISE
OF CLEANING
Arrange the following in the right order of cleaning
Clean windows
Clean fans
Cobweb
Sweep
Dust furniture, fixtures, fittings etc
Mop
Empty trash
Ventilate the room
Close the windows
Spray Air freshener
Close the door
Knock on the door and open the door
Get the right cleaning equipment and agent
Put on Uniforms and safety wear and Check cleaning schedule
Clean, return and store cleaning equipment and agents
DEFINITION OF
HOUSEKEEPING
• Housekeeping is the provision of a
clean, comfortable, safe and
aesthetically appealing environment.
(RAGHUBALAN.G, &
RAGHUBALAN.S)
Pest and
Hospital
Rodent
Infection control
control
COMPONENTS OF HOSPITAL
HOUSEKEEPING (Dr N.C Das)
Odour
control
Clean and
Greenary
appealing
comfort
Restrooms
Adequate
water
supply
HOUSEKEEPING IN HOSPITALS
(RAGHUBALAN.G, & RAGHUBALAN.S)
In hospitals, hygiene and cleanliness are of
particular importance in reducing the threat of
cross infection with the result that housekeeping
is highly organized.
Housekeeping extends towards the
laboratories, administrative areas, doctors’
chambers, lecture rooms, treatment rooms,
waiting areas, mortuaries, kitchens, dining
areas and high risk areas- operation theatres,
intensive care units, transplant units, premature
baby units and isolation wards. The
organizational structure of a housekeeping
department in a hospital varies according to the
type and size of the hospital.
HOUSEKEEPING IN HOSPITALS
(RAGHUBALAN.G, & RAGHUBALAN.S)
The scope of hospital housekeeping is
enormous.
Here, control of dust and germs is so
important
that the cleaning equipment may have
features
that not to be found in other establishments,
such
as;
Electrical equipment fitted with extra filters to
reduce the risk of dust distribution.
Electrical equipment fitted with silencers to
minimize irritation to patients.
Colours used to identify equipment for
HOUSEKEEPING IN HOSPITALS
(RAGHUBALAN.G, & RAGHUBALAN.S)
Cleaning methods may also differ slightly.
For
example;
Dusting is carried out with damp cloths
only, so that dust is better controlled.
Sweeping is carried out using mops with
heads that can be sterilized or disposed
of after each cleaning session.
The responsibilities of the hospital
housekeeping team may include;
Maintaining a high degree of cleanliness
and hygiene with a focus on health.
Ensuring safety and security
HOUSEKEEPING IN HOSPITALS
(RAGHUBALAN.G, & RAGHUBALAN.S)
Pest control
Control over contracted cleaning agencies
Providing staff uniforms.
Laundering hospital linen, uniforms and
surgical suits.
In the wards, responsibilities also include;
Cleaning and bed making, which must be done
with the least amount of disturbance to the
patients.
Arranging flowers and delivering and collecting
the mails of patients.
Caring for clothes and personal belongings
HOUSEKEEPING IN HOSPITALS
(RAGHUBALAN.G, & RAGHUBALAN.S)
Terminal cleaning of rooms, which
must be done soon after a patient is
discharged and before a new patient
is admitted to the room. This includes
total disinfection of the room, including
all furniture and fixtures. Linen is
subjected to a high temperature wash
which is called a TERMINAL WASH.
PRECAUTIONS
All employees working in high risk areas must
wear protective clothing and be gowned and mask
if required. Gowns may be of the disposable variety
or made of cotton. Once used, they should be
treated as infected items and will require specific
disinfection. Hands must be washed before
entering, cleaning and after leaving a unit to
prevent spreading of infection. Cleaning materials
and
agents must be suitably coded and after use, they
must
be disinfected or changed. Waste arising in isolation
areas must be disposed of separately and
appropriately.
Syringes and sharp articles must be disposed of
HOSPITAL
HOUSEKEEPING(TRENDS)
Appealing colours of walls and
corridors
Mechanized cleaning
Elimination of unpleasant odour
Control of noise
Control of noise
Control of infection through CSSD
(Central sterilization and supply
department)
AREAS WITHIN THE PURVIEW
OF HOSPITAL
HOUSEKEEPING
LOW RISK AREAS
Administrative areas
Waiting rooms
Non-sterile supply areas
Medical records
Central store
Engineering workshop
Library
Conference and meeting area
Staff changing facilities (Staff Lounge)
By Dr Anjum Hashmi
AREAS WITHIN THE PURVIEW
OF HOSPITAL
HOUSEKEEPING
HIGH RISK AREAS
CSSD (Central sterilization supply
department)
Emergency department
Catering facilities (includes all kitchen
and cafeteria)
Day Surgery unit
Treatment room
Maternity ward
Pediatric Surgery ward
By Dr Anjum Hashmi
AREAS WITHIN THE PURVIEW
OF HOSPITAL
HOUSEKEEPING
VERY HIGH RISK AREAS
Isolation room
Intensive care unit
Operating room
Neonatal care unit
Pharmacy I V preparation room
Delivery room
Immuno-compromised Patient areas
By Dr Anjum Hashmi
AREAS WITHIN THE PURVIEW
OF HOSPITAL
HOUSEKEEPING
MODERATE RISK AREAS
Patient wards
Out-Patient department
Physiotherapy
Pharmacy
Laboratories
Mortuary
Radiology
Accommodation
Employee Health Clinic
Cardiology
By Dr Anjum Hashmi
ITEMS TO BE CLEANED
By Dr Anjum Hashmi
Baby baths, Cots Soap dispensers
Bed frames Telephones
Ceilings Toilets/ Bidets
Urinals Walls, Baths, Bowls
Curtains Bed pans, Wheel
Floors chairs
Housekeeping Toys, switches,
Equipment sockets
Lockers Stretchers, Data
Incubator points
Mattresses, Pillows Furniture, Mirrors
Sinks, Wash hand Glasses, Fridges
basin Showers
Bins, Sanitary bins
SELECTION OF CLEANING
AGENTS
It should be ;
Mild
Of good quality
Bactericidal
Of a wide microbe spectrum
Non corrosive
Pleasant in terms of odour
SOME CONSTITUENTS OF
CLEANING AGENTS AND THEIR
USES
Ammonia: Liquid ammonia is a
solution of ammonia gas in water, held
as ammonium hydroxide. It is a strong
alkali used for softening water,
cleaning window panes & emulsifying
grease.
Hydrochloric acid: this is corrosive &
poisonous mineral acid, used diluted
for removing stains in bathrooms.
Lemon: Lemon is used for removing
ink stains from wooden surfaces.
SOME CONSTITUENTS OF
CLEANING AGENTS AND THEIR
USES
Linseed oil: This is obtained from
crushed seeds of the flax plant. It is a
constituent of furniture polishes & paints.
It darkens unpainted wood slightly.
Methylated spirits: This is used for
cleaning window panes & mirrors to a
shine. It is a constituent of varnishes &
lacquers.
Oxalic acid: This is an organic acid
used for the removal of stains from
fabrics & bath fittings. It is also used for
cleaning porcelain.
Turpentine: This is constituent of paints.
It is also diluents for paints & removes
SOME CONSTITUENTS OF
CLEANING AGENTS AND THEIR
USES
Sodium Hypochlorite- Removing stains and
whitening due to bleaching action on various
types of surfaces. Acts as a disinfectant.
Vaseline: this is obtained as a residue in
petroleum distillation. It prevents rust
formation on metals, acts as a lubricant &
may be applied on leather to make it soft &
supple.
Vinegar: Chemically this is 4% acetic acid. It
is used to remove stains & tarnish from
metals such as copper. It is also effective in
removing streaks from glass surfaces such
as window panes & mirrors. 6% acetic acid
can remove hard water stains while 5%
acetic acid is suitable for making glass
cleaners with soft water, methylated spirit and
CLEANING AGENTS
Others are;
Water-Distilled, Hot and warm water
Carbon Tetrachloride
Soapy detergent
Synthetic detergent
Chlorine
Disinfectants-Phenols (strong),
Natural pine oil, Halogens (Chlorine
&Iodine)
CLEANING
TERMINOLOGIES
Sweeping
Wet/Damp Dusting
Dry Dusting
Cob webbing
Spray cleaning
Vacuuming
Wet/Damp Mopping
Dry Mopping
Polishing
Buffing
Stripping
Sealing
Disinfecting
CLEANING EQUIPMENT
CLEANING EQUIPMENT
GETTING READY TO CLEAN
First, it is important to dress appropriately.
Flat covered shoes, the hair should be
packed, make-up should be light and the
clothes should be free, airy and if possible,
get a cleaning overall (to be professional).
Carry out a tour of your cleaning area and
make a list of all the places and items to be
cleaned.
Schedule these into a cleaning Plan-Daily,
Weekly, Monthly, Fortnightly, Quarterly, Bi-
annually and Annually.
Follow the Cleaning plan strictly. This applies
for places that are cleaned on a regular basis
For one-offs/contract cleaning, it is enough to
prioritize following the terms of the contract
PRINCIPLES OF CLEANING
These are the basic rules to follow in any kind
of cleaning activity, whatever the nature of the
surface or the soil.
All soil should be removed without harming
the surface being cleaned or the surrounding
surfaces.
The surface should be restored to its original
state
The top-to-bottom approach should be
always used
The cleaner should start cleaning from the
farthest end of an area working towards the
exit.
PRINCIPLES OF CLEANING
When cleaning an area, start with the cleaner
surfaces before proceeding to clean the
heavily soiled area. As such, restrooms and
other sensitive areas should be cleaned last as
it pertains to order in cleaning areas.
Stains should be removed as soon as
possible.
Noise levels should be low.
The Housekeeper should ensure to reach
corners and edges. Search for dirt and clean
them out.
After cleaning, all equipment should be
cleaned, washed, dried and stored in
accordance with the type of equipment.
GETTING READY TO CLEAN
Check the schedule to see where you are
cleaning.
Check the cleaning plan to know what sort of
cleaning is to be done. For example;
Sweeping, Dusting, Mopping, Cob webbing
etc
Get all equipment and agents to the area of
cleaning.
Knock on the door, put on the lights (when
necessary), ventilate(Open the windows,
shutters etc), Empty the bin/ trash and
commence the cleaning.
Dust the area moving in a clockwise or an
anti-clockwise direction in order to avoid
missing out any item.
THE RIGHT ORDER OF
CLEANING
Using the principles of cleaning you have
just learnt and the tips on getting ready
to clean, re-do the class exercise on
slide 3
Remember all that is needed to clean,
the professionalism/courtesy of alerting
the recipient of your service, top-to-
bottom approach, dusting in order,
cleaning cleaner surfaces first, tidying up
the area and care of equipment.
Re-arrange the order; DUST, SWEEP,
MOP, VACUUM
SWEEPING, MOPPING AND
REMOVING COBWEBS
Sweep away from you, the broom goes in a back
and forth movement. The housekeeper holds the
broom at the tip and pushes dirt forward focusing
on one side and later moving to the clean side to
sweep the dirty side.
Mop towards you. Hold the Mop stick firmly and
mop side-to-side making sure that dirt is not
deposited at the edges.
Use ladders to reach high places not tables,
chairs, stools etc
Clean the top and bottom of fan blades and in
the same position, using your hands, rotate the
fan slowly to get to the next blade
Use the cob web remover to reach edges of
ceilings, fixtures, shelves, behind doors, window
frames, beneath furniture etc
SWEEPING, MOPPING AND
REMOVING COBWEBS
Sweeping ( a daily task)/Brushing
The removal of surface dust and non- greasy soil
with brooms and a dust pan.(floors, foot-mats,
furniture, pavements etc)
Dry mopping (a daily task)
The light buffing of a floor, using a soft polishing
mop or an impregnated mop.(Wide floor space)
Cob webbing (a weekly task)
The act of removing cobweb with a cobweb
remover.(ceilings, book shelves, walls, behind
furniture)
In each of these tasks mentioned, it is
important to reach corners, edges, behind
heavy furniture, between two furniture etc
DUSTING(an important act of
cleaning)
Dry dusting(a daily task)
Surface dust is removed with a soft dry cloth which
is washed and dried after use.(preferably,
COTTON for furniture and LINEN for Glass,
Mirrors and Windows. (furniture, window slabs,
pelmets, switches/sockets, baseboards etc)
Damp dusting (frequency is dependent on the
item)
Removal of grease, finger marks etc., by using a
cloth wrung out in water and mild detergent, then
rinsed again and left to dry. This is done when the
surface is very dusty, oily and greasy. (windows,
fans,
nets, burglary, doors, walls, furniture, pelmets,
DUSTING
Dusting is done in a clockwise or anti-
clockwise direction, to avoid missing any
object/furniture.
It is important to get PROPER DUST
CLOTHS and care for them by washing them
immediately after use (if possible) and storing
them in a bag. Feather dusters can also be
used.
Dusting Glasses, Windows and Mirrors
should be done using the TOP-TO-BOTTOM
approach, either vertically or horizontally or
both.
Dust Cloths should be colour-coded to avoid
cross contamination. The international
VACUUMING AND MOPPING
Vacuuming is the act of using a suction
machine to suck out dust and dirt from
furniture and other surfaces. The machine
has pressure, built in as a result of electricity.
Rugs, Carpets, Window slabs, cushions and
various floors can be vacuumed. The General
procedure is to dust before vacuuming.
Wet and damp mopping is usually confined
to
floor areas directly concerned with water. It is
done
with detergent or other cleaning agents. Floor
surfaces such as; Tiles, Marbles, Terrazzo,
TOOLS TO HANDLE
SPILLAGE
Protective clothing- Gloves, Gowns,
Masks, Goggle, Tissue paper, Paper
towel
Forceps for removal of broken glass
and other sharp object.
Container of Sodium Hypochlorite or
Sodium dichloroisocyanurate
(NaDCC)- Haz Tabs, P resept.
Dr Anjum Hashmi
HOW TO CLEAN BLOOD AND
BODY FLUID SPILL
Place a wet floor signage
Put on PPE (Personal protective
equipment)
Pick up sharp objects with Forceps
Cover the area with paper
(Tissue/Towels) and pour bleach.
Allow to act for 3-5 minutes
Clean up and pour bleach again for 3-
5 minutes.
Clean up, dispose, disinfect and wash
hands and equipment used.
CLEANING PUBLIC AREAS
The cleaning procedures of these places
depend
on their location, the materials that make up the
furniture, the traffic flow/usage, construction
etc.
Below are some general guidelines that should
help the public area attendant;
Always use and place the caution sign in
obvious places when cleaning.
Target to clean public areas when the traffic is
low if you can help it.
Place cleaning agents and equipment in
discreet areas where guests are unlikely to
CLEANING PUBLIC AREAS
Study the materials used for the furniture in every
area in order to know the right cleaning agents
and cleaning methods to use and adopt.
Be clean and well groomed at all times and be
courteous because you will come in contact with a
lot of guests.
When the traffic is a lot, do not clean around the
guests because you would have to ask them to lift
their legs and arms and also to change their
posture or position and this can make some
guests very displeased. Clean other areas where
there is less traffic and then return when the
guests are few.
RAGHUBALAN.G, & RAGHUBALAN.S
CLEANING PUBLIC AREAS
Clean busy areas like the front desk in
the morning and they should be cleaned
thoroughly.
Have eyes for details and try to reach
difficult areas. Clean intricate areas and
corners and avoid depositing dirt in
discreet areas where they can be easily
forgotten, pack up dirt as soon as a
place is cleaned.
Some areas will entail the use of ladders
and other equipment, safety measures
should be carried out when using these
equipment to secure the housekeeper
and the guest.
HOUSEKEEPING IN
OFFICES
Additional housekeeping factors here,
apart from routine cleaning, include the
following;
Deep cleaning must be completed before
or after office hours
Maintenance of indoor plants and flower
arrangements must be regularly
attended to.
Disposal of confidential waste must take
place by way incineration or using a
shredder.
Apply disinfectant to telephone mouth
CARE FOR CLEANING
EQUIPMENT
The care of cleaning equipment cannot be over
emphasized because it aids durability,
appearance
and effectiveness. Cleaning equipment should
be
stored in the right places which should be well
ventilated. In matters of hygiene, they play a
major
role. For instance; if a mop stick is not properly
taken care of, moulds can grow on them and
when
they are used to clean rooms, they can pollute
the environment with foul smell and they can
also
CARE FOR CLEANING
EQUIPMENT
DRY MOPS- Combed or brushed after
use. The base cloth should be
washed, dried and replaced often
DAMP MOPS- Washed with a
synthetic detergent and water, rinsed,
and left to dry in an airy place.
BROOMS/BRUSHES/
COBWEB REMOVER-Comb after use
and store with thistles up.
CARE FOR CLEANING
EQUIPMENT
MOP BUCKETS/DUST PANS &
DUST CLOTH- Wash, rinse and dry
after use.
FURNITURE POLISH AND OTHER
CLEANING AGENTS- These should
have their caps/lids in place, tightly
closed and labelled. A cleaning store
is essential in a home/property to
store cleaning agents/tools.
CARE FOR CLEANING
EQUIPMENT