Lesson 1.

4
The Housekeeping Department
Housekeeping Department may not be widely known as other departments in the hotel. However,
each personnel in the housekeeping department is important to keep the hotel operations running
smoothly.

Housekeeping Department is the largest department in charge of keeping the institution clean.

Types of housekeeping
1. Domestic Housekeeping- refers to housekeeping maintenance in a house. It covers bedrooms,
kitchen, dining, receiving area, grounds and the surroundings areas within the house.
2. Institutional Housekeeping applies to housekeeping maintenance in commercial lodging
establishments like hotels, resorts, inns and apartels.
Institutional Housekeeping usually covers the following areas:
 Guest rooms
 Hallways and corridors
 Lobby
 Public Rooms and restaurants
 Offices
 Stairways
 Windows
 Stores, concessionaire shops
 Grounds
 Linen and Laundry area.
It does not include the kitchen and dining areas since these are handled by the Food and Beverage
Section.
Housekeeping job in commercial establishments is more complex to manage as compared to
domestic housekeeping. With a lot of guests to attend to, housekeeping responsibilities have to be
distributed to several sections of the housekeeping department. One section attends to the maintenance of
guestrooms; another to public areas while separate one takes care of efforts have to be well coordinated
among the various sections to ensure efficient housekeeping maintenance.

SCOPE OF HOUSEKEEPING MAINTENANCE

The responsibilities of the housekeeping Department include the following:
1. Guestroom Maintenance
a. Maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness in the guestrooms
b. Furnishing the room with the necessary amenities and supplies such as bed, linens ,
appliances, etc.,
c. Attending to service request of house guests
d. Keeping the area free of safety hazards.
2. Maintenance of Public Areas
 a. Maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness in all public areas which include lobby,
corridors
b. Maintaining and up keeping the surroundings of the building by keeping it clean and free of
liters.
c. Maintaining an attractive landscape to enhance eye appeal.
d. Keeping the public areas free of safety hazards
e. Undertaking minor repair like busted bulbs, broken furniture, etc.
3. Maintenance of Linen/Laundry Service
a. Collecting and delivering laundry items for house guests or in house occupants.
b. Washing drying, ironing guest laundry as well as linens used in banquet functions, food
service and guestrooms
c. Mending service
4. Washing, Issuance, Repair and Inventory of Employee’s uniforms
5. Installation, cleaning and Maintenance of Fixtures and Facilities like furniture and appliances.
6. Provision of special services like babysitting, polishing shoes, etc.