CLEANING AGENT
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 house keeping staffs are as follows:
1) Detergents 6) Deodorants
2) Acid Cleaners 7) Laundry aids
3) Alkaline cleaners 8) Polishes
4) Solvent cleaners 9) Floor seal
5) Disinfectants 10) Abrasive
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).
1) Detergent: Detergents may be made from a base of either pure soap or organic
chemicals. 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 house keeping. 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.
2) Acid cleaners: Acids used as cleaning agents may vary from mild acid e.g. acetic acid or
strong concentrated hydrochloric acid. Acids should be used in solutions 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. Strong acids are poisonous and
corrosive. E.g.
citric acid and acetic acid used for metal cleaning
Dilute hydrochloric acid used in removing lime scale from sanitary ware
Oxalic acid for removing stubborn water stains from hard floors and sanitary ware
3) 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
4) Solvent Cleaners: These cleaning agents are used extensively for dry cleaning and for
stain removal. They all have strong fumes and should be used in well ventilated room.
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.
5) Disinfectants: Disinfectants should only be used in the areas where harmful germs are
likely to exist. Disinfectants kill the harmful bacteria. Most disinfectants have strong
smell and therefore should be used in recommended amounts in areas where germ
control is required. E.g.
Phenol: They are used in dilute or concentrate to disinfect surfaces in hospitals.
Halogens: the elements chlorine and iodine may be used as disinfectants.
6) Deodorants: These are agents for disguising bad smells. They counteract stale odours
and sometimes introduce fragrance in the area. They are used in guest rooms,
bathrooms, and in public areas. They are available in liquids, powders and crystalline
blocks. E.g.
Naphthalene balls serve as effective deodorizers.
7) Laundry aids: Laundry aids which are used as cleaning materials contain stiffening
agents and fabric conditioners.
8) Polishes: Polishes are cleaning agent which are applied to a surface to form a hard
protective layer and thus guard against finger marks stains and scratches. They also
create a pleasant shine on a hard surface. E.g.
Metal polishes
Furniture polishes
Floor polishes.
9) 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 upto five years before replacement is necessary. E.g.
Oleo-resinous: These are clear solvent based sealers used on wood cork and
magnesite floors. They consist of oils, resins and solvents.
One pot plastic: They are made up of synthetic materials. They are used on wood,
cork and magnesite floors
Pigmented sealers: These sealers contain colour pigments which provide colour and
also strengthen the sealer. They are used on wood, concrete and stone floors.
10) 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)
Hard abrasive- Sand paper, fine ash, pumice stone, steal wool are
commonly used abrasive
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.
Selection of Cleaning Agents
The following points need to be considered while selecting cleaning agents.
The type of soilage.
The type of surface.
Composition of the cleaning agents.
Ease of use, saving of effort and time.
Toxicity or side effects.
Cost effectiveness.
CLEANING EQUIPMENTS
Manual Equipments
Cleaning
Equipment
Types Uses
Brushes Hard Brushes
Hard brushes have bristles that are fairly stiff and well spaced out.
They are most suitable for removal of heavy soil and litter from
carpets and for cleaning rough surfaces.
e.g. – deck scrubber for floors
Soft Brushes
Soft brushes have bristles that are fairly flexible and set close
together. They help to remove loose soil and litter on hard and
smooth surfaces. Such brushes may be designed to dust carpets
and furniture, specially those that are made of cane and wicker
e.g. – upholstery brush
Broom Soft bristled broom These brooms are made of corn-fibre, grass and are used for
smooth floors.
Hard broom These brooms are made of coconut fibre and are used for coarse
surface, especially outdoors.
Wall broom These are ceiling brooms called Turk’s head. These brooms are
used too remove cobwebs or dust from ceiling, and high ledges.
Box sweeper
These are also called as carpet sweepers and are used for sweeping
up the dust from smooth floor coverings such as rugs and carpets.
A box sweeper consists of a friction brush that revolves when the
equipment is pushed manually over the carpet or floor. The dust
gets collected into the built in dust pans.
Mop Dry mop
Static mops - consist of acrylic, nylon, or polyester strands fixed to
a backing stretched over a metal frame. These are used for holding
the dust by sweeping.
Wet mops Kentucky mops- consist of cotton strands fixed to a length of
cotton fabric which is in turn inserted into a metal flat stock.
Do-all mop- these mops consist of strands of a twisted cotton fixed
to a circular metal plate which in turn is fixed to a stock
Foss mop- these consist of a dense cotton fringe inserted into a
heavy metal stock
Squeegee- a squeegee of a long metal handle and a wooden or a
rubber blade to remove excess water from surface being cleaned. It
is used when the areas are scrubbed or washed.
Cloths Swab
These are loosely woven cotton cloths, absorbent material and are
used for damp wiping of floor surfaces. Also used for sanitary
fittings bath tubs and wash basins
Scrim
These are loosely woven linen material resembling fine sack cloth,
highly absorbent and lint free in nature, used for cleaning mirrors
and windows.
Chamois leather
This is the skin of a chamois goat (antelope) and is used for
cleaning windows and mirrors when dry and also for polishing
silver and other metals.
Dust sheets
They are the discarded linen either from bed sheets or curtains
from the linen room and is used to cover floors, furniture and other
articles during spring cleaning or redecorating.
Druggets
These are made of coarse, fine canvas or clear plastic and they
may be of the size of carpet square and are placed on the floor on
the doorway to prevent excessive dirt being brought in or out
during bad weather or during redecorating projects.
Rag
These are disposable cloths obtained from the sewing room and
are used for applying polish or strong cleaning agents and are
disposed of when it is dirty.
Containers Buckets Plastic or galvanized iron buckets are used in different areas of
house keeping while washing of floor, scrubbing of floor, etc.
Dust pan
These are used in conjunction with a broom or brush for gathering
dust. They are made of plastic or metal.
They should be emptied after use
Dust bins
These are used to collect waste from guest rooms and it may be
made of plastic, metals, or wood. This should be emptied and
wiped daily.
Sani-bins
These are metal or plastic bins with lid. They are found in toilets
for collection of soiled sanitary towels. They should be lined with
plastic or paper bags for easy cleaning and must be wiped daily for
the reasons of hygiene.
Hand caddy
Also called cleaner’s boxes, made of wood or metal or plastic,
used by the room attendant for carrying cleaning supplies from
room to room while guest room cleaning is done.
Mop-wringer trolley
This piece of equipment consists of mop and one or twin buckets
with an attached wringer all mounted on a trolley with wheels. It
may have a provision for holding cleaning agent as well as a trash
bag.
Linen trolley These are used for the transfer of clean linen from the laundry to
the linen room or from the linen room to the floor pantries
Mechanical Equipment
Cleaning Equipment Types Uses
Vacuum
cleaners/suction
cleaners
Dry vacuum cleaners
These are used for removing dust and small pieces of debris
from the floors, upholstery, furnishings walls and ceilings. It
comes with different flexible attachment such as crevice nozzle,
upholstery cleaning brush, floor cleaning brush, etc.
Dustette This is a small light weight vacuum cleaner, used for cleaning
curtains, mattress, computers, etc.
Back-pack vacuum
These machines can be easily strapped to the back of an
operator. And it is used for cleaning hard to reach areas like
ceiling, curtain ends, etc. These are also called as piggy back
vacuums.
Upright
These vacuums are the ones in which the machine lies
horizontally on the floor and is driven by a single motor. The
dust bag is outside the machines main body. There is a belt
driven beater brush to facilitate removal of dust from the thick
carpet piles. These machine is most suitable for large carpeted
areas.
Pile lifter
These vacuum cleaners are used to groom the long carpet piles.
They lift up the carpet pile that has sacked down and makes it
fluffy.
Wet and dry vacuum
These are extremely useful for house keeping operations. They
can pick up spills and excess water when it is used on a wet
mode. When on a dry mode, they help to remove the dust and
debris. In hotels they are used in large areas when they are
scrubbed
Large tank-type
vacuum cleaners
These are also called as industrial vacuum cleaners and are
meant for dry and wet pick up or both. The waste water is
squeezed by a rubber attached to it through the nozzle which
travels back into the tank. They are idle for cleaning lobbies,
banquet halls and restaurants.
Carpet shampoo
machine
Steam extraction
machine
Though these machines are universally called steam extraction
machine, these is in fact no generation of steam. The cleaning
agents are simply mixed with hot water and detergents. The
detergent is injected on the carpet piles and extracted back by a
wet vacuum built into the same machine.
Cylindrical brush dry
foam machine
These machine has a cylindrical brush that scrubs the carpet
pile only by the injecting foam on the carpet and extracting it
back again to the machine
High Pressure Washers
These types of equipments are designed to remove soil from the
surface with the help of water and steam subjected to high
pressure. Water under pressure dislodges the dirt from the
surface
Scrubbing/Polishing
Machine Scrubbing can be done with the help of the hard bristle attached
to the machine and is normally used for large areas
Buffing - The bristle tips of a brush create a high gloss finish on
the surface. It is done on friction to bring it to shine.
Polishing - The bristle tips of a brush or a pad to the driving
disk cuts the soil from the surface. Polish is applied to give a
glossy finish and to protect the floor
Equipment care:
1. All staff should know the correct methods of care cleaning and storage.
2. The correct equipment should be used for each task and used correctly.
3. All equipment should be cleaned after use.
4. Manufacturer’s instructions for operation and maintenance should be followed.
5. Equipment should be stored correctly.
Equipment care:
1. All staff should know the correct methods of care cleaning and storage.
2. The correct equipment should be used for each task and used correctly.
3. All equipment should be cleaned after use.
4. Manufacturer’s instructions for operation and maintenance should be followed.
5. Equipment should be stored correctly.
6. All equipment must be inspected before and after use and all defects should be reported.
Storage:
1. Provision should be made for correct storage of all equipment.
2. There should be space for each machine.
3. Shelves, cupboards, drawers for all spare parts, e.g. mop, brush heads pads should be provided.
4. Storage place should be equipped with power points.
5. Proper lighting should be provided.
Safety:
1. Voltage of the machine and supply should be same.
2. Plugs must be used correctly.
3. Machine and socket must be switched off before plugging in or disconnecting.
4. Check the cable and flexes and properly clamped into plugs
5. Loose cable should lie behind the machine as close to the wall as possible and pass over door
handles if passing the door way.
Cleaning Equipment
Manual
Brushes Containers
Brooms Cleaning Cloths
Wet Mops Dry mops
Mechanical
Scrubbing/Polishing
Machine
Carpet Shampoo
Machines
High Pressure
Washers Vacuum Cleaners
Cleaning Equipment
Manual
Brushes Containers
Brooms Cleaning Cloths
Wet Mops Dry mops
Mechanical
Scrubbing/Polishing
Machine
Carpet Shampoo
Machines
High Pressure
Washers Vacuum Cleaners
Manual Equipments
Cleaning
Equipment
Types Uses
Brushes Hard Brushes
Hard brushes have bristles that are fairly stiff and well spaced out.
They are most suitable for removal of heavy soil and litter from
carpets and for cleaning rough surfaces.
e.g. – deck scrubber for floors
Soft Brushes
Soft brushes have bristles that are fairly flexible and set close
together. They help to remove loose soil and litter on hard and
smooth surfaces. Such brushes may be designed to dust carpets
and furniture, specially those that are made of cane and wicker
e.g. – upholstery brush
Broom Soft bristled broom These brooms are made of corn-fibre, grass and are used for
smooth floors.
Hard broom These brooms are made of coconut fibre and are used for coarse
surface, especially outdoors.
Wall broom These are ceiling brooms called Turk’s head. These brooms are
used too remove cobwebs or dust from ceiling, and high ledges.
Box sweeper
These are also called as carpet sweepers and are used for sweeping
up the dust from smooth floor coverings such as rugs and carpets.
A box sweeper consists of a friction brush that revolves when the
equipment is pushed manually over the carpet or floor. The dust
gets collected into the built in dust pans.
Mop Dry mop
Static mops - consist of acrylic, nylon, or polyester strands fixed to
a backing stretched over a metal frame. These are used for holding
the dust by sweeping.
Wet mops Kentucky mops- consist of cotton strands fixed to a length of
cotton fabric which is in turn inserted into a metal flat stock.
Do-all mop- these mops consist of strands of a twisted cotton fixed
to a circular metal plate which in turn is fixed to a stock
Foss mop- these consist of a dense cotton fringe inserted into a
heavy metal stock
Squeegee- a squeegee of a long metal handle and a wooden or a
rubber blade to remove excess water from surface being cleaned. It
is used when the areas are scrubbed or washed.
Cloths Swab
These are loosely woven cotton cloths, absorbent material and are
used for damp wiping of floor surfaces. Also used for sanitary
fittings bath tubs and wash basins
Scrim
These are loosely woven linen material resembling fine sack cloth,
highly absorbent and lint free in nature, used for cleaning mirrors
and windows.
Chamois leather
This is the skin of a chamois goat (antelope) and is used for
cleaning windows and mirrors when dry and also for polishing
silver and other metals.
Dust sheets
They are the discarded linen either from bed sheets or curtains
from the linen room and is used to cover floors, furniture and other
articles during spring cleaning or redecorating.
Druggets
These are made of coarse, fine canvas or clear plastic and they
may be of the size of carpet square and are placed on the floor on
the doorway to prevent excessive dirt being brought in or out
during bad weather or during redecorating projects.
Rag
These are disposable cloths obtained from the sewing room and
are used for applying polish or strong cleaning agents and are
disposed of when it is dirty.
Containers Buckets Plastic or galvanized iron buckets are used in different areas of
house keeping while washing of floor, scrubbing of floor, etc.
Dust pan
These are used in conjunction with a broom or brush for gathering
dust. They are made of plastic or metal.
They should be emptied after use
Dust bins
These are used to collect waste from guest rooms and it may be
made of plastic, metals, or wood. This should be emptied and
wiped daily.
Sani-bins
These are metal or plastic bins with lid. They are found in toilets
for collection of soiled sanitary towels. They should be lined with
plastic or paper bags for easy cleaning and must be wiped daily for
the reasons of hygiene.
Hand caddy
Also called cleaner’s boxes, made of wood or metal or plastic,
used by the room attendant for carrying cleaning supplies from
room to room while guest room cleaning is done.
Mop-wringer trolley
This piece of equipment consists of mop and one or twin buckets
with an attached wringer all mounted on a trolley with wheels. It
may have a provision for holding cleaning agent as well as a trash
bag.
Linen trolley These are used for the transfer of clean linen from the laundry to
the linen room or from the linen room to the floor pantries
Mechanical Equipment
Cleaning Equipment Types Uses
Vacuum
cleaners/suction
cleaners
Dry vacuum cleaners
These are used for removing dust and small pieces of debris
from the floors, upholstery, furnishings walls and ceilings. It
comes with different flexible attachment such as crevice nozzle,
upholstery cleaning brush, floor cleaning brush, etc.
Dustette This is a small light weight vacuum cleaner, used for cleaning
curtains, mattress, computers, etc.
Back-pack vacuum
These machines can be easily strapped to the back of an
operator. And it is used for cleaning hard to reach areas like
ceiling, curtain ends, etc. These are also called as piggy back
vacuums.
Upright
These vacuums are the ones in which the machine lies
horizontally on the floor and is driven by a single motor. The
dust bag is outside the machines main body. There is a belt
driven beater brush to facilitate removal of dust from the thick
carpet piles. These machine is most suitable for large carpeted
areas.
Pile lifter
These vacuum cleaners are used to groom the long carpet piles.
They lift up the carpet pile that has sacked down and makes it
fluffy.
Wet and dry vacuum
These are extremely useful for house keeping operations. They
can pick up spills and excess water when it is used on a wet
mode. When on a dry mode, they help to remove the dust and
debris. In hotels they are used in large areas when they are
scrubbed
Large tank-type
vacuum cleaners
These are also called as industrial vacuum cleaners and are
meant for dry and wet pick up or both. The waste water is
squeezed by a rubber attached to it through the nozzle which
travels back into the tank. They are idle for cleaning lobbies,
banquet halls and restaurants.
Carpet shampoo
machine
Steam extraction
machine
Though these machines are universally called steam extraction
machine, these is in fact no generation of steam. The cleaning
agents are simply mixed with hot water and detergents. The
detergent is injected on the carpet piles and extracted back by a
wet vacuum built into the same machine.
Cylindrical brush dry
foam machine
These machine has a cylindrical brush that scrubs the carpet
pile only by the injecting foam on the carpet and extracting it
back again to the machine
High Pressure Washers
These types of equipments are designed to remove soil from the
surface with the help of water and steam subjected to high
pressure. Water under pressure dislodges the dirt from the
surface
Scrubbing/Polishing
Machine Scrubbing can be done with the help of the hard bristle attached
to the machine and is normally used for large areas
Buffing - The bristle tips of a brush create a high gloss finish on
the surface. It is done on friction to bring it to shine.
Polishing - The bristle tips of a brush or a pad to the driving
disk cuts the soil from the surface. Polish is applied to give a
glossy finish and to protect the floor
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 house keeping staffs are as follows:
1) Detergents 6) Deodorants
2) Acid Cleaners 7) Laundry aids
3) Alkaline cleaners 8) Polishes
4) Solvent cleaners 9) Floor seal
5) Disinfectants 10) Abrasive
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).
1) Detergent: Detergents may be made from a base of either pure soap or organic
chemicals. 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 house keeping. 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.
2) Acid cleaners: Acids used as cleaning agents may vary from mild acid e.g. acetic acid or
strong concentrated hydrochloric acid. Acids should be used in solutions 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. Strong acids are poisonous and
corrosive. E.g.
citric acid and acetic acid used for metal cleaning
Dilute hydrochloric acid used in removing lime scale from sanitary ware
Oxalic acid for removing stubborn water stains from hard floors and sanitary ware
3) 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
4) Solvent Cleaners: These cleaning agents are used extensively for dry cleaning and for
stain removal. They all have strong fumes and should be used in well ventilated room.
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.
5) Disinfectants: Disinfectants should only be used in the areas where harmful germs are
likely to exist. Disinfectants kill the harmful bacteria. Most disinfectants have strong
smell and therefore should be used in recommended amounts in areas where germ
control is required. E.g.
Phenol: They are used in dilute or concentrate to disinfect surfaces in hospitals.
Halogens: the elements chlorine and iodine may be used as disinfectants.
6) Deodorants: These are agents for disguising bad smells. They counteract stale odours
and sometimes introduce fragrance in the area. They are used in guest rooms,
bathrooms, and in public areas. They are available in liquids, powders and crystalline
blocks. E.g.
Naphthalene balls serve as effective deodorizers.
7) Laundry aids: Laundry aids which are used as cleaning materials contain stiffening
agents and fabric conditioners.
8) Polishes: Polishes are cleaning agent which are applied to a surface to form a hard
protective layer and thus guard against finger marks stains and scratches. They also
create a pleasant shine on a hard surface. E.g.
Metal polishes
Furniture polishes
Floor polishes.
9) 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 upto five years before replacement is necessary. E.g.
Oleo-resinous: These are clear solvent based sealers used on wood cork and
magnesite floors. They consist of oils, resins and solvents.
One pot plastic: They are made up of synthetic materials. They are used on wood,
cork and magnesite floors
Pigmented sealers: These sealers contain colour pigments which provide colour and
also strengthen the sealer. They are used on wood, concrete and stone floors.
10) 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)
Hard abrasive- Sand paper, fine ash, pumice stone, steal wool are
commonly used abrasive
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.
Selection of Cleaning Agents
The following points need to be considered while selecting cleaning agents.
The type of soilage.
The type of surface.
Composition of the cleaning agents.
Ease of use, saving of effort and time.
Toxicity or side effects.
Cost effectiveness.
CLEANING EQUIPMENTS
Manual Equipments
Cleaning
Equipment
Types Uses
Brushes Hard Brushes
Hard brushes have bristles that are fairly stiff and well spaced out.
They are most suitable for removal of heavy soil and litter from
carpets and for cleaning rough surfaces.
e.g. – deck scrubber for floors
Soft Brushes
Soft brushes have bristles that are fairly flexible and set close
together. They help to remove loose soil and litter on hard and
smooth surfaces. Such brushes may be designed to dust carpets
and furniture, specially those that are made of cane and wicker
e.g. – upholstery brush
Broom Soft bristled broom These brooms are made of corn-fibre, grass and are used for
smooth floors.
Hard broom These brooms are made of coconut fibre and are used for coarse
surface, especially outdoors.
Wall broom These are ceiling brooms called Turk’s head. These brooms are
used too remove cobwebs or dust from ceiling, and high ledges.
Box sweeper
These are also called as carpet sweepers and are used for sweeping
up the dust from smooth floor coverings such as rugs and carpets.
A box sweeper consists of a friction brush that revolves when the
equipment is pushed manually over the carpet or floor. The dust
gets collected into the built in dust pans.
Mop Dry mop
Static mops - consist of acrylic, nylon, or polyester strands fixed to
a backing stretched over a metal frame. These are used for holding
the dust by sweeping.
Wet mops Kentucky mops- consist of cotton strands fixed to a length of
cotton fabric which is in turn inserted into a metal flat stock.
Do-all mop- these mops consist of strands of a twisted cotton fixed
to a circular metal plate which in turn is fixed to a stock
Foss mop- these consist of a dense cotton fringe inserted into a
heavy metal stock
Squeegee- a squeegee of a long metal handle and a wooden or a
rubber blade to remove excess water from surface being cleaned. It
is used when the areas are scrubbed or washed.
Cloths Swab
These are loosely woven cotton cloths, absorbent material and are
used for damp wiping of floor surfaces. Also used for sanitary
fittings bath tubs and wash basins
Scrim
These are loosely woven linen material resembling fine sack cloth,
highly absorbent and lint free in nature, used for cleaning mirrors
and windows.
Chamois leather
This is the skin of a chamois goat (antelope) and is used for
cleaning windows and mirrors when dry and also for polishing
silver and other metals.
Dust sheets
They are the discarded linen either from bed sheets or curtains
from the linen room and is used to cover floors, furniture and other
articles during spring cleaning or redecorating.
Druggets
These are made of coarse, fine canvas or clear plastic and they
may be of the size of carpet square and are placed on the floor on
the doorway to prevent excessive dirt being brought in or out
during bad weather or during redecorating projects.
Rag
These are disposable cloths obtained from the sewing room and
are used for applying polish or strong cleaning agents and are
disposed of when it is dirty.
Containers Buckets Plastic or galvanized iron buckets are used in different areas of
house keeping while washing of floor, scrubbing of floor, etc.
Dust pan
These are used in conjunction with a broom or brush for gathering
dust. They are made of plastic or metal.
They should be emptied after use
Dust bins
These are used to collect waste from guest rooms and it may be
made of plastic, metals, or wood. This should be emptied and
wiped daily.
Sani-bins
These are metal or plastic bins with lid. They are found in toilets
for collection of soiled sanitary towels. They should be lined with
plastic or paper bags for easy cleaning and must be wiped daily for
the reasons of hygiene.
Hand caddy
Also called cleaner’s boxes, made of wood or metal or plastic,
used by the room attendant for carrying cleaning supplies from
room to room while guest room cleaning is done.
Mop-wringer trolley
This piece of equipment consists of mop and one or twin buckets
with an attached wringer all mounted on a trolley with wheels. It
may have a provision for holding cleaning agent as well as a trash
bag.
Linen trolley These are used for the transfer of clean linen from the laundry to
the linen room or from the linen room to the floor pantries
Mechanical Equipment
Cleaning Equipment Types Uses
Vacuum
cleaners/suction
cleaners
Dry vacuum cleaners
These are used for removing dust and small pieces of debris
from the floors, upholstery, furnishings walls and ceilings. It
comes with different flexible attachment such as crevice nozzle,
upholstery cleaning brush, floor cleaning brush, etc.
Dustette This is a small light weight vacuum cleaner, used for cleaning
curtains, mattress, computers, etc.
Back-pack vacuum
These machines can be easily strapped to the back of an
operator. And it is used for cleaning hard to reach areas like
ceiling, curtain ends, etc. These are also called as piggy back
vacuums.
Upright
These vacuums are the ones in which the machine lies
horizontally on the floor and is driven by a single motor. The
dust bag is outside the machines main body. There is a belt
driven beater brush to facilitate removal of dust from the thick
carpet piles. These machine is most suitable for large carpeted
areas.
Pile lifter
These vacuum cleaners are used to groom the long carpet piles.
They lift up the carpet pile that has sacked down and makes it
fluffy.
Wet and dry vacuum
These are extremely useful for house keeping operations. They
can pick up spills and excess water when it is used on a wet
mode. When on a dry mode, they help to remove the dust and
debris. In hotels they are used in large areas when they are
scrubbed
Large tank-type
vacuum cleaners
These are also called as industrial vacuum cleaners and are
meant for dry and wet pick up or both. The waste water is
squeezed by a rubber attached to it through the nozzle which
travels back into the tank. They are idle for cleaning lobbies,
banquet halls and restaurants.
Carpet shampoo
machine
Steam extraction
machine
Though these machines are universally called steam extraction
machine, these is in fact no generation of steam. The cleaning
agents are simply mixed with hot water and detergents. The
detergent is injected on the carpet piles and extracted back by a
wet vacuum built into the same machine.
Cylindrical brush dry
foam machine
These machine has a cylindrical brush that scrubs the carpet
pile only by the injecting foam on the carpet and extracting it
back again to the machine
High Pressure Washers
These types of equipments are designed to remove soil from the
surface with the help of water and steam subjected to high
pressure. Water under pressure dislodges the dirt from the
surface
Scrubbing/Polishing
Machine Scrubbing can be done with the help of the hard bristle attached
to the machine and is normally used for large areas
Buffing - The bristle tips of a brush create a high gloss finish on
the surface. It is done on friction to bring it to shine.
Polishing - The bristle tips of a brush or a pad to the driving
disk cuts the soil from the surface. Polish is applied to give a
glossy finish and to protect the floor
Equipment care:
1. All staff should know the correct methods of care cleaning and storage.
2. The correct equipment should be used for each task and used correctly.
3. All equipment should be cleaned after use.
4. Manufacturer’s instructions for operation and maintenance should be followed.
5. Equipment should be stored correctly.
Equipment care:
1. All staff should know the correct methods of care cleaning and storage.
2. The correct equipment should be used for each task and used correctly.
3. All equipment should be cleaned after use.
4. Manufacturer’s instructions for operation and maintenance should be followed.
5. Equipment should be stored correctly.
6. All equipment must be inspected before and after use and all defects should be reported.
Storage:
1. Provision should be made for correct storage of all equipment.
2. There should be space for each machine.
3. Shelves, cupboards, drawers for all spare parts, e.g. mop, brush heads pads should be provided.
4. Storage place should be equipped with power points.
5. Proper lighting should be provided.
Safety:
1. Voltage of the machine and supply should be same.
2. Plugs must be used correctly.
3. Machine and socket must be switched off before plugging in or disconnecting.
4. Check the cable and flexes and properly clamped into plugs
5. Loose cable should lie behind the machine as close to the wall as possible and pass over door
handles if passing the door way.
Cleaning Equipment
Manual
Brushes Containers
Brooms Cleaning Cloths
Wet Mops Dry mops
Mechanical
Scrubbing/Polishing
Machine
Carpet Shampoo
Machines
High Pressure
Washers Vacuum Cleaners
Cleaning Equipment
Manual
Brushes Containers
Brooms Cleaning Cloths
Wet Mops Dry mops
Mechanical
Scrubbing/Polishing
Machine
Carpet Shampoo
Machines
High Pressure
Washers Vacuum Cleaners
Manual Equipments
Cleaning
Equipment
Types Uses
Brushes Hard Brushes
Hard brushes have bristles that are fairly stiff and well spaced out.
They are most suitable for removal of heavy soil and litter from
carpets and for cleaning rough surfaces.
e.g. – deck scrubber for floors
Soft Brushes
Soft brushes have bristles that are fairly flexible and set close
together. They help to remove loose soil and litter on hard and
smooth surfaces. Such brushes may be designed to dust carpets
and furniture, specially those that are made of cane and wicker
e.g. – upholstery brush
Broom Soft bristled broom These brooms are made of corn-fibre, grass and are used for
smooth floors.
Hard broom These brooms are made of coconut fibre and are used for coarse
surface, especially outdoors.
Wall broom These are ceiling brooms called Turk’s head. These brooms are
used too remove cobwebs or dust from ceiling, and high ledges.
Box sweeper
These are also called as carpet sweepers and are used for sweeping
up the dust from smooth floor coverings such as rugs and carpets.
A box sweeper consists of a friction brush that revolves when the
equipment is pushed manually over the carpet or floor. The dust
gets collected into the built in dust pans.
Mop Dry mop
Static mops - consist of acrylic, nylon, or polyester strands fixed to
a backing stretched over a metal frame. These are used for holding
the dust by sweeping.
Wet mops Kentucky mops- consist of cotton strands fixed to a length of
cotton fabric which is in turn inserted into a metal flat stock.
Do-all mop- these mops consist of strands of a twisted cotton fixed
to a circular metal plate which in turn is fixed to a stock
Foss mop- these consist of a dense cotton fringe inserted into a
heavy metal stock
Squeegee- a squeegee of a long metal handle and a wooden or a
rubber blade to remove excess water from surface being cleaned. It
is used when the areas are scrubbed or washed.
Cloths Swab
These are loosely woven cotton cloths, absorbent material and are
used for damp wiping of floor surfaces. Also used for sanitary
fittings bath tubs and wash basins
Scrim
These are loosely woven linen material resembling fine sack cloth,
highly absorbent and lint free in nature, used for cleaning mirrors
and windows.
Chamois leather
This is the skin of a chamois goat (antelope) and is used for
cleaning windows and mirrors when dry and also for polishing
silver and other metals.
Dust sheets
They are the discarded linen either from bed sheets or curtains
from the linen room and is used to cover floors, furniture and other
articles during spring cleaning or redecorating.
Druggets
These are made of coarse, fine canvas or clear plastic and they
may be of the size of carpet square and are placed on the floor on
the doorway to prevent excessive dirt being brought in or out
during bad weather or during redecorating projects.
Rag
These are disposable cloths obtained from the sewing room and
are used for applying polish or strong cleaning agents and are
disposed of when it is dirty.
Containers Buckets Plastic or galvanized iron buckets are used in different areas of
house keeping while washing of floor, scrubbing of floor, etc.
Dust pan
These are used in conjunction with a broom or brush for gathering
dust. They are made of plastic or metal.
They should be emptied after use
Dust bins
These are used to collect waste from guest rooms and it may be
made of plastic, metals, or wood. This should be emptied and
wiped daily.
Sani-bins
These are metal or plastic bins with lid. They are found in toilets
for collection of soiled sanitary towels. They should be lined with
plastic or paper bags for easy cleaning and must be wiped daily for
the reasons of hygiene.
Hand caddy
Also called cleaner’s boxes, made of wood or metal or plastic,
used by the room attendant for carrying cleaning supplies from
room to room while guest room cleaning is done.
Mop-wringer trolley
This piece of equipment consists of mop and one or twin buckets
with an attached wringer all mounted on a trolley with wheels. It
may have a provision for holding cleaning agent as well as a trash
bag.
Linen trolley These are used for the transfer of clean linen from the laundry to
the linen room or from the linen room to the floor pantries
Mechanical Equipment
Cleaning Equipment Types Uses
Vacuum
cleaners/suction
cleaners
Dry vacuum cleaners
These are used for removing dust and small pieces of debris
from the floors, upholstery, furnishings walls and ceilings. It
comes with different flexible attachment such as crevice nozzle,
upholstery cleaning brush, floor cleaning brush, etc.
Dustette This is a small light weight vacuum cleaner, used for cleaning
curtains, mattress, computers, etc.
Back-pack vacuum
These machines can be easily strapped to the back of an
operator. And it is used for cleaning hard to reach areas like
ceiling, curtain ends, etc. These are also called as piggy back
vacuums.
Upright
These vacuums are the ones in which the machine lies
horizontally on the floor and is driven by a single motor. The
dust bag is outside the machines main body. There is a belt
driven beater brush to facilitate removal of dust from the thick
carpet piles. These machine is most suitable for large carpeted
areas.
Pile lifter
These vacuum cleaners are used to groom the long carpet piles.
They lift up the carpet pile that has sacked down and makes it
fluffy.
Wet and dry vacuum
These are extremely useful for house keeping operations. They
can pick up spills and excess water when it is used on a wet
mode. When on a dry mode, they help to remove the dust and
debris. In hotels they are used in large areas when they are
scrubbed
Large tank-type
vacuum cleaners
These are also called as industrial vacuum cleaners and are
meant for dry and wet pick up or both. The waste water is
squeezed by a rubber attached to it through the nozzle which
travels back into the tank. They are idle for cleaning lobbies,
banquet halls and restaurants.
Carpet shampoo
machine
Steam extraction
machine
Though these machines are universally called steam extraction
machine, these is in fact no generation of steam. The cleaning
agents are simply mixed with hot water and detergents. The
detergent is injected on the carpet piles and extracted back by a
wet vacuum built into the same machine.
Cylindrical brush dry
foam machine
These machine has a cylindrical brush that scrubs the carpet
pile only by the injecting foam on the carpet and extracting it
back again to the machine
High Pressure Washers
These types of equipments are designed to remove soil from the
surface with the help of water and steam subjected to high
pressure. Water under pressure dislodges the dirt from the
surface
Scrubbing/Polishing
Machine Scrubbing can be done with the help of the hard bristle attached
to the machine and is normally used for large areas
Buffing - The bristle tips of a brush create a high gloss finish on
the surface. It is done on friction to bring it to shine.
Polishing - The bristle tips of a brush or a pad to the driving
disk cuts the soil from the surface. Polish is applied to give a
glossy finish and to protect the floor
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