CHAPTER 2:
HOUSEKEEPING
KAYE THERESE A. SANTOS
LEARNING
OUTCOMES:
• Demonstrate understanding
of underlying concepts and
principles of housekeeping
• Recognize tools, utensils,
materials in housekeeping
• Follow procedures in doing
household chores
• Identify safety measures in
doing household tasks
RECOGNIZING TOOLS, UTENSILS
MATERIALS IN HOUSEKEEPING
Housekeeping is one of the areas in Home Economics
which refers to the management of duties and chores in
running a household. This includes cleaning, cooking, home
maintenance, shopping, laundry and payment of house bills.
Household members may perform these different tasks, or the
family may hire other persons to do these for them. The term
may also refer to the management of an office where employees
stay for several hours of the day.
RECOGNIZING TOOLS, UTENSILS
MATERIALS IN HOUSEKEEPING
The individual who manages the household is referred
to as housekeeper. In big establishments, he/she may have
his/her domestic staff. Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household
Management of the Victorian Era describes the housekeeper as
"second in command in the house, and except in large
establishments, where there is a house steward, the
housekeeper must consider himself/herself as the immediate
representative of her mistress."
RECOGNIZING TOOLS, UTENSILS
MATERIALS IN HOUSEKEEPING
Housecleaning is the most important component of
housekeeping. Disposing of rubbish, cleaning of dirty surfaces,
keeping off dust on surfaces and pieces of furniture, and doing
vacuuming. This is done to make the home. look pleasing to the
eye, smell better, safer and comfortable to live in for all the
dwellers.
RECOGNIZING TOOLS, UTENSILS
MATERIALS IN HOUSEKEEPING
The important areas of the house that must be cleaned
and sanitized are the toilets and bathrooms, urinals, lavatories
and their accessories. These are the parts of the house which
family members' body are in direct contact
with.
Without cleaning the house or office, dusts form on
surfaces, molds grow in wet areas, lime scale may hardened on
kitchenware and pipes, glasses may be blurry or stained, toilet
may turn smelly, and cobwebs accumulate.
PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS
OF HOUSEKEEPING
Home and offices have important areas which should be
given attention first and foremost in cleanliness. Areas which
have direct contact with our bodies such as toilets and
bathrooms, urinals and lavatories and their accessories need to
be the cleanest parts of the house.
For an effective and efficient housekeeping, amenities
are considered and provided such as towels, linens, beddings,
glasses, tableware, pieces of furniture, appliances, and kitchen
wares. Cleaning equipment, tools, and supplies are also
necessary for complete housekeeping needs.
TOOLS, SUPPLIES AND
MATERIAL USED IN
HOUSEKEEPING
Effective and efficient housekeeping
depends on the cleaning equipment,
tools and supplies the household or
office provides. Tools used in house
cleaning are vacuum cleaner, brooms,
mops and sponges together with the
cleaning products such as detergents,
disinfectants, and bleach. Accessories
such as towels, linens and beddings will
be discussed here, too.
CLEANING AND SANITIZING
EQUIPMENT
Vacuum cleaner. This is used to remove
dust particles specifically from carpet
surfaces and upholstered furniture. This
can also be used in cleaning hard surfaces.
Floor polisher. This is used to scrub floor,
strip and polish hard floor surfaces and
also to polish vinyl, wood and parquet.
CLEANING AND SANITIZING
EQUIPMENT
Carpet sweeper. This is used in picking up
dirt and some particles from the carpet.
Hydro-Vacuum or wet and dry vacuum.
This is an all-purpose vacuum used for
absorbing water in flooded or wet surface
and can also be used for dry surfaces.
CLEANING AND SANITIZING
EQUIPMENT
Carpet extractor. This is intended for dry
foam shampooing of carpets. Dirt that
sticks to or penetrates into the layers of the
carpets is removed by using this.
Cart or trolley. It is used to stock cleaning
supplies and chemicals in order to make
cleaning faster and easier.
CLEANING TOOLS
Tools and equipment need to be
checked and maintained before and after
each use to prolong their life span. Proper
care includes a regular check up
especially their wiring to avoid breakdown
and prevent untoward accident. This will
also lessen the cost of maintenance.
CLEANING TOOLS
Scouring pads. There are two colors, the
green and white pad. Green is used for
scrubbing rough dirty surfaces. White is
used for cleaning painted surfaces, marble,
porcelain and mirrors.
Dusting clothes. These are used to wipe or
dust wooden and painted parts. These can
be towel-clothe like..
CLEANING TOOLS
Polishing cloth. It is made of soft cloth
used to polish metal surfaces in kitchen
and in bathrooms and other parts of the
house made of
metal.
Cleaning broom. It is used for sweeping the
floor. Some made of hard materials can be
used to remove cobwebs from the ceiling.
CLEANING TOOLS
Mop with mop handle. It is used for
mopping the floor. This has to be wet
usually to remove stains on the floor. This
will also be used: dry to wipe or 'dry wet
floor to avoid accident.
Floor and window squeegees. These are
used to remove excessive water from the
surface and corners especially glass
surfaces. These speed up the drying
process of the surface.
CLEANING TOOLS
Toilet bowl brush. This is used for cleaning
toilet bowls. It is provided with plastic or
wooden handle for ease in reaching hidden
part of the bowl.
Sponges. These are made of soft material
used to clean fine surfaces.
CLEANING TOOLS
Trash bags. These are to used as linings
for garbage containers to prevent the wet
garbage from penetrating directly to the
container.
Tongs. These are used for picking up
dirt on the floor and cigarette butts from
the ashtrays.
CLEANING TOOLS
Cleaning tools and materials are
very important in doing housekeeping.
tasks. To attain quality standards,
adequate and appropriate tools to be used
are necessary. Moreover, it is necessary
to observe proper handling of these tools.
Full awareness of the manufacturer's
instruction and asking the assistance of
your classmates or teachers enable you to
do the assigned task effectively and
efficiently.
CLEANING CHEMICALS
In addition to cleaning tools and
materials, a housekeeper also needs to
use some cleaning chemicals. Some of
these are wood polish, insecticides,
methylated spirit, air freshener and
muriatic acid. These chemicals are toxic,
so utmost care should be observed in
using or handling these solutions.
CLEANING CHEMICALS
Highly combustible chemicals
should never be used near fire or flame.
Before using them, read the instructions
very well. When not sure on how to use
this, ask for the assistance of those
knowledgeable individuals around to
avoid possible accident or wastage.
CLEANING CHEMICALS
Wood polish. This is used to polish or
shine wood surfaces; leather surfaces such
as sofa and similar pieces of furniture.
Insecticides. This is used to fumigate or
eliminate
Methylated spirit. This is a chemical used
to polish all glass surfaces such as
mirrors, windows and others.
CLEANING CHEMICALS
Air freshener. This is used to spray
guestrooms, comfort rooms, or any area to
give fresh smell or to remove foul odor
from the room.
Muriatic acid. This is only appropriate for
removing hard dirt from cemented floor or
similar surfaces. This must not be used in
cleaning toilet bowls since it is very strong
and it can damage the tiles.
SAFETY MEASURES IN DOING
HOUSEHOLD TASKS
Housekeeping is not only plain cleanliness.
Keeping areas neat and orderly keeping floors free of slip
and trip hazards, maintaining halls and hallways safe and
clean, removing waste materials from work areas and fire
hazard places are some of the tasks, to be considered.
SAFETY MEASURES IN DOING
HOUSEHOLD TASKS
Danger or risks can vary greatly. What is important
is, whoever to use a tool or place of equipment as required
in his/her job, he/she has to do this with care. Employers
need to orient workers and provide all the necessary
information to ensure safe use of tools. At the start, they
must se to it that workers have the appropriate
qualifications to use Intricate tools and equipment.
Orientation and training should be provided as much as
possible to improve skills and remind users of safety
procedures.
SAFETY MEASURES IN DOING
HOUSEHOLD TASKS
Consider some of these tips which the National
Safety Council suggests:
Determine if you can carry a load comfortably; tip it on
its side.
Ask for help if the load is too heavy or bulky for one
person. Check first if there are nails, splinters, rough
strapping or rough edges.
Lift the load correctly.
See to it that your footing is solid.
SAFETY MEASURES IN DOING
HOUSEHOLD TASKS
See to it that your footing is solid.
Position your back with no curving or slouching.
Your body must be at center over your feet.
Get a good grasp of the object and pull it close to you.
Lift with your legs and not with your back.
Move your feet to turn; don't twist your back.
Don't attempt to carry a big or heavy load.
THANKS AND
HAVE A
WONDERFUL
DAY!
