Housekeeping Operations
What the domain covers
Housekeeping Operations tests how guest rooms and public areas are cleaned, inspected and maintained safely and efficiently. Expect room-status codes, cleaning priorities, bed-making and linen procedures, lost-and-found handling, pest control and the safe use of cleaning chemicals.
Core rules
- Standard room-cleaning sequence: knock and announce, wait, enter, ventilate, remove trash and linen, dust from high to low and dry to wet, clean bathroom, vacuum, replace amenities, inspect and report status.
- Priority is usually departure rooms first, then stayover rooms, then vacant dirty rooms; a guest waiting at the desk or a VIP arrival can override the normal order.
- Room status codes include VC/VR (vacant clean/ready), VD (vacant dirty), OD (occupied dirty), OOO (out of order) and DND (do not disturb).
- Linen must be handled away from the face and stored on closed shelves; soiled linen goes into designated bags, never onto the floor.
- Lost property is logged with date, room number, finder and description; valuables are handed to the supervisor or security.
Worked example. At 10:00 a.m. room 203 has checked out, 305 is a stayover guest, and 401 is vacant dirty. Clean 203 first because it can be sold again, then 305 to service the in-house guest, then 401. If 401 is a VIP arrival at noon, move it ahead of 305, but tell the stayover guest a realistic time. Reasoning: priority balances sellable inventory, guest comfort and arrival commitments; it is not a rigid list.
Traps. Never enter a room without knocking and announcing, even if the status says vacant. Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia or acid cleaners; toxic gas can form. Do not use guest towels for cleaning. Do not mark a room vacant and ready before checking bathrooms, supplies and maintenance faults.