TRS5123115 Clean Public Areas Facilities Equipment
TRS5123115 Clean Public Areas Facilities Equipment
TRS5123115 Clean Public Areas Facilities Equipment
Sector:
TOURISM
Qualification:
HOUSEKEEPING NC II
Unit of Competency:
Module Title:
You may already have some or most of the knowledge and skills covered in
this learner’s guide because you have:
Been working for some time.
Already completed training in this area.
If you can demonstrate to your trainer that you are competent in a particular
skill or skills, talk to the facilitator about having them formally recognized so you do
not have to do the same training again. If you have qualification or Certificate of
Competency from the previous trainings, show it to the facilitator. If the skills you
acquired are still current and relevant to the unit/s of competency they may
become part of the evidence you can present for RPL. If you are not sure about the
currency of your skills, discuss this with your facilitator.
Remember to:
Perform the Task Sheets and Job Sheets until you are confident that your
outputs conform to the Performance Criteria Checklist that follows every sheet.
Submit outputs of the Task Sheets and Job Sheets to your facilitator for
evaluation and recording in the Achievement Chart. Outputs shall serve as your
portfolio during the Institutional Competency Evaluation. When you feel confident
that you have had sufficient practice, ask your trainer to evaluate you. The results
of your assessment will be recorded in your Progress Chart.
List of Competencies
Module Descriptor:
This unit of competency deals with the knowledge and skills required in
cleaning public areas, facilities and equipment. It includes selecting and
setting up of equipment and materials; applying cleaning technique;
cleaning dry and wet areas; and, maintaining and storing cleaning
equipment and chemicals.
Equipment
Buckets
Mops
Brooms
Brushes
Garbage receptacles
Protective gloves
Warning signs
PPE
Dust pan
Cloth and sponges
Soft bristled toothbrush
Cleaning Products
Moisturizing soap
Rubbing alcohol
Leather protection cream
Liquid or powder fabric detergent
Cleaning shampoo
Stain remover
Learning Materials
Video
Competency-based learning materials
ASSESSMENT METHODS:
Oral questions
Written questions
LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Learning Outcome No. 3: CLEAN DRY AND WET AREAS
Read Information Sheet 5.3-3 on After reading the topic, answer Sel
Disposal of Garbage and Used
Check 5.3-3
Chemicals
Answer Self-Check 5.3-3 Check your answers using ANSWER
KEY. If you got 100% correct answer
Compare answers with Answer Key in this Self-check, you can now move
to the next Information Sheet. If not,
5.3-3
review the Information Sheet and go
over the Self-check again.
After doing all the activities of this LO, you are now ready to proceed
to the next Learning Outcome.
After reading this Information Sheet, you should be able to know how to
prepare area for work
Introduction
Before starting to clean an area, you should prepare to clean. If this is done
correctly, disruption to guests and other staff will be minimal and you will make
your job easier.
Always have all your cleaning equipment, chemicals and accessories ready for
the job you are about to do. If you do not have all the time that you need for
cleaning, you will waste precious time by having to run back to the cleaners’ store
for something that you need or have forgotten.
Periodic cleaning
If you are required to clean carpets or strip and seal floor areas, this will
usually be done after hours or overnight.
Your supervisor will advise the relevant staff in advance of this specialized
scheduled cleaning and time frames.
Help should be sought from other staff to remove all furniture in advance so
that you will have more time to complete the cleaning tasks.
High cleaning
Cleaning always requires you to think before acting. Two things to think about are
timing and site availability factors.
Never just assume you can go ahead even when given a job card. Always check
first.
Cleaning activities are normally timed to occur, for the most part, when public
activity is at its minimum.
Commonly this means that you may be unable to start or complete a certain
activity such as sweeping or mopping a floor, and that you will have to move on and
clean the toilets and car park and then come back to do the floor.
When cleaning you must always strive to keep the interruption and disruption
caused to anyone to an absolute minimum.
Identify hazards
Assessing the job means taking a quick look at the area to be cleaned and
determining things like:
Can I do the job now? Should I do the job now? Or does it need to be re-
scheduled for one or more reasons?
Have I got all the equipment and all the chemicals and cleaning agents I need
to do this job, or do I need to go and get something else now that I have seen
what is involved? There is no point starting a job and having to leave it half-
way through while you go and fetch other items that are needed
Hazards
Note that the time of day and the physical location of the area
to be cleaned can also form part of the threat/hazard matrix
that may need to be assessed.
Moving the cleaning equipment and materials into a position that will enable
them to be readily used – close to the job but not interfering with the work
that needs to be done
One way of limiting the possibility of guest or other injury is to barricade the
work area or put in place appropriate warning signs every time cleaning is
undertaken. This applies equally to front-of-house and back-of-house areas.
They warn people of danger – reducing the risk of injury due to slipping
They help keep people away from the work area – which allows us to work
unimpeded and keeps their feet off surfaces that need to dry
They are evidence that the establishment has discharged its duty of care
obligation to others.
When barricading an area, common sense must be applied. If there are too
many people in the area, then, as already mentioned, cleaning has to be deferred
and done later.
Barricades and signage must be put in position before any cleaning begins.
The following points should be followed with reference to barricades and safety
signs:
Your workplace may have other signage that they require you to
erect when cleaning is being done – often the signs that are
available will depend on the company from whom they were bought.
Directions: Provide the answer to the following statements. Write your answer in
a separate paper.
After reading this information sheet, you should be able to differentiate the
cleaning techniques in wet and dry areas
Introduction
Cleaning tasks are often divided into “dry” and “wet” activities. Equipment and
techniques in cleaning areas depends on the area to be cleaned.
There are many public areas in a hotel that contain wet areas. These are floor
areas that can be classified as areas that either:
Commonly have wet surfaces
Require water to clean them
Like the process involved in assessing wet areas to be cleaned, there are some
points to keep in mind:
When should it be cleaned routinely?
When is an „immediate clean required?
When is the most appropriate time to clean it to keep
customer disruption to a minimum?
What do I need to clean it?
How do I clean it?
Equipment
When deciding the best equipment to clean a wet area or using a wet cleaning
method, the type of surface to be cleaned is important.
Mops
Brooms and brushes
Cloths and sponges
Buckets
Carpet shampoo machines
Polishers
Scrubbing machines
Floor machines
There is a great deal of cleaning products that can be used when cleaning wet
areas or using wet cleaning methods.
When preparing to clean a floor using a wet method ensure the floor area to be
cleaned is free from any furniture or other objects.
Stacking tables and chairs to a side or placing chairs on a table so the floor
area is clear
Done at night when there are fewer customers in the public areas such as the
lobby or when specific outlets are closed, such as pool area. Gymnasium and
restaurants.
Wet areas include swimming pools, saunas, laundries, toilets, bars (server)
and bathrooms.
Cleaning pools
The following steps can be followed by public area cleaners to ensure the pool
remains clean and inviting for guests:
Remove leaves and other floating items – pick up junk before it sinks or gets
clogged in the plumbing
At least once a week, clean leaves out of the pool's strainers (the baskets that
catch debris)
Brush your pool walls weekly to remove algae and other culprits - use a soft
brush on tile or fiberglass walls and a stiffer brush on the walls of plaster-
lined pools. If you need to undertake deeper cleaning, use a nylon scouring
pad and a liquid cleaner
Vacuum each week to keep the pool water clean. Cover the entire bottom of
the pool with your vacuum strokes.
Keep your pool water sanitized to reduce algae and
bacteria. Liquid chlorine is the most common sanitizer,
although there are other, newer methods. Use a test kit
to tell when you need to add chlorine
If your pool water is cloudy, check your filter and clean
it, if necessary. Different steps are required to clean
sand, diatomaceous earth and cartridge filters
Place a pool cover on at the end of the day if required
Check pool lighting
Always keep chemicals stored out of direct sunlight. Keep them in a cool dry
place. Do NOT store acid and chlorine right next to each other
Keep vegetation, animals and chemicals away from and out of the pool.
Washing and sweeping tiles around pool and under deck chairs
Returning pool devices and recreational equipment to their designated areas
Realigning deck chairs and umbrellas
Removing used towels and placing new towels on deck chairs or stations,
where required
Removing dirty glasses, plates and napkins
Cleaning pool side tables and chairs including the realignment of promotions
or other table materials.
Some hospitality organizations will provide public shower facilities. This may
include golf clubhouses or an area close to pools or beach at a resort allowing
guests to refresh without having to return to their rooms.
C. Cleaning toilets
Take a second to recheck that the toilet is clean. This includes the lid and
seats, on both sides.
It is also important to ensure any chemicals are removed from toilet surfaces
as this cause discomfort if coming in contact with the skin of guest
Mopping
Keeping floors clean is essential not only for looking nice, but for sanitary reasons
as well.
Steps to Mopping
1. Remove everything that may be on the floor such as mats, such as trash
cans, and small pieces of furniture
2. Sweep the floor to remove dirt, hair, dust and other debris
3. Dissolve detergents into warm water using the manufacturer’s instructions
for the correct water to detergent ratio
4. Pour the solution over the entire floor so that the solution can fill into the
grout lines
5. Allow the solution to remain on the floor for 15 to 20 minutes
6. Scrub the grout with a small medium-bristled brush
7. Rinse the floor with a mop dampened with clean water
8. Mix a second batch of detergent and water
9. Mop the entire floor with fresh solution
10. Rinse the mop with clean water and mop a second time over the floor to rinse
11. Use a squeegee to push residual moisture to one area of the floor before
absorbing it with dry towels
DRY CLEANING
Technique
2. Sweeping – including:
Floors with soft brooms
Some furniture may also be swept with purpose-built brushes supplied
by the manufacturer of the furniture
Using brooms to remove cobwebs from high areas (vents, fans, ceilings,
light fixtures) as required/ when noticed
Using dust pan and brush – to:
o Clean up dirt and dust swept up by broom
o Clean up breakages of glasses and bottles
3. Dusting – using a duster or dust cloth to remove dust. The dusting cloth may
be dry or impregnated with a cleaning agent (multi-purpose cleaner) to
increase adhesion of dust particles to cloth
7. Polishing – this can involve hand polishing or the use of a polishing machine.
Polish protects surfaces and forms a barrier against liquid that may harm the
surface.
1. Clear the floor furniture and other objects. Place chairs on top of tables
and move them to the edges of the room. If possible, move everything out
of the room into a hallway or another room. Buffers can clean spills and
remove some dirt but large pieces of debris should e picked up before
buffing.
2. Examine your scrub brush or polishing pad for cleanliness. Replace a
buffer pad that appears used or soiled. Using a dirty buffer pad can
scratch the floor, especially at such high speeds. Checks for defects in
the pad such as missing portions of pad fabric or unevenness.
3. Move to a back corner of the room to begin. Locate the farther corner
from the entrance of the room you are buffing in order to prevent
stepping on the freshly buffed floor as you work. Walking over a floor
that has been buffed might scuff or dent the surface. Make sure there is
a close electric outlet and that your high-speed floor buffer cord is long
enough to span the entire room. If it is not, plan your buffing route
around the location of the other outlets to prevent having walk over the
buffed portion of the floor.
4. Apply buffing solution or polishing cream on the pad or directly on the
floor.
WARNINGS:
Do not linger in one area for more than 2 seconds. This will cause you to apply too
much cleaner or polish in 1 area, which can result in an uneven floor.
Dry areas are offices, restaurants, lobby areas and functions rooms.
Erect signage
Select the correct chemicals and equipment for the surfaces to be
cleaned
Remove all waste from the area
Wash the bins and liners
Dust or damp wipe all dry surfaces cleaning from top to bottom (picture
frames, furniture, desks, chairs, filinf cabinets, door fittings, fire
extinguishers, plant pots, skirting boards etc. working in a circular way
around the room)
Lift up any furniture and fittings off the floor if possible
Sweep and mop any hard floors
Vacuum the carpet working towards the exit door
Re-position all furniture
Remove signage
Check all surfaces for spots and stains
Re-clean as necessary and remove signage
Directions: provide the answer to the following statements. Write your answer
in a separate sheet of paper.
Steps/Procedures:
To check if you have done the steps correctly, please refer to the performance
criteria checklist
2. Sweep the floor to remove dirt, hair, dust and other debris?
3. Dissolve detergents into warm water using the
manufacturer’s instructions for the correct water to
detergent ratio?
4. Pour the solution over the entire floor so that the solution
can fill into the grout lines?
10. Rinse the mop with clean water and mop a second time over
the floor to rinse?
After reading this information sheet, you should be able to identify cleaning
agents and chemicals and their proper handling and preparation in accordance to
occupational health and safety requirements.
Introduction:
All cleaning agents and chemicals are designed to clean specific surfaces. It is
most important that the correct cleaning agent or chemical is used on the correct
surfaces. Using the wrong cleaning agent or chemical on the wrong surface can
destroy the item, requiring it to be discarded and replaced.
Whenever you are required to deal with chemicals, employers are required are
under a legal obligation to provide you with:
Appropriate and sufficient training and information
Adequate monitoring and supervision
Necessary safety equipment and protective clothing
Employers are also required to ensure that all chemicals used in the workplace are
accompanied by a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). This
Material Safety Data Sheet must be kept near the chemicals,
and cover issues such as:
Product classification
Storage requirements
Transportation regulations
Safe handling procedures
First aid
Any chemical users must know where these sheets are and abide by any
specific directions or cautions.
Suppliers of chemicals are obliged by law to provide you with MSDS for any
chemicals you purchase form them
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions – this is the Golden Rule when
handling, using or otherwise dealing with chemicals or cleaning agents
How do you find out which one to use for a particular job?
Talk to your supervisor or a rep from the chemical company
Check the FSP regarding chemicals in food areas
Read the label on the drums/containers
Check out any wall charts provided by the supplier
Dilute properly
Where the employer has specific, written directions that relate to selection,
preparation and application of chemicals these must be followed. You should be
made aware of what these are during induction and other on-the-job training.
They can take the form of:
Job instructions
Checklists
Job Safety Analysis
Work instructions
The brand or type used in one establishment can vary greatly to the brand or
type used in another. Cleaning companies will work with you to identify and
understand the cleaning jobs you need to complete and recommend appropriate
products with the necessary active ingredients. Most companies will provide you
with samples to allow you to test the products before you buy them.
1. Water
It is vital that you determine whether the cleaning
agent or chemical you propose to use needs to be diluted or
whether it can be used neat: damage can be caused by using
neat product when it should have been diluted. Water is also
important in the cleaning process because it is also used to:
Loosen and dissolve dirt and grime from surfaces
Rinse surfaces and cleaning equipment.
2. Soap
Generally, soap is made from animal fats and
caustic soda. It can be an effective cleaning agent for
some surfaces, but it can leave unacceptable and
unattractive residue. If not dried quickly, this residue will
dry and create the need to for the entire surface to be
cleaned again. This residue needs to be removed with a
Spirit-based polishes are generally used for metal surfaces as well as window
and mirrors.
Oil-based polishes are generally used for leather, wood, synthetic flooring,
linoleum and tiles.
4. Abrasives
Abrasive cleaning agents are available in
powder, cream or paste forms. They are used for
scouring and cleaning ceramic or enamel surfaces.
An example of such surface is the toilet bowl or the
shower basin: abrasive cleaners must not be used
on surfaces that scratch easily. Abrasive can be
hard to rinse away, so it is important to wipe and
rinse as soon as possible after application: if they
are left to dry, abrasive can be much harder to
rinse away, and may leave behind harmful residue.
5. Detergents
Detergents are chemical-based and can vary in
strength; therefore it is important to follow the correct
dilution instructions when using this type of cleaning agent.
Detergents have different pH scales and it is the pH
level of the detergent that informs the user of the type of
surface it is best to used on.
Acidic detergents (graded as having a pH of 1to 6)
should be used for cleaning ceramic surfaces.
A pH of 7 is a neutral pH level and these types of
detergents are useful for general cleaning.
Alkaline detergents (graded as having a pH of 8to14) should be used only for
specialist tasks, as they can be corrosive and have the ability to damage a
surface.
High alkaline detergents should be used only as directed and only on surfaces they
were designed to clean. The surface they are used to clean should also be rinsed
thoroughly to remove any harmful residue. Remember that high alkaline detergents
can be harmful to the skin. They should be treated with care and spillage should be
avoided at all times. Protective clothing should be worn when using high alkaline
detergents.
7. Solvents
Solvent-based detergents will dissolve heavy grease and oil. It
is most important to realize that not all surfaces can be cleaned with
solvent detergents. For example, it would not be appropriate to
remove oil that has been spilt onto a lounge suite with a solvent
detergent. However a metal surface could remain unharmed if
cleaned with a solvent detergent.
Again, refer to the manufacturer’s instruction when using such
a cleaning product. Remember that solvent-based detergents may be
harmful to the skin. They should be treated with care and spillage should be
avoided at all times. Surfaces that have been cleaned with solvents must
be rinsed thoroughly to remove any harmful residue.
8. Disinfectant
Disinfectants are cleaning agents that destroy disease-carrying
micro-organisms. It should be diluted according to manufacturer’s
instructions: if it is diluted too much, the disinfectant will become
ineffective. Disinfectant have a strong scent and so are not suitable for
use in the kitchen or any food area. It should be used only in the toilet,
bathroom and change areas
9. Deodorizers
Deodorizers are used to mask or eliminate unpleasant smells. They
are commonly in aerosol form and should be sprayed sparingly to achieve
their aim but not dominate or over-power. Urinal block are also used to
mask smells in gent’s toilets. When using them, follow the recommended
dosage rate. Don’t simply throw handfuls of them into the urinal. They are
expensive and on their own they don’t provide any cleaning function.
Direction: provide the correct answer to the following. Write your answer in a
separate sheet of paper.
4. Water is important in cleaning because it loosen and dissolve dirt and grime
from surfaces and it rinse surfaces and cleaning equipment
5. Specialized cleaning agents
Learning objective:
After reading this information sheet, you should be able to apply proper
disposal of garbage and used chemicals.
Introduction
Types of waste
Food waste
Dry waste
Waste that can be recycled
Medicine and infectious waste
Return waste
Food waste
Dry waste
The amount of dry waste produced by hotels has been dramatically reduced
due to the increase and availability of recycling. There is still dry waste produced
such as used paper towels and cigarette butts and food wrappings. This is classified
as general rubbish and should be disposed of in garbage bags. Where you are
removing cigarett3e butts from ashtrays, always ensure that they are not
smoldering.
Find out the correct procedure in your work area for disposal of these items.
When full, these containers are sent to a medical waste company for correct
disposal. They are usually burnt.
Return waste
This applies to waste that is returnable to its source. Some companies for
example refund monies for the return of empty containers e.g. bottles,
chemical containers, and milk crates.
Disposal of waste
Rubbish chutes
Rubbish compactors
When rubbish is placed into a rubbish compactor, the machine compacts the
rubbish into a large storage (compaction) unit. The units grinds and presses
the rubbish and when the compaction unit is full, it is transported off site
and replaced with another one by a waste disposal contractor.
The compactor unit needs to manned to ensure there are no blockages.
Rubbish may also be placed manually into the compactor unit where there is
no chute. Some units have a lifting device attached which can lift and empty
rubbish bins directly into the unit.
There are many styles available but manual compactors are useful when
rubbish storage areas are small. They can be used for general dry or wet rubbish or
for paper and cardboard. The latter have a baling action which can tie up piles into
bales ready for collection for recycling.
Near the dump master there may be a number of recycling stations – paper,
plastics, cans and as much garbage as possible should be recycled.
In addition:
Comply with any recycling protocols the business has
Make sure all rubbish goes into the bins and is not left lying around next to
them
Close lids to bins after using them. There may be a need to lock them to
prevent unauthorized use
Use the appropriate bin/disposal system for the appropriate type of rubbish.
Liquid waste must be separated from solid waste.
Wash hands after handling rubbish.
Disposal of chemicals
Oven cleaners
Pest poisons
Glues
Fertilizers
The following table (from Work Safe Victoria), indicate the sorts of problems that
chemicals can cause to people in our industry.
Directions: Write True if the statement is correct and False if the statement is
incorrect. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1. True
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. False
6. True
Public Areas Any location with a hotel that all customers have
access to and can use, not for the exclusive use of one
particular customer
Casado, Matt A.; 2011 (2nd edition); Housekeeping Management (Course Smart);
Wiley
Iris Jones & Cynthia Phillips, Commercial Housekeeping and Maintenance, Stanley
Thornes (UK)
O'Fallon, Michael J.; 2010 (5th edition); Hotel Management and Operations; Wiley